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Evening light over Nuremberg

Christmastime from Vienna to Basel

Example 16 Day Cruise aboard Avalon Envision
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Begin this journey in Vienna with a culinary tour in the Christmas markets of the City of Music. Sail through the wonderful Wachau Valley with visits to Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey. Browse through the shining Christmas markets in Passau, then sail to Regensburg for Christkindlesmarkt shopping and a visit to Nuremberg. Tour the city of seven hills of the Imperial Dynasties. Visit a quaint Bavarian Main River village and take an excursion to Rüdesheim in the Rhine Valley wine region to experience the joyful Mechanical Music Museum. Enjoy Christmas market lights and delights through Heidelberg and Speyer before sailing to Strasbourg for the La Petite France district and shimmering Christmas markets. Continue to the Black Forest for a traditional Bavarian Christmas atmosphere.
Enjoy time in the cultural hub of ViennaEvening lights in beautiful RegensburgEvening in FrankfurtBasel at Christmas, SwitzerlandVisit beautiful and historic StrasbourgEvening light over Nuremberg
Highlights
  • Join a culinary tour of Vienna’s magical Christmas Advent Markets
  • Marvel at the Benedictine Abbey on a tour in Melk
  • Experience local Christmas traditions of the magical Black Forest
  • Visit the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum in Rothenburg
  • Visit the Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria in Regensburg
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Vienna, Austria | Embark

Welcome to Austria. Your suite ship is ready for boarding. Flights into Vienna must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be onboard the ship by 5 pm.

Indulge in traditional holiday fare and hot libations to warm your heart and soul before boarding.

Day 2: Vienna

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>Classic: Take a guided tour of Vienna to see the Imperial Palace complex, the winter residence of the Imperial family, OR:

Discovery: Join a Guided Culinary Tour of Vienna’s magical Christmas advent markets to sample Sachertorte and Apfelstrudel.

You may join a guided optional tour of Schönbrunn Palace—the summer home of the Habsburg dynasty for 300 years. Spend free time on your own to enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt, or relax by the fire’s glow in a Viennese café this evening.

Alternatively, 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.
 

Day 3: Melk | Grein

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>Classic: Take a guided tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings.

Discovery: Enjoy an Austrian cookie tasting on board while sailing to Grein.

Classic: Take a guided walk of Grein, including its historic theater, the oldest in Austria still holding regular performances.

Enjoy live entertainment onboard.

Day 4: Passau

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>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 Sound of Music's setting and learn the story behind the beloved Christmas hymn, Silent Night.

Day 5: Regensburg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Strong>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: Later, indulge in an onboard beer tasting to sample regional German brews.

Enjoy live entertainment onboard.

Day 6: Nuremberg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Robust>Discovery: Enjoy a Christmas traditions lecture on board while sailing this morning.

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 on your own to browse the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg. Sample favorite Bavarian fare—from dozens of bratwurst varieties, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and countless other culinary delights of the Christkindlmarkt.

Day 7: Nuremberg | Munich

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Strong>Classic: Enjoy a guided city tour that shows 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 your ship in Nuremberg in the late afternoon.

Day 8: Nuremberg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Day 9: Bamberg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Strong>Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Bamberg, the 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.

Day 10: Wurzburg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>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 traditional German Christmas decorations collection.

Spend free time enjoying the festive, warm glow of Wurzburg’s Christmas markets.

Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.

Day 11: Main River Village

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Strong>Classic: Take a guided tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.

Discovery: Join a cookie-baking demonstration onboard your ship while sailing.

Day 12: Frankfurt | Rüdesheim

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>Discovery: Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim, enjoy a local special treat.

Day 13: Heidelberg | Speyer

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>Classic: 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.

Explore at your own pace to soak up the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of these sparkling winter wonderlands.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Day 14: Strasbourg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>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 pleasures of the season.

Day 15: Breisach

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
strong>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. Alternatively, spend your afternoon leisurely browsing Breisach’s lovely Christmas market to sample bretzels, mulled wine and Black Forest cake.

Day 16: Basel, Switzerland | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am.

Ship/Hotel

Avalon Envision

Avalon Envision
Avalon Envision Dining Room
Avalon Envision Bar

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
Avalon Envision Stateroom
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Cat. E
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Complimentary bottled water, Individual climate control, Mirror in the bathroom, Full shower with glass door, Vanity, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets.
Avalon Envision Stateroom
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Cat. D
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Complimentary bottled water, Individual climate control, Mirror in the bathroom, Full shower with glass door, Vanity, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets.
Avalon Envision Panorama SuiteAvalon Envision Panorama SuiteAvalon Envision Panorama Suite Bathroom
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Cat. B
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, In-room safe, Contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets.
Avalon Envision Panorama SuiteAvalon Envision Panorama SuiteAvalon Envision Panorama Suite Bathroom
Select a Date
Cat. A
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, In-room safe, contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets.
Avalon Envision Panorama SuiteAvalon Envision Panorama SuiteAvalon Envision Panorama Suite Bathroom
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Cat. P
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, In-room safe, Contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets
Avalon Envision Royal Suite
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Royal Suite
Royal Suite: 300 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, Marble countertops in the bathroom, Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Luxurious mattress toppers, European-style duvets.
Included
  • 15 Breakfasts, 14 Lunches, 15 Dinners
  • 15 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Onboard Adventure Center with active gear, bikes, maps, canoe, kayak and jogging excursions
  • Wifi
  • Complimentary fresh fruit available daily
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
  • Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day
  • Panoramic windows
  • Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director
  • Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges
  • Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with every lunch and dinner
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or on board your vessel
  • Port Fees
  • Porterage
  • Passport or Visa fees

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