Aglow with seasonal lights and holiday festivities, the legendary Rhine captivates those who glide along its waters. Experience the allure of France’s Alsace region in its welcoming capital, Strasbourg, and its priceless gem, Colmar. Discover Breisach, the twinkling Christmas lights strung throughout the charming town, and Freiburg, one of Germany’s picturesque cities and gateway to the Black Forest. Fabled towns lost in time present you with the chance to taste local flavors—Rüdesheimer coffee and Christmas Markets’ glühwein—and to touch history up close with guided walking tour and active excursions. From Amsterdam’s colorful canals to the majestic Swiss Alps, board your beautifully decorated ship and journey into the heart of the destinations you visit, experiencing the holiday spirit that comes alive in select markets along the Rhine during this Taste of Christmas Markets cruise.
Note: Select Christmas Markets will be open during select departures and may vary. For full details and dates, visit the tourism website for each city
Aglow with seasonal lights and holiday festivities, the legendary Rhine captivates those who glide along its waters. Experience the allure of France’s Alsace region in its welcoming capital, Strasbourg, and its priceless gem, Colmar. Discover Breisach, the twinkling Christmas lights strung throughout the charming town, and Freiburg, one of Germany’s picturesque cities and gateway to the Black Forest. Fabled towns lost in time present you with the chance to taste local flavors—Rüdesheimer coffee and Christmas Markets’ glühwein—and to touch history up close with guided walking tour and active excursions. From Amsterdam’s colorful canals to the majestic Swiss Alps, board your beautifully decorated ship and journey into the heart of the destinations you visit, experiencing the holiday spirit that comes alive in select markets along the Rhine during this Taste of Christmas Markets cruise.
Note: Select Christmas Markets will be open during select departures and may vary. For full details and dates, visit the tourism website for each city
Captivating Rhine (Taste of Christmas)
At A Glance
On our river cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and special interest tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
Day 1 | Amsterdam | EMBARKATION |
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Board the ship in Amsterdam for your Captivating Rhine cruise.
Day 2 | Amsterdam | Canal cruise tour |
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| | Scenic cruising out of Amsterdam |
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There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you’ll get enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Later in the day, set sail out of Amsterdam to Utrecht, where you can explore this charming town on a walking tour or sip beer during a special tasting tour. (B,L,D)
Day 3 | Düsseldorf | Cologne walking tour |
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| | OR Düsseldorf walking tour & Altbier tasting |
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As a leading hub for German culture, commerce, and architecture, Düsseldorf is a must-visit city for any travelers on the Rhine. Here, you will have multiple options for the day’s excursion. Explore this grand city on the Rhine by joining a walking tour, concluding with a tasting of Altbier, a local specialty brewed using traditional techniques. Alternatively, cover more ground with an active bike tour of the city. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a brief trip to the nearby city of Cologne. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town, where you will see sites such as the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall; the Fishmarkt, which dates back to the 12th century and the Great St. Martin Church. (B,L,D)
Day 4 | Rhine Gorge | Castles along the Rhine scenic cruising |
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| Rüdesheim | Rüdesheim wine tasting |
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| | OR Guided bike tour of the Rheingau |
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| | Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet |
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Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching the winemaking town of Rüdesheim. Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town’s iconic vineyards. Or drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, let Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)
Day 5 | Ludwigshafen | “Romantic Heidelberg” excursion |
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| | OR “Secrets of Speyer” tour |
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| | OR Heidelberg Philosopher’s hike |
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Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of three excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century, 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher’s Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Old Gate, Altpörtel. Or join a guided bike tour along the shores of the river Neckar and enjoy a cycling break to explore the picturesque medieval town of Ladenburg. (B,L,D)
Day 6 | Strasbourg | “The Gem of Alsace” tour |
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Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République before walking through its iconic “La Petite France” district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l’Orangerie. (B,L,D)
Day 7 | Breisach | Riquewihr walking tour |
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| | OR Breisach wine country bike tour |
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Breisach is your gateway to several different excursions. Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Colmar, which looks almost the same as it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture and perhaps get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, a small replica of the famous version in New York, to commemorate the sculptor’s Colmar birthplace. Those wishing a more active excursion can cycle through the countryside, or hike in the Black Forest, a magical land full of cultural traditions. (B,L,D)
After breakfast, bid farewell to Switzerland and prepare for your return flight home. (B)
Day 1 | Amsterdam | Hotel check-in |
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Arrive in Amsterdam and check into your hotel.
