Europe

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

9 Days

15% reserves your spot

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TRIP DATES AVAILABILITY PRICE SPOTS LEFT
December 8, 2024 - December 16, 2024 Guaranteed $4,195 USD
sold out

SOLD OUT

Last year this amazing cruise sold out in weeks, so register soon. We’ll be cruising on the MS Amadeus Silver II visiting the famous Swiss, French and German Christmas Markets while sailing along the picturesque Rhine River. Round trip air is included from Nashville as well as nearly all meals. To make this trip irresistible, single upgrades are only $500 for Category E staterooms! Just bring money for Christmas gift giving.

Overview

Gather your Christmas spirit and enjoy this magical time of year with us. We’ll start in Zurich, Switzerland, with stops in Lucerne, Strasbourg, Speyer, Rüdesheim, Cochem, and Cologne. We’ll enjoy the Christmas Markets in Switzerland, France, and Germany, each holding steadfastly onto Old World holiday tradition and transforming into fairly-tale Christmas holidays. The sights and sensations of the holiday season are everywhere. You’ll taste chocolate-covered Lebkuchen, sizzling grilled sausages, and spiced hot Gluewein. Guests also delight in the festively decorated markets and shopping for ornaments, crafs, cahdles, nutrackers, winter hats, roasted chestnuts, and other traditional items.

But that’s just when we stop! Onboard you’ll enjoy 3 meals a day, entertainment, and majestic views from your picture window’d stateroom or on the deck with new friends.

Itinerary

Day 1 - December 8 :
Depart US

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.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - December 10 :
Lucerne to Strasbourg

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.

Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - December 11 :
Strasbourg

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.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - December 12 :
Speyer and Mannheim

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.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - December 14 :
Cochem

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.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - December 15 :
Cologne

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.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - December 16 :
Transfer to airport

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

Breakfast

Inclusions

Cost Includes:

  • Roundtrip airfare from Nashville BNA
  • 1 night hotel in Lucerne
  • 6 night cruise in outside stateroom
  • 18 meals - 7 breakfasts, 5 lunch, and 6 dinners
  • Full time tour director and customer service team
  • English-speaking staff
  • Wine and beer with dinner
  • Wifi onboard
  • Baggage handling
  • All airport transfers

The Ship MS Amadeus Silver II

Launched in 2015, the innovative 168-passenger Amadeus Silver II is a 443-foot vessel offering all the amenities of a floating 5-star hotel. This Premium cruise ship features the most modern furnishings that blend masterfully with the architecture of the ship and a luxurious design that is the hallmark of the Amadeus fleet. The extensive Restaurant and the Panorama Lounge offer divine views of the passing riverscapes. The attentive English-speaking onboard service staff will see to your comfort with typical European hospitality. The cabin design plans are forward-thinking, bright & modern, all part of a premium focus with 72 large Staterooms & 12 Suites. The beauty of river cruising is that the most interesting destinations come to you. This Silver class charter features English-only onboard commentary with inclusive shore excursions balanced with choice to simply relax onboard, get a spa treatment or add sightseeing with optional excursions. After dinner each night enjoy entertainment and music in the Panorama Lounge.

All staterooms are large and offer river views. The Mozart Deck features 12 suites with walk-out balconies. The other 19 staterooms on the Mozart Deck and 35 staterooms on the Strauss Deck feature an innovative Panoramic Drop-Dow Window. The 18 staterooms on the Hayden Deck have a large fixed window.

Hayden Deck room:

Room Descriptions:

Room Options:

Deck Plan:

From $4,195 USD
/ Shared Room (Double Occupancy)
From $4,695 USD
/ Private Room (Single Occupancy)
From $4,795 USD
/ Strauss Deck Category C (Double Occupancy)
From $5,595 USD
/ Strauss Deck Category C (Single Occupancy)
From $5,195 USD
/ Mozart Deck Category A (Double Occupancy)
  • Small Groups of 8 - 15 people
  • Flexible Payments
  • Pre-trip Educational/Preparation Meetings
  • TravelAvidly Trip Leader
  • Immersive Experiences

Trip Information

Activity Level: Easy (see all ratings)