Holiday Markets

No Single Supplement Limited Availability

Featuring Alpine Interlaken and a Rhine River Cruise

On Board the Amadeus Silver III

November 24–December 4, 2023† December 4–14, 2023* December 9–19, 2023

Overview

During the holiday season, cheerful wooden villages trimmed with fresh pine boughs and twinkling lights appear in town squares all across Europe. These Christkindlmarkts are the original pop-up stores, only around for the holiday season, and treating you with the aroma of gingerbread and freshly roasted chestnuts, mugs of mulled wine, and stall after stall of ornaments, toys, traditional crafts, and specialty foods.

*Note: The December 4 departure will run in the reverse direction. †Note: The November 24 departure will be aboard the Amadeus Cara.

Top: Cathedral on the banks of the Rhine River, Cologne | Above: River leading to Lake Brienz, Interlaken

Highlights Include

Holiday Markets: Shop for presents to put under the tree, and a souvenir or two for yourself, at several of Germany’s beloved Christkindlmarkts.

Rhine Valley: Cruise through the castle-filled Rhine Valley, and learn about its epic legends and artistic inspiration.

Heidelberg: Get in the holiday spirit during a performance of holiday songs by a musical trio.

Strasbourg and Colmar: Explore Germaninfluenced Alsace on the French side of the Rhine. Enjoy the towns, wine, and markets. Swiss Alps: Admire the snow-covered Alps of the Bernese Oberland, one of Switzerland’s most scenic areas. Stay in picture-perfect Interlaken, which has a delightful Advent market. Cologne: Admire the colorful houses around the Alter Markt (Old Market), during a tour of Cologne’s medieval historic district. Enjoy an inside visit of its magnificent cathedral. Personalize Your Cruise: Choose among a variety of included excursions, which include art museums, wine tastings, and city tours to enrich your experience.

Itinerary

Day 1 | In Transit Depart for Zürich, Switzerland. Day 2 | Zürich, Switzerland | Interlaken | Arrive in Zürich and transfer to the VictoriaJungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. Take an orientation walk of Interlaken, beautifully situated between lakes Thun and Brienz. Join your fellow travelers at a welcome reception. Day 3 | Interlaken | The day is free to explore on your own. The ideal location of Interlaken and the efficient Swiss rail system make it easy to check out famous Alpine peaks and towns. Day 4 | Bern | Basel | Excursion: Bern. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the beautiful Swiss capital. See the Clock Tower, Einstein House, and the Cathedral of Bern. Enjoy some free time for lunch and exploring on your own in Bern. Embark your river ship in Basel. Tonight, gather for a welcome reception and dinner on the ship. Day 5 | Breisach, Germany |

Freiburg |

Arrive in Breisach, Germany, this morning. Excursion: Freiburg. Tour the Black Forest town of Freiburg. Visit its old town and Freiburg Münster, the 11th-century cathedral with lacy spires. Stroll through the holiday market and learn about the items associated with Freiburg and the Black Forest.

Personalize Your Journey | Choose one of the following excursions. •Riquewihr and the Wines of the Alsace. Medieval fortifications and half-timbered houses add to the storybook quality of Riquewihr, France. Explore the town and enjoy a wine tasting. •Colmar Markets. See Alsatian holiday traditions come to life through holiday treats and artisanmade crafts in Colmar, France. Visit four markets in the city’s picturesque Old Town. Day 6 | Strasbourg, France | Arrive in Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace region.

Personalize Your Journey | Choose one of the following excursions. •Strasbourg Panorama. See the 18th-century Palais Rohan, modeled after the noble mansions of Paris, and St. Thomas Church, the main Protestant church. The guided walking tour of the historic center includes a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece. •Culinary Strasbourg. Experience the Alsatian culinary scene on a guided tour that takes you to the city’s winstubs, cozy wine pubs that typically have long communal tables, and other local cafés and shops. Along the way, sample traditional dishes and wines of Alsace. A complimentary shuttle can take you from the ship to the city center. Timothy Blanning | November 24 (See page 9) Christopher Brennan | December 4 (See page 8) Carol Reynolds | December 9 (See page 8)

For further information, visit SmithsonianJourneys.org.

Left: Christmas market, Strasbourg Below: Clock tower, Bern Lower: Colmar

NETHERLANDS

FRANCE

Port of Call Featured Site Ship Motorcoach Rhine River Cologne GERMANY

Rhine Gorge Frankfurt

Rüdesheim

Alsace Colmar Riquewihr

Breisach Heidelberg

Speyer Strasbourg Freiburg

Basel Bern Interlaken Zürich

SWITZERLAND

Educational Focus: German Holiday Traditions.

A local speaker shares some of the favorite Christmas traditions in German households.

