Avalon Waterways Christmastime from Frankfurt to Vienna (WFV)

12 Days Frankfurt to Vienna

Step aboard your Avalon Suite Ship® festively decorated and beautifully dressed in Christmas colors of the season. Embark on this festive Christmastime river cruise in Frankfurt, Germany, and join us behind medieval walls and towered gates to enjoy a guided walking tour in a picturesque village along the Main River. Celebrate the season in charming Würzburg, known as the “Pearl of the Romantic Road,” and surrounded by sloping vineyard-covered hills. Visit the ornate Bishop’s Residence—home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted, then stroll through the Christmas markets while you sip Glühwein (hot mulled wine). Continue your Christmastime river cruise to Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the many nativity scenes exhibited throughout the town are sure to delight. Take a guided tour in Nuremberg, with free time to visit the Christmas market—one of the most famous in the world. Wander through Old Town illuminated with holiday lights and decorations, and be sure to sample some traditional lebkuchen (spicy gingerbread), a Nuremberg specialty. Visit Munich, the Bavarian capital, where a local expert shows you the sights. The traditional Christmas market is located on the Marienplatz, with aromas of toasted almonds, roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread filling the air. Enjoy a guided tour in Regensburg, then continue to Melk and experience the splendor of its Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s most architecturally-breathtaking monasteries, and enjoy a tasting of traditional Austrian cookies. See the fa-mous sights with a Local Guide and enjoy a tour through the Christmas markets to get a taste of all the best flavors Austria offers during this sparkling time of year on the Danube River. A perfect ending to a festive river cruise showing you some of the best that Germany and Austria have to offer this time of year!

Ships: Tranquility II & Envision

Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing

Day 1 Frankfurt (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception

Day 2 Main river village: Guided tour

Day 3 Würzburg: Guided tour, visit the Bishop’s Residence; Christmas market

Day 4 Bamberg: Onboard Christmas Traditions lecture; guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; Christmas market

Day 5 Nuremberg: Choice of guided tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market

Day 6 Nuremberg (Disembarkation). Excursion to Munich (Embarkation): Guided sightseeing, see the Ma-rienplatz

Day 7 Nuremberg: Day at leisure to visit Christmas market

Day 8 Regensburg: Guided tour; Christmas markets; onboard Christmas Traditions lecture

Day 9 Passau: Guided tour; Christmas market

Day 10 Melk: Guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey; onboard Austrian cookies tasting

Day 11 Vienna: City sightseeing; Christmas market

Day 12 Vienna (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning

Itinerary (2024)

Day 1	FRANKFURT, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)
	Welcome to Germany. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding Flights into Frankfurt must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE (D)
Day 2	MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
	Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights CLASSSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG (B,L,D)
Day 3	WÜRZBURG
	Old Saint Nick and Nutcrackers Sweet CLASSIC 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 (B,L,D)
Day 4	BAMBERG
	Christmas Customs and Cradle Scenes DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing. CLASSIC 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 (B,L,D)
Day 5	NUREMBERG
	Legends and History Lessons CLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR: CLASSIC 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 (B,L,D)
Day 6	NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION). EXCURSION TO MUNICH (EMBARKATION)
	This morning disembark the vessel which has brought you to Nuremberg and drive to Munich CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Tour which will show you the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace—a former residence of Bavarian monarchs, along with the Old and New Town Halls of Marienplatz. Return to Nuremberg in the late afternoon and embark on the ship which will take you to Vienna (B,D)
Day 7	NUREMBERG
	Living Heritage and History Lessons A day to relax and enjoy Nuremberg at your own pace. Stroll through the festively lit streets, buy those last-minute Christmas gifts, or ask your Cruise Director for suggestions of things to do. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REGENSBURG (B,L,D)
Day 8	REGENSBURG
	Christmas Magic in Bavaria CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—entrance to the Castra Regina fortress built in 179 AD. Take time to browse Regensburg’s sparkling Christmas markets. Enjoy hot-mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, or bratwurst. DISCOVERY Enjoy a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PASSAU (B,L,D)
Day 9	PASSAU
	Saint Stephen’s, Salzburg, and the Story of Silent Night CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.” You may like to join a Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg, Austria. See the setting of The Sound of Music, and learn the story behind the beloved Christmas hymn, Silent Night. Spend free time in Passau’s charming Christkindlmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take a brief evening cruise to Linz and go out for music and dancing or late-night dessert before sailing to Melk. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK (B,L,D)
Day 10	MELK, AUSTRIA
	Frescoes Above the Wachau Valley CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings. DISCOVERY Enjoy an Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing through the splendid Wachau Valley to Vienna. VIENNA Vienna’s Winter Wonderland This evening, you may choose to attend an Optional Excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA (B,L,D)
Day 11	VIENNA
	Royal Collections and Amusing Attractions DISCOVERY Explore the Habsburg empire this morning on a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Spend free time on your own to enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt or relax by the fire’s glow in a Viennese café this evening. You may join a Guided Optional Tour of Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg dynasty for 300 years. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA (B,L,D)
Day 12	VIENNA (DISEMBARKATION)
	Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Avalon Pricing Details

Port charges:
$330

Gratuities to Local Guides & Excursion Drivers are included on Avalon portion only.

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.

Avalon 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.
Christmas markets generally operate from late November until the third week of December.