holiday markets

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

Rhine Valley: Cruise through the castle-filledRhine 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 German-influenced Alsace on the French side of the Rhine.Enjoy the towns, wine, and markets.

Holiday MarketsFeaturing a Rhine River Cruise

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

Top: Cathedral on the banks of the Rhine River, Cologne | Above: Christmas market, Strasbourg

On Board the MS Amadeus Silver III

Swiss Alps: Admire the snow-covered Alps of the Bernese Oberland, one of Switzerland’s mostscenic areas. Stay in picture-perfect Interlaken,which has a delightful Advent market.

Cologne: Admire the colorful houses around the Alter Markt, the 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.

Highlights IncludeOverview

November 27 – December 7, 2022*

December 2-12, 2022

*Note: The November 27 departure will run in the reverse direction.

No Single Supplement

Limited Availability

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through the holiday market and learn about theitems associated with Freiburg and the Black Forest.

Personalize Your Journey | Choose oneof the following excursions.

•Riquewihr and the Wines of the Alsace. Medievalfortifications and half-timbered houses add to thestorybook quality of Riquewihr, France. Explorethe town and enjoy a wine tasting.

•Colmar Markets. See Alsatian holiday traditionscome to life through holiday treats and artisan-madecrafts 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.


•Strasbourg Panorama. See the 18th-century PalaisRohan, modeled after the noble mansions of Paris,and St. Thomas Church, the main Protestantchurch. The guided walking tour of the historiccenter includes a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral,a Gothic masterpiece.

•Culinary Strasbourg. Experience the Alsatianculinary scene on a guided tour that takes you to the city’s winstubs, cozy wine pubs that typicallyhave long communal tables, and other local cafésand shops. Along the way, sample traditionaldishes and wines of Alsace.

A complimentary shuttle can take you from the shipto the city center.

Day 1 | In Transit

Depart for Zürich, Switzerland.

Day 2 | Zürich, Switzerland | Interlaken |

Arrive in Zürich and transferto the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.

Take an orientation walk of Interlaken, beautifullysituated 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 ideallocation of Interlaken and the efficient Swiss railsystem make it easy to check out famous Alpinepeaks 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 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 townof Freiburg. Visit its old town and Freiburg Münster,the 11th-century cathedral with lacy spires. Stroll

Left: River leading to Lake Brienz, Interlaken

Below: Clock tower, Bern

Lower: Colmar

Itinerary

SpeyerFRANCE

SWITZERLAND

NETHERLANDS

GERMANY

Basel

StrasbourgBreisach

Zürich

HeidelbergAlsace

Rhine River

Port of CallFeatured SiteShipMotorcoach

Frankfurt

CologneRhine Gorge

Interlaken

Rüdesheim

Bern

FreiburgColmar

Riquewihr

Timothy Blanning | November (See our website)

Carol Reynolds | December (See page 11)

For further information, visit SmithsonianJourneys.org.

Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Continued on next page


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MS Amadeus Silver III

VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU GRAND HOTEL & SPA | INTERLAKEN

The MS Amadeus Silver III is specially designed forcruising Europe’s rivers, and its seasoned crewprovides the highest level of service. With its contemporary style, the ship embodies elegancefrom its public rooms to its cabins and suites. Barsand lounges feature large windows that offer youremarkable, broad views of the scenery. Savor international cuisine at the restaurant for breakfastand lunch; delight in regional specialties servedwith wine, beer, or soft drinks at lunch and dinner.In the evening, relax in your cabin, and enjoysatellite TV and the passing views from your outward-facing cabins. Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Educational Focus: German Holiday Traditions.A local speaker shares some of the favorite Christmas traditions in German households.

The ship overnights in Strasbourg.

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 thewine barrel that once held 34,342 gallons of wine.Stroll through the historic city center before a restaurant lunch featuring German specialties.

Relish the cheerful ambiance of the Christmasmarket as you have time to explore on your own.

Afterward, enjoy a special musical performance.

Day 8 | Rüdesheim |

The ship arrives in Rüdesheim this morning.

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

•Rhine Wine Tasting. Get a sweeping view of the region’s terraced vineyards from a hilltop abbey.Then, learn about local winemaking methods andtry some vintages at an area winery.

Sail the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. With some40 castles lining the banks and a folk tale about a siren who bewitches passing sailors, this scenicgorge is the most famous stretch of the RhineRiver. This section of the Middle Rhine Valley

has been designated as a World Heritage culturallandscape because of its development and use overthousands of years. The Rhine has been a crucialtrade route, fostering the mingling of northernand southern European cultures.

Tonight, gather for a glass of Glühwein with yourshipmates. You’ll delight in this warm concoctionof cloves, cinnamon, citrus, and red wine!

Accommodations

MS Amadeus Silver III cabin

HOLIDAY MARKETS | continued

Berlin | 3 NightsExtend your cruise with three nights in Berlin,Germany, at the InterContinental Berlin. Delveinto the city’s Cold War on a tour that takes you to sights in the former East and West sectors. Thisextension includes a high-speed train ride betweenBerlin and Dusseldorf, a guided tour, and dailybreakfasts.

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

Extend your stay

Above: Upper Middle Rhine Valley


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Day 9 | Cologne |

Excursion: Cologne. Spend the morning in Cologne’s old town, and marvel at its Gothiccathedral before stepping inside for a look.

Spend an afternoon exploring Cologne on yourown. Complimentary shuttles between the shipand the city center are available this afternoon.

Day 10 | Düsseldorf |


•Düsseldorf and its Holiday Markets. Get to knowone of Germany’s most stylish cities during a citytour. Known for its art scene and focus on fashion, Düsseldorf also boasts an impressive collection of modern architecture including the harborfrontMedienHafen, a commercial and residential complex designed by Frank Gehry. Spend the afternoon enjoying several of Düsseldorf’s Christmas markets, each one unique and filledwith holiday spirit. Stroll through an old townneighborhood known for its 260 brew pubs, cafes, and bars, and stop for a taste of Altbier, the locallybrewed dark beer.

•Aachen. Once favored by the Romans for itsmineral-laden hot springs, Aachen later becamethe 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 festiveChristkindlmarkts on your own. Savor the seasonalfare, 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 requiredon many excursions, and surfaces may be uneven or unpaved.

Smithsonian Journeys will share the ship with other leading culturaland educational 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.

Tour Prices

Tour Special OfferCategory-Deck Price Price*

E-Haydn (Midship) $4,040 $3,790

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

C-Strauss (Aft) $4,740 $4,490

B-Strauss (Midship) $4,840 $4,590

A-Mozart (Aft) $5,240 $4,990

Suite-Mozart (Midship) $5,540 $5,290

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

Single Supplement waived for solo travelers! This offer is limited and capacitycontrolled, 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 is 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).

Deck Plan

MS Amadeus Silver III 130-Guest River Cruise Ship Ship’s registry: Germany

NEW FLEXIBLE PAYMENT TERMS / Our risk-free, limited-time offer provides confidence and peace of mind as you plan your 2022 journey

Left: Christmas market, Cologne

Below: Aachen

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