Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2026

8 days

•

From Basel to Amsterdam

4.6 (63 reviews)

View all

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

Travel inspiration for similar adventures
Alerts of the newest adventure deals

Plan your adventure:

Gold Operator: Avalon Waterways
River Cruise: Cruise scenic waterways for 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+

TourRadar earns higher commission on featured adventures here.

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Basel
Basel
Meals
Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Basel during free time
Day 2
Breisach - Black Forest
Breisach - Black Forest
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour to Black Forest with local traditions and Christmas experiences
- Guided Tour to Freiburg's medieval city center
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village
Landmarks
Black Forest
Freiburg
Colmar
Day 3
Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City Sightseeing Tour including Strasbourg's Gothic cathedral, stained-glass, astronomical clock, and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Explore Strasbourg's French winter markets during free time
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace's wine country
Landmarks
Strasbourg Cathedral
La Petite France
Day 4
Mainz - Heidelberg
Mainz - Heidelberg
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime with Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel)
- Guided City Walk in Mainz with visit to Gutenberg Museum
Optional Activities
- Visit local Christmas market during free time
Landmarks
Heidelberg Castle
Gutenberg Museum
Day 5
Rüdesheim - Rhine Gorge - Koblenz
Rüdesheim - Rhine Gorge - Koblenz
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting
Optional Activities
- Enjoy Rüdesheim's Christmas markets and hot mulled wine during free time
- Explore Koblenz's Christmas markets during free time
Landmarks
Mechanical Music Museum
Rhine Gorge
Rock of the Lorelei
Day 6
Cologne
Cologne
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with Gothic cathedral
- Onboard lecture about European Christmas traditions
Optional Activities
- Enjoy Cologne's Christmas markets during free time
Landmarks
Cologne Cathedral
Day 7
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam during free time
Landmarks
Amsterdam Canals
Day 8
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Black Forest
Freiburg
Colmar

Landmarks
Strasbourg Cathedral
La Petite France

Landmarks
Heidelberg Castle
Gutenberg Museum

Landmarks
Mechanical Music Museum
Rhine Gorge
Rock of the Lorelei

Landmarks
Cologne Cathedral

Landmarks
Amsterdam Canals

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 (236 reviews)
Response time: within 1 day
Response rate: 83%
Cancellation policy: Learn more

Avalon Waterways Ship

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 / Suites Deck Plans Dining

Traveler Reviews

4.6

Overall rating based on 63 Reviews

Itinerary
4.6
Transport
4.7
Guide
4.6
Accommodation
4.7
Food
4.7
Tour Operator
4.6

Klaus5.0•July 2024
Led by Nour
ship was excellent, food and drinks were great, adventures perfectly organized,all crew members were extremely...
Show more
Traveled in July 2024
Lindsay4.0•April 2024
Great service, good guides, excellent food
Traveled in April 2024
Yungchen2.0•April 2023
1. The WIFI solution is really poor. Most of time on ship has no connection. 2. It seemed to be lack of staff. The...
1. The WIFI solution is really poor. Most of time on ship has no connection. 2. It seemed to be lack of staff. The food was delivered slowly. We are waiting "way much longer" in between appetizer/soup and main courses. 3. Many dishes were not cleaned properly. "Cleaned" mugs have coffee print and "cleaned" soup bowls were oily, Overall, this ship didn't have the same quality I took for Danube River cruise before pandemic.Show more
Traveled in April 2023
Roxana4.0•April 2023
The Wi-Fi didn’t work as expected and it caused quite an inconvenience. The excursion plan is not as clear either....
Show more
Traveled in April 2023
Julie5.0•October 2022
Wonderful cruise, very comfortable, food was great and staff very friendly.
Traveled in October 2022
George5.0•September 2022
Wonderful!! Food and staff were above average par none!!!
Traveled in August 2022
Walter4.0•August 2022
The crew was incredible. I felt a bit duped by the lack of transparency re the Rhine’s low levels. The cruise...
Show more
Traveled in July 2022
Larry5.0•August 2022
Overall, our trip was excellent. There was a disruption during the river cruise because water levels were too low...
Overall, our trip was excellent. There was a disruption during the river cruise because water levels were too low for our ship to continue. The Avalon Vista crew did a great job of overcoming this obstacle by providing transportation, meals, and a hotel room until we could be accommodated on the Avalon Panorama. The ships were clean. Food and service was great on both ships was great. Many of the tour guides on our excursions were knowledgeable and brought life to the history we viewed, especially in Amsterdam and London. It was also comforting to know there was always someone there who spoke the local language and could help us do transfers onto trains and other transportation. Not a complaint, but just as suggestion, I would have preferred to have one less night in Lake Como and and an additional night in Lucerne. We were told that Avalon was going to credit our account for the inconvenience experienced due to the cruise disruption. I checked my credit card statement and there has been no credit received. I will consider traveling again on Avalon and/or using Tour Radar.Show more
Traveled in August 2022
Tom3.0•July 2022
A few of the cruise ports were in heavy industrial areas - therefore walking to city centers was not an easy option....
Show more
Traveled in July 2022
Max4.0•July 2022
We had an excellent experience, the ship was great, service was great, personnel were so attentive, professional,...
Show more
Traveled in June 2022

Dates & Prices

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!

