Christmas Markets Along the Rhine (2012)

Switzerland • France • Germany • The Netherlands
  • 11 days
  • from only:
  • $1445
  • $132 per day
    River Cruise Only
  • 12 days
  • from only:
  • $2245
  • $188 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
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IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
It's Included
Featured Accommodations
Trip Extensions
Basel, Switzerland
Brussels & Bruges, Belgium
Optional Tours
Know Before You Go
Air information
LearnMore
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CT

Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your River Cruise, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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CT

Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two vacations to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the Grand Circle Cruise Line River Cruise that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • International airport transfers to and from your ship or hotel are available for purchase
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your vacation
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your vacation with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

(Amsterdam)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis

9hrs

Boston, Seattle

10hrs

Baltimore, Chicago, New York (JFK), San Francisco, Washington, DC (Dulles)

11hrs

Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia

12hrs

Dallas, Houston

13hrs

Tampa

14hrs

Los Angeles

15hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

(Basel)

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Newark, New York (JFK)

11hrs

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Washington, DC (Dulles)

12hrs

Houston, Philadelphia

13hrs

Dallas, Minneapolis, Seattle

14hrs

Baltimore, Los Angeles, Tampa

15hrs

San Francisco

16hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Basel, Switzerland. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the Grand Circle Cruise Line family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on a Grand Circle Cruise Line trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-221-2610
or click here.

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Pre-Trip: Basel, Switzerland

3 nights from only $595
G20434

Join us before your River Cruise on an optional pre-trip extension to discover Basel, Switzerland’s third-largest city and a center of history and culture. With a heritage that spans more than 2,000 years and a fortunate geographic location, Basel offers a cosmopolitan blend of Swiss, German, and French influences.

Single Supplement: FREE

Please note: Availability and price may vary by departure date. Please call for details.

Basel, Switzerland, is a pre-trip extension on the Basel to Amsterdam itinerary and a post-trip extension on the Amsterdam to Basel itinerary.

It's Included

  • Accommodations for 3 nights at the Event Hotel Basel or similar
  • 3 meals—daily breakfast
  • Sightseeing—Basel city tour
  • All transfers
  • Exclusive services of an experienced Grand Circle Program Director
  • Optional Tour—Bern ($95 per person)
Day 1
Depart U.S.

Depart the U.S. today on your flight to Basel, Switzerland.
Day 2
Arrive in Basel, Switzerland

When you arrive in Switzerland, you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Basel. In the late afternoon, you'll be escorted on a walk in the vicinity around your hotel, followed by time to explore on your own.

This evening join your Program Director for a Welcome Drink and a briefing on what to expect during your time in Basel. Then enjoy dinner on your own. Your Program Director will have suggestions for dining among the many fine restaurants in the city.
Day 3
Basel/City Tour

After breakfast, attend an orientation briefing. Your Program Director will go over the details of your upcoming trip and answer any questions you may have. Then enjoy a discussion introducing you to the people and culture of Switzerland.

Next embark on a walking tour of Basel. Basel is Switzerland’s third-largest city and one with a split personality. On the one hand, the city is dominated by giant, modern chemical concerns and pharmaceutical companies. On the other, a network of narrow alleys weaves together the city’s medieval architectural heritage. On our walking tour, we’ll see the lively Marktplatz, its colorful Town Hall, and the twelfth-century, red sandstone Munster (Cathedral) among other highlights.

After lunch on your own, you have the rest of the day to relax or explore on your own, with an included day pass on Basel’s extensive tram network. With more than 30 museums, Basel is a well-known center of art and culture. Dating to 1662, the Museum of Fine Arts is considered the oldest public art museum in Europe. Inside, you can view Old Masters such as Hans Holbein, along with modern masters, such as Jasper Johns. The Historical Museum, which is housed in a 14th-century church, contains a collection relating to the history of culture in Central Europe. Its most notable piece is the Lallenkonig (Babbling King), a crowned head with moveable tongue and eyes.

Your Program Director can help with suggestions for dinner on your own tonight.
Day 4
Explore Basel/Optional Bern excursion

Explore Basel on your own today. Stroll across a bridge or ride a ferry across the Rhine, and explore the city’s two sides: historic Grossbasel, where many cultural attractions are clustered, and more modern Kleinbasel.

Or join our optional tour to Bern, Switzerland’s capital. We’ll travel about an hour and a quarter by bus, then take a guided walking tour, beginning at the city’s bear pit. The bear is the symbol of Bern, and the live animals housed here are well-treated as some of the city’s most valued residents. Stroll through the historic center of this city on the Aare River, which was founded in 1191 by Duke Berchtold of Zahringen. The tour brings you to Bern’s 16th-century clock tower, after which you’ll have free time to get lunch on your own. Then continue on to Emmental to see how Swiss cheese is made before returning to Basel.

Your evening is free and you can seek out another of Basel’s many excellent restaurants for dinner on your own.
Day 5
Basel/Embark ship

After breakfast this morning, transfer to the pier to embark your river ship. Travelers arriving for the main trip will join you and you will continue from Day 2 of the main itinerary.