Enchanting Rhine & Yuletide Markets

Embark onto your five-star ship.

On arrival, see your five-star cruise ship moored in historic Cologne, whose skyline is dominated by the spires of its magnificent cathedral. The dedicated English-speaking crew welcomes you on board and helps you to your cabin.

After settling into your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarise yourself with this splendid ship.

Sail through the famous Rhine Gorge on our way to Rüdesheim, where you can choose between two afternoon activities.

• Scenic cruise through the Rhine Gorge
• Afternoon option 1: Rüdesheim with visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
• Afternoon option 2: Rüdesheim with cable car to Niederwald Monument
• Visit to the Christmas market
• A live folk music performance on board

Rhine Gorge

To really get in the Christmas mood, nothing beats waking up on board to find you’re already cruising through an entrancing winter wonderland.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning and relax on board while a kaleidoscope of riverside views drifts by in all their seasonal glory. Wrap up warm and take to the deck for an invigorating breath of frosty air as we pass through the outstandingly beautiful Rhine Gorge, where the river flows a little faster, the vineyard-covered valley sides are steeper and ruined castles sit atop rocky crags. Tales of mysterious happenings here have been passed down over the generations, most famously of all the legend of the Lorelei – the maiden said to have enticed sailors onto the rocks with her irresistible songs. As the dramatic cliffs and ancient castles of the Rhine Gorge unfold around us, steaming mugs of spiced Glühwein are served on deck – a delicious concoction. It’s usually made with red wine heated with citrus zest and spices such as cloves and cinnamon. Sometimes it’s drunk mit Schuss, meaning a shot of rum or brandy has been added for extra punch! Its comforting warmth and festive aroma are the perfect companion to the crisp winter air and enchanting views.

The festive period is a magical time to visit this picturesque part of Germany, and no country does it better. The historic Yuletide markets here are the ideal places to soak up the spellbinding atmosphere while seeking out unusual presents for friends and family back home.

Rüdesheim

After lunch on board, we arrive in Rüdesheim. The quirky, crooked houses and tiny streets provide the perfect chocolate-box setting for its Christmas market. But first you have a choice of included experiences:

You could visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, a fantastical adventure into the world of automatic musical instruments. See the impressive collection of fascinating musical instruments that function like computers, ranging from tiny, delicate music boxes to an enormous orchestrion.

Or you might choose to travel up the hillside, above Rüdesheim’s famous vineyards, in a two-seater cable car enjoying lovely views of the Rhine River and surrounding countryside. At the top the views get even better, and a stroll around the Niederwald monument – which celebrates the unification of Germany by Prussians in the 1870s – allows for a peaceful moment looking out over the town.

Then wander the myriad stalls, glistening in the glow of hundreds of fairy lights, stop perhaps for a slice of gingerbread or a warming Rüdesheim coffee with its fortifying shot of locally distilled Asbach brandy and a dollop of whipped cream. And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Christmas shop: open year-round, it’s a treasure trove of all things seasonal, from tree decorations and music boxes to wooden nutcrackers and handcrafted figurines.

As the evening light fades, amble back on board to enjoy a sumptuous dinner in the ship’s excellent restaurant before delighting in the upbeat sounds of Rhenish folk music and dancing with a live performance on traditional instruments.

Cruise through the Rhine Gorge once more, arriving in Bonn for a guided tour. Afterwards explore the festive markets.

• Scenic Cruise through the Rhine Gorge
• Guided tour of Bonn
• Visit to the Christmas market
• Chef’s dinner

Rhine Gorge

During breakfast the ship effortlessly glides out of port as we commence a spectacular morning’s cruising. One of the cruise highlights will be our return passage through the magnificent Rhine Gorge so have your camera at the ready to capture some of the most stunning river views, as the captain skilfully navigates our passage between the narrow valley sides that tower above.

Enjoy another delicious lunch in the ship’s restaurant as we sail past Koblenz, dramatically situated on the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Moselle, with the impressive Ehrenbreitstein fortress towering above. We’ll soon arrive in Bonn.

Bonn

This afternoon there’s the opportunity to learn more about this fascinating city, which served as the capital of the West German state from 1949-1990, until the reunification of Germany which restored Berlin as the country’s capital. Whilst it lost the battle to retain the parliament, Bonn still holds the status of a secondary governmental seat, so many government ministries and public bodies still have their headquarters here. But behind its official façade lies a historic and fascinating city – we’ll have a guided tour of the main sights around the old town, centred around its two spacious squares.

See the city’s most prominent landmark, the soaring spire of the huge Romanesque minster, one of the oldest churches in the country and the attractive pastel pink Rococo old town hall, with its gleaming silver and gold trim, from where an endless list of politicians throughout the decades have appeared on its sweeping staircase.
Bonn is also famous for being the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, and the house where he was born is one of the few old buildings in the city not to have been damaged during the war. Together with the house next door, it now houses a museum dedicated to one of the greatest composers of all time.

You’ll have some free time to wander the seasonal market, centred around the old town; the old town hall’s windows are transformed into a giant Advent calendar and an imposing Christmas tree takes centre stage. Classical music floats on the air, along with the delicious smells of gingerbread and baked apples – simply magical.

As the fairy lights glow brighter in the cool evening air, it’s time to head back to the inviting warmth of the ship’s lounge for an aperitif before the Chef’s Dinner is served.

With the ship moored here overnight, perhaps step ashore again after dinner to experience the town sparkling under its Christmas lights.

Sail back to Cologne where we learn more about the old town on a guided walk, then you are free to explore the many Christmas markets.

• Guided tour of Cologne’s old town
• Visit to Cologne’s Christmas markets

During breakfast, we make our return to Cologne as the ever-changing river scenery drifts silently by. As the towering spires of Cologne’s cathedral come into view on the wintry skyline, we moor in the shadow of this ancient monument once again.

Cologne

Arriving in Cologne mid‑morning, we meet our local guide for a walking tour of the old town, focusing on the historic quarter surrounding the magnificent cathedral. Afterward, you may like to return to the ship for lunch on board, or choose to stay out a little longer and sample some of the tempting regional specialities from the nearby Christmas market stalls.

Christmas creates a special atmosphere here, and the afternoon is yours to immerse yourself in the city’s seven Yuletide markets, each with its own unique theme. Wander the traditional stalls of Heumarkt, discover the angelic elegance of Neumarkt, step into a fairytale world at Alter Markt or soak up the maritime spirit of the harbour market’s nautical‑themed stalls. Every year, thousands of visitors are drawn to the more than 160 tastefully decorated festive stalls of the Cathedral Christmas market, set against the spectacular backdrop of the imposing cathedral, where the largest Christmas tree in the Rhineland – illuminated with 50,000 LED lights – is a magnificent sight to behold. There’s also plenty of live entertainment to enjoy throughout the day.

After browsing the market and its Aladdin’s cave of festive gifts and foods, return to the ship to raise a festive toast with newfound friends before a final delicious dinner this evening.

It’s time to say goodbye to your crew and start the journey home.