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Christmastime from Basel to Vienna 2025
16 Days Basel to Vienna
Tour Description:
Step aboard your Avalon Suite Ship® festively decorated and beautifully dressed in Christmas colors of the season. Embark on this festive Christmastime river cruise from Switzerland to Austria. Experience the holiday season like never before, from the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets. Discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, your Avalon Suite Ship® is decked out for the holidays, brimming in holiday spirit. See the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music, peace, and merriment. Visit glowing German Christkindlesmarkt stalls as you cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers from Heidelberg to Passau—and quaint villages in between. Continue in the holiday glow in Austria to visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey in Melk, then spectacular Vienna for a tour through the Christmas markets to get a taste of all the best flavors Austria offers during this sparkling time of year on the Danube River. A perfect ending to a festive river cruise showing you some of the best that Germany and Austria have to offer this time of year!
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Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Basel (Embarkation): | Onboard welcome reception |
| Day 2 Breisach: | Choice of excursion to Black Forest or Freiburg sightseeing |
| Day 3 Strasbourg: | Guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; Christmas market |
| Day 4 Speyer. Excursion to Heidelberg: | Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vatfree time for Christmas market |
| Day 5 Frankfurt. Excursion to Rüdesheim: | Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; enjoy a special treat |
| Day 6 Main river village: | Guided tour |
| Day 7 Würzburg: | Guided tour, visit the Bishop’s Residence; Christmas market |
| Day 8 Bamberg: | Onboard Christmas Traditions lecture; guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; Christmas market |
| Day 9 Nuremberg: | Choice of guided tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market |
| Day 10 Nuremberg (Disembarkation). Excursion to Munich (Embarkation): | Guided sightseeing, see the Marienplatz |
| Day 11 Nuremberg: | Day at leisure to visit Christmas market |
| Day 12 Regensburg: | Guided tour; Christmas markets; onboard Christmas Traditions lecture |
| Day 13 Passau: | Guided tour; Christmas market |
| Day 14 Melk: | Guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey; onboard Austrian cookies tasting |
| Day 15 Vienna: | City sightseeing; Christmas market |
| Day 16 Vienna (Disembarkation): | Your cruise ends this morning |
Notes:
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itiner-ary 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
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Day 2
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST 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 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.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
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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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 4
SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION Winter Wonders 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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5
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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
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Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 6
MAIN RIVER VILLAGE Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
WÜRZBURG 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 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
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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
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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 Christkindlmarkt culinary delights.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION). EXCURSION TO MUNICH (EMBARKATION) This morning disembark the vessel which has brought you to Nuremberg and drive to Munich
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.
Return to Nuremberg in the late afternoon and embark on the ship which will take you to Vienna.
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Day 11
NUREMBERG Living Heritage and History Lessons
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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REGENSBURG
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 12
REGENSBURG Christmas Magic in Bavaria
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 Enjoy a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PASSAU
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 13
PASSAU Saint Stephen’s, Salzburg, and the Story of Silent Night
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 setting of The Sound of Music, and learn the story behind the beloved Christmas hymn, Silent Night.
Spend free time in Passau’s charming Christkindlmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Take a brief evening cruise to Linz and go out for music and dancing or late-night dessert before sailing to Melk.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 14
MELK, AUSTRIA Frescoes Above the Wachau Valley
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings.
DISCOVERY Enjoy an Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing through the splendid Wachau Valley to Vienna.
VIENNA
Vienna’s Winter Wonderland
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.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 15
VIENNA Royal Collections and Amusing Attractions
DISCOVERY 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 stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Spend free time on your own to enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt or relax by the fire’s glow in a Viennese café this evening.
You may join a Guided Optional Tour of Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg dynasty for 300 years.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 16
VIENNA (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
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Accommodations
Accommodations| Zurich | Vienna |
Radisson Blu Airport
Superior First-Class
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
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.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
