PalenQ

Though seat reservations on GP trains are optional advised to make them - check to see in Panorama Cars are in 2nd class too - if not can pay for upgrade to first by paying normal difference in fares. consider a lake boat trip from Vevey - even just in late afternoon for relaxing - bring any food and drink you want onboard. Could hit Gruyeres en route to Bern.

greg

I was looking at your itinerary again,
>>> 5/26/19: Overnight Basil (where we arrive at the end of our Rhine cruise)
Is there a specific reason you are staying in Basel? It has its own attractions. But in case you thought you had to stay overnight there just because the cruise ended there, it is not necessary for this reason presuming your cruise ends in the morning. This eliminates one check-in / check-out cycle from your itinerary. As it stands, you have two one-night stays.

Basel to Luzern train trip is a trivial 70 minutes ride on a frequent train. If you try to get to your hotel in Basel after you get off the boat, you probably cannot check-in. You can leave your luggage at Basel hotel front desk and tour. An alternative is to go straight to Luzern without staying overnight in Basel. You probably still get to Luzern before the hotel let you check-in, but at least you have used wait-to-check-in time in Basel into travel-to-Luzern time freeing up that time slot the next day. If you add one more night in Luzern, you can also visit Mt. Titlis, if you are interested in visiting a high altitude destination seems to be missing from your current itinerary. Or do a Luzern-Vtznau-Mt. Rigi-Weggis-Luzern loop.

PalenQ

Yes high Alps missing so Titlis a good suggestion - or from Thun take a day trip to Jungfrau Region and go up into dem hills - but yes take in high Alps and Titlis is better than Pilatus anyway IME - Pilatus often shrouded in fog or clouds even if clear in Lucerne - at least my experience after staying in Lucerne many days - kind of weird.

neckervd

a few points:
Basel is well worth a few day: medieval city with cathedral, all kinds of outstanding museums, Roman theatre annd ruins at Augusta Raurica nearby, etc. etc.
Fribourg can easily be visited on your trip from Lausanne to Bern (luggage lockers at the railway station).

neckervd

Alternatives to Pilatus:
cog wheel train from Montreux to Rochers de Naye
or
full day trip from Montreux to Chamonix and Aiguille du Midi, in the middle of glaciers
or
stop over at Gstaad on your way from Lucerne to Montreux (Golden Pass) and go by bus and gondola to Glacier3000, a glacier more or less in front of Mont Blanc.

Wm

Greg, thank you so much for that feedback. Not positive what time we depart our boat, but your advise make sense.