Rhine Holiday Markets
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ABTA & ATOL protected holidays
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Flexible change options
Free 3 day booking hold
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Explore the origins of our Christmas customs while immersing yourself in the enchanting towns of Europe. Delight in the hunt for distinctive ornaments at Basel’s Christmas Market. Take a leisurely sip of vin chaud as you meander to Place Kléber to witness Strasbourg’s massive, brilliantly illuminated Christmas tree. Witness the remarkable transformation of Koblenz’s baroque town hall into an Advent calendar, and unearth unexpected treasures amidst the vibrant stalls surrounding Cologne’s majestic cathedral.
Indulge in the “Taste of Christmas” program, which offers delectable, once-a-year treats like gingerbread and warm spiced wine. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of brightly painted carousels and handcrafted decorations, medieval squares adorned with twinkling lights, life-sized Nativity scenes, and jubilant brass choirs. Cruise through hillsides dotted with castles and visit picturesque towns bedecked in holiday splendor for an unforgettable festive season.
Itinerary
DAY 1 Basel (Embark)
Arrive at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer, or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.
*Itinerary also available from Cologne to Basel
DAY 2 Basel
Basel is a cultural and artistic powerhouse, with all sorts of galleries, theaters and museums. And at this time of year, the city’s Christmas Market draws visitors from all over Europe, as does its Christmas Street, lined with more than 100 beautifully decorated and illuminated Christmas trees. Do you have a special wish for Christmas? Write it in the Wish Book, which lies open in Basel’s 17th-century Town Hall during Advent, waiting for residents and visitors to express their hopes and dreams for the holiday—or for the world.
A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Featured Excursion: Basel walking tour with Christmas market
DAY 3 Kehl (Strasbourb)
Strasbourg is invariably described as quaint, a rather overused word that in this case is perfectly apropos. It’s also been known as the “Crossroads of Europe” for its strategic location halfway between Paris and Prague. With a friendly local expert, see this historic town with its cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests and impossible-to-resist pastry shops that will win your heart. You won’t want to miss the holiday treats like bûche de Noël, the delicious Christmas cake made to look like a yule log.
Featured Excursion: Taste of Christmas Strasbourg walking tour or Strasbourg walking tour and Christmas market.
DAY 4 Mannheim (Baden-Baden)
Your ship left France behind and sailed into Germany during the wee hours of the morning. If you speak no German, here’s one phrase you might want to learn now: “Fröhliche Weihnachten,” or “Merry Christmas!” Today you’ll have two choices: Venture into the storied city of Baden-Baden, whose contemporary flair meshes with hot springs, spas and unspoiled nature, or visit the Doktorenhof vinegar estate for a special vinegar tasting. The atmospheric cellar is like no other you’ll ever experience, and the candlelit tasting room is decked for the holidays.
Featured Excursions: Private Doktorenhof vinegar estate visit and tasting or Baden-Baden walking tour with Christmas Market
DAY 5 Mainz, Rudesheim
Mainz’s Old Town brims with specialty shops tucked into lovingly restored buildings. You’ll find jewelry, leather goods, books, toys—something special for every special person on your list. Or opt to explore neighboring Wiesbaden’s Christmas Market. However you choose to spend your time in Mainz, you’ll head back to the ship for a short cruise to Rüdesheim, which, like many cities along the Rhine, dates back to Roman times, when the Rhine was the northern border of the empire. Today, Rüdesheim is famous for its beauty and its entertaining alley of shops and wine bars called the Drosselgasse.
Featured Excursions: Rüdesheim walk with local treats and Christmas Market or Mainz Christmas Market stroll
DAY 6 Cruising the Romantic Rhine River, Koblenz
Spend a spectacular morning onboard your luxurious boutique ship as you sail the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this stretch of the Rhine is extraordinarily picturesque: Castles perch atop steep cliffs above the water and each quaint village is marked by the spire of its historic church. After sailing past 40 miles (65 kilometers) of gorgeous scenery, you’ll reach the famous intersection of the Rhine and the Moselle. Here, where the two rivers meet, you’ll find the enchanting town of Koblenz. Watch the waters of the Moselle gush into the Rhine as you stand on the spit of land called German Corner before embarking on a walking tour of Koblenz’s historical treasures.
Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour with Christmas Market
DAY 7 Colgne
Your local expert will show you favorite haunts around the Old Town and share some of the cathedral’s most intriguing and magical secrets with you.
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Featured Excursions: Cologne walking tour with Old Town visit and Christmas Markets
DAY 8 Cologne (Disembark)
Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer, or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Cologne Bonn Airport for your flight home.
About this trip
3 countries: Switzerland, France and Germany
Departure Months
November and December
What's included
7 NIGHTS
Accommodation
PREMIUM ALL INCLUSIVE
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners, Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners. Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water
ON-TRIP TRANSPORT
All transport shown
Sightseeing highlights
The luxurious décor of the 443-foot, 152-passenger S.S. Antoinette—Uniworld’s first Super Ship—features fine Brazilian marble on the walls and floors, a 19th-century Venetian glass mirror, a stylish Bar du Leopard with full-service bar, and an onboard cinema. The two-story foyer boasts a 10-foot blue Strauss Baccarat chandelier with huge sapphires—a stunning piece that once hung in New York’s famous Tavern on the Green—and a collection of original artwork is displayed throughout the ship.
Switzerland, France and Germany provide the perfect backdrop for this true connoisseur’s Christmas market cruise.
Guided “Taste of Christmas” and included excursions.
The Bressenden difference
DINING
All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water
EXCURSIONS
6 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
Guided “Taste of Christmas”
State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
LUXURIOUS SHIPS
7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the exquisite S.S. Antoinette
Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
EXPERIENCES
3 countries: France, Germany, Switzerland
3 UNESCO World Heritage sites
Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
Group Transfers are included on arrival and departure days (please see terms and conditions for transfer guidelines)
Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
Captivating onboard local entertainment
Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
Booking protected.
Generations Family Program (select sailings)
Share the enchantment of this region with the special young people in your life. These cruises not only feature unique, fun-filled adventures for families to enjoy together, they’re also packed with culturally and historically significant experiences designed to spark creativity and lifelong learning.
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Included
EuropeRiver Cruises -
Not Included
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