Our family of 5 (youngest daughter is 20) will be travelling to Zurich on December 14th for 2 nights (hotel Bristol). We saw something on the internet about winter cruises on Lake Zurich, but cannot get the company to e-mail me information. site address was www.zsg.ch. Also any suggestions on what to do, see and eat while in Zurich for this short trip in December. We are on to Brussels and then Amsterdam for 2 days each by train. PS: Don't like being cold .... only doing this trip to see our kids on their way back from a semester abroad in Prague. Thanks.

The special cruises in winter are here: http://www.zsg.ch/index.php?en_specialcruises

The cheese fondue boat might be interesting for you - leaves in the evening, 7 pm on Tuesday 14 Dec at Bürkliplatz, where Bahnhofstrasse meets the lake.

I suggest you stroll through the old town to both sides of the Limmat river, see the two important churches Grossmünster and Fraumünster (Chagall windows), peek into a museum or two (Art museum Kunsthaus e.g.). As you're with the kids in college age you might be interested to have a look into the university or Tech college main buildings (great views of the city from the latter's terrace, btw.) which are very interesting architecturally IMO. Also, the new library of the law school is stunning (architect: Santiago Calatrava). Or take the train up to Uetliberg mountain, walk the ten minutes to the top, enjoy the views and have lunch or dinner there.

Thank you Ingo: Since we arrive late on the 14th I'm looking into the fondue cruise on the 15th. What a great idea. Is Burkliplatz easy to get to?

The problem is that the fondue cruise is on Tuesdays only. So no luck with the 15th. Sorry.

Some trams run to Bürkliplatz. Your hotel will have a map and can for sure tell you.

Hey, You are still in luck!
Go to www.zsg.ch/index.php?de_winter-rundfahrten-4
for a schedule of "plain" round trips on Lake Zurich.
A 4 hour RT cruise departs Zurich Burkliplatz daily at 1:30 PM and returns at 5:15 PM.
Or, a 90 minute cruise departs daily at 1 PM and at 2:30 PM (for 8.20 CHF per person).
Both go as far as Rapperswil and back.

The longer cruise is 24 CHF per person.
Not sure how you are travelling, but it might be very nice to disembark at Rapperswil, walk to the castle above town (no inside as open only on weekends for the winter), castle grounds with fantastic views of the lake and mountains across, plus a deer park; have lunch/dinner at any restaurant along the river promenade, visit the quaint old town, and train back to Zurich (approx 20 mins and 13-23 CHF cost).