December 2024 - Switzerland & Christmas Markets of the Rhine

December 9-17, 2024
featuring Lucerne, Strasbourg & 6 Nights aboard the Amadeus Silver II
​Contact Lydia Agidius @ (509) 662-7036 or [email protected]
Brought to you in partnership with Premier World Discovery.

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Daily Itinerary

Day 1 Depart US - Overnight Flight to Europe

Day 2 Arrive Zurich - Lucerne

• Arrive Zurich - Meet your PWD Tour Director
• Transfer to Lucerne & Check in for your overnight stay
• Welcome Desk at the hotel
• ​Overnight - Lucerne

Day 3 Lucerne - Strasbourg - Board the Amadeus Silver II

• Morning - Lucerne Walking Tour & Christmas Market
• Travel to Strasbourg, France via motorcoach
• Board the MS Silver II for 6 Night Rhine River Cruise
• Welcome Dinner Onboard
• Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
• ​Overnight - Amadeus Silver II

Day 4 Strasbourg

• Morning - Strasbourg City Tour & Christmas Market
• Afternoon - Leisure time in Strasbourg or Alsace & Obernai Optional
• Ship docked into late evening in Kehl/Strasbourg
• Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
• Overnight - Amadeus Silver II

Day 5 Speyer - Mannheim

• Morning - Speyer Walking Tour & Christmas Market
• Cruise to Mannheim for time at Leisure or Heidelberg Optional Excursion
• Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
• Overnight - Amadeus Silver II

Day 6 Rüdesheim - Rhine River Gorge - Koblenz

• Morning - Arrive Rüdesheim & walk into town on own to explore
• or Optional Rudesheim Tram Car with Musical Instrument Museum
• Midday - Cruise through the Rhine River Gorge, a UNESCO Heritage Site
• Afternoon arrival Koblenz - Koblenz Walking Tour & Christmas Market

• Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
• Overnight - Amadeus Silver II

Day 7 Cochem

• Morning Moselle River Cruising
• Afternoon - Cochem Walking Tour with Reichsburg Castle, Wine Tasting & Christmas Market
• Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
• Overnight - Amadeus Silver II

Day 8 Cologne

• Morning arrival Cologne - Cologne Walking Tour & Christmas Market
• Afternoon at Leisure in Cologne
• Gala Farewell Dinner Onboard - Ship docked overnight in Cologne
• Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
• Overnight - Amadeus Silver II

Day 9 Cologne - Frankfurt Airport - Flight Home

• Morning transfer to the Frankfurt Airport for your flight home
• ​Meal - Breakfast

About European Christmas Markets
Enjoy this magical time of year as Europe’s countries hold steadfastly onto Old World holiday tradition and transform into fairy-tale Christmas settings. The sights and sensations of the holiday season are everywhere: locals and guests savor the tastes of chocolate covered Lebkuchen (gingerbread), sizzling grilled sausages and spiced hot “Gluehwein” (mulled wine). People also delight in the festively decorated markets and shopping for ornaments, crafts, candles, nutcrackers, winter hats, roasted nuts and other traditional items.

Map, Cities & Ports

Lucerne, Switzerland
Visit and overnight in Lucerne, a traditional Swiss town along the banks of Lake Lucerne with an Alpine backdrop. Enjoy a Lucerne Walking Tour of this medieval gem and see some of the city’s lovely cobblestone streets, monuments, fountains, public squares, covered bridges, colorful frescoed buildings and the iconic 14th century Chapel Bridge. Enjoy Lucerne’s colorful Christmas Market and its wonderful Old Town.

Strasbourg, France
Capital city of the Alsace region in northeastern France, Strasbourg is situated on the Rhine at the German border. Enjoy a Strasbourg City Tour to see Orangerie, the town’s oldest park, the European Parliament, and the Place de la Republique. Take a walking tour of the lovely “La Petite France” neighborhood and see the Gothic cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. Then stroll Strasbourg’s Christmas Market, one of Europe’s oldest. Later join the optional trip into the Alsace region to visit fairy-tale Obernai & its quaint Christmas Market.

Speyer, Germany
Arrive in Speyer one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for its cathedral, numerous churches and the 13th-century Altpörtel (“Old Gate”). Explore the city during your Speyer Walking Tour. Later cruise to Mannheim & maybe take an optional excursion to historic Heidelberg to visit the red-walled castle and get beautiful views of the Neckar Valley.

Rüdesheim - Rhine River Gorge - Koblenz, Germany
Arrive in Rüdesheim and explore on your own the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants. If you prefer join an optional Rüdesheim Tour via Tram Car including a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Later the ship departs to cruise through the Rhine River Gorge, a UNESCO Heritage Site and the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river with hillsides dotted with fairy-tale castles, historic towns and vineyards. Later arrive in Germany’s oldest city, Koblenz, a charming Rhineland town situated at the confluence of the Rhine & Moselle Rivers. Enjoy a Koblenz Walking Tour & the popular Christmas Market. See the famous Advent Calendar at the baroque Town Hall.

Cochem, Germany
The ship makes a detour along the Moselle River to the little town of Cochem. Enjoy a Cochem Walking Tour then visit the Reichsburg Castle, experience a Wine Tasting & stop at the quaint Christmas Market. The magnificent Reichsburg castle is situated high above the town, dominating the landscape. Down below, the village with its narrow streets, half timbered houses and numerous restaurants is an ideal setting to taste the wines of the region.

