One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this winter wonderland journey along the Rhine River, which starts in Switzerland with stops in France, Germany, and Holland! Each town is festively lit and decorated and strains of Christmas carols fill the air. You’ll board your Avalon Suite Ship® in Basel, Switzerland. Sail for Breisach, Germany, the gateway to the Black Forest, an area of unrivalled natural beauty. Explore the warm and friendly Christmas market with traditional festive offerings. Continue your river cruise to Strasbourg, France, home to one of the oldest and finest Christmas markets in Europe with a spectacular Christmas tree.
Visit Heidelberg’s castle ruins towering above the city, and watch the skaters on the ice rink below, or Mainz to enjoy a guided walk through town, and browse the charming Christmas market. Sail to charming Rüdesheim, home to Europe’s largest nativity scene, and pass through the dramatic views of the Rhine Gorge on your way to the 2,000-year-old city of Cologne. Wander through Cologne’s brilliant Christmas market, and try traditional Lebkuchen and Glühwein. You’ll visit Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam, and take a canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Transfer by high-speed train to Paris to start your Monograms vacation package with 2 nights in “The City of Light”. Your guided sightseeing with an expert guide, includes a drive past the Latin Quarter, Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, followed by a Seine River cruise. You’ll enjoy a guided sightseeing in London, England’s most famous destination, as well as free time to really get to know the city. Sightseeing includes Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Your Monograms vacation package includes helpful onsite support from your expert Local Hosts® both in Paris & London. Your scenic river cruise on the Romantic Rhine River, and complete vacation package in Paris and London are the perfect combination to unlock a guided European vacation of a lifetime.