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Festive Season on the Romantic Rhine (Southbound)
Operated by Avalon
Tripcode: WAZ-T0
Overview
Destination:
Netherlands,
Switzerland,
Start:Amsterdam, Netherlands
Finish:Zurich, Switzerland
Finish:Zurich, Switzerland
Duration:8 days
Type:Group tour (max 90)
Travel Period
November 2027 - November 2027
8 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel
The holidays are right around the corner of each bend on this festive river cruise on the Rhine River! You’ll also feel the cheer of festivities underway as you touch in Holland, France, and Switzerland for the perfect way to celebrate the start of the festive season. Experience Europe’s storybook villages and captivating cities as they’re a buzz with the first glow of holiday cheer. Let the festivities begin by embarking on your Rhine River cruise in Holland’s 700-year-old city of the Golden Age—Amsterdam—to board your festively adorned Avalon Suite Ship to sail into the holiday season. Savor hot chocolate by candlelight, learn cherished holiday recipes passed down through generations and join in the joyful sounds of carols drifting through the ship. Explore Cologne’s 2,000-year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture and magnificent twin-spired cathedral. The oohs and awes keep coming while sailing through the Rhine River’s most dramatically beautiful views through the Rhine Gorge—where ancient castles stand sentry from cliffs 400 feet above the water. Cruise to the charming, cheerful town of Rüdesheim, where coffee, wine, and music are always on the menu, including a favorite stop at Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Visit the red-walled castle ruins in Heidelberg and see the stunning sights of Strasbourg, France to marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—home to fairytale forests, Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock, of course! This Rhine River festive river cruise is the perfect way to ring in the season and revisit in every Christmas memory to come. Note: While this cruise features early holiday activities and festive atmosphere along the Danube, the official opening of Christmas Markets varies by city and may not coincide with specific cruise departures. Information specific to each city can be found on that city’s tourism website.
All This. Included
Note: While this cruise features early holiday activities and festive atmosphere along the Danube, the official opening of Christmas Markets varies by city and may not coincide with specific cruise departures. Information specific to each city can be found on that city’s tourism website.
The holidays are right around the corner of each bend on this festive river cruise on the Rhine River! You’ll also feel the cheer of festivities underway as you touch in Holland, France, and Switzerland for the perfect way to celebrate the start of the festive season. Experience Europe’s storybook villages and captivating cities as they’re a buzz with the first glow of holiday cheer. Let the festivities begin by embarking on your Rhine River cruise in Holland’s 700-year-old city of the Golden Age—Amsterdam—to board your festively adorned Avalon Suite Ship to sail into the holiday season. Savor hot chocolate by candlelight, learn cherished holiday recipes passed down through generations and join in the joyful sounds of carols drifting through the ship. Explore Cologne’s 2,000-year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture and magnificent twin-spired cathedral. The oohs and awes keep coming while sailing through the Rhine River’s most dramatically beautiful views through the Rhine Gorge—where ancient castles stand sentry from cliffs 400 feet above the water. Cruise to the charming, cheerful town of Rüdesheim, where coffee, wine, and music are always on the menu, including a favorite stop at Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Visit the red-walled castle ruins in Heidelberg and see the stunning sights of Strasbourg, France to marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—home to fairytale forests, Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock, of course! This Rhine River festive river cruise is the perfect way to ring in the season and revisit in every Christmas memory to come. Note: While this cruise features early holiday activities and festive atmosphere along the Danube, the official opening of Christmas Markets varies by city and may not coincide with specific cruise departures. Information specific to each city can be found on that city’s tourism website.
All This. Included
Note: While this cruise features early holiday activities and festive atmosphere along the Danube, the official opening of Christmas Markets varies by city and may not coincide with specific cruise departures. Information specific to each city can be found on that city’s tourism website.
Highlights:
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allAMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Holland. Your Festive Suite Ship® Awaits!Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Unwrap your European vacation to explore the festivities in Amsterdam with free time to enjoy the warmth and glow of festive season. Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses in the graceful countryside. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (D)
AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful AmsterdamJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.CLASSIC Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city, OR: CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age." This afternoon, choose from Guided Optional Excursions or enjoy free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops as the Golden City begins to shine even more with festive season atmosphere.AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE(B,L,D)
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Prost! Warm Toasts to the Festive SeasonDISCOVERY Learn about cherished Christmas traditions of Germany with an onboard presentation. ACTIVE Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites. Breath the Festive atmosphere with a taste of traditional German pastries, typical of the Festive time, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne beneath the magnificent twin-steeples soaring atop its Gothic cathedral. Feel your spirits rise with a taste of traditional German pastries, particularly popular in the festive season with stops to taste authentically delicious Weckmännchen, Bethmännchen, and Stollen. DISCOVERY Toast the holidays with an onboard beer tasting of Glühbier, a traditional warm, spiced beer perfect for the sweater weather!Later, local musicians liven the festivities with live entertainment on board. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)
RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM
Making Merry in Wine CountryEn route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim; enjoy a spirited tasting of the rich Rüdesheimer coffee OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee, OR:DISCOVERY Take a Guided Visit to the historic 18th-century wooden-barrel cellar of Johannisberg Castle and enjoy a delicious wine tasting.DISCOVERY Learn the art of preparing the perfect mulled wine with an onboard demonstration—a perfect start to the holiday season. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN(B,L,D)
LUDWIGSHAFEN. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
Castle Walls and the World’s Biggest Wine BarrelACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Schwetzingen Palace—the heart of a stunning site consisting of the palace, palace gardens, and historic palace square, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent Renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel.” Then, satisfy your sweet tooth in the tradition of German Christmas cookies and pastries at a local café. DISCOVERY Roll up your sleeves on board your ship to master the art of preparing traditional truffles and praliné, a key caramelized ingredient in many German chocolates, pastries, and confections. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL (B,L,D)
KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Grand Cathedral and La Petite FranceAsk about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.ACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. Unlock your inner elf to learn the art of handmade Christmas decorations with the guidance of local craftsmen. Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France or visit Alsace’s wine country today.Alternatively, spend time on your own in Strasbourg to take in the festive atmosphere and treats in the French tradition. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black ForestCLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest where fairytales come true with cherry cake and cuckoo clocks, OR: 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.You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL(B,L,D)
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)
Dates
Select a date or submit general enquiry
Operator
Avalon Waterways
Designed from the bottom up for comfort, space, and room to dream, each Avalon Suite Ship consists of 80% Panorama Suites—offering the widest view in river cruising. Larger suites result in fewer passengers, so you’ll never feel crowded anywhere on board. From reclining on the open-air Sky Deck, relaxing in the spacious Panorama Lounge, or feeling the wind over the bough In the Observation Lounge, there’s never a shortage of comfortable spots to stretch out, day dream, or just watch the world go by. From our inception, Avalon Waterways has cast a light on the world’s most fascinating places and people – inviting wayfarers and wanderers like you to bask in their glory, intrigue and wonder. Along the way, we’ve helped travellers uncover ancient traditions while meeting the locals dedicated to preserving them; to meander historic hallways while giving back to the societies that safeguard them; and to put down the guidebooks and pick up a greater understanding of the world and its people.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
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