8-Day Christmas Markets on the Rhine

Embark on a yuletide adventure along the Rhine River.

Visit five different Christmas Markets across four countries with this festive itinerary, highlighting the best of the Rhine in wintertime. Market stalls adorn the most spectacular landscapes inviting you to sample festive favorites, try local delicacies, and pick up regional handicrafts.

Amsterdam to Basel

Departing: December 2024

Day 1 Amsterdam

Day 2 Amsterdam

Day 3 Cologne

Day 4 Koblenz

Day 5 Ludwigshafen – Schwetzingen

Day 6 Kehl – Strasbourg

Day 7 Breisach

Day 8 Basel

FRANCE

Number of nights 7

River cruise Coach transfer Map is a guide only

NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam

Cologne

7 Koblenz

Strasbourg

Breisach

GERMANY

Ludwigshafen

Heidelberg

Kehl

Basel

SWITZERLAND

Cruise Facts

n Distance covered (approx): 435 mi on the Rhine n UNESCO sites: 5 n Countries visited: 4 n Ports: 7 n Locks: 10 n Bridges: 30 n Christmas markets visited: 5

EmeraldDISCOVERY highlights unique to your itinerary:

1 EmeraldPLUS experiences

6 Included Excursions activities including visits to UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites

2 DiscoverMORE optional excursions, available at an additional cost – see pages 114-117

Day 1 Amsterdam

Welcome to Amsterdam. You’ll be met at the airport by a member of our friendly team and transferred to your Star-Ship.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Amsterdam

Board a glass-top canal boat for a tour along the Dutch capital’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system. Pass the historic merchant houses reflecting the bygone era of the Dutch Golden Age, a time of immense Dutch influence. Touring the city, explore the delightful Christmas stalls, taking your place amongst the knitwear-clad locals, drinking mugs of hot mulled wine and indulging in their favorite festive foods.

Canal cruise

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 Cologne

Seven idyllic Christmas markets effortlessly transform the picture-perfect city of Cologne into a winter wonderland. Following your guided tour, you’ll have the opportunity to wander the markets at your leisure. Visit the ornate stalls beneath the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral, where you can drink traditional glühwein out of beautifully decorated mugs.

Included Excursion

Guided tour of Cologne’s Old Town

With its distinctive historical charm, the Old Town, Aldstadt, of Cologne, invites you to explore its cobbled lanes and vibrant traditional houses. Tour the world-famous Gothic cathedral, sample local delicacies, and try a native Kölsch beer.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 Koblenz

Today, we’ll take you into the heart of Koblenz—an ancient city pulled from the pages of a German fairy tale. Enjoy the picturesque backdrop of vineyards and snow-topped mountain ranges as your local guide takes you through open cobbled squares and narrow streets. Your tour will include the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers at the German Corner and idyllic panoramic views of the Rhine from Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Walking tour of Koblenz & a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 Ludwigshafen – Heidelberg

Your guided tour of Heidelberg’s rich history includes a wine-tasting session and a visit to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, overlooking the town’s red-roofed skyline and Rhine River. Some of the most successful painters of the Romantic era drew inspiration from Heidelberg Castle, including British artist William Turner, who depicted images of the ruins in several of his paintings. Afterwards, stroll down the Old Town’s cobbled streets, touching on the Church of the Holy Spirit and the oldest university in Germany.

Guided tour of Heidelberg

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 Kehl – Strasbourg

This morning, after docking in Kehl, you’ll be transferred by coach across the river to the storied capital of France’s Alsace region, Strasbourg. Your guided tour of Strasbourg will include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical centre, Grande Île, known for its medieval half-timbered houses and Baroque sandstone buildings. Afterwards, visit one of the enchanting Christmas markets to enjoy traditional German treats and shop for presents and stocking fillers.

Guided tour of Strasbourg

Alsace Wine Route with tasting

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 Breisach

Entrenched between two countries, Breisach is known as the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive through the Black Forest Highlands on your way to the Hofgut Sternen complex at the foothills of the Ravenna Gorge, where history and tradition merge. In 1770, Marie Antoinette stopped here with 52 beautifully decorated carriages on the way to her wedding to King Louis XVI.

Guided visit to the Christmas Market at Ravenna Viaduct

As part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, you’ll have the chance to see the postcard-worthy Christmas market underneath the 40-metre-high Ravenna Viaduct. Be amazed by the magical aroma of Black Forest specialities and unique handcrafted regional products sold there.

Guided tour of Breisach

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 Basel – Zurich

After breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow guests and Star-Ship as you’re transferred to the airport, taking memories of quintessential German villages and the magic of Christmas with you.

Meals: Breakfast

This itinerary is only a guide. Our itineraries are regularly reviewed by our journey planners and may be revised once the brochure is published. Due to operational reasons, such as high and low water or local restrictions, cruise inclusions may change from those advertised. For the latest information on this itinerary please visit our website. Our full terms and conditions can be found on pages 132-135.

2024 Pricing And Special Offers

8-Day Christmas Markets on the Rhine Journey Code: EWXZ

Suite C, B, A

*These departures operate in reverse.

Terms & Conditions: All prices are per person, based on double occupancy (excluding ES Emerald Single Stateroom). Earlybird and Super Earlybird savings are limited in number, cabin category and departure date, once sold out the full fare shown above applies. Super Earlybird offer: full payment is due 12 months prior to departure, or within 72 hours of booking for departures within 12 months. Please refer to p. 32 for detailed terms and conditions.