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
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Know Before You Go
Air information
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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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Know Before You Go

  • This program features a fair amount of walking over cobbled streets and older wooden piers. For your comfort and safety, we recommend this trip only to individuals in good physical condition. If you have difficulty walking or are wheelchair-bound, please consult our Travel Counselors for guidance.
  • We reserve the right for our Program Directors to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group's experience.
  • Throughout the River Cruise season, weather conditions affect European river depths. Water levels may require adjustments to your itinerary.
  • Expect cooler temperatures, damper conditions, and occasional icy surfaces.
  • Christmas Markets are likely to be quite crowded. Many of the local vendors at the craft stalls do not speak English, and you cannot use credit cards or U.S. dollars to make purchases at this market.
  • Many shops, museums, and other sites are closed after 1pm on Dec 24, all day on Dec 25 and 26, and on Jan 1. The sequence of events on your trip may be adjusted to reflect this.
  • In some ports, the local Christmas Markets do not open until Dec 5.