Ends on 21 Oct, 2026

From Tuesday
3 Nov, 2026
To Tuesday
10 Nov, 2026
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon View
From:
US$4,099 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$231
Wine Lovers (Northbound) Version
View this tour
From Tuesday
17 Nov, 2026
To Tuesday
24 Nov, 2026
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon View
From:
US$3,799 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$231
Wine Lovers (Northbound) Version
View this tour
From Tuesday
26 Oct, 2027
To Tuesday
2 Nov, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon View
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
2027, Wine Lovers (Northbound) Version
View this tour
From Tuesday
9 Nov, 2027
To Tuesday
16 Nov, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon View
From:
US$4,599 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
2027, Wine Lovers (Northbound) Version
View this tour
From Tuesday
16 Nov, 2027
To Tuesday
23 Nov, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Envision
From:
US$4,299 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
2027, Wine Lovers (Northbound) Version
View this tour
From Tuesday
24 Oct, 2028
To Tuesday
31 Oct, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Envision
From:
US$4,799 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Taxes
$252
2027, Wine Lovers (Northbound) Version
View this tour
From Tuesday
24 Oct, 2028
To Tuesday
31 Oct, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Envision
From:
US$4,799 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Taxes
$252
2028, Wine Lovers (Northbound) Version
View this tour

Why book with TourRadar?

Trusted and vetted operators
Rated excellent on
Best price guarantee

24/7 customer support
Unlock exclusive TourRadar+ member savings

To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in United States, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.

More benefits

Can’t find the answer to your question?

Reach out to the experts at Avalon Waterways with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

Trip essentials

Good to know

Tour ID: 288136

The practical details for your trip across Switzerland, Germany, France and Netherlands: money, plugs and flexible ways to pay, all in one place.

Have a question? Chat with a travel expert

Pay in installments
Spread the cost in interest-free biweekly installments of $235.
Deposit only
Book now with just a $250 deposit. The remaining balance is due 95 days before departure.
2 local currencies
You’ll encounter Euro in France, Germany and Netherlands, Swiss Franc in Switzerland.
Plug types C, E, F, J
You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Switzerland, Germany, France and Netherlands.

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 types C, E, F, J.
- Type C
  Only used in France, Germany and Netherlands
- Type E
  Only used in France
- Type F
  Only used in Germany and Netherlands
- Type J
  Only used in Switzerland
Visa
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you stay. We can’t process visas for you, but here’s a quick indication for this trip.
This is only an indication. Visa rules depend on your passport, trip length and purpose. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.
Payment information
Pay now
A $250 deposit
Balance due
95 days before departure
Installments
Interest-free, every two weeks
Currency
USD
Booking fee
None
Book now with just a $250 deposit and pay the rest later. The remaining balance is due 95 days before departure, charged automatically to your card, or you can split it into interest-free biweekly installments of $235 at checkout. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before January 18th, 2027 will need to be paid in full at checkout.
Accepted for Avalon Waterways tours
Visa
Maestro
Mastercard
American Express
PayPal
TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation terms may vary per tour. Please check for the full cancellation policy here.
Checking the cancellation terms for this tour…
Your money is protected. TourRadar is an authorized agent of Avalon Waterways, and we handle payments so you don’t have to. Payment is securely transferred to the operator based on your departure date.
Insurance
Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.
Checking which travel protection options are available for you…
Best price guarantee
Found a lower price for the same tour elsewhere? We work directly with every tour operator, so we can match it.
How it works
Find a lower price
Spot the same tour cheaper on another site or agency.
Send us the quote
Contact us before you book.
We match it
If the quote qualifies, you book with us at that price.
Your quote needs
Same tour and operator
Same start and end dates
Same number of travelers
Same inclusions and destinations
Same booking and cancellation terms, in the same currency
A link to the site or agency offering it
What doesn’t count
Quotes issued more than 24 hours ago
Cash back or loyalty program rebates
Itineraries that are similar but not identical
Similar tours run by a different operator
Bookings already confirmed on TourRadar
Every new booking also counts toward your , which unlocks extra savings.
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
Hawaii Tours
Greece Island Hopper featuring Athens, Mykono…
Annapurna View Trek
Andes, Iguassu & Beyond
America's National Parks
4-Day Boteti, Moremi Game Reserve & Khwai Saf…
Everest Base Camp Trek

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

Travel inspiration for similar adventures
Alerts of the newest adventure deals

Plan your adventure:

Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2026

No departure dates available

Explore our featured adventures

Itinerary

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Avalon Waterways Ship

Traveler Reviews

Dates & Prices

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

Pay in installments

Deposit only

2 local currencies

Plug types C, E, F, J

Currencies

Plugs & adapters

Visa

Payment information

Accepted for Avalon Waterways tours

Cancellation Policy

Insurance

Best price guarantee

How it works

Your quote needs

What doesn’t count

Accessibility

People also viewed

No departure dates available

Earn while you share

Keep Exploring Europe

Like this Moment?