Itinerary
- Day 1
Basel
Basel- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Stroll through Basel city centre
- Enjoy festive illumination
- Sample Christmas delicacies (waffles, gingerbread, sweets, Swiss raclette)
- Day 2
Breisach
Breisach- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour to explore Freiburg's medieval city center sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley (Activity classic - choose this OR Black Forest tour)
- Guided tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and vibrant Christmas mood (Activity classic - choose this OR Freiburg tour)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to charming village of Colmar with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings
- Browse Breisach's Christmas market to sample pretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Freiburg Black Forest Colmar - Day 3
Strasbourg
Strasbourg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City sightseeing including the city's Gothic cathedral with celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, and the magical La Petite France district
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion in a wine country village in beautiful Alsace
- Stroll through the glowing winter markets of Strasbourg
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France 
- Day 4
Speyer to Heidelberg
Speyer to Heidelberg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour including Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat (world's largest wine barrel), plus visit to local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg (Activity discovery - choose this OR relax in Speyer)
Optional Activities
- Explore Speyer's Christmas markets with sights, sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Great Vat - Day 5
Frankfurt to Rüdesheim
Frankfurt to Rüdesheim- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience
Landmarks Mechanical Music Museum - Day 6
Main River Village
Main River Village- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- German Cookie Baking Demonstration on board the ship while sailing
- Guided tour of a picturesque village along the Main River
Optional Activities
- Live entertainment on board
- Day 7
Würzburg
Würzburg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of the 'Pearl of the Romantic Road' with Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop's Residence
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg
- Visit Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum—the world's most extensive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations
- Spend free time enjoying Würzburg's festive Christmas markets
Landmarks Würzburg Old Main Bridge Würzburg Fortress Würzburg Bishop's Residence Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Day 8
Bamberg
Bamberg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing
- 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
Optional Activities
- Enjoy quaint Christmas markets
- Sample traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Bamberg - Day 9
Nuremberg
Nuremberg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle (Activity classic - choose this OR Rally Grounds tour)
- Guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds used by the Third Reich (Activity classic - choose this OR medieval architecture tour)
Optional Activities
- Browse Christmas Markets of Nuremberg
- Sample Bavarian fare including bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and other Christkindlesmarkt culinary delights
Landmarks Kaiserburg Castle Nuremberg Gothic Cathedral Nuremberg Rally Grounds - Day 10
Nuremberg to Munich
Nuremberg to Munich- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Munich showing the highlights of fascinating Munich, including Nymphenburg Palace and Old and New Town Halls of Marienplatz
Landmarks Nymphenburg Palace Marienplatz Old Town Hall Munich New Town Hall Munich - Day 11
Nuremberg
Nuremberg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through festively lit streets
- Buy last-minute Christmas gifts
- Ask Cruise Director for suggestions of things to do
- Live entertainment on board
- Day 12
Regensburg
Regensburg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city walk to see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—entrance to the Castra Regina fortress built in 179 AD
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
Optional Activities
- Browse Regensburg's sparkling Christmas markets
- Enjoy hot-mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, or bratwurst
Landmarks Altes Rathaus Porta Pretoria - Day 13
Passau to Salzburg
Passau to Salzburg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city walk to learn more about Passau, the 'City of Three Rivers'
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg, Austria to see the setting of The Sound of Music
- Learn the story behind the beloved Christmas hymn, Silent Night
- Spend free time in Passau's charming Christkindlesmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Salzburg 
- Day 14
Melk to Vienna
Melk to Vienna- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings
- Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing through the splendid Wachau Valley
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley 
- Day 15
Vienna
Vienna- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Vienna's gilded landmarks including the Imperial Palace complex (winter residence of the Imperial Family), Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt
- Relax by the fire's glow in a Viennese café
- Guided Optional Tour of Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg dynasty for 300 years
Landmarks Hofburg Palace Vienna State Opera St. Stephen's Cathedral Schönbrunn Palace - Day 16
Vienna
Vienna- Meals
- Breakfast
