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Overview

Experience the holiday season like never before with a Christmastime cruise through Germany and France. From the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets, you’ll discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music and merriment. Visit glowing German Christkindlesmarkt stalls as you cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers through Heidelberg, a Main river village, Wurzburg, Bamberg, and Nuremberg.

Book your cruise with or without flights

Cruise prices are shown without flights included in case you wish to book them separately, or aren't ready to return home when you disembark! Or we can book your flights for you from most UK airports, with overseas transfers and ATOL protection included. The choice is yours!

Book your cruise with or without flights

Itinerary

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. There are three types of included shore excursion on every Europe cruise:

Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.

Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.

We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.

Classic

<p>Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.</p>

Active

Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.

Discovery

We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.

Day 1 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

Meals included:
Dinner

Welcome to Switzerland! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Zürich must arrive by 3 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Stroll through the city centre, enjoy the festive illumination and savor Christmas delicacies like waffles, gingerbread, sweets and Swiss raclette.

EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH

Day 2 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest

Visit to Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Discover Germany’s southernmost wine country in Baden-ideally situated between the hills of the Black Forest and the Rhine River. Learn about the vintners’ process in the vineyards here, and enjoy a wine tasting, OR:Join a Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings, and enjoy the warmth and glow of the Christmas season.
Alternatively, spend your afternoon leisurely browsing Breisach’s lovely Christmas market to sample bretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG

Day 3 STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

A Gothic Cathedral, Heaven’s Time, and Joyeux Noël

Come along for City Sightseeing, including the city’s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Alsace, for an afternoon in a French wine-country village.
Savor the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition by spending your free time this afternoon wandering the French winter markets of Strasbourg. Take in the lights, music, and the pleasures of the season.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER

Day 4 SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Winter Wonders and a Wine Barrel Fit for a King

Take a Guided Tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat—the world’s largest wine barrel.

After the tour, visit the local German Christmas Markets in Heidelberg, or Speyer. Explore at your own pace to soak up the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of these sparkling winter wonderlands.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT

Day 5 FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM

Meals included:
Breakfast
Dinner

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim, enjoy a special treat.

Don’t miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER

Day 6 MAIN RIVER VILLAGE

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights in Beautiful Bavaria

Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.

Join a Cookie-Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG

Day 7 WÜRZBURG

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Ornaments, Old Saint Nicholas, and Nutcrackers Sweet

Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the “Pearl of the Romantic Road” with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residence.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. Visit the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum—the world’s most extensive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations.
Spend free time enjoying the festive, warm glow of Wurzburg’s Christmas markets.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG

Day 8 BAMBERG

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Cherished Christmas Customs and Cradle Scenes

Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing.

Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg—medieval home of Germany’s Roman Empire dynasties. Stroll through dozens of Bamberg’s nativity scenes—from miniature to life-size.

Take free time to enjoy the quaint Christmas markets, and warm up with traditional German dumplings, sausage, and a glass of hearty Bavarian ale.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NUREMBERG

Day 9 NUREMBERG

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Living Heritage and History Lessons

Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR: Join a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.

Spend free time browsing the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg. Sample favorite Bavarian fare—bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and countless other Christkindlmarkt culinary delights.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG

Day 10 NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION)

Meals included:
Breakfast

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

Questions? Our travel specialists can help with any queries, quotes or special requirements. Request a callback or email us.

Notes

In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

Start sooner, stay longer

Start sooner, stay longer. Start your vacation earlier or stay longer with destination options before or after your Avalon cruise.

Hotels

It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative, similar standard, hotels to those shown

Radisson Blu Airport

This modern, stylish hotel 330-room property conveniently offers direct access to the airport terminal, the perfect location for arrivals & departures. Dining options include an Italian restaurant specializing in fresh Italian dishes crafted with a modern twist and a Grill restaurant offering seafood and steaks dishes prepared in an open kitchen. The atrium bar has a 16m-high glass wine tower with over 4,000 bottles of wine and champagne and the outdoor terrace is the place for cocktails and light bites. Other amenities include two fitness centers (one on site and one at the airport), a hammam, as well as a sauna set in a plane's cockpit. Free internet access is available throughout the entire hotel.

Location

Zuerich Flughafen, Zurich, Switzerland

Hotel Facilities

Free WiFi
Business Center
Concierge desk
ATM
Parking/Valet
Fitness Room
Ice Machine
Elevator
Bar/Lounge
Laundry Available
Luggage Storage
Restaurant On-Site
Currency Exchange

Room Facilities

Room Service
Mini-bar
Climate Control
Iron/Ironing Board
Pay Movies
Television
Coffee Maker
Wake-Up Calls
Cable/Satellite
Internet Access
Phone
Disabled Access / Rooms
Voicemail
Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
In-Room Safe
Air Conditioning
Complimentary Toiletries
Non-smoking Rooms
Desk
Hair Dryer

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Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg