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Christmastime In Alsace And Germany2012 Season |
From 864EUR |
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Length: 5 days from Zürich to Frankfurt
Overview
Celebrate the festive season in Central Europe with a magnificent 4-night cruise from Basel to Frankfurt! Stops include Breisach for an included excursion into Germany’s legendary Black Forest; Strasbourg, France, for guided sightseeing and time to explore one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe; and Heidelberg, where you can marvel at the red stone castle and bask in the holiday atmosphere at the city’s enormous Christmas market. Try some festive Glühwein, smell the aromas of the Christmas markets, shop for local Christmas ornaments, and delight in the holiday cheer. This year, start your holiday season with this joyous and memorable cruise—it’s a vacation of a lifetime!
Duration: 5 Days
Ships Serving this Tour: Visionary
| Start Date |
End Date |
| 26 November, 2012 |
30 November, 2012 |
City Highlights
CRUISE: Deluxe 4-night cruise from Basel to Frankfurt in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds.BASEL: Welcome receptionBREISACH: Excursion to the Black ForestSTRASBOURG: Guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedralHEIDELBERG: Take pictures of the castle
Day 1 Zürich, Switzerland. Transfer to Basel (Embarkation). Flights into Zürich must arrive before 3 pm. Your river cruise vessel is docked on the Rhine River in Basel, where France, Switzerland, and Germany meet. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception. (D)
Day 2 Breisach, Germany. Excursion to the Black Forest. Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border, Breisach is the gateway to Germany’s BLACK FOREST region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. There’s no better setting for this time of year than when smoke curls from the chimneys of the traditional Black Forest houses with their long sloping roofs, connoting images of warm and festively decorated interiors. And if there has been a fresh snowfall, this will indeed be a Winter Wonderland! Surely the most well-known products from this region are Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and cuckoo clocks. (B,L,D)
Day 3 Strasbourg, France. Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. A Local Guide shows you the noteworthy sights: the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kléber, and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. Dating back to 1570, the traditional Christmas market is one of the oldest and finest in Europe. Located around Place de la Cathédrale and Place Broglie, its centerpiece is a giant Christmas tree. As you stroll through the festively decorated and illuminated streets you’ll notice the pleasing aromas of mulled wine, sweets, spice cakes, and biscuits—a truly magical atmosphere! (B,L,D)
Day 4 Speyer, Germany. Excursion to Heidelberg. This morning, dock in the ancient imperial city of Speyer on the left bank of the Rhine. From here, an included excursion takes you to Heidelberg, of Student Prince fame and Germany’s oldest university town. Take your photos of imposing Heidelberg Castle, built of red sandstone and towering above the city. At this time of year an ice rink is set up at the foot of the castle, and stalls offer Glühwein, Bratwurst, and other tasty treats. The Christmas market itself is scattered over five town squares and you’ll find a wide array of crafts and regional delicacies. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Frankfurt (Disembarkation). Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Departure flights should not leave before 8:30 am. (B)
Meals: Superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, Captain’s reception and farewell dinner; quality wines from Europe’s most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements |
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