Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany
5 nightsfrom £2,386 per person
Avalon's Christmastime in the Heart of Germany suits travellers who want Franconia's three great markets in a short six-day cruise from Frankfurt to Nuremberg. The same trip is easy and cheap by train, and Avalon's fare leaves out flights, port taxes and crew tips.
Photo Holger Uwe Schmitt · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Follow the ports in sailing order
| Port | Mooring | Christmas market |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt | Day 1 is boarding in Frankfurt and an overnight sail to a village on the Main. | Frankfurt Christmas Market |
| Wurzburg | Day 3 is a guided tour of Wurzburg and free time at its markets, with an optional trip to Rothenburg. | Wurzburg Christmas Market |
| Bamberg | Day 4 is a guided tour of Bamberg and its nativity scenes. | Bamberg Christmas Market |
| Nuremberg | Day 5 has a tour and free time at the Christkindlesmarkt, with an overnight docking before disembarkation on day 6. | Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt |
Pick a December departure
- 6 Dec to 11 Dec 2026from £2,386 per person (2026)
- 14 Dec to 19 Dec 2026fare not published
Fares are the operator's published lead-in prices for the year shown. Check the cabin grade, any flight and the port charges before you book.
Do the same route by train
This is the easiest cruise route to copy by train: Nuremberg to Bamberg takes 34 minutes and Nuremberg to Wurzburg 51 minutes on Deutsche Bahn's published fastest services. A Nuremberg base with day trips costs less and keeps you in town for the evening markets.
The Main is a narrow river full of locks, and the ship makes most of its distance overnight between Frankfurt, a Main village, Wurzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg. Only two 2026 departures run, and on 11 October 2026 the 14 December sailing was sold out in every category. Avalon warns that low or high water can force motorcoach legs and a hotel night.
Avalon's UK fares exclude flights, port taxes and tips to the crew, cruise director and local guides.
Quick answers about Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany
Is there a short Christmas market cruise from Frankfurt to Nuremberg?
Avalon's Christmastime in the Heart of Germany runs six days from Frankfurt to Nuremberg, calling at Wurzburg and Bamberg, with 2026 departures on 6 and 14 December.
Can you do Avalon's Heart of Germany route by train instead?
Yes. Nuremberg to Bamberg takes 34 minutes and Nuremberg to Wurzburg 51 minutes on Deutsche Bahn's published fastest trains, so a Nuremberg base covers the same markets.
Which towns does Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany stop at?
Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany sails the Main and Main-Danube Canal over 5 nights and calls at Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg, in that order.
How much does Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany cost?
Avalon Waterways publishes Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany from £2,386 per person (2026). That is the lead-in fare, so check the cabin grade and what it includes before you compare it.
When does Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany sail in December 2026?
Avalon Waterways lists two departures of Avalon Christmastime in the Heart of Germany in December 2026, leaving on 6 Dec and 14 Dec.