Christmastime in Alsace & Germany (Southbound) 2025
WFZ5
Frankfurt
Basel
First Class
5 days
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 | Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
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This Christmastime river cruise is a unique and unforgettable way to celebrate the season! Board your Avalon Suite Ship® in Frankfurt, Germany, then sail up the Rhine River to Basel, Switzerland, passing beautiful views and quaint villages festively lit and decorated. This one-of-a-kind Christmas river cruise through France and Germany takes you on an excursion to Heidelberg, Germany, to visit the fascinating ruins of Heidelberg Castle, towering magnificently over the city. At this time of year, an ice rink can be found at the foot of the castle and the Christmas market is spread over five town squares. Delight in the holiday cheer with Glühwein (hot mulled wine), bratwursts, and other regional delicacies. You’ll also find an array of crafts, Christmas decorations, and gifts. Strasbourg, located on the border of France and Germany, perfectly blends the cultures of both countries. Strasbourg is home to one of the oldest and finest Christmas markets in Europe—dating back to the 16th century. Take in the aromas of mulled wine, spice cakes, and biscuits. Bask in the holiday atmosphere as you visit the Strasbourg Cathedral, a gothic masterpiece made of red sandstone, and containing ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Your Christmas river cruise along the Rhine River takes you to Breisach, considered 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. There is no better setting than this time of year when smoke curls from the chimneys of the traditional Black Forest houses. Your delightful holiday cruise ends in Basel, Switzerland. Don’t miss this experience to savor the holiday season in traditional and beautiful Christmas traditions of European winter markets and festivities!
Basel Black Forest Breisach Frankfurt Heidelberg Speyer Strasbourg Zurich
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Day 1
FRANKFURT, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)Welcome to Germany. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.Flights into Frankfurt must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER (D)
Meals: Dinner -
Day 2
SPEYER. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERGWinter Wonders and a Wine Barrel Fit for a King 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. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board EVENING/OVERNIGHT TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner -
Day 3
STRASBOURG, FRANCEA Gothic Cathedral, Heaven’s Time, and Joyeux NoëlCLASSIC 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 CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,L,D)
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner -
Day 4
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FORESTGerman 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:DISCOVERY 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, or to spend your free time to enjoy the Breisach’s Christmas Markets EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D)
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner -
Day 5
BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.Flights shouldn't leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am. (B)
Meals: Breakfast
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- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
- Christmas markets generally operate from late November until the third week of December.
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Konrad-Adenauer Str. 7
Frankfurt , Germany
Turbinenstrasse 20
Zurich , Switzerland
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Our tour director and driver were true professionals. They were friendly and knowledgeable. Each knew the areas we were traveling in very well and gave suggestions for walks, things to do, and restaurants.
An enjoyable and stress-free experience all the way.
Tour guides were great - both Philips were very nice and knowledgeable. Our bus driver - Mario was super friendly, polite, kind, helpful and professional. I do wish each hotel had coffee in the rooms.
The tour guide and the bus driver were both outstanding! A great experience.
Unfortunately we were left at our hotel when we had signed up for a dinner and entertainment at Bunratty Castle. My Grand and I went to the hotel reception and told them. We were given 2 10% off the meal in the dining/bar area. I complained to the tour guide and he replied he didn’t know how that could happen because he counted heads on the coach and drove off. It wasn’t until the next day, the couple who “crashed” our excursion came up and apologized to me. I’m still miffed there wasn’t more professional approach by the tour leader. I think he had been drinking.
Well organized itinerary. Peru tour guides Adrian and Raoul were excellent. Cruise was great. Quito tour guide was not up to the same standards.
Fabulous Trip and exceeded all our expectations! Wonderful!!
Devan was great!
The Globus travel guide Paul was friendly, funny and prompt. He clearly explained our daily routine. He was a true historian and we learned so much about Ireland. Excellent! Our driver Adrian was friendly, punctual, polite and helpful. Excellent!
Devan was great!
Globus is a fantastic company to travel with. It was my first experience and I loved every day of it!!
This was our sixth Globus tour. Three with Avalon. We have always had a great time and cannot wait for our next one in October.
Globus service is exceptional.
I have traveled numerous times with Globus and I am very satisfied with their service and tour packages. I also have recommended Globus Tours to family and friends, and they tell me how grateful they are for the recommendation. Globus make travelling an unforgettable experience. The hotels are beautiful and modern. The activities are exciting, and the places visited are fantastic which makes a trip memorable.
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Our tour director Mathew was excellent. He was very knowledgeable about the area. I would suggest name tags to be worn for 1-4 days making it easier to remember names in the group. The first day we missed through communication to meet in the bar at 520 pm. The information stated dinner at 600pm in our packet.