Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg with 2 Nights in Prague 2025

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Description

Summary

Starts
Basel
Duration
12 days
Languages
English
Difficulty
Easy
Minimum age
8 years

Description

Embark on a magical 12-day tour that takes you through the heart of Europe during the festive season. This multi-day tour invites you to explore the enchanting Christmas markets, historical sites, and culinary delights of Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. From the vibrant city of Zürich to the medieval charm of Prague, each day presents a new adventure. Discover the Black Forest, marvel at the gothic architecture of Strasbourg, and indulge in the festive atmosphere of Bavaria. This tour is not just about destinations; it's about experiences. From cookie-baking demonstrations on board your ship to guided tours of historic castles, this journey is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.

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Included

Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favorites

Seasonal cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients

Avalon Fresh® healthy cuisine options at every meal

Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room

Daily breakfast buffet with full range of classic breakfast items, healthy Avalon Fresh® options and daily a la carte specials

Complimentary room service for Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Daily lunch buffet featuring regional specialties, classic dishes, healthy Avalon Fresh® options and rotating chef’s features including carving & pasta stations. Alternatively, you may dine al fresco at our Sky Grill on the Sky Deck (weather and itinerary permitting) or enjoy a light lunch in the Panorama Lounge.

Afternoon Tea featuring tea, coffee, and sweet treats

Four-course dinners with choice of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts or cheese

Linger over several selections from the Panorama Bistro's tasting menu for a less formal "sit-down" atmosphere

Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner

Avalon FlexDining® flexible dining times with menu & venue options

Vegetarian options at every meal, as well as vegan, low calorie, low fat, high fiber, low cholesterol, high energy and allergy-free selections

Panorama Lounge & Bar with premium spirits, cozy seating, panoramic windows & dance floor

Welcome & farewell cocktails with sparkling wine & canapés

New in 2023 - included Happy Hour every evening featuring house beer, wine, cocktails and a drink of the day

Cocktails with a view on the Sky Deck

Specialty coffees, espresso drinks and beWell Essence flavored and infused water available throughout each day

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Avalon Waterways river cruise ship

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9 nights onboard cruise ship

2 nights in Prague

Avalon Panorama: Avalon Deluxe Stateroom ,Panorama Suite ,Royal Suite, Avalon Imagery II: Avalon Deluxe Stateroom ,Panorama Suite ,Royal Suite

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Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director

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Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship

Panoramic windows throughout the ship

Elegant, contemporary design & decor

Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges

Covered Observation Lounge

Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day

Elevator

Non-smoking interior and staterooms

Avalon Waterways offers a selection of included excursions in every port of call, with something for everyone within their "Classic", "Discovery" and "Active" collections

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Map

Attractions

Heidelberg Botanical Garden, Neuenheim, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyHeidelberg Botanical Garden
photo of Rathaus, the Town Hall of Basel in Basel, Switzerland.Basel Town Hall
photo of Nuremberg lock,Nuremberg Germany.Nuremberg lock
Heidelberg Palace, Altstadt, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyHeidelberg Palace
Wutach Gorge, Göschweiler, Löffingen, Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Löffingen, Landkreis Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyWutach Gorge
Cathedral of Speyer, Rheinland Pfalz, germanySpeyer Cathedral
Handwerkerhof Nuremberg, Altstadt, St. Lorenz, Nuremberg, Bavaria, GermanyHandwerkerhof Nürnberg
Old Main Bridge, Würzburg Altstadt, Würzburg, Bavaria, GermanyOld Main Bridge
photo of view Schwabentor - historical city gate in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany,Freiburg im Breisgau Germany.Freiburger Rieselfeld
Gutenberg MuseumGutenberg Museum
Würzburger Cathedral, Würzburg Altstadt, Würzburg, Bavaria, GermanyWürzburger Cathedral
Photo of Prague Old Town Square Czech Republic, sunrise city skyline at Astronomical Clock Tower.Prague Astronomical Clock
photo of Traditional half-timbered houses on picturesque canals in La Petite France in the medieval fairytale town of Strasbourg, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alsace, France.Petite France
Bamberg Cathedral, Bamberg, Bavaria, GermanyBamberg Cathedral
Photo of famous St. Vitus Cathedral Prague, Czech Republic on a Sunny evening.St. Vitus Cathedral
Photo of Hradcany Square near Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic.Hradčany Square
Thrill Park Prague
Architectural detail of the Museum of Modern Art in Strasbourg on a winter day. Inaugurated in December 1998 by Culture Minister Catherine Trautmann.Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Zürich/Basel to Breisach

