Christmas Markets on the Rhine from Switzerland to France and Germany INCLUDING AIR!

We depart the US, arriving in Zurich the next morning.

Upon arrival in Zurich, we’ll take a private shuttle to Lucerne, a traditional Swiss town along the banks of Lake Lucerne with an Alpine backdrop. After checking into our boutique hotel, the rest of the day and evening is ours to explore. Enjoy Lucerne’s colorful Christmas Market and its historic Old Town. We’ll overnight in Lucerne before boarding the following day.

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a Lucerne Walking Tour of this medieval gem and see some of the city’s lovely cobblestone streets, monuments, fountains, public squares, covered bridges, colorful frescoed buildings, and the iconic 14th century Chapel Bridge.

We’ll then take a transfer to Strasbourg, France where we’ll board the Amadeus Silver II for 6 fabulous nights on the Rhine River.

Capital city of the Alsace region in northeastern France, Strasbourg is situated on the Rhine at the German border. In the morning we’ll enjoy a Strasbourg City Tour to see Orangerie, the town’s oldest park, the European Parliament, and the Place de la Republique. We’ll take a walking tour of the lovely “La Petite France” neighborhood and see the Gothic cathedral with its famous astronomical clock.

The afternoon is yours to stroll Strasbourg’s famous Christmas Market. If you’d prefer, take the optional trip into the Alsace Region to visit fairy-tale Obernai and its quaint Christmas Market. The ship will be docked until late evening.

Arrive in Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for its cathedral, numerous churches and the 13th-century Altpörtel (“Old Gate”). Explore the city during your Speyer Walking Tour. Later we’ll cruise to Mannheim where you’re free to explore on your own, or maybe take an optional excursion to historic Heidelberg to visit the red-walled castle and take in beautiful views of the Neckar Valley.

In the morning we’ll arrive in Rüdesheim where you’ll have time to explore on your own the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants. If you prefer, you can join an optional Rüdesheim Tour via Tram Car including a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum.

In the afternoon the ship departs to cruise through the Rhine River Gorge, a UNESCO Heritage Site and the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river with hillsides dotted with fairy-tale castles, historic towns and vineyards. Later we’ll arrive in Germany’s oldest city, Koblenz, a charming Rhineland town situated at the confluence of the Rhine & Moselle Rivers. Enjoy a Koblenz Walking Tour & the popular Christmas Market. See the famous Advent Calendar at the baroque Town Hall.

Today the ship makes a detour up the Moselle River to the little town of Cochem. Enjoy a Cochem Walking Tour then visit the Reichsburg Castle, experience a Wine Tasting & stop at the quaint Christmas Market. The magnificent Reichsburg castle is situated high above the town, dominating the landscape. Down below, the village with its narrow streets, half timbered houses, and numerous restaurants is an ideal setting to taste the wines of the region.

Cologne is Germany’s 4th largest city and located on both sides of the Rhine. In the morning we’ll enjoy a Cologne Walking Tour featuring the old part of the city and the fabled 13th century Gothic cathedral. The afternoon is yours to wander among the dock side taverns, cafes, shops, and the famous Christmas Market in front of the cathedral.

After breakfast we’ll travel to the Frankfurt airport for our flight home.