From

US $4,599 per person

Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2027

8 days

•

From Basel to Frankfurt-am-Main

4.6 (236 reviews)

View all
View all

From

US $4,599 per person

+ $252 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Pay only $250 today. The rest is due 95 days before departure. Learn more

Best price guarantee Learn More

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+

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Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Basel
Basel
Meals
Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Basel city center
- Explore Christmas market attractions
- Sample Christmas delicacies including waffles, gingerbread, sweets and Swiss raclette
Day 2
Breisach - Black Forest
Breisach - Black Forest
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour through Colmar along the canals of 'Little Venice' and past historic buildings and monuments
- Guided Tour to the Black Forest to experience local traditions and vibrant Christmas mood
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to explore Freiburg's medieval city center
- Free time to enjoy Breisach's Christmas Markets
Landmarks
Colmar
Black Forest
Freiburg
Day 3
Kehl - Strasbourg
Kehl - Strasbourg
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City Sightseeing including Strasbourg's gothic cathedral with ancient murals and astronomical clock
- Visit to La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Wandering the French winter markets of Strasbourg
Landmarks
Strasbourg Cathedral
La Petite France
Day 4
Ludwigshafen - Heidelberg
Ludwigshafen - Heidelberg
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour including Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat
- Visit to local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg
- Guided Tour of Speyer including its imperial Cathedral
- Explore Speyer Christmas markets
- Christmas carols with live entertainment on board
Landmarks
Heidelberg Castle
Speyer Cathedral
Day 5
Rüdesheim - Rhine Gorge
Rüdesheim - Rhine Gorge
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of the Mechanical Music Museum
- Tasting of authentic Rüdesheimer coffee
- Sail through the Rhine Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- View ancient castles on cliffs and the Rock of the Lorelei
Optional Activities
- Tantalizing treats and seasonal handiwork at winter markets in Rüdesheim
- Remarkable Christmas concert in a baroque venue at Engers Castle
Landmarks
Mechanical Music Museum
Rhine Gorge
Rock of the Lorelei
Engers Castle
Day 6
Cologne
Cologne
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour and Tasting at Cologne's Chocolate Museum
- Guided City Walk of Cologne including the gothic cathedral
- Onboard workshop to learn about European Christmas decorations
Optional Activities
- Free time enjoying Cologne's Christmas markets
- Remarkable Christmas concert in a baroque venue at Engers Castle
Landmarks
Cologne Chocolate Museum
Cologne Cathedral
Day 7
Mainz
Mainz
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Onboard workshop to learn about European Christmas decorations
- Guided City Walk including visit to the Gutenberg Museum
Optional Activities
- Browsing the Christmas Markets of Mainz
Landmarks
Gutenberg Museum
Day 8
Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Colmar
Black Forest
Freiburg

Landmarks
Strasbourg Cathedral
La Petite France

Landmarks
Heidelberg Castle
Speyer Cathedral

Landmarks
Mechanical Music Museum
Rhine Gorge
Rock of the Lorelei
Engers Castle

Landmarks
Cologne Chocolate Museum
Cologne Cathedral

Landmarks
Gutenberg Museum

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: 75%
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

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

Tour Operator
4.6

Pierre-Paul4.8•October 2026
This was a very enjoyable trip despite the change that had to be done due to low water levels in the river. The...
Show more
Charles5.0•September 2025
We would like to thank our Statesman Attendee that took care of all our needs in our room 107. He was friendly and...
We would like to thank our Statesman Attendee that took care of all our needs in our room 107. He was friendly and did an amazing job, Marisio our waiter served us with the highest respect and friendliness. Over all Avalon have very good staff and always a smile- nothing too much trouble. The ship was so clean, food was spectacular. We had a surprise group of singers Gwen and Charles who brought great entertainment. The other entertainer was amazing. Loved the top deck BBQ. We met lots of new friends aboard. Thank you Avalon for a trip well executed.Show more
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

Dates & Prices

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!

Ends in2d2h45m29s

From Tuesday
23 Nov, 2027
To Tuesday
30 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
From Tuesday
30 Nov, 2027
To Tuesday
7 Dec, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Envision
From:
US$6,798 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Tuesday
7 Dec, 2027
To Tuesday
14 Dec, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon View
From:
US$6,898 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Tuesday
14 Dec, 2027
To Tuesday
21 Dec, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Envision
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Saturday
2 Dec, 2028
To Saturday
9 Dec, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Vista
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Taxes
$252
2028 Version
View this tour
From Saturday
2 Dec, 2028
To Saturday
9 Dec, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Vista
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Multiple Room Types
Taxes
$252
From Saturday
9 Dec, 2028
To Saturday
16 Dec, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Panorama
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Taxes
$252
2028 Version
View this tour
From Saturday
9 Dec, 2028
To Saturday
16 Dec, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Panorama
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Multiple Room Types
Taxes
$252
From Saturday
16 Dec, 2028
To Saturday
23 Dec, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Vista
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Taxes
$252
2028 Version
View this tour
From Saturday
16 Dec, 2028
To Saturday
23 Dec, 2028
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Vista
From:
US$4,699 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Multiple Room Types
Taxes
$252

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Good to know

Tour ID: 338420

The practical details for your trip across Switzerland, Germany and France: 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 $230.
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 and Germany, Swiss Franc in Switzerland.
Plug types C, E, F, J
You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Switzerland, Germany and France.

Currencies
€
Euro
France and Germany
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 and Germany
- Type E
  Only used in France
- Type F
  Only used in Germany
- 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 $230 at checkout. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before February 11th, 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…
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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.
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From

US $4,599 per person

+ $252 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Pay only $250 today. The rest is due 95 days before departure. Learn more

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2027

Explore our featured adventures

Itinerary

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included 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

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

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

Earn while you share

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