Itinerary
- Day 1
Zurich or Basel to Switzerland
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through city center
- Enjoy festive illumination
- Sample Christmas delicacies including waffles, gingerbread, sweets, and Swiss raclette
- Day 2
Freiburg and Black Forest
- 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 magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and vibrant Christmas mood
Optional Activities
- Guided optional excursion to the charming village of Colmar to visit half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings
- Browse Breisach's Christmas market and sample pretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Freiburg Old Town Black Forest Colmar - Day 3
Strasbourg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City sightseeing including gothic 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
- Browse glowing winter markets of Strasbourg
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France - Day 4
Speyer and Heidelberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour including magnificent Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime with views of Renaissance ruins and the Great Vat (world's largest wine barrel)
- Visit local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg
Optional Activities
- Explore Speyer Christmas markets at your own pace
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle - Day 5
Frankfurt to Rüdesheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Mechanical Music Museum
Landmarks Mechanical Music Museum Main River - Day 6
Main River Village to Würzburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- German cookie baking demonstration on board ship while sailing
- Guided tour of a picturesque village along the Main River
Optional Activities
- Live entertainment onboard
- Day 7
Würzburg and Rothenburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of the "Pearl of the Romantic Road" featuring 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—world's most extensive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations
- Enjoy festive, warm glow of Würzburg's Christmas markets
Landmarks Würzburg Old Main Bridge Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Day 8
Bamberg
- 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
Optional Activities
- Enjoy quaint Christmas markets
- Sample traditional German dumplings, sausage, and hearty Bavarian ale
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks Bamberg - Day 9
Nuremberg
- 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 Christmas markets of Nuremberg
- Sample Bavarian fare including bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and Christkindlesmarkt culinary delights
Landmarks Kaiserburg Castle Nuremberg Cathedral Nuremberg Rally Grounds - Day 10
Nuremberg to Munich
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Munich
- Visit to Nymphenburg Palace
- View of Old Town Hall and New Town Hall at Marienplatz
Landmarks Nymphenburg Palace Marienplatz Old Town Hall New Town Hall - Day 11
Nuremberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through festively lit streets of Nuremberg
- Shop for last-minute Christmas gifts
- Ask Cruise Director for suggestions of things to do
- Live entertainment on board
- Day 12
Regensburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Regensburg including Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria
- Explore Walhalla by bike with Adventure Host
- Christmas Markets of Regensburg
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
Landmarks Altes Rathaus Porta Pretoria Walhalla Regensburg Christmas Markets - Day 13
Passau and Salzburg (Optional)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city walk to learn about "City of Three Rivers"
Optional Activities
- Spend free time in Passau's charming Christkindlesmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Full-day guided optional excursion to Salzburg—city of Mozart—to learn how Austrians celebrate Christmas
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Salzburg 
- Day 14
Melk to Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey featuring frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ
- Austrian cookie tasting while sailing to Vienna
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Royal Waltz Concert for unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall
Landmarks Melk Abbey 
- Day 15
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Vienna's gilded landmarks including Imperial Palace complex—winter residence of the Imperial Family—iconic Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Enjoy Christkindlesmarkt
- Relax by the fire's glow in a Viennese café
- Guided optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg Empire
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Imperial Palace Vienna State Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Schönbrunn Palace 
- Day 16
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city sightseeing including iconic Heroes' Square
Optional Activities
- Scenic hike above the Danube
- Enjoy Budapest's cafés, pubs, or nightlife
- Visit unique Budapest Christmas market
Landmarks Heroes' Square - Day 17
Disembarkation
- Meals
- Breakfast
