Christmastime from Basel to Budapest
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Overview
Highlights
- Onboard welcome reception
- Choice of visit to Freiburg or excursion to Black Forest; Christmas market
- Guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; Christmas market
- Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat; free time for Christmas market
- Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; enjoy a special treat
- Guided tour
- Guided tour, visit the Bishop's Residence; Christmas market
- Onboard Christmas Traditions lecture; guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; Christmas market
- Choice of guided tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market
- Full-day guided tour in Munich
What's this trip about?
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Itinerary
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 center, enjoy the festive illumination and savor Christmas delicacies like waffles, gingerbread, sweets and Swiss raclette.
EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (Dinner)
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
CLASSIC Join A Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley. OR: DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to the magical Black For...
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...
Winter Wonders Fit for a King
DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat—the world’s largest wine barrel...
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 (Breakfast,Dinner)
Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River. Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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 Ba...
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—f...
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 fre...
Beer Songs and Bavarian Kings
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.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG
(Breakfast,Dinner)
Legends and History Lessons
CLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg—with its medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich. Spe...
Christmas Magic in Bavaria
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress. Take time to browse Regensburg’s sparkling Christmas markets. Enjoy hot-mulled wine, ...
Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers”. Spend free time in Passau’s charming Christkindlmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Alternatively, join a f...
Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ. DISCOVERY Enjoy an Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing to Vienna. VI...
Royal Collections and Culinary Confections
CLASSIC 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 stunn...
Festivities and Finery
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square. Consider a scenic hike above the Danube, or enjoy Budapest’s cafés, pubs, or nightlife. Don’t miss the unique Christmas market that Budapest hosts every year during the Festive season.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
(Breakfast)
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings
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My husband and I went on our first trip from Amsterdam to Basel. It was so great and as it was my first big OE the sights were very breath-taking.
The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lo...
Great Staff
The staff was interactive, polite, and memorable. We were lucky enough to have met and interacted with the staff on 2 different boats. Avalon handled the necessary c...
Avalon consistency—good!
Cabins always great. Food very good. I wish there were semi-dry white wine offered at dinner. (Rieslings, not dry). Christmas market in Colmar was not enjoyable, way...
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Accommodation
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.
Zurich
Switzerland
Zuerich Flughafen
InterContinental Budapest
Few would argue the InterContinental Budapest is in the city's best location: right on the Danube across from Castle Hill and the Royal Palace. With the Chain Bridge and the Parliament just steps away, there's no shortage of superb sightseeing opportunities. The Váci Utca shopping street, Central Market Hall and the Gellért Baths are also nearby.
Budapest
Hungary
Apaczai Csere Janos utca 12-14
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