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1-800-959-0405

Christmas Markets along the Rhine (2009)

Travel from only $150 per day
12 days - including international airfare - from only $1795

Switzerland • France • Germany • The Netherlands
10 days - River Cruise only - from only $1295
Average traveler rating:
(6 reviews)

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Detailed Itinerary

  • Day 1 DEPART USA

    Depart the U.S. today on your flight to Europe.

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  •   Cruise Schedule

     Day 2 ARRIVE SWITZERLAND/WELCOME DRINK

    This morning, you arrive at the Basel airport, where you are met and transferred to the pier to embark your river ship. From Basel, located where Switzerland, Germany, and France all meet, ships can navigate the Rhine all the way to the North Sea.

    A light lunch will be served onboard this afternoon. Otherwise, the balance of the day is at leisure. 

    Gather this evening to meet your Program Director and traveling companions over a Welcome Drink, and for a Ship Briefing on your upcoming cruise.  Then enjoy your first dinner together as a full group.

    Accommodations:   Private Grand Circle River Ship

    Meals: 1L, 1D

     CRUISE SCHEDULEArriveDepart
     Basel (Embark) 12:30 PM overnight

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  • Day 3 VISIT KAYSERBERG/KAYSERBERG/WELCOME DINNER

    Enjoy the morning onboard as you sail to Breisach.

    This afternoon you'll head into Alsace on the French side of the Rhine to visit Kayserberg, a city with an abundance of the Christmas spirit. This was the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer, the great humanitarian and recipient of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize, who is famous for his philosophy of "reverence for life" and his work in Africa. You tour includes a visit to Dr. Schweitzer's former home, now a museum, where his study is preserved exactly as it was when he last used it in 1959.

    You'll also enjoy watching a glassblower work at his craft today (unless it is a Monday, when this demonstration is not given).

    Gather this evening with your fellow travelers and Program Director for a Captain's Welcome Reception and Dinner.

    Accommodations:   Private Grand Circle River Ship

    Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

    Included Tours:   Kayserberg

     CRUISE SCHEDULEArriveDepart
     Breisach 12:30 PM 6:30 PM

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  • Day 4 VISIT STRASBOURG CANALS/TOUR STRASBOURG’S CHRISTMAS MARKETS

    After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour by boat along Strasbourg’s canals. Strasbourg has been strategically important since ancient times. It became a free imperial city in 1262, and then was occupied by France in 1681 and Germany in 1871. France recovered the city in 1919 after World War I. From your boat, you’ll see the major sights (including the Palais de L’Europe where the European Parliament meets) and admire the city’s remarkable Renaissance architecture. In mid morning your boat tour concludes at the Palais Rohan in the town center. If you like, you may walk on your own from the Palais to visit the city’s magnificent cathedral, one of the finest of Europe’s great Gothic cathedrals. Its lofty single spire dominates the city.

    After lunch aboard ship, you have the afternoon free to visit Strasbourg’s Christmas market or explore more of the city on your own. There is an excellent collection of Renaissance Art in the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Alsatian Museum offers folk art, including reconstructed interiors of Rhine farm and vineyard houses. You may want to visit the picturesque Petite-France area (the former Tanners district) and see the old Customs House and the charming covered bridges with their defensive towers. Return to the ship for dinner on board.

    Please Note: Strasbourg's Christmas Market will not be open on early departures.

    Accommodations:   Private Grand Circle River Ship

    Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

    Included Tours:   Strasbourg

     CRUISE SCHEDULEArriveDepart
     Strasbourg 12:30 AM overnight

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  • Day 5 GREFFERN, BLACK FOREST REGION/BADEN-BADEN/TOUR SPEYER/HOME-HOSTED VISIT

    This morning, the ship docks at the German town of Greffern and you depart for a scenic journey by motorcoach into the Black Forest region. You visit the spa town of Baden-Baden, nestled in the thick, deep green forests. Baden-Baden has been renowned for its thermal baths since Roman times. You’ll have a tour of the resort town and a tasting of the mineral waters, thought by many to have restorative powers. Afterwards the motorcoach takes you to Speyer, where you reboard the ship in time for lunch.

    Speyer is a city more than 2,000 years old that has retained parts of its medieval wall and gates. As you see the city’s Christmas Market later today, you can contemplate the fact that an earlier version of this town already existed in the time of Jesus. You’ll be welcomed into the home of a local family, where you’ll enjoy coffee and cake.

    We then enjoy a walking tour of Speyer, ending at the Christmas Market where you'll have time to browse the colorful stalls. We return to the ship for dinner.

    Accommodations:   Private Grand Circle River Ship

    Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

    Included Tours:   Baden-Baden

     CRUISE SCHEDULEArriveDepart
     Greffern, Germany (for Baden-Baden)* 8 AM ---
     Speyer 1 PM ---

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Some departure dates feature a reverse itinerary. Please call for details.

 


Please note: Hotel ratings are based on Hotel and Travel Index classifications. Hotels not rated by the Hotel Travel and Index have been evaluated by Grand Circle's travel planners as meeting our standards for quality, comfort, and value. Itinerary subject to change.


 


KNOW BEFORE YOU GO


Throughout the River Cruise season, weather conditions affect European river depths. Water levels may require adjustments to your itinerary. This program features a fair amount of walking over cobbled streets and older wooden piers. For full enjoyment of this trip, you should be in relatively good health. If you have difficulty walking or are wheelchair-bound, please consult our Travel Counselors for guidance. Because Christmas Markets open for the season at different times, travelers on early departures may not visit as many as on later departures. Many shops, museums, and other sites are closed after 1pm on Dec. 24th, all day on Dec. 25, 26 and on Jan. 1st. The sequence of events on your trip may be adjusted to reflect this.