Avalon Waterways Christmastime from Basel to Vienna (WMV)

16 Days Basel 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 from Switzerland to Austria. Experience the holiday season like never before, from the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets. Discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, your Avalon Suite Ship® is decked out for the holidays, brimming in holiday spirit. See the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music, peace, and merriment. Visit glowing German Christkindlesmarkt stalls as you cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers from Heidelberg to Passau—and quaint villages in between. Continue in the holiday glow in Austria to visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey in Melk, then spectacular Vienna for 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 - Imagery II & Impression

Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing

Day 1 Basel (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception

Day 2 Breisach: Choice of visit to a local winery in Breisach or excursion to Black Forest

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 Vatfree time for Christmas market

Day 5 Frankfurt. Excursion to Rüdesheim: Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; enjoy a special treat

Day 6 Main river village: 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 tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market

Day 10 Nuremberg (Disembarkation). Excursion to Munich (Embarkation): Guided sightseeing, see the Marienplatz

Day 11 Nuremberg: Day at leisure to visit Christmas market

Day 12 Regensburg: Guided tour; Christmas markets; onboard Christmas Traditions lecture

Day 13 Passau: Guided tour; Christmas market

Day 14 Melk: Guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey; onboard Austrian cookies tasting

Day 15 Vienna: City sightseeing; Christmas market

Day 16 Vienna (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning

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
	German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest DISCOVERY Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking 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. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. 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 in a wine country village in beautiful Alsace. Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the glowing winter markets of Strasbourg. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER (B,L,D)
Day 4	SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION
	Winter Wonders 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. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE (B,D)
Day 6	MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
	Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights CLASSIC 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 7	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 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). 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 11	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 12	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 13	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 14	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 15	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 16	VIENNA (DISEMBARKATION)
	Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Avalon Pricing Details

Port charges:
$450

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 itiner-ary 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.