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Rhine Holiday Markets River Cruise
9 Days Tour Code: RRM

 

Walking – Moderate Physical Activity Required

Not all areas included on this tour are accessible by motor vehicle. Visiting ancient ruins and a handful of other listed sites may require some walking, sometimes on cobblestone streets. Be sure to pack comfortable and safe walking shoes and get ready to enjoy these fascinating attractions up close and personal.

This tour requires moderate physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk slightly longer distances, possibly over uneven grounds and cobblestone streets.

DAY 1 USA - Basel

VIP Door-to-Door Transfer to your local airport for your overnight flight to Basel.

DAY 2 Basel

Arrive at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Frieburg where you’ll be transferred to the ship.
Dinner Included.

DAY 3 Basel

Your city walk introduces you to Basel, Switzerland’s second-largest city. Delight in Basel’s Christmas Market, located in the heart of historic Old Town, and visit the illuminated Christmas Street, which is beautifully decorated with over 100 Christmas trees.
Breakfast, Lunch and Captain’s Welcome Gala Dinner Included.

DAY 4 Strasbourg

Situated halfway between Paris and Prague, Strasbourg is known as “The Crossroads of Europe” and home of the magnificent, single-spire Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral as well as many beautiful half-timbered houses. See Strasbourg as it has been seen through the centuries—on a canal cruise. Enjoy Petite France, which is especially picturesque at this time of year. And visit the oldest Christmas Market in France in a breathtaking setting right in front of Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

DAY 5 Speyer (Heidelberg)

Situated on the banks of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is one of Germany’s most beautiful cities and one of the best-preserved Medieval cities in Europe. It is also home to one of Germany’s oldest universities. Your tour of Heidelberg takes you past the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a once-fortified castle, and through Old Town, which is all dressed up for the holidays. You’ll have ample time to explore the Heidelberg Christmas Market, which spans over five squares. Marvel at the Christmas Pyramid rotating inside the tower at the Marktplatz, or take a ride on the carousel.
Breakfast and Dinner Included.

DAY 6 Mainz, Rudesheim

Enjoy the morning at leisure in the town of Mainz, once home to Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. Stroll through Old Town and the city square, where you’ll see Kaiserdom, St. Stephan’s Church, and Kurfu¨rstliche Schloss. Explore the St. Nicholas Christmas Market with 1,000-yearold St. Martin’s Cathedral as a backdrop. During the afternoon, cruise from Mainz to Ru¨desheim, located in the heart of the Rhine Valley. Ru¨desheim has been a magnet for romantics ever since the early 19th century. Its rolling hills, historical monuments, and winding alleyways are a real treat. While in Ru¨desheim, you’ll visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum and its unique collection of self-playing musical instruments.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

DAY 7 Cruising the Romantic Rhine, Koblenz

In the morning, you’ll cruise to Koblenz via the breathtaking 40 miles of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its 40 castles strung like pearls on the hillside, and the famous Lorelei Rock, the valley is the perfect example of the romantic Rhine. Once you arrive in Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, you’ll begin your walking tour through romantic alleyways lined with half-timbered houses decorated for the season. You’ll pass by St. Castor’s Church, the Church of Our Lady, Schängel Fountain, and historic City Hall. Afterward, delight in the Koblenz Christmas Market with its dozens of wooden stands offering arts and crafts, spicy mulled wine, and sweet Christmas cakes.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

DAY 8 Cologne

Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town as you make your way to the cathedral, the city’s beloved landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cologne boasts no fewer than five Christmas Markets, so we have planned an entire day in this city for you to discover these markets at your own pace following the tour. Be sure to visit the Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, as well as Alter Markt in front of the City Hall, Neumarkt in Cologne’s shopping area, and the Medieval Christmas Market in front of the Chocolate Museum.
Breakfast, Lunch and Captain’s Farewell Dinner Included
Note: No tours inside of the Cologne Cathedral on Sundays or Catholic holidays.

DAY 9 Depart Cologne

Disembark the ship and transfer to Cologne Bonn Airport for your flight home.
Breakfast Included.

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