Your Itinerary
BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Switzerland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Zürich or Basel must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Stroll through the city centre, enjoy the festive illumination and savor Christmas delicacies like waffles, gingerbread, sweets and Swiss raclette.EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (D)
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black ForestCLASSIC 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, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood.In the afternoon, you may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. Alternatively, spend your afternoon leisurely browsing Breisach’s lovely Christmas market to sample pretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake.Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
Joyeux Noël in StrasbourgCLASSIC Come along for City Sightseeing, including the city’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion in a wine country village in beautiful Alsace. Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the glowing winter markets of Strasbourg.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER(B,L,D)
SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION
Winter Wonders Fit for a KingDISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat—the world’s largest wine barrel. After the tour, visit the local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg.Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing morning and explore the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of Speyer Christmas markets. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT (B,L,D)
FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country CLASSIC Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE(B,L,D)
Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights DISCOVERY Join a German Cookie Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing.CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.Later, enjoy live entertainment on board. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG(B,L,D)
Old Saint Nick and Nutcrackers SweetCLASSIC 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 a Guided 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. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG(B,L,D)
Christmas Customs and Cradle ScenesDISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing. CLASSIC 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.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NUREMBERG(B,L,D)
Legends and History LessonsCLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.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 Christkindlesmarkt culinary delights. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG (B,L,D)
NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION). EXCURSION TO MUNICH (EMBARKATION)
This morning disembark the vessel which has brought you to Nuremberg and drive to MunichCLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Tour which will show you the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace—a former residence of Bavarian monarchs, along with the Old and New Town Halls of Marienplatz.Return to Nuremberg in the late afternoon and embark on the ship which will take you to Vienna.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG(B,L,D)
Living Heritage and History LessonsA day to relax and enjoy Nuremberg at your own pace. Stroll through the festively lit streets, buy those last-minute Christmas gifts, or ask your Cruise Director for suggestions of things to do.Enjoy live entertainment as you sail.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REGENSBURG (B,L,D)
Christmas Magic in Bavaria CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—entrance to the Castra Regina fortress built in 179 AD. Take time to browse Regensburg’s sparkling Christmas markets. Enjoy hot-mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, or bratwurst. DISCOVERY Enjoy a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PASSAU(B,L,D)
Saint Stephen’s, Salzburg, and the Story of Silent NightCLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.”You may like to join a Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg, Austria. See the setting of The Sound of Music, and learn the story behind the beloved Christmas hymn, Silent Night. Spend free time in Passau’s charming Christkindlesmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take a brief evening cruise to Linz. Enjoy live entertainment on board.OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK(B,L,D)
Frescoes Above the Wachau ValleyCLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings.DISCOVERY Enjoy an Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing through the splendid Wachau Valley to Vienna.Vienna’s Winter WonderlandThis evening, you may choose to attend an Optional Excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA(B,L,D)
Royal Collections and Amusing Attractions DISCOVERY Explore the Habsburg empire this morning on a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.Spend free time on your own to enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt or relax by the fire’s glow in a Viennese café this evening. You may join a Guided Optional Tour of Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg dynasty for 300 years.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA(B,L,D)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.(B)