  • Zurich - Arrival day
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  • Basel Town Hall
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Welcome to Switzerland! Your journey begins in either Zürich or Basel, where you must arrive by 3 pm. Take a leisurely stroll through the city center, savoring Christmas delicacies like waffles, gingerbread, sweets, and Swiss raclette at the Basel Christmas Market. By 5 pm, you'll be on board your Suite Ship®, ready to cruise to Breisach. Dinner will be served on the ship.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Breisach to Strasbourg

  • Strasbourg
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  • Wutach Gorge
  • Freiburger Rieselfeld
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Start your day with a guided tour of Freiburg's medieval city center, nestled amid the vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley. Alternatively, join a guided tour to the magical Black Forest and immerse yourself in local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood. In the afternoon, you can choose to visit the charming village of Colmar or spend your time browsing Breisach's lovely Christmas market. As the day ends, cruise overnight to Strasbourg.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: Strasbourg to Speyer

  • Strasbourg
  • Speyer
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  • Petite France
  • Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
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Experience the joy of Christmas in Strasbourg. Join a city sightseeing tour that includes the city's gothic cathedral and the magical La Petite France District. You may choose to join an optional excursion to beautiful Alsace, a French wine-country village. Spend your free time wandering the French winter markets of Strasbourg, taking in the lights, music, and the pleasures of the season. As the day concludes, cruise overnight to Speyer.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Speyer to Frankfurt

  • Speyer
  • Frankfurt (Oder)
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  • Heidelberg Botanical Garden
  • Heidelberg Palace
  • Speyer Cathedral
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Take a guided tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime. Marvel at the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat—the world's largest wine barrel. After the tour, visit the local German Christmas Markets in Heidelberg. Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing sailing morning and explore the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of Speyer Christmas markets. As the day ends, cruise overnight to Frankfurt.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Frankfurt to Main River Village

  • Frankfurt (Oder)
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  • Gutenberg Museum
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Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim. Don't miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city. As the day concludes, cruise overnight to Main River Village.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: Main River Village to Würzburg

Day 6: Main River Village to Würzburg

Take a guided tour of a picturesque village along the Main River. Join a German cookie-baking demonstration on board your ship while sailing. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. As the day concludes, cruise overnight to Würzburg.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Würzburg to Bamberg

  • Bamberg
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  • Old Main Bridge
  • Würzburger Cathedral
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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 an optional excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. Visit the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum—the world's most extensive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations. Spend free time enjoying the festive, warm glow of Wurzburg's Christmas markets. As the day concludes, cruise overnight to Bamberg.

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Bamberg to Nuremberg

  • Bamberg
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  • Bamberg Cathedral
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Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing. Join a guided sightseeing tour of Bamberg—medieval home of Germany's Roman Empire dynasties. Stroll through dozens of Bamberg's nativity scenes—from miniature to life-size. Take free time to enjoy the quaint Christmas markets, and warm up with traditional German dumplings, sausage, and a glass of hearty Bavarian ale. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. As the day concludes, cruise overnight to Nuremberg.

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Day 9

Day 9 – Day 9: Nuremberg

  • Bamberg
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  • Nuremberg lock
  • Handwerkerhof Nürnberg
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Choose a guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, or join a guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds. Spend free time browsing the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg. Sample favorite Bavarian fare—bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and countless other Christkindlmarkt culinary delights. Overnight docking in Nuremberg.

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Day 10

Day 10 – Day 10: Nuremberg to Prague

  • Bamberg
  • Prague
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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.

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Day 11

Day 11 – Day 11: Prague

  • Prague
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  • Prague Astronomical Clock
  • St. Vitus Cathedral
  • Hradčany Square
  • Thrill Park Prague
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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 Markets of Prague. Stroll through the brightly colored wooden stalls for ornaments and handmade toys and handicrafts.

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Day 12

Day 12 – Day 12: Departure from Prague

  • Prague - Departure day
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Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. We hope you enjoyed your journey through the heart of Europe and take home unforgettable memories of the festive season.

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