Experience the holiday season like never before with a Christmastime cruise through Germany and France. From the beauty of the Black Forest to the glistening lights of Strasbourg’s Christmas markets, you’ll discover traditions and tastes that warm the heart. With views like no other, the shining stalls with crafts, cuisine, and curios come alive with music and merriment. Visit glowing German Christkindlesmarkt stalls as you cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers through Heidelberg, a Main river village, Wurzburg, Bamberg, and Nuremberg.

1. Day 1
   BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

   Mon, Dec 01, 2025

   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)
   
   
2. Day 2
   BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

   Tue, Dec 02, 2025

   History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest
   
   CLASSIC 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, 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)
   
   
3. Day 3
   STRASBOURG, FRANCE

   Wed, Dec 03, 2025

   Joyeux Noël in Strasbourg
   
   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)
   
   
4. Day 4
   SPEYER, GERMANY. HEIDELBERG EXCURSION

   Thu, Dec 04, 2025

   Winter Wonders and a Wine Barrel Fit for a King
   
   DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed 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)
   
   
5. Day 5
   FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM

   Fri, Dec 05, 2025

   Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
   
   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)
   
   
6. Day 6
   MAIN RIVER VILLAGE

   Sat, Dec 06, 2025

   Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights in Beautiful Bavaria
   
   CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.
   
   DISCOVERY Join a German Cookie-Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing.
   
   Later, enjoy live entertainment on board
   
   AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG
   
   (B,L,D)
   
   
7. Day 7
   WÜRZBURG

   Sun, Dec 07, 2025

   Old Saint Nicholas, and Nutcrackers Sweet
   
   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)
   
   
8. Day 8
   BAMBERG

   Mon, Dec 08, 2025

   Christmas Customs and Cradle Scenes
   
   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)
   
   
9. Day 9
   NUREMBERG

   Tue, Dec 09, 2025

   Legends and History Lessons
   
   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)
   
   
10. Day 10
    NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION)

    Wed, Dec 10, 2025

    Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
    
    (B)