Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle

Arrive and comfortably check into your hotel before stepping out to explore. As Paris prepares for the chilly winter months and upcoming seasonal festivities, watch the vibrant city streets truly come alive. Observe patrons at charming pavement cafés sipping rich hot chocolate, wrapped tightly in warm woolens against the crisp air. Take a leisurely stroll to admire grand shop windows depicting enchanting fairy tales, Santa Claus inside his bustling workshop, or serene snowy winter wonderlands. From November onward, marvel as leading department stores, including Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, unveil magnificent seasonal displays featuring clever animation, offering spectacular reveals that remain highly anticipated each and every year.

Soak in the festive spirit of Parisian Christmas markets, where the rich scents of warm mulled wine, freshly roasted chestnuts, and decadent bites of cheese and chocolate fill the city air. Make your way to the Tuileries Garden to experience the largest marché de Noël in Paris, a lively destination seamlessly blending traditional wooden artisan stalls with thrilling carnival rides. Step onto the towering Ferris wheel to claim a magnificent vantage point for admiring the sprawling urban skyline from high above. Afterward, stroll through the charming Montmartre district to browse for beautifully unique handcrafted holiday gifts, and be sure to visit the Hôtel de Ville, where festive vendor stalls are perfectly framed by a grand neoclassical facade illuminated in enchanting, twinkling lights.

Included Excursions: 
Panoramic Paris at Christmas
Revel in the major sights of the “City of Light” during a festive drive amid twinkling lights.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to your embarkation city. Reims, nestled in the heart of the renowned Champagne region, is home to one of France’s largest Christmas markets. More than 140 stalls grace the Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter, in the heart of the city center, while craftsmen display their wares at the market in the courtyard of the Palace of Tau. The famous Reims Cathedral is decorated in a colorful light display that showcases the magnificent architectural details of this 13th-century Gothic masterpiece and UNESCO Site.

Set in the historic heart of Trier, the bustling and colorful Hauptmarkt is the city’s main gathering place and the center of holiday festivities. Its rich repository of Romanesque, Gothic and baroque-style architecture provide a romantic backdrop to its cozy Christmas market. There, vendors display handcrafted decorations and serve regional specialties, such as vintner hot mulled wine from the Moselle. The nearby Domfreihof adds to the yuletide atmosphere that abounds throughout the Old City, its market set in the shadow of the impressive 13th-century Trier Cathedral. Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom.

Included Excursions:
Festive Reims Cathedral & the Luxembourg American Cemetery
Explore the stunning Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and pay your respects to fallen US soldiers.

Treasured for its rich history, Trier was once the regional capital of the Holy Roman Empire. After Emperor Constantine the Great had a vision of Christ, he and his mother Helena built great churches and cathedrals here. A few still stand, the magnificent Romanesque Cathedral of Trier among them. The 20,000-seat amphitheater, the Roman Bridge and the massive Porta Nigra, the ancient city gate, are further relics of that time. Today, Trier is a picturesque town surrounded by forests and vineyards, known also as the birthplace of Karl Marx and as a vibrant university town.

The medieval Old Town of Bernkastel transforms itself during the holidays, with its cobblestone streets decked out in lights and the aroma of mulled wine, gingerbread and almonds filling the air. Picturesque half-timbered houses form the backdrop for about 40 stalls, where vendors showcase seasonal wares such as traditional handicrafts and jewelry. The market square is also home to the region’s largest Advent calendar, festively displayed in the window of a local pharmacy. The market’s highlight is the arrival by boat of Santa Claus, accompanied by swimmers carrying torches.

Included Excursions:
Trier Highlights & Christmas Market
Discover Trier, a once-mighty regional center of the Roman and Holy Roman Empires, and its festive holiday market.

The holiday season transforms the squares and narrow cobblestone alleyways of Cochem’s Old Town into a wintery fairy tale. Festive lights line the streets and the promenade along the Moselle River, giving the city a cozy, yuletide atmosphere, and vendors display local handicrafts from the shelves of their wooden stalls. Visitors can savor a Riesling stollen, a traditional German Christmas bread, as well as yeast dumplings, pastries, white mulled wine—a Moselle specialty—or regional delicacies made from the renowned red vineyard peach.

Hugging a gentle curve in the Moselle River, Winningen enjoys stunning vistas of forested hills and limestone cliff faces on the river’s opposite banks. The small city’s Weingüter, or wine taverns, showcase the valley’s famed Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Elbling that are nurtured in steeply terraced vineyards draping nearby slopes. In a region with many renowned wine towns, Winningen is less well-known, and therein lies its charm. Its typical German streets are lined with half-timbered buildings and are a pleasure to explore.

Included Excursions:
Cochem Walking Tour, Reichsburg Castle & Christmas Market
Explore Cochem, one of the most picturesque towns on the Moselle, and discover its lively Christmas market.

Koblenz Christmas Market On Your Own
Experience the festive magic of Koblenz’s Christmas market, a holiday haven in a historic city, at your own pace.

