AVALON WATERWAYS
17 Days | Christmas Time from
Basel to Budapest
Eastbound (WMB)
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BASEL TO BUDAPEST
Day 1 | Basel, Switzerland. Embark. Welcome to Switzerland! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Zürich 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. (D)
Day 2 | Breisach, Germany. History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest.Y ou 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 bretzels, mulled wine, and Black Forest cake. (B,L,D)
Discovery — Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood.
Day 3 | Strasbourg, France. A Gothic Cathedral, Heaven’s Time, and Joyeux Noël. 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. (B,L,D)
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.
Day 4 | Speyer, Germany. Heidelberg. Winter Wonders and a Wine Barrel Fit for a King. This afternoon, visit the local German Christmas Markets in Heidelberg, or Speyer. Explore at your own pace to soak up the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of these sparkling winter wonderlands. (B,L,D)
Classic — Take a half-day Guided Tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat—the world’s largest wine barrel.
Day 5 | Weisbaden. Rudesheim. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country. (B,D)
Discovery — Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rüdesheim.
Day 6 | Main River Village. Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights in Beautiful Bavaria. (B,L,D)
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.
Day 7 | Wurzburg. Ornaments, Old Saint Nicholas, and Nutcrackers Sweet. 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. (B,L,D)
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.
Day 8 | Bamberg. Cherished Christmas Customs and Cradle Scenes. Take free time to enjoy the quaint Christmas markets, and warm up with traditional German dumplings, sausage, and a glass of hearty Bavarian ale. (B,L,D)
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.
Day 9 | Nuremberg. Living Heritage and History Lessons. 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. (B,L,D)
Classic — 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—used by the Third Reich.
Day 10 | Nuremberg. Excursion to Munich. (B,L,D)
Classic — 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.
Day 11 | Nuremberg. Living Heritage and History Lessons. A 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. (B,L,D)
Day 12 | Regensburg. Magical Regensburg—Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle. This evening, enjoy live entertainment after dinner as you cruise toward Passau. (B,L,D)
Classic — Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.
Discovery — Later, indulge in a Beer Tasting on board.
Day 13 | Passau. Go for Baroque in Passau–Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers meet. Sail to Linz this afternoon, or join your ship after your selected full-day excursion. (B,L,D)
Classic — Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers,” — OR — Join a full day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or a full day Guided Optional Excursion to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.
Linz, Austria. The Linzer Torte and a Legendary Love of Art and Music. Enjoy a free afternoon to linger in Linz. Take a bicycle from the ship and cycle along the Danube, or follow one of Linz’s many nature trails for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.
Day 14 | Melk. Wachau Valley. Vienna. Striking Frescoes and Breathtaking Views of the Wachau Valley. During lunchtime sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Vienna. (B,L,D)
Classic — Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.
Discovery — Enjoy an Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing to Vienna.
Vienna. Vienna Waltzes and the Beautiful Blue Danube. This evening, you may choose to attend an Optional Excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.
Day 15 | Vienna. Royal Collections, Amusing Attractions, and Culinary Confections. Perhaps, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—a Habsburg Empire summer home for 300 years. Spend free time on your own to enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt, or relax by the fire’s glow in a Viennese café this evening. Later, relax on board with live entertainment as you sail to Budapest. (B,L,D)
Classic — Venture into the Habsburg empire on a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the historic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral, — OR —
Discovery — Join a Guided Culinary Tour of Vienna’s magical Christmas Advent Markets to sample Sachertorte and Apfelstrudel.
Day 16 | Budapest, Hungary. The Pearl of the Danube in the Heart of Europe. Take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying a free afternoon exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs, and don’t miss the unique Christmas markets that Budapest hosts every year during the Festive season. (B,L,D)
Classic — Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
Day 17 | Budapest. Disembark. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.
| EASTBOUND ITINERARY (WMB) 17 DAYS | BASEL TO BUDAPEST Click HERE to view 19-day WESTBOUND (WBM) itinerary. |
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to find your preferred sailing dates.
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