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Tour Alsace Netherlands Aw_Amsterdam Aw_Basel Aw_Cologne Aw_Europe Aw_Germany Aw_Holland Aw_Mainz + 24 More Aw_Rhine River Aw_Strasbourg Aw_Switzerland Basel Black Forest Breisach Cologne Europe France Germany Heidelberg Holland Kehl Switzerland Main Mainz Mount Pilatus Rhine Rhine Gorge River Cruise Rudesheim Strasbourg Avalon Waterways 10 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Lucerne

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this delightful winter cruise along the Rhine River, which takes you across Germany—and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! This magnificent river cruise begins in the ever popular, modern city of Amsterdam, Holland. The best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city is on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Cologne, Germany—a 2,000-year-old city known for its Gothic architecture—will be an exciting stop with its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. While you’re there, why not try a locally brewed Kölsch beer? Pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your Rhine River cruise to Mainz for a guided walk and visit the captivating Gutenberg Museum or take an excursion to Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its red-walled castle towering magnificently over the city. In Strasbourg, France, you’ll be amazed by the red-sandstone gothic cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. The city’s Christmas market is one of the oldest and finest in Europe. Stop in Breisach, Germany, located on the French-German border, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—an area of unrivaled natural beauty—best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.

At every stop, you’ll experience the magical charm of this time of year, with the towns decked out in festive lights and décor, and the Christmas markets waiting to be explored. Disembark your Avalon Suite Ship® in Basel, transfer to Lucerne and join a guided walking tour to explore this lovely city. Your Rhine River cruise and vacation in Switzerland are the perfect combination to unlock a guided European vacation of a lifetime.

Day 1: AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. With a free day to explore before your cruise, take time to enjoy the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (D)

Day 2: AMSTERDAM

Canals of Colorful AmsterdamJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age."AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE(B,L,D)

Day 3: COLOGNE, GERMANY

Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing. CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Spend free time enjoying the festive, warm glow of Cologne’s Christmas marketsLater, enjoy live entertainment on board.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)

Day 4: RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine CountryEn route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee. Don’t miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)

Day 5: MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine BarrelDISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel”, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL (B,L,D)

Day 6: KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Joyeux Noël in StrasbourgCLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. Savor the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition by spending your free time wandering the French winter markets of Strasbourg. Take in the lights, music, and the pleasures of the season. Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace’s wine country today.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)

Day 7: BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

The Beautiful Black ForestCLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.After your visit to the winery, you may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL(B,L,D)

Day 8: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–MOUNT PILATUS

Spectacular Views in SwitzerlandThis morning, disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer to Mount PilatusCLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus. Journey almost 7,000 ft. (2,132 m) up for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead). LUCERNELovely LucerneCLASSIC Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes the famous Chapel Bridge. (B)

Day 9: LUCERNE

Lake and MountainsToday, enjoy a day at leisure in Lucerne. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time enjoying some shopping in the city center.(B)

Day 10: LUCERNE

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Details

Tour Operator: Avalon
Duration (Days): 10

Itinerary ▼

Day 1: AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. With a free day to explore before your cruise, take time to enjoy the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM (D)
Day 2: AMSTERDAM
Canals of Colorful AmsterdamJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age."AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE(B,L,D)
Day 3: COLOGNE, GERMANY
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing. CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Spend free time enjoying the festive, warm glow of Cologne’s Christmas marketsLater, enjoy live entertainment on board.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)
Day 4: RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine CountryEn route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee. Don’t miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM(B,L,D)
Day 5: MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine BarrelDISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel”, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL (B,L,D)
Day 6: KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Joyeux Noël in StrasbourgCLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. Savor the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition by spending your free time wandering the French winter markets of Strasbourg. Take in the lights, music, and the pleasures of the season. Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace’s wine country today.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)
Day 7: BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
The Beautiful Black ForestCLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.After your visit to the winery, you may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL(B,L,D)
Day 8: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–MOUNT PILATUS
Spectacular Views in SwitzerlandThis morning, disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer to Mount PilatusCLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus. Journey almost 7,000 ft. (2,132 m) up for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead). LUCERNELovely LucerneCLASSIC Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes the famous Chapel Bridge. (B)
Day 9: LUCERNE
Lake and MountainsToday, enjoy a day at leisure in Lucerne. Discover the many squares and churches and how tradition and modernity stand side-by-side or spend your free time enjoying some shopping in the city center.(B)
Day 10: LUCERNE
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine with 2 Nights in Lucerne (Southbound)