In Frankfurt, board your Avalon Suite Ship, festively decorated and beautifully dressed up in Christmas colour, and embark on this Christmastime river cruise through the heart of Germany. Your European river cruise takes you behind medieval walls and towered gates to enjoy a guided walking tour in a picturesque village along the Main River.

Celebrate the season in charming Würzburg, known as the “Pearl of the Romantic Road,” and surrounded by sloping vineyards-covered hills. Visit the ornate Bishop’s Residence—home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted, then stroll through the Christmas markets while you sip Glühwein (hot mulled wine). Continue your Christmastime river cruise to Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the many nativity scenes exhibited throughout the town are sure to delight. Take a guided tour of Nuremberg with free time to visit the Christmas market—one of the most famous in the world. Wander through Old Town illuminated with holiday lights and decorations, and be sure to sample some traditional lebkuchen (spicy gingerbread), a Nuremberg specialty. While on board, you’ll also learn how to bake a traditional cookie recipe and hear all about German Christmas traditions.

Disembark your ship and travel to Prague, Czech Republic—a 1,200-year-old city preserved in time. Stand in front of the medieval Astronomical Clock, and browse the Christmas markets where rows of brightly decorated wooden huts sell Christmas tree ornaments, wooden toys, and Czech handicrafts. And you can’t miss the beautifully decorated tree in Old Town! Historical treasures of Germany and magnificent Prague are perfectly paired with the sights, sounds, and scrumptious tastes of the joyous holiday season on this unforgettable European river cruise.