Avalon Waterways Christmastime from Nuremberg to Basel (WNM)
10 Day River Cruise Nuremberg to Basel
Celebrate this magical time of year with a delightful Christmastime river cruise through the beautiful views of the heart of Germany, on the Main Danube Canal, and the Main and Rhine Rivers. Board your ship in Nuremberg, Germany, host to one of the oldest Christmas markets in the country. Get into the holiday spirit as you stroll through the brightly illuminated and decorated Old Town. 200 stalls sell traditional German Christmas wares and seasonal delicacies. In delightful Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find nativity scenes built by local citizens through-out the town. Learn about holiday traditions as you cruise to Würzburg, and here walk through the halls of 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). Learn how to bake a traditional cookie before arriving at one of the charming small towns with half-timbered houses that are dotted along the Main River. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your cruise to Speyer and visit Heidelberg Castle, which towers magnificently over the city, and watch the skaters on the ice rink below. At this time of year, the historic charm of Strasbourg, France, is mixed with festive aromas, sights, and sounds—creating a truly magical atmosphere! Visit the gothic cathedral with its ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Continue your Christmastime river cruise to Breisach, Germany—gateway to the famous Black Forest. An area of unrivaled natural beauty, and the home of Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and cuckoo clocks. There is no better setting at this time of year, when smoke curls from the chimneys of the traditional Black Forest houses. Your delightful holiday cruise ends in Basel, Switzerland. Ships: Tranquility II - Illumination - Panorama
Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing Day 1 Nuremberg (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception Day 2 Nuremberg: Choice of Nuremberg guided tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market Day 3 Bamberg: Guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; onboard Christmas Traditions lecture Day 4 Würzburg: Guided tour, visit the Bishop's Residence; Christmas market Day 5 Main river village: Cookie-baking demonstration on board; guided tour Day 6 Frankfurt. Excursion to Rüdesheim: Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; Christmas market Day 7 Heidelberg-Speyer: Guided visit of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat; free time for Christmas market Day 8 Strasbourg: Guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; Christmas market Day 9 Breisach: Choice of visit to Badischer Winzerkeller or excursion to the Black Forest; Christmas market Day 10 Basel (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning
Related Avalon Tours WNM - Christmastime from Nuremberg to Basel WNMQ - With 2 Nights in Prague WMN - Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg
Itinerary (2024)Day 1 | NUREMBERG, GERMANY (EMBARKATION) | | Welcome to Nuremberg, where your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.Flights into Nuremberg must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.Indulge in traditional holiday fare and hot libations to warm your heart and soul.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG (D) | Day 2 | 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. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG (B,L,D) | Day 3 | BAMBERG | | Christmas Customs and Cradle ScenesCLASSIC 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. DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing.AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG(B,L,D) | Day 4 | 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. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE(B,L,D) | Day 5 | MAIN RIVER VILLAGE | | Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights 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 FRANKFURT(B,L,D) | Day 6 | 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 local special treat.Don’t miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER (B,D) | Day 7 | HEIDELBERG EXCURSION. SPEYER | | 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. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.EVENING/OVERNIGHT TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D) | Day 8 | STRASBOURG, FRANCE | | A Gothic Cathedral, Heaven’s Time, and Joyeux Noël 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 CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D) | Day 9 | BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST | | History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black ForestDISCOVERY 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. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D) | Day 10 | BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION) | | Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am.(B) |
Avalon Pricing Details Gateway city for departures is Zürich.Port charges:$270Gratuities 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.
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