Day 1 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)
Day 2 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
Discovery
Visit to Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Discover Germany’s southernmost wine country in Baden-ideally situated between the hills of the Black Forest and the Rhine River. Learn about the vintners’ process in the vineyards here, and enjoy a wine tasting, OR:DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood.
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, and enjoy the warmth and glow of the Christmas season.
Alternatively, spend your afternoon leisurely browsing Breisach’s lovely Christmas market to sample pretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
(B,L,D)
Day 3 STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Classic
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 to beautiful Alsace, for an afternoon in a French wine-country village.
Savor the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition by spending your free time this afternoon wandering the French winter markets of Strasbourg. Take in the lights, music, and the pleasures of the season.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER
(B,L,D)
Day 4 SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION
Discovery
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 sailing morning and explore the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of Speyer Christmas markets.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT
(B,L,D)
Day 5 FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM
Discovery
Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim, enjoy a special treat.
Don’t miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
(B,D)
Day 6 MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
Classic
Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.
DISCOVERY Join a Cookie-Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing.AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG
(B,L,D)
Day 7 WÜRZBURG
Classic
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)
Day 8 BAMBERG
Discovery
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)
Day 9 NUREMBERG
Classic
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 Christkindlmarkt culinary delights.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG
(B,L,D)
Day 10 NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
(B)