Day 7 | Mannheim, Germany |

Heidelberg |

Arrive in Mannheim, Germany, this morning. Excursion: Heidelberg. Visit nearby Heidelberg, and step inside the red sandstone walls of its castle. Inside the Fassbau, the Barrel Building, see the wine barrel that once held 34,342 gallons of wine. Stroll through the historic city center and relish the cheerful ambiance of the Christmas market as you have time to explore on your own before a restaurant lunch featuring German specialties. Afterward, enjoy a special musical performance. Day 8 | Rüdesheim | The ship arrives in Rüdesheim this morning.

Personalize Your Journey | Choose one of the following excursions. •Rüdesheim Walking Tour. See the international “Christmas Market of the Nations.” Visit Siegfried’s Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a museum of self-playing mechanical musical instruments. Enjoy free time on your own.

Above: Upper Middle Rhine Valley

•Rhine Wine Tasting. Get a sweeping view of the region’s terraced vineyards from a hilltop abbey. Then, learn about local winemaking methods and try some vintages at an area winery. Sail the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. With some 40 castles lining the banks, this scenic gorge is the most famous stretch of the Rhine River. This section of the Middle Rhine Valley has been designated as a World Heritage cultural landscape because of its development and use over thousands of years. The Rhine has been a crucial trade route, fostering the mingling of northern and southern European cultures. Tonight, gather for a glass of Glühwein with your shipmates. You’ll delight in this warm concoction of cloves, cinnamon, citrus, and red wine!

INTERCONTINENTAL BERLIN | BERLIN

Extend your stay

Berlin | 3 Nights

Extend your cruise with three nights in Berlin, Germany, at the InterContinental Berlin. Delve into the city’s Cold War on a tour that takes you to sights in the former East and West sectors. This extension includes a high-speed train ride between Berlin and Düsseldorf, a guided tour, and daily breakfasts.

$995 per person, double occupancy | $1,235 single occupancy Accommodations

Amadeus Silver III

The Amadeus Silver III is specially designed for cruising Europe’s rivers, and its seasoned crew provides the highest level of service. With its contemporary style, the ship embodies elegance from its public rooms to its cabins and suites. Savor international cuisine at the restaurant for breakfast and lunch; delight in regional specialties served with wine, beer, or soft drinks. In the evening, relax in your cabin, and enjoy satellite TV and the passing views from your outwardfacing cabins. Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Amadeus Silver III cabin

Day 9 | Cologne | Excursion: Cologne. Spend the morning in Cologne’s Old Town, and marvel at its Gothic cathedral before stepping inside for a look. Spend an afternoon exploring Cologne on your own. Complimentary shuttles between the ship and the city center are available this afternoon. Day 10 | Düsseldorf |

Personalize Your Journey | Choose one of the following excursions. •Düsseldorf and its Holiday Markets. Get to know one of Germany’s most stylish cities during a city tour. Known for its art scene and focus on fashion, Düsseldorf also boasts an impressive collection of modern architecture including the harborfront MedienHafen, a commercial and residential complex designed by Frank Gehry. Spend the afternoon enjoying several of Düsseldorf’s Christmas markets, each one unique and filled with holiday spirit. Stroll through an old town neighborhood known for its 260 brew pubs, cafes, and bars, and stop for a taste of Altbier, the locally brewed dark beer. •Aachen. Once favored by the Romans for its mineral-laden hot springs, Aachen later became the capital of Charlemagne’s vast empire. Today, Aachen is a vibrant university city with international flavor. Visit the cathedral, which has hosted 30 coronations; the Old Town; and a Christmas market for a taste of the famous local gingerbread. The afternoon is free to visit some of the festive Christkindlmarkts on your own. Savor the seasonal fare, music, and entertainment. Tonight, gather for a festive farewell reception and dinner to celebrate your Advent adventure on the Rhine. Day 11 | Depart Dusseldorf for the U.S. | Transfer to the airport for the return flights to your gateway city.

Note: Itinerary may change due to local conditions. Walking is required on many excursions, and surfaces may be uneven or unpaved. Smithsonian Journeys will share the ship with other educational and cultural institutions, which will add to your experience.

Flights and transfers included for FlexAir participants Complimentary transfers are available for FlexAir travelers and those able to meet at a scheduled departure time.

Amadeus Silver III

Deck Plan

168-Guest River Cruise Ship Ship’s registry: Germany

Tour Prices

Category-Deck Tour Price Special Offer Price*

E-Haydn (Midship) $4,240 $3,990

D-Haydn (Midship) $4,440 $4,190

C-Strauss (Aft)

$4,940 $4,690

B-Strauss (Midship) $5,040 $4,790

A-Mozart (Aft)

$5,440 $5,190

Suite-Mozart (Midship) $5,740 $5,490

*Price includes $250 special savings. See website for details!

A similar itinerary is also available in 2022! Please call or visit SmithsonianJourneys.org for full details.

Single supplement waived for solo travelers! This offer is limited and capacity controlled, and it tends to sell out quickly. Suites feature a balcony. Categories A, B, and C feature a drop-down panoramic window. Categories D and E feature a window. VAT and port tax supplement are an additional $395 per person. All prices quoted are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy, and do not include air transportation costs (unless otherwise stated).