Delightful Christmas Markets in the Neckar Valley

Passengers are welcome in the ship at 1:00 p.m. and you can drop off your luggage before heading out on a panoramic tour to see the holiday decorations in Strasbourg and spend some free time at its famous Christmas markets. In the evening, passengers are welcome to (re)board at 6:00 p.m. After you’ve comfortably settled into your cabins, you'll be introduced the crew at a welcome cocktail. Tonight, enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment on board. Your ship will begin to cruise to Mannheim in the evening.

Arrive in Mannheim, the starting point for the tour of Heidelberg and its castle (exterior only). Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest and most famous university town. The late 18th- and 19th-century Romanticists found quite the inspiration in this riverside setting. After a guided tour of the old town, enjoy some free time wandering through the local Christmas markets. Soak up the atmosphere, jump on the old-time carousel like a kid, enjoy the scrumptious food, and throw back a beer or sip on mulled wine*. There’s no better way to welcome the season than being at the heart of the festivities. After the tour, you’ll return on board in Heidelberg.

You’ll spend the afternoon cruising the Neckar River towards Eberbach. You’ll pass by what the Germans call the “Romantic Four”—Neckargemünd and its wonderfully decorated half-timbered homes dominated by Dilsberg Castle above the city; Neckasteinach and its four castles that form a ribbon around the river bends; Hirschhorn, its castle, and former Carmelite cloister; and lastly, the arrival point at the quaint city of Eberbach. Enjoy some free time to stroll through the vibrant, inspiring town located on what was once an old trade route linking Mannheim to Prague.
Join the cruise for dinner and an evening of entertainment.

Full-day excursion included: Heilbronn (lunch included - approximately 2.5 hours of round-trip travel).
You'll travel from Eberbach to Heilbronn, the wine capital of historic Wurtemberg—an ancient Imperial Free City sitting within beautiful forests and vineyards.
During your stroll through downtown, you'll see the astronomical clock on the old City Hall in the market square; St. Kilian's Church and its Renaissance-style belfry; and the Deutschhof, an old monastery that now houses the city museums. 

At Christmastime, the city overflows with music and traditional spices such as aniseed and cinnamon. Enjoy browsing the decorated stands brimming with crafts and souvenirs around St. Kilian's Church, the City Hall, and the market square. You'll have lunch in a local restaurant.
After the excursion, you'll return on board in Heidelberg. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please.

Spend the morning cruising.

On arrival, join a tour of Speyer. The city is littered with impressive landmarks, including the UNESCO-listed cathedral and medieval ruins from the time when it was inhabited by one of the most important Jewish communities in Germany. Speyer also hosts a delightful and ethereal Christmas and New Year market on the famous Maximilianstrasse in front of the Alten Münze (Old Mint).

Tonight is your festive gala evening. Your ship will begin to cruise to Strasbourg.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.