DAY 1, DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight to Zurich, Switzerland.
DAY 2, ARRIVE IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
Arrive in Zurich and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is free for to start exploring this beautiful town. Perhaps, return to the Old Town, which offers engaging cafes, restaurants and a wealth of nightlife, or shop along Bahnhofstrasse and Niederdorf. (B)
DAY 3, ZURICH
Your morning walking tour of picturesque Zurich will include Grossmunster, St.Peter, with the largest church clock face in the world, Old Town, Town Hall and Fraumunster, which was fully renovated in 2004 and now offers an exceptional 360° panoramic view of Zurich. The afternoon and evening is free for you to explore the town on your own. Perhaps, explore Europe's largest indoor Christmas Market located in the town's main railway station and its underground mall or visit the markets at the mile-long Bahnhofstrasse and in the city center. (B)
DAY 4, ZURICH - LUZERN
After breakfast, continue to on to Luzern and check into your hotel. Situated on the exit of the Reusse River, on Lake Luzern, the city is a medieval charm. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the town on your own or visit the enchanting Christmas Market located at the train station, where you will find yourself surrounded by the aroma of mulled wine and Christmas confectioneries. (B)
DAY 5, LUZERN
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Luzern. Small cobbled stoned streets, squares with fountains, fresco'd buildings typify Luzern. The two most famous monuments are the Lion monument, the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside - representing the Swiss Guard of the French King who died defending the Royal Palace during the revolution. Easily the symbol of the city, The Chapel Bridge, is a medieval covered bridge, which for centuries was part of the city defenses. The eves of the roof have paintings depicting the cities rich history. The afternoon is free, you can choose to shop (watches, knives and Swiss chocolate) or join our optional tour to Mount Pilatus, the mountain which dominates the city. (B)
DAY 6, LUZERN - BASEL - EMBARKATION
This morning, depart from Luzern and for a city tour of cosmopolitan Basel before embarking your luxurious river cruise ship. Switzerland's second largest city is ideally located at the crossroads of Switzerland, France and Germany. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel's glorious past is still evident in its medieval Town Hall and exquisite 18th- century patrician homes. After settling into your stateroom this afternoon, you may wish to visit Basel's Christmas Market on Barfsserplatz where you will find ultra-modern as well as vintage and traditional gifts, colorful toys and typical Swiss crafts. Tonight, gather onboard for a Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,D)
DAY 7, BREISACH - COLMAR, FRANCE OR FREIBURG, GERMANY
Today, choose between a city tour of Colmar or Freiburg. If you decide to travel to Freiburg, you will visit its historical city center and visit the Augustinerplatz, site of Freiburg's Munster, a gothic minster cathedral constructed of red sandstone, noted for its towering spires. The town is bordered by the Black Forest mountains, Rosskopf and Bromberg, and is known for meticulous wood carvings and cuckoo clocks. After your city tour, visit Freiburg's Christmas Markets located in the heart of the town's beautiful historical quarter, where you will find an array of traditional arts and crafts from the Black Forest. Or, choose to travel to medieval Colmar, situated along the Alsatian Wine Route and is self-proclaimed as the 'Capital of Alsatian Wine.' During your city tour, you will see remarkable half-timbered framed houses, the German influenced old quarter filled with streets of unexpected twists and turns, canals and the Launch River. Colmar is beautifully decorated with stunning illuminations during the Advent period and offers five Christmas Markets, each in different areas of the city. Tonight, the ship set sails for Strasbourg, France. (B,L,D)
DAY 8, STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Capital and principal city of the Alsace region in northeastern France, Strasbourg, is situated on the Ill River, where it flows into the Rhine on the border with Germany. This morning, take a tour through this medieval charming town lined with narrow cobbled streets. See the European Parliament and visit the 'le petite France' district, where you will see the sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. Then enjoy a canal cruise, revealing the picturesque town, known for its black and white timber-framed buildings, covered bridges and medieval watchtowers. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to take a stroll through Strasbourg's historic city center, the 'Grande Île' ('Grand Island'), a UNESCO World Heritage site, or sample the local cuisine and wine that merges the best of French and German influences. Around the cathedral, you will find one of Europe's oldest and finest Christmas Markets, selling specialties including 'Bredele,' small Alsatian biscuits, delicately crafted toys, jewelry and ceramics. (B,L,D)
DAY 9, MANNHEIM - HEIDELBERG, GERMANY - WORMS
Arrive in Mannheim this morning and disembark for your excursion to Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled Castle, as well as the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. Enjoy lunch back onboard the ship as you cruise to Worms, one of Germany's oldest cities, renowned for its great historical and cultural significance. Surrounded by lush vineyards, Worms is noteworthy for its famous white wine, Liebfraumilch, and as a location described in the ancient Nibelungenlied (The Song of the Nibelungs), an epic poem from the Middle Ages. The city is also known for its many excellent examples of Romanesque architecture, including the majestic 12th-century St. Peter's Cathedral. During your tour, visit the impressive monument to Martin Luther and other leaders of the Reformation along the 'Luther Trail.' You will also see the 11th-century 'Heiliger Sand,' one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe with some tombstones dating back nearly a millennium. During your free time, visit Worms' Christmas Markets as you stroll through the streets, surrounded by festive echoes of the Christmas trumpeters. (B,L,D)
DAY 10, RUDESHEIM - RHINE CASTLES - KOBLENZ
This morning, arrive in Rudesheim and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants, or visit the Christmas Markets where you will find more than 120 stands from 12 nations offering their distinctive holiday products. This afternoon, you will cruise through the Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the river, passing castle after castle, don't miss the legendary Lorelei Rock, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Arrive in Koblenz late this afternoon. Take an after dinner walk through this charming town. The ship moors overnight in Koblenz. (B,L,D)
DAY 11, KOBLENZ - COLOGNE
This morning, the ship cruises to Cologne for a walking tour through the old part of the city and visit the fabled 13th-century Gothic Cathedral. During your free time, return to the cathedral to browse through the city's most impressive Christmas Market offering 160 attractively designed wooden pavilions. Here, you will find an assortment of delicacies and watch artisans at work. The ship departs tonight for Amsterdam. (B,L,D)
DAY 12, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Enjoy your last morning leisurely cruising to Amsterdam. Arrive in Amsterdam in the late afternoon for a guided canal cruise before gathering onboard for a Gala Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)
DAY 13, AMSTERDAM - USA
Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B) |
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