Cologne, Germany
Cologne is Germany’s 4th largest city and located on both sides of the Rhine. Enjoy a Cologne Walking Tour featuring the old part of the city and the fabled 13th century Gothic cathedral. Explore the dock side taverns, cafes, shops and the famous Christmas Market in front of the cathedral.

MS Amadeus Silver II

Stateroom Haydn Deck
172 sq. ft.

Stateroom Strauss & Mozart Decks
188 s.f.

Suite Mozart Deck
284 s.f.

Staterooms - 172 or 188 sq. ft.
All staterooms feature 2 twin beds that can be separated or put together, flat screen TV, private bath with shower, hair dryer, closet, phone, desk, chair & safe. Mozart & Strauss Staterooms feature Drop Down Panoramic Window with 188 sq. ft. of floor space. Haydn Deck Staterooms feature a fixed window with 172 sq. ft.
(Stateroom size & amenities can vary)

Suite - 284 sq. ft. with Balcony
All suites are on the Mozart Deck and have panoramic windows with exterior Walk Out Balcony, two twin beds that can be separated or put together, a private sitting area, flat screen TV, mini-bar, private bath with shower, hair dryer, phone, closet, desk, chair, safe & offer 284 square feet of floor space.
(Suite size and amenities can vary)​

 The Ship - MS Amadeus Silver II
Launched in 2015, the innovative 168-passenger Amadeus Silver II is a 443-foot vessel offering all the amenities of a floating 5-star hotel. This Premium cruise ship features the most modern furnishings that blend masterfully with the architecture of the ship and a luxurious design that is the hallmark of the Amadeus fleet. The extensive Restaurant and the Panorama Lounge offer divine views of the passing riverscapes. The attentive English-speaking onboard service staff will see to your comfort with typical European hospitality. The cabin design plans are forwardthinking, bright & modern, all part of a premium focus with 72 large Staterooms & 12 Suites. The beauty of river cruising is that the most interesting destinations come to ou. This Silver class charter features English-only onboard commentary with inclusive shore excursions balanced with choice to simply relax onboard, get a spa treatment or add sightseeing with optional excursions. After dinner each night enjoy entertainment and music in the Panorama Lounge.

All Meals Included Onboard
Three meals daily are served graciously in the exquisite Panorama Restaurant and feature local and international specialties. All dinners are four courses and are served with included Hand Selected Wines, Beer and Soft drinks. While dining, you have splendid views of the passing scenic landscapes through large picture windows. Enjoy afternoon and/or late evening snacks in the lounge based on the daily schedule.

Comfortable & Innovative Staterooms
After boarding, unpack once. All staterooms are large & offer river views. The Mozart Deck features 12 Suites with Walk Out Balconies. The other 19 Staterooms on the Mozart Deck & 35 Staterooms on the Strauss Deck feature an innovative Panoramic Drop-Down Window. The 18 Staterooms on the Haydn Deck have a fixed window. All staterooms are fully equipped with comfortable & modern furnishings including flat screen TV & large private bathrooms with shower.

Cruise Rates

Cat E - Haydn Deck $4315 pp dbl* $4115 pp dbl w/BD** +$500 single~ 
Cat D - Haydn Deck $4515 pp dbl* $4315 pp dbl w/BD** +$500 single~
Cat C - Strauss Deck $4915 pp dbl* $4715 pp dbl w/BD** +$800 single~
Cat B - Strauss Deck $5115 pp dbl* $4915 pp dbl w/BD** +$800 single~
Cat A - Mozart Deck $5315 pp dbl* $5115 pp dbl w/BD** +$1000 single~
Suite - Mozart Deck $5815 pp dbl* $5615 pp dbl w/BD** +$2400

*Regular Rate or **Save $200 per person/$400 per couple with Booking Discount Rates (BD)
~Single offer not applicable to Suites.

Inclusions

• Roundtrip Airfare - SEA
• 1 Night Hotel - Lucerne, Switzerland
• 6 Night Cruise - Outside Cabin
• 18 Meals (7-B, 5-L & 6-D)
• PWD Tour Director(s)
• English Speaking Ship Staff
• Hand Selected Wines & Beer w/ Dinners
• Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• Wifi Onboard
• Int’l Air Taxes/Fuel/Port Charges
• Baggage Handling at Hotel/Ship
• Roundtrip Hotel/Ship Transfers

​​

Highlights & Excursions

• 6 Night Cruise - Amadeus Silver II
  
• 1 Night in Lucerne, Switzerland
  
• 6 Excursions & Christmas Markets
  
•  Lucerne Walking Tour & Xmas Market
  
• Strasbourg City Tour & Xmas Market
  
• Speyer Walking Tour & Xmas Market
  
• Koblenz Walking Tour & Xmas Market
  
• Cologne Walking Tour & Xmas Market
  
• Cochem Walking Tour with Xmas Market,​Reichsburg Castle & Wine Tasting
  
• Rudesheim Visit
  
• Strasbourg Afternoon at Leisure
  
• Cologne Afternoon at Leisure