Koblenz is a traditional German country town with a wine heritage that spans centuries; a key ingredient for the warming glühweinthat is served from taverns and market stalls during the holiday season. The scent of cinnamon, cloves and spices waft from steaming mugs as the sounds of festivities fill the air from one of the many musical performances, creating a toe-tapping atmosphere. Centered around the Schängel fountain, the Koblenz Christmas market offers all the flavors of the yuletide season from its famous Christmas bakery.

The Rhine River flows through one of Germany’s most scenic regions. As you sail its most picturesque stretch, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine, you pass vineyard-blanketed hills whose steep slopes require vintners to pick grapes by hand, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Splendid castles line the banks, all of which have stories to share, and the Lorelei Rock presides at a dramatic curve in the river. Here, legend has it that a river maiden mesmerized sailors with her song and lured them to their demise at her feet.

Included Excursions:
Historic Koblenz at Christmas
Take a festive stroll around Koblenz to explore its historic past and visit the Christmas market.

Located in the heart of the Rhine wine region, Mainz has been an important cultural center for thousands of years. Every winter, the city transforms itself into a cozy winter wonderland with one of Germany’s prettiest Christmas markets. The 10th-century Cathedral of St. Martin becomes a dramatic backdrop for vendors selling handmade crafts, as well as candied almonds, chestnuts and mulled wine. Smaller WinterZeit markets dot the city, and concerts and traditional stage productions of fairy tales play regularly during the yuletide season.

Included Excursions:
Mainz Walking Tour & Gutenberg Museum
Take a guided tour of a city that boasts more than 2,000 years of history.

Mainz Christmas Market On Your Own
Enjoy free time to discover the enchanting ambiance of Mainz’s Christmas market at your leisure.

Wine & Nature of Schloss Vollrads
Visit one of Germany’s oldest winemakers and enjoy a tasting of the estate’s leading Rieslings.
 

Mannheim’s Christmas market is a holiday season shopping extravaganza, centered around the city’s iconic water tower. One of Germany’s oldest and largest markets, more than 160 booths host vendors from around the world, offering handicrafts and handmade items. Beautiful glassware, and carved wooden toys and games, sit alongside Christmas lanterns, colorful baubles and ornaments, all of which are presented in quaint wooden houses. Luxurious cashmere scarves, sheepskin mittens and felt hats are the ideal purchase to take home as gifts for friends and family.

Speyer’s Old Town transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. With the historic Old Gate as a stunning backdrop, market stalls are brimming with yuletide treats, serving Christmas cookies and steaming mugs of aromatic glühwein. Skaters don their woolen hats and gloves, and take to the ice for some festive fun, while visitors browse for unique handmade gifts. The holiday atmosphere continues into January, bringing the opportunity for New Year merrymakers to enjoy the festivities and sample regional specialties, such as potato soup and yeast dumplings.

Included Excursions:
Mannheim & Yuletide Market
Celebrate the Christmas season and discover the history and culture of Mannheim.

Strasbourg is said to be the capital of Christmas in France, with the city’s cathedral square taking center stage as it is transformed into a winter wonderland. The city’s Christkindelsmärik is the oldest in France, dating back to 1570. Hundreds of stalls are brimming with colorful wares, fine food and mulled wine, bringing festive cheer in abundance. Alsatian specialties feature an array of hearty classics, from bretzels (soft, bread-like pretzels) to bredele (star-shaped spiced cookies), and knacks (sausages) to pain d’epices (gingerbread).

Included Excursions:
Strasbourg Highlights
Get to know this delightful city steeped in equal parts French and German culture.

A delightful blend of old and new, Basel is Switzerland’s best-kept secret. During the holiday season, the medieval Old Town is transformed into a magical yuletide affair. Cobblestone streets are lined with wooden chalet-style huts selling all manner of festive treats and gifts. Visitors to the Christmas market can enjoy a warming cup of aromatic glühwein in a decorated boot-shaped mug. Hand-carved tree decorations, cheerfully painted ceramics and delicious food are sold from stalls throughout the city. After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to your destination.

Arrive and check in to your hotel. Zürich’s oldest Christmas market is set along the medieval streets of the lively Niederdorf neighborhood. Centrally located next to the main train station, more than 140 stalls comprise the Christkindlimarkt, where the air is heavy with the aroma of mulled wine and spices. The scene is dominated by a looming Christmas tree decorated with thousands of Swarovski crystals. Nestled between the elegant Zürich Opera House and the shores of Lake Zürich, the Wienachtsdorf creates an enchanting Christmas village where a mug of glühwein can be enjoyed while browsing for seasonal mementos.

​Included Excursions:
Basel Highlights & Festive Markets
Immerse yourself in festive cheer where three nations meet—Switzerland, France and Germany—by foot and by motor coach.

Zürich offers much more than its reputation as a city of banking institutions. The Grossmünster is one of Zürich’s most important landmarks and the center of the Swiss Reformation in the 16th century. Across the river lies Fraumünster, famed for its stained glass windows painted by Marc Chagall. Exclusive designer boutiques line the streets of Storchengasse alongside world-renowned chocolatiers and quaint, cozy cafés. The scent of delicious sweet treats and freshly baked gipfeli waft through the air on every street corner.

​​Included Excursions:
Zürich Walking Tour & Lake Cruise
Take in the impressive sights of Switzerland’s stunning lakeside city by boat and by foot.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of the extensions.