Rhine
River Christmas Markets Cruise
Day by Day Itinerary
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Click the map to have a larger version open in a new window |
Every day brings fresh delights and new places to visit
on our Rhine River Christmas Markets Cruise.
You'll travel through beautiful scenery and visit lovely
towns in Switzerland, France, Germany and Holland, with optional
time in Zurich and Lucerne prior to the start of the cruise. |
This is the itinerary for the 2015 Christmas Markets Cruise.
Amawaterways may need to slightly vary the schedule to fit
in with lock times, etc,
and so this itinerary could slightly change.
Click here for the main
details of this cruise and the booking form to confirm your
interest.
If you'd like more information on what you'll see and enjoy
on this cruise, here is a
day by day photo journal of a recent (Danube) Christmas cruise.
Itinerary
Day 1 (Sunday 13 December -
or sooner) :
Leave the US |
Take an overnight flight from the US to Europe today. |
You
can either make your own arrangements to travel to Basel,
or else take advantage of the air addon to the cruise fare.
You should leave the US today or
earlier, so as to arrive in Basel on Monday afternoon (or sooner)
in time for the start of the Rhine River Christmas Markets Cruise.
If you're not taking the optional
extension in Switzerland, you might also want to consider arriving in
Basel a day early.
Note - If you've chosen the pre-cruise
extension in Switzerland, please read on below |
Optional Pre-Cruise Extension in
Switzerland (4 nights in Zurich and Lucerne) |
If you would like to add a four day pre-cruise extension,
spending two nights each in Zurich and Lucerne, this
optional module below would apply. Note that in such a
case, you should leave the US on Wed 9 Dec or sooner, so as
to arrive into Zurich on Thu 10 Dec or sooner. |
Four Day Pre-cruise Extension in Switzerland
(Thursday 10 Dec - Monday 14 December) |

A view over Zurich and looking towards the lake it is
situated on the shores of.
A view of the Old Town in Zurich.
Another
view of Zurich.
Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most popular tourist
destinations. We'll find out why.
The medieval town center of Lucerne. |
Thursday 10th : You arrive
into Zurich today and check in to the central hotel for the
next two nights.
Friday 11th : After the included
breakfast, a
morning walking tour of picturesque Zurich is given.
This includes Grossmünster Abbey, St. Peter (with the world’s largest
church clock face), the Old Town, Town Hall and Fraumünster,
which was fully renovated in 2004 and now offers an
exceptional 360° view of Zurich.
The afternoon and evening
are free for you to explore the town on your own, and
probably you will wish to
visit Europe’s largest indoor Christmas Market. An optional
excursion to Rhine Falls is also available.
Saturday
12th : After
breakfast and then a free morning in Zurich, check out of
the hotel and head off on a scenic drive around the lake
before reaching Lucerne.
Upon arrival, enjoy a cruise across the tranquil waters of
Lake Lucerne, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery.
The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish.
You'll stay at a central hotel for the next two nights.
Sunday 13th : This lakeside city is truly a
medieval gem. After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour
that will explore some of the city’s famous cobblestone
streets, monuments, fountain-embellished public squares,
covered bridges and colorful fresco-covered buildings.
You will have free time in the
afternoon to shop for watches, Swiss knives, and delicious
chocolates or visit the enchanting Christmas Market.
As an alternative, you may take an optional tour and cable
car ride (seasonal) to the top of Mount Pilatus, the
mountain that dominates the city. The return trip down
the mountain is via the world’s steepest cogwheel railway,
an engineering marvel.
Monday 14th : This morning, depart
from Lucerne after breakfast, and visit the Lion Monument en
route to Basel.
Arrive in Basel for a city tour before embarking your
luxurious river cruise ship.
Basel - Switzerland’s second largest city - is ideally
located at the crossroads of Switzerland, France and
Germany. Long an important university, banking and trade
center, Basel’s glorious past is still evident in its
medieval Town Hall and exquisite 18th- century patrician
homes.
Please now read on for the main
cruise.
Included meals -
the pre-cruise option includes four Breakfasts |
Day 2 (Monday
14 December) :
Board our cruise boat, the Amacerto, in Basel |

Our boat is the lovely Amacerto,
one of the fleet of luxury ships operated on the
European rivers and canals by Amawaterways.
Basel as seen from the Rhine. |
Join the ship in Basel today.
The crew will be preparing the
cabins for arriving passengers, and you are given access to
your cabin as soon as it becomes available, generally by
4pm.
If you arrive early, you can spend
your time relaxing in the ship’s lounge or doing some
exploring on your own in beautiful Basel.
Switzerland’s second largest city
is ideally located at the crossroads of Switzerland, France
and Germany (in the middle of the Rhine).
Long an important university,
banking and trade center, Basel’s glorious past is still
evident in its medieval Town Hall and exquisite 18th-century
patrician homes. You may wish to visit Basel’s
Christmas Market on Barfsserplatz where you will find
ultramodern as well as vintage and traditional gifts,
colorful toys and typical Swiss crafts.
Tonight, gather onboard for a Gala
Welcome Dinner.
Included meals - Dinner |
Day 3 (Tuesday 15 December) : Breisach
and Freiburg, or Riquewihr |

Beautiful Riquewihr; a street scene just before
Christmas
The Merchant Hall and adjoining buildings, dating to the
early 16th century in Freiburg
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Today, you can choose between a walking tour of Breisach
and Freiburg, or travel by coach to Riquewihr.
If you decide to enjoy the tour of Breisach and Freiburg, you will visit
the
historical city center and visit the Augustinerplatz, site
of Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic minster cathedral
constructed of red sandstone, noted for its towering spires.
The town is bordered by the Black Forest mountains, Rosskopf
and Bromberg, and is known for meticulous wood carvings and
cuckoo clocks.
After your city tour, visit Freiburg’s Christmas Markets
located in the heart of the town’s beautiful historical
quarter.
Or, you could cross to the other side of the Rhine and
take the tour to Riquewihr which is in France. This
lovely town looks much as it did in the middle ages, and has
officially been labeled one of France's most beautiful towns.
As well as its beauty, it is also
renowed for its fine Riesling wines.
Tonight, the ship sets sail for Strasbourg, France.
Included Meals: Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner |
Day 4 (Wednesday 16 December) :
Strasbourg |

Strasbourg's canals, bridges, tower and in the background,
its cathedral which dominates the city skyline.

Handcrafts galore at just one of the hundreds of Christmas
market stalls in Strasbourg.
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The principal city of the Alsace region in northeastern
France, Strasbourg is situated on the Ill River, where it
flows into the Rhine on the border with Germany.
This morning, we will see the European Parliament and visit
the “La Petite France” district, where we will see the
sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its famous astronomical
clock. Then enjoy a canal cruise, revealing the
picturesque town, known for its black and white
timber-framed buildings, covered bridges and medieval
watchtowers.
The remainder of the day is at our leisure to sightsee
through Strasbourg’s historic city center, the “Grande Île”
(Grand Island), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and/or browse
through one of Europe’s oldest and finest Christmas Markets,
selling specialties including “Bredele,” small Alsatian
biscuits, delicately crafted toys, jewelry and ceramics.
Included Meals: Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner |
Day 5 (Thursday 17 December) :
Speyer and Heidelberg |
Heidelberg and its massive castle.
One of the main streets in Speyer, and its cathedral in
the background.
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After a lovely morning cruising up the Rhine, we arrive
into Speyer earl this afternoon. Speyer, is one of Germany’s
oldest cities, and known for its Cathedral, churches, and
the Altpörtel – a 13th-century gate tower.
Choose either a tour of Medieval Speyer or a half day
excursion to Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled
Castle and its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine
cask, and see beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and
Heidelberg below.
You will have free time to wander what is said to be the
longest pedestrian shopping street in Germany, the “Haupstrasse,”
or simply relax in a café. The ship moors overnight in
Speyer.
Included Meals: Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner |
Day 6 (Friday 18 December) : Rudesheim - Rhine Castles - Koblenz |
Siegfried himself and one of the many amazing mechanical
musical instruments in his museum.
One of the castles above the Rhine River.
Koblenz, where the Rhine River is joined by the Mosel.
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This morning, we arrive in the lovely town of Rüdesheim
and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum,
an extraordinary collection of big and small music boxes,
player pianos, barrel organs, and all sort of other musical
devices.
After the museum, walk down the Drosselgasse, a narrow
alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants, and/or visit
the Christmas Markets where there are more than 120 stands
from 12 nations offering their distinctive holiday products
before returning to the ship.
This afternoon, we will cruise through the Rhine Gorge,
the most beautiful stretch of the river, passing castle
after castle. A highlight is the legendary Lorelei
Rock, where sweet songs of local beauties reputedly lured
enchanted sailors to their doom.
Arrive in Koblenz late this afternoon. Enjoy an after
dinner stroll through this charming town. The ship moors
overnight in Koblenz.
Included Meals: Breakfast,
Lunch Dinner |
Day 7 (Saturday 19 December) :
Koblenz - Cologne |
Despite being hit 14 times by bombs in WW2, Cologne's
magnificent cathedral survived.

The Christmas Market by the cathedral is renowned for its
tall Christmas tree.
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This morning, the ship cruises to Cologne for a walking
tour through the old part of the city and visit to the
fabled 13th-century Gothic Cathedral.
During our free time, you might choose to return to the
cathedral area and browse through the city’s most impressive
of its nine different Christmas Markets, offering a range of
handicrafts and gifts at 160 attractively designed wooden
pavilions.
Here, you will find an assortment of delicacies and can
watch artisans at work.
The ship departs tonight for Amsterdam.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 8 (Sunday 20 December) :
Amsterdam |

Lovely Amsterdam is a city where the water is never very
distant. |
We'll spend our last
morning on the
Amacerto leisurely cruising to Amsterdam.
After arriving in Amsterdam in the late afternoon, we
take a guided canal cruise before gathering onboard for a
Gala Farewell Dinner.
Included Meals: Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner |
Day 9 (Monday 21 December) :
Cruise ends in Amsterdam |
Say goodbye to Amsterdam today. |
After breakfast, disembark and make your way to the airport for
your flight home, or extend your vacation any which way you
choose (see below).
Included Meals: Breakfast |
Click here for the main
details of this cruise and the booking form to confirm your
interest.
Click here for a
day by day photo
journal of what you'll see and enjoy on a (Danube) Christmas Markets
Cruise.
Originally published
28 Sep 2015, last update
30 May 2021
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