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2024 Season

Festive Time on Romantic Rhine with 3 Nights in Lake Como & 1 Night in Lucerne & Mount Pilatus (Northbound)


cruise: WZA5-T1
12 days from Lake Como to Amsterdam
Your European vacation begins with a stay in Como and Lucerne, with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus for spectacular Swiss Alpine panoramas. In Como, an included guided walking tour features the charming historic district, the Gothic Town Hall, the impressive Duomo and a boat ride on the lake. In Lucerne, your guided walking tour, includes the Lion Monument, the Chapel Bridge and a special highlight excursion to stunning Mount Pilatus.

Board your Avalon® vessel in Basel, Switzerland, then head for Breisach, Germany, the gateway to the Black Forest, an area of unrivaled natural beauty, best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock. Here’s your first chance to explore a Christmas market offering many traditional items. Continue your river cruise to Strasbourg, France, where you’ll visit the red-sandstone gothic cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Strasbourg is home to one of the oldest and finest Christmas markets in Europe and its centerpiece is a giant Christmas tree. Choose between a visit the ruins of Heidelberg’s castle, towering mag-nificently over the city, and watch the skaters on the ice rink below or a a guided walk in Mainz with a visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum. Next up is the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, and unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. You’re sure to be enthralled by the life-size figures of Europe’s largest nativity scene on the Market Square. Pass through the dramatic views of the Rhine Gorge before arriving in Cologne—your last stop in Germany. Here, you’ll explore the 2,000-year-old city known for its gothic architecture and famous twin-spired cathedral. Wander through the Christmas market, try some traditional Lebkuchen and get some inner warmth with a cup of Glühwein. As an exclamation point to this wonderful Rhine river cruise, you’ll spend time in Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam. The best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city is on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.”

cruise

at-a-glance


Day 1 Lake Como: Welcome to Italy

Day 2 Lake Como: Guided walking tour, boat ride on Lake Como with stop in beautiful Bellagio

Day 3 Lake Como: Day at leisure

Day 4 Lake Como-Lucerne: Transfer by High Speed Train (First Class); guided walking tour in Lucerne, see the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge

Day 5 Lucerne, Mount Pilatus–Basel (Embarkation): Excursion to Mount Pilatus (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead); transfer to Basel to join your ship; onboard welcome reception

Day 6 Breisach: Choice of Black Forest Excursion or visit to a local winery in Breisach

Day 7 Strasbourg: Guided sightseeing, visit the La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral; Christmas market

Day 8 Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg: Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or guided walk in Mainz with visit of the Gutenberg Museum; Christmas market

Day 9 Rüdesheim–Rhine Gorge–Koblenz: Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim; Christmas market; scenic cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; Christmas market

Day 10 Cologne: Guided walk; Christmas market

Day 11 Amsterdam: Canal cruise

Day 12 Amsterdam (Disembarkation): Your vacation ends this morning

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. Plus, we offer independent exploration options and the use of our exclusive AvalonGO APP on most of our cruises. 

Below are 3 types of included shore excursions for you to experience.

The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.