Day 2 | Amsterdam | Walking Tour |
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Follow your guide through the charming capital of the Netherlands, with its iconic meandering canals, bridges and distinctive architecture. (B)
Day 3 | Amsterdam | Zaanse Schans visit |
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Check out of your hotel and, before transferring to your ship, visit Zaanse Schans, observing life as it used to be lived in the Netherlands. Authentic windmills, houses and shops were relocated to this picturesque area, creating a typical 17th- to 18th-century village. (B,D)
Day 4 | Amsterdam | Canal cruise tour |
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| | Scenic cruising out of Amsterdam |
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There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you’ll get enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Later in the day, set sail out of Amsterdam to Utrecht, where you can explore this charming town on a walking tour or sip beer during a special tasting tour. (B,L,D)
Day 5 | Düsseldorf | Cologne walking tour |
|
| | OR Düsseldorf walking tour & Altbier tasting |
|
As a leading hub for German culture, commerce, and architecture, Düsseldorf is a must-visit city for any travelers on the Rhine. Here, you will have multiple options for the day’s excursion. Explore this grand city on the Rhine by joining a walking tour, concluding with a tasting of Altbier, a local specialty brewed using traditional techniques. Alternatively, cover more ground with an active bike tour of the city. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a brief trip to the nearby city of Cologne. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town, where you will see sites such as the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall; the Fishmarkt, which dates back to the 12th century and the Great St. Martin Church. (B,L,D)
Day 6 | Rhine Gorge | Castles along the Rhine scenic cruising |
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| Rüdesheim | Rüdesheim wine tasting |
|
| | OR Guided bike tour of the Rheingau |
|
| | Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet |
|
Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching the winemaking town of Rüdesheim. Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town’s iconic vineyards. Or drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, let Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)
Day 7 | Ludwigshafen | “Romantic Heidelberg” excursion |
|
| | OR “Secrets of Speyer” tour |
|
| | OR Heidelberg Philosopher’s hike |
|
Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of three excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century, 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher’s Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Old Gate, Altpörtel. Or join a guided bike tour along the shores of the river Neckar and enjoy a cycling break to explore the picturesque medieval town of Ladenburg. (B,L,D)
Day 8 | Strasbourg | “The Gem of Alsace” tour |
|
Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République before walking through its iconic “La Petite France” district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l’Orangerie. (B,L,D)
Day 9 | Breisach | Riquewihr walking tour |
|
| | OR Breisach wine country bike tour |
|
Breisach is your gateway to several different excursions. Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Colmar, which looks almost the same as it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture and perhaps get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, a small replica of the famous version in New York, to commemorate the sculptor’s Colmar birthplace. Those wishing a more active excursion can cycle through the countryside, or hike in the Black Forest, a magical land full of cultural traditions. (B,L,D)
Day 10 | Basel | DISEMBARKATION |
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| Lake Lucerne | Lion Monument tour |
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After breakfast, disembark the ship and before transferring to Lake Lucerne, go on a highlights tour of Basel, Switzerland’s third largest city. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel’s glorious past is still evident in its medieval Town Hall and exquisite 18th century patrician homes. After that, depart for Lake Lucerne. Upon arrival into Lucerne, you will visit the Lion monument – the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside. The American writer Mark Twain praised the monument as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” (B)
Day 11 | Lake Lucerne | Lucerne city tour |
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Today, enjoy a walking tour of Lucerne, situated where the Reuss River flows into Lake Lucerne. Small cobblestone streets, squares with fountains and frescoed buildings typify Lucerne. Easily the symbol of the city, the Chapel Bridge is a medieval covered bridge and is one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe. (B)
Day 12 | Lake Lucerne | Lake Lucerne cruise and scenic drive to Zurich |
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| | Queen of the Mountains excursion and Transfer to Zurich |
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Check out of your hotel and before your transfer via motorcoach to Zurich, enjoy a scenic lake cruise. Later, check into your Zurich hotel. (B)
Day 13 | Zurich | “Little Big City” tour |
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Switzerland’s largest city seamlessly blends its historic past with its progressive future—all of which will be on full display during your city tour. One of the top experiences in Zurich is a visit to Old Town where you will find yourself amongst medieval houses, churches and the modern Bahnhofstrasse. (B)
Day 14 | Zurich | Return flight home |
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After breakfast, bid farewell to Switzerland and prepare for your return flight home. (B)