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2026

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2028

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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2026

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2028

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Who is travelling?

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2

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From
US $5,998 per person

Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine (Southbound) 2026

8 days
•
From Amsterdam to Basel
4.6
234 traveler reviews
  • Canal with tour boat passing through.
  • Tulips in full bloom by a canal.
  • Panoramic view of Cologne with the Cathedral.
  • Aerial view of Cologne at sunset.
  • St. Stephen's Cathedral with a clear blue sky.
    View all
  • Aerial view of a cathedral by the Rhine River.
  • Colorful traditional wooden houses by a canal.
  • Aerial view of Strasbourg Cathedral and city.
  • Traditional Alsatian houses by a canal.
  • A church on a hill with surrounding town.
    View all
From
US $5,998 per person
+ $231 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:
Gold Operator
Avalon Waterways
River Cruise
Scenic waterways and effortless exploration
Group Tour
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 30 - 160
Ages 8+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Amsterdam

    Meals
    Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Free day to explore Amsterdam and enjoy Christmas traditions
  2. Day 2

    Amsterdam

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age"
  3. Day 3

    Cologne

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture
    • Guided City Walk of Cologne with twin-steepled gothic cathedral

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Cologne's Christmas markets
    Landmarks
    Cologne Cathedral
  4. Day 4

    Rhine Gorge - Rüdesheim

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Sailing through Rhine Gorge with views of ancient castles and Rock of the Lorelei
    • Guided Tour of the Mechanical Music Museum
    • Tasting of authentic Rücdesheimer coffee

    Optional Activities

    • Explore tantalizing treats and seasonal handiwork in winter wonderland displays
    • Browse Christmas markets
    Landmarks
    Rhine Gorge
    Rock of the Lorelei
    Mechanical Music Museum
  5. Day 5

    Mainz - Heidelberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle with view of Great Vat ("World's Largest Wine Barrel")
    • Guided City Walk including visit to Gutenberg Museum
    Landmarks
    Heidelberg Castle
    Gutenberg Museum
  6. Day 6

    Kehl - Strasbourg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • City Sightseeing Tour of Strasbourg including Gothic cathedral with ancient murals and astronomical clock, and La Petite France District

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Strasbourg's French winter markets
    • Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace's wine country
    Landmarks
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    La Petite France
  7. Day 7

    Breisach - Black Forest

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Full-day Guided Tour to Black Forest experiencing local traditions and Christmas mood
    • Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center with Black Forest scenery
    • Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village
    Landmarks
    Black Forest
    Freiburg
    Colmar
  8. Day 8

    Basel

    Meals
    Breakfast

Want to read it later?

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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Avalon Waterways

Gold Operator
Rating
4.6(234 reviews)
Response time
within 2 days
Response rate
82%
Cancellation policy

Avalon Waterways Ship

  • Avalon View
    Avalon View
    The Avalon View is the newest addition to the 2020 Avalon Suite Ship fleet. With the youngest fleet of ships on Europe's waterways, Avalon W… Read more
    Capacity
    Built
    2019
    Guests
    166
    Crew
    47
    Length
    443 ft / 135 m
    Width
    12m / 39 ft
    Suites
    67
    Staterooms
    16
    Registry
    Gross Tonnage
    2775 gt
    Electricity
    Beam
    Cruising Speed
    12 kn / 22 kph / 14 mph
    Generators
    Engines
    Draft
    Staterooms / SuitesDeck PlansDining

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

  • Charles
    September 8th, 2025
    We would like to thank our Statesman Attendee that took care of all our needs in our room 107. He was friendly and...
    Show more
  • Klaus
    July 28th, 2024
    ship was excellent, food and drinks were great, adventures perfectly organized,all crew members were extremely...
    Show more
  • Lisa
    May 12th, 2024
    This was our first cruise and we enjoyed it very much. The ship was immaculate, the staff was lovely, and the food...
    Show more

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

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2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
  • From Tuesday
    1 Dec, 2026
    To Tuesday
    8 Dec, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Avalon Envision
    From:
    US $6,248 per person
    Multiple Room Types
    Taxes
    $231
  • From Tuesday
    8 Dec, 2026
    To Tuesday
    15 Dec, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Avalon View
    From:
    US $8,098 per person
    Multiple Room Types
    Taxes
    $231
  • From Tuesday
    15 Dec, 2026
    To Tuesday
    22 Dec, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Avalon Envision
    From:
    US $5,998 per person
    Multiple Room Types
    Taxes
    $231

Want to read it later?

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Can’t find the answer to your question?
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From
US $5,998 per person
+ $231 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

Best price guarantee Learn More

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Good to Know

Tour ID: 288026

  • Currencies
    €
    Euro
    France, Germany and Netherlands
    Fr.
    Swiss Franc
    Switzerland
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type J.

    Type J
    Switzerland
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Germany.Switzerland. Ideally 6 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before August 6th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 6th, 2026, a minimum payment of $250 is required to confirm your booking with Avalon Waterways. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Avalon Waterways" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
  • People also viewed

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Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec