Avalon Waterways Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg (WMN)

10 Day River Cruise Basel to Nuremberg

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.

Ships: Tranquility II - Panorama - Envision
Special Offer/Promotion

Avalon Waterways Promotions & Special Offers

Single supplement waived on the cruise portion of select 2023 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*

Restrictions May Apply

Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing

Day 1 Basel (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception

Day 2 Breisach: Choice of visit to Badischer Winzerkeller or excursion to Black Forest; Christmas market

Day 3 Strasbourg: Guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; Christmas market

Day 4 Speyer. Excursion to Heidelberg: Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat; free time for Christmas market

Day 5 Frankfurt. Excursion to Rüdesheim: Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; Christmas market

Day 6 Main river village: On board cookie-baking demonstration; guided tour

Day 7 Würzburg: Guided tour, visit the Bishop's Residence; Christmas market

Day 8 Bamberg: Onboard Christmas Traditions lecture; guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; Christmas market

Day 9 Nuremberg: Choice of guided sightseeing, or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market

Day 10 Nuremberg (Disembarkation): Your vacation ends this morning

Related Avalon Tours

WMN - Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg
WMNE - With 2 Nights in Prague
WNM - Christmastime from Nuremberg to Basel

Itinerary (2024)

Day 1	BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
	Welcome to Switzerland! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Zürich or Basel 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 (D)
Day 2	BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
	History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest DISCOVERY 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: DISCOVERY 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 pretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
Day 3	STRASBOURG, FRANCE
	Joyeux Noël in Strasbourg CLASSIC 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 (B,L,D)
Day 4	SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION
	Winter Wonders and a Wine Barrel Fit for a King DISCOVERY 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. Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing sailing morning and explore the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of Speyer Christmas markets. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT (B,L,D)
Day 5	FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM
	Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country DISCOVERY 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 MAIN RIVER VILLAGE (B,D)
Day 6	MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
	Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights in Beautiful Bavaria CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River. DISCOVERY Join a Cookie-Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG (B,L,D)
Day 7	WÜRZBURG
	Old Saint Nicholas, 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 8	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 9	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 10	NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION)
	Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Avalon Pricing Details

Gateway city for arrivals is Zürich.

Port charges:
$270

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.