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2024 Season

Christmastime from Basel to Vienna


cruise: WMV
16 Days Basel to Vienna
Step aboard your Avalon Suite Ship® festively decorated and beautifully dressed in Christmas colors of the season. Embark on this festive Christmastime river cruise from Switzerland to Austria. Experience the holiday season like never before, from the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets. Discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, your Avalon Suite Ship® is decked out for the holidays, brimming in holiday spirit. See the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music, peace, and merriment. Visit glowing German Christkindlesmarkt stalls as you cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers from Heidelberg to Passau—and quaint villages in between. Continue in the holiday glow in Austria to visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey in Melk, then spectacular Vienna for a tour through the Christmas markets to get a taste of all the best flavors Austria offers during this sparkling time of year on the Danube River. A perfect ending to a festive river cruise showing you some of the best that Germany and Austria have to offer this time of year!

cruise

at-a-glance


Day 1 Basel (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception

Day 2 Breisach: Choice of visit to a local winery in Breisach or excursion to Black Forest

Day 3 Strasbourg: Guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; Christmas market

Day 4 Speyer. Excursion to Heidelberg: Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vatfree time for Christmas market

Day 5 Frankfurt. Excursion to Rüdesheim: Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; enjoy a special treat

Day 6 Main river village: Guided tour

Day 7 Würzburg: Guided tour, visit the Bishop’s Residence; Christmas market

Day 8 Bamberg: Onboard Christmas Traditions lecture; guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; Christmas market

Day 9 Nuremberg: Choice of guided tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market

Day 10 Nuremberg (Disembarkation). Excursion to Munich (Embarkation): Guided sightseeing, see the Marienplatz

Day 11 Nuremberg: Day at leisure to visit Christmas market

Day 12 Regensburg: Guided tour; Christmas markets; onboard Christmas Traditions lecture

Day 13 Passau: Guided tour; Christmas market

Day 14 Melk: Guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey; onboard Austrian cookies tasting

Day 15 Vienna: City sightseeing; Christmas market

Day 16 Vienna (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. Plus, we offer independent exploration options and the use of our exclusive AvalonGO APP on most of our cruises. 

Below are 3 types of included shore excursions for you to experience.

The "Starting at" or "From" listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on double occupancy and any applicable non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes limited-time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.