Itinerary
- Day 1
Zürich or Basel to Breisach
Your ship boards by 5 pm, so you'll need to arrive by 3 pm. Once you're settled, head into the city center to check out the Christmas setup with festive lights everywhere. Grab some waffles, gingerbread, or Swiss raclette from the local vendors, then return to the ship for your evening departure.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through city centre
- Browse Christmas delicacies including waffles, gingerbread, sweets and Swiss raclette
- Day 2
Breisach to Strasbourg
You have options this morning. Either take a guided tour through Freiburg's medieval streets in the Black Forest, or spend time exploring local Christmas traditions in the region itself. In the afternoon, you can either visit Colmar's charming streets or browse Breisach's Christmas market. Back on the ship this evening, there's live entertainment scheduled.
- 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
- Guided tour to the Black Forest to experience local traditions and Christmas mood
- Live entertainment on board
Optional Activities
- Guided optional excursion to visit the 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
Landmarks Black Forest Freiburg Medieval City Centre Colmar - Day 3
Strasbourg
A guided tour takes you through Strasbourg to see the gothic cathedral with its historic murals and the famous astronomical clock. After that, you'll walk through La Petite France with its narrow streets and canals. You can join an optional excursion to an Alsace wine village, or spend your afternoon wandering the winter markets instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City sightseeing including the city's gothic, stained-glass cathedral with celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock
- Visit 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 District - Day 4
Speyer to Frankfurt
The morning includes a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle where you'll see renaissance ruins and the Great Vat, the world's largest wine barrel. Afterward, browse the Christmas markets in town or head to Speyer to check out their holiday market instead. Either way, you'll have time to walk around and find seasonal treats.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour including magnificent Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime with the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure and the Great Vat (world's largest wine barrel)
- Visit local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg
Optional Activities
- Enjoy a relaxing morning and explore the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of Speyer Christmas markets
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle - Day 5
Frankfurt to Main River Village
Visit the Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim for something different - it's a one-of-a-kind collection of historical instruments. The museum comes with a special treat included. After you're done, head out to explore the Christmas markets throughout the city where you'll find holiday decorations and seasonal crafts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim
Optional Activities
- Browse tantalizing treats and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city
Landmarks Mechanical Music Museum - Day 6
Main River Village to Würzburg
This morning there's a German cookie-baking demonstration happening on board while you sail. Later, you'll dock at a village along the Main River for a guided walking tour. By evening, live entertainment is scheduled as the ship continues toward Würzburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- German cookie-baking demonstration on board while sailing
- Guided tour of a picturesque village along the Main River
- Live entertainment on board
- Day 7
Würzburg to Bamberg
A guided tour covers Würzburg, known as the Pearl of the Romantic Road, including the Old Main Bridge, a fortress with great views, and the baroque Bishop's Residence. You can optionally visit Rothenburg and the Käthe Wohlfahrt museum with its huge collection of traditional German Christmas decorations. The rest of the day you have free time to walk through Würzburg's Christmas markets.
- 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 the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg
- Visit Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum (world's most extensive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations)
- Enjoy free time exploring the festive, warm glow of Würzburg's Christmas markets
Landmarks Old Main Bridge Bishop's Residence Rothenburg Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas Museum - Day 8
Bamberg to Nuremberg
There's a Christmas traditions lecture on board while you sail into Bamberg. Once there, a guided tour takes you through this medieval city, and you'll see dozens of nativity scenes from tiny displays to full-size ones throughout the streets. Free time after lets you browse the markets and try local food like dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale. Live entertainment happens later on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Christmas traditions lecture on board 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)
- Live entertainment on board
Optional Activities
- Free time to enjoy the quaint Christmas markets
- Sample traditional German dumplings, sausage, and a glass of hearty Bavarian ale
Landmarks Bamberg - Day 9
Nuremberg
Choose between a guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval buildings, the gilded fountain, gothic cathedral and Kaiserburg Castle, or a historical tour of the Nuremberg Rally Grounds. Either way, you'll have free time at Nuremberg's famous Christkindlesmarkt where you can sample bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and other seasonal specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle
- Guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds (used by the Third Reich)
Optional Activities
- Browse the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg
- Sample Bavarian fare including bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and Christkindlesmarkt culinary delights
Landmarks Kaiserburg Castle Nuremberg Rally Grounds - Day 10
Nuremberg
This morning includes breakfast before you disembark from the ship. You'll leave with memories of the Christmas markets, German holiday traditions, and your time on the river cruise through the Romantic Rhine region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
