Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam, Holland.

Arrive in charming Amsterdam and embark your luxurious river cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Cocktail Reception. (D)

After breakfast, admire beautiful 17th-century homes, charming churches and 16th-century merchant houses on a guided canal boat tour. Enjoy an afternoon information briefing as you cruise towards Germany. Tonight you'll be a guest at the Captain's Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,L,D)

Early riser cruise past fashionable Düsseldorf, before arriving in Cologne for a guided morning walking tour through the old part of the city and a visit to the fabled 13th-century Gothic cathedral. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore on your own. Perhaps, return to the cathedral to browse through the city’s most impressive Christmas Market offering 160 attractively designed wooden pavilions. Here, you will find an assortment of delicacies and watch artisans at work. Continue to 2,000-year-old Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and the Mosel rivers. Arrive in Koblenz late this evening and take an after dinner walk through this charming town. The ship moors overnight in Koblenz. (B,L,D)

Today, sail through the fascinating Rhine Gorge, passing castle after castle and the infamous Lorelei Rock. After lunch, arrive in Rüdesheim and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. During your free time, explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants, or visit the Christmas Markets where you will find more than 120 stands from 12 nations offering their distinctive holiday products. The ship moors here tonight. (B,L,D)

This morning, arrive in one of Germany’s oldest cities, Worms, renowned for its great historical and cultural significance. Surrounded by lush vineyards, Worms is noteworthy for its famous white wine, Liebfraumilch, and as a location described in the ancient Nibelungenlied (The Song of the Nibelungs), an epic poem from the Middle Ages. The city is also known for its many excellent examples of Romanesque architecture, including the majestic 12th-century St. Peter’s Cathedral. During your tour, visit the impressive monument to Martin Luther and other leaders of the Reformation along the "Luther Trail." You will also see the 11th-century "Heiliger Sand," one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe with some tombstones dating back nearly a millennium. Enjoy lunch onboard the ship before disembarking for your excursion to Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled Castle, as well as the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. You will have time to leisurely browse through the town’s traditional Christmas Markets, extending over five squares, and offer a wide array of crafts and tasty regional delicacies. (B,L,D)

Capital and 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, take a tour through this medieval charming town lined with narrow cobbled streets. See the European Parliament and visit the "La Petite France" district, where you 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 your leisure. Perhaps, take a stroll through Strasbourg’s historic city center, the "Grande Île" ("Grand Island"), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or sample the local cuisine and wine that merges the best of French and German influences. Around the cathedral, you will find one of Europe’s oldest and finest Christmas Markets, selling specialties including "Bredele," small Alsatian biscuits, delicately crafted toys, jewelry and ceramics. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

Today, choose between a city tour of Colmar or Freiburg. If you decide to travel to Freiburg, you will visit its 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, where you will find an array of traditional arts and crafts from the Black Forest. Or, choose to travel to medieval Colmar, situated along the Alsatian Wine Route and is self-proclaimed as the "Capital of Alsatian Wine." During your city tour, you will see remarkable half-timbered framed houses, the German influenced old quarter filled with streets of unexpected twists and turns, canals and the Launch River. Colmar is beautifully decorated with stunning illuminations during the Advent period and offers five Christmas Markets, each in different areas of the city. Late tonight, the ship set sails for Basel, Switzerland. (B,L,D)

Disembark after breakfast for a city tour of tour of cosmopolitan 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. Enjoy lunch own your own or visit Basel’s Christmas Market on Barfsserplatz where you will find ultra-modern as well as vintage and traditional gifts, colorful toys and typical Swiss crafts. Depart for Luzern, arriving mid afternoon to check into your hotel. (B)

Situated on the exit of the Reusse River, on Lake Luzern, the city is a medieval charm. After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Luzern. Small cobbled stoned streets, squares with fountains, fresco’d buildings typify Luzern. The two most famous monuments are the Lion monument, the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside – representing the Swiss Guard of the French King who died defending the Royal Palace during the revolution. Easily the symbol of the city, The Chapel Bridge, is a medieval covered bridge, which for centuries was part of the city defenses. The eves of the roof have paintings depicting the cities rich history. The afternoon is free is free to explore the town’s enchanting Christmas Market located at the train station where you will find yourself surrounded by the aroma of mulled wine and Christmas confectioneries, or you can choose our optional tour to Mount Pilatus, the mountain which dominates the city. (B)

This morning, check out of the hotel. Prior to leaving Lucerne, enjoy a cruise across the tranquil waters of Lake Lucerne. Amazing scenery is the back drop of the cruise, with mountains looming over the city, coming right to the edge of the lake. There is time for lunch in Lucerne before departing for a scenic drive around the Lakes before reaching Zürich this afternoon. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. (B)

Your morning walking tour of picturesque Zürich will include Grossmünster, St.Peter, with the largest church clock face in the world, Old Town, Town Hall and Fraumünster, which was fully renovated in 2004 and now offers an exceptional 360° panoramic view of Zürich. The afternoon and evening is free for you to explore the town on your own. Perhaps, explore Europe’s largest indoor Christmas Market located in the town’s main railway station and its underground mall or visit the markets at the mile-long Bahnhofstrasse and in the city center. (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)