Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg with 2 Nights in Prague

12 days
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River Cruise
Experience the holiday season like never before with a Christmastime cruise through Germany and France. From the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets, you’ll discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music an...
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$8,285
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Highlights

    • Onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of visit to Badischer Winzerkeller or excursion to Black Forest; Christmas market
    • Guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; Christmas market
    • Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat; free time for Christmas market
    • Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; Christmas market
    • Onboard cookie-baking demonstration; guided tour
    • Guided tour, visit the Bishop's Residence; Christmas market
    • Onboard Christmas Traditions lecture; guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; Christmas market
    • Choice of guided sightseeing or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market
    • Travel to Prague

What's this trip about?

    Experience the holiday season like never before with a Christmastime cruise through Germany and France. From the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets, you’ll discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music and merriment. Visit glowing German Christkindlesmarkt stalls as you cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers through Heidelberg, a Main river village, Wurzburg, Bamberg, and Nuremberg.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
End CityPRAGUE

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • France
  • Czechia

Attractions

  • Bamberg
  • Basel
  • Frankfurt
  • Heidelberg
  • Nuremberg
  • Prague
  • Rudesheim
  • Strasbourg

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Switzerland! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Zürich or Basel must arrive by 3 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Stroll through the city centre, enjoy the festive illumination and savor Christmas delicacies l...

Day 2: BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest

DISCOVERY Visit to Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Discover Germany’s southernmost wine country in Baden—ideally situated between the hills of the Black Forest and the Rhine R...

Day 3: STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Joyeux Noël in Strasbourg CLASSIC Come along for City Sightseeing, including the city’s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.

You may choose to join a Guide...

Day 4: SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION

Winter Wonders and a Wine Barrel Fit for a King DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat—the world’s largest wine barrel. After the tour, visit the local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg. Alternativel...

Day 5: FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

DISCOVERY Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim, enjoy a special treat. Don’t miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE

(Breakfast,Dinner)

RUDESHEIM-COFFEE.jpg

Day 6: MAIN RIVER VILLAGE

Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights in Beautiful Bavaria

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River. DISCOVERY Join a Cookie-Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

MAIN-RIVER-VILLAGE-FESTIVE-COOKIES.jpg

Day 7: WÜRZBURG

Old Saint Nick and Nutcrackers

CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the “Pearl of the Romantic Road” with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residence.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the beautiful Bavar...

Day 8: BAMBERG

Christmas Customs and Cradle Scenes

DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing. CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg—medieval home of Germany’s Roman Empire dynasties. Stroll through dozens of Bamberg’s nativity ...

Day 9: NUREMBERG

Legends and History Lessons

CLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.

...
Day 10: NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION)–PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Bid your crew farewell and head for the Golden City of Prague

Stroll through the exquisite streets of the city and spend a free evening in one of Prague’s cafés for dinner and Czech Beer.

(Breakfast)

PRAGUE-BARTENDER.jpg

Day 11: PRAGUE

Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Czech Christmas Spirits CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk to visit Hradčany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral, and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock.

Spend the afternoon on your own to browse the exquisite Christmas Marke...

Day 12: PRAGUE

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)

PRAGUE-CLOCK.jpg

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,927
Price per day$494
Last Updated: 4/17/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
02 Dec 2024
13 Dec 2024
$5,537
Please Call
29 Nov 2025
10 Dec 2025
$5,927
Available
01 Dec 2025
12 Dec 2025
$5,927
Available

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

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Avalon waterways went out of their way to accommodate our early morning arrival.

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It was the Paris to Normandy then to…

It was the Paris to Normandy then to Marseille 14 day cruise. The whole cruise was terrible, ports were bypassed, crew was very inexperienced, the restaurant was uno...

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Avalon Waterways

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CRUISING ELEVATED.
Innovative, transformative, original. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and
away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and you’ll see how the tides they are a-changin’. 

Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

IT DOESN’T GET ANY SUITER.
Enjoy the perfect blend of elegance and ease – where little touches are bold, gestures are grand and the views even grander. There’s a reason our ships are the critics’ darlings and favorites among our most discerning guests. Our boutique-hotel-inspired Panorama Suites feature the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the ever-changing scenery.

PACK YOUR PASSIONS.
As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off.

SEE MORE THAN THE SEA/
On a typical cruise, you see waves, water and more water. On an Avalon cruise, legendary landmarks and postcard-perfect landscapes are always in view. Dock to discovery takes mere minutes. 

LET’S DISH.
While we naturally present the signature delicacies of the regions you visit, we enrich the gastronomic journey by offering multiple dining venues, bringing unexpected culinary experiences to the table.

What they’re known for
River cruises to classic and exotic destinations with a luxury flair and personalization options.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Radisson Blu Airport This modern, stylish hotel 330-room property conveniently offers direct access to the airport terminal, the perfect location for arrivals & departures. Dining options include an Italian restaurant specializing in fresh Italian dishes crafted with a modern twist and a Grill restaurant offering seafood and steaks dishes prepared in an open kitchen. The atrium bar has a 16m-high glass wine tower with over 4,000 bottles of wine and champagne and the outdoor terrace is the place for cocktails and light bites. Other amenities include two fitness centers (one on site and one at the airport), a hammam, as well as a sauna set in a plane's cockpit. Free internet access is available throughout the entire hotel. ZurichSwitzerlandZuerich FlughafenCosmopolitan Hotel PragueA stunning 106-room boutique hotel set in an historic townhouse that dates back to 1889, perfectly located on a quiet street in the heart of Prague's Old Town. Modern Czech cuisine is served in a trendy bistro style setting with an open plan kitchen. For relaxation and connectivity, there is a 24-hour fitness studio, sauna, and free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property. The hotel is ideally located on a quiet street of the Prague Old Town, only a few steps from all important shopping and sightseeing attractions.Prague 1Czech RepublicZlatnicka 3/1126Art Deco Imperial HotelAn historic 126-room ornate property oozing old world glamour with architecture dating back to 1913. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the property. This hotel is home to the famous Cafe Imperial which specializes in traditional Czech cuisine with a modern twist and there is also a fashionable bar for drinks and snacks. The Spa offers a sauna, steam room as well as a fitness center.PragueCzech RepublicNa Porici 15, 110 00 Hilton Prague Old TownA contemporary 303 room hotel offering classic art deco inspired luxury. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in the lobby, access in the rooms is subject to a fee (payable locally). There is also an indoor swimming pool and fitness center and the stylish restaurant offers an innovative mix of European cuisine with Asian flavors. Snacks, drinks and cocktails are served throughout the day in the lounge bar.Prague 1Czech RepublicV Celnici 7Prague Marriott Located in the heart of Prague, just a short stroll away from the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, this sophisticated 239-room hotel combines a great location with top notch service. A smart grill restaurant serves both Czech and international cuisine, the relaxed hipster-styled Bourbon bar offers a great range of wines, cocktails and BBQ dishes. There is also an on-site Italian style café, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi connection is available throughout the property. PragueCzech RepublicV Celnici 8,
Travel Insurance
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Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Optional Activities
WMN|Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg WMNE|With 2 Nights in Prague WNM|Christmastime from Nuremberg to Basel
Trip ID
AVALON-WMNE

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