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Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg 2026
10 Day River Cruise Basel to Nuremberg
Tour Description:
Experience the holiday season like never before with a Christmastime cruise through Germany and France. From the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets, you’ll discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music and merriment. Visit glowing German Christkindlesmarkt stalls as you cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers through Heidelberg, a Main river village, Wurzburg, Bamberg, and Nuremberg.
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Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingNotes:
- 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.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 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
Day 2
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST History, Artistry, 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:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood.
In the afternoon, 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 pretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 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
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 4
SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION Winter Wonders and a Wine Barrel 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 After the tour, visit the local German Christmas Markets in Heidelberg.
Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing morning and explore the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of Speyer Christmas markets.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5
FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
CLASSIC Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim, enjoy a special treat.
Don’t miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 6
MAIN RIVER VILLAGE Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights in Beautiful Bavaria
DISCOVERY Join a German Cookie-Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing.
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 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
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 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 Christkindlesmarkt culinary delights.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning
Accommodations
Accommodations| Zurich | Nuremberg |
Radisson Blu Airport
Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Zuerich Flughafen Zurich Switzerland
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.
Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
Zuerich Flughafen Zurich Switzerland
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.
