Arrive at Frankfurt International Airport, be greeted by the representative, and transfer to the ship.

Frankfurt is often called the "Mainhattan" of Europe due to its impressive skyscrapers and solid financial influence. Despite this, the city has a rich cultural core. The Altstadt, Frankfurt's old town, is incredibly charming and has been home to some of Europe's best Christmas markets for many years. Today, you can enjoy a "Taste of Christmas" walking tour in the town, where you can sample various sweet and savory treats, or opt for an excursion to the Christmas market in Wiesbaden.

Featured Excursion:
“Taste of Christmas” Frankfurt Walking Tour
Wiesbaden Twinkling Star Christmas Market

A special Captain's Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Wertheim is a lovely village dating back over a thousand years, located at the confluence of the Tauber and Main rivers. It epitomizes the friendly, slow-paced, small-town atmosphere of many German villages; here, residents greet each other by name as they shop for fresh bread and sausage in tiny shops. On your guided walking tour of the village, you can hear much about daily life in Wertheim and facts about the town and its history. Its many well-preserved medieval buildings—complete with low doors and tiny windows—attest to the inconveniences of life in the Middle Ages.

Featured Excursion: Wertheim Walking Tour with Mulled Wine and Christmas Stollen Demonstration

This morning, head off to the Würzburg Residence, a baroque-style palace famous for its gigantic ceiling fresco. Later, visit the town’s renowned Christmas Market, held in front of the old City Hall, for some one-of-a-kind gifts for friends back home. Beautifully decorated wooden booths are illuminated by the soft glow of Christmas lighting, and the air is filled with the scent of roasted chestnuts and the sound of Christmas carols. One of the best ways to embrace a different culture is through encounters with residents, which you can experience this afternoon in a typical Franconian village. Make new friends over hot drinks and homemade seasonal treats.

Featured Excursion:
Würzburg Residence visit
Village Day: Franconian Christmas
Würzburg Christmas Market Night Stroll

Rothenburg looks like something straight out of the pages of a storybook, with its medieval walls, cobbled streets, Gothic churches, and Hansel-and-Gretel houses. Join a local expert for an insightful walking tour, then wander amongst the stalls at one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets.

Featured Excursion: Full-Day Rothenburg with Walking Tour and Christmas Market
 

The fact that Bamberg still exists today is a miracle—it survived WWII bombing virtually unscathed. It’s a superb example of a medieval German city compact enough to explore on foot with a local expert. You can also have free time to visit not just one but four Christmas Markets and a captivating number of nativity scenes along the nativity trail.

Featured Excursion: Bamberg Walking Tour with Christmas Market

 

For a holiday extravaganza, look no further than Nuremberg, which boasts the largest and grandest Christmas Market in all of Germany— and that’s saying something. The “Gingerbread Capital of the World” pulls out all the stops during the holidays, as you can see for yourself on a panoramic tour guaranteed to put you in a festive mood. Stroll through the castle gardens and enjoy breathtaking city views, then walk through a maze of cobblestone lanes down to the central Market Square. There, spread out before the Church of Our Lady, is the largest Christmas Market in Germany.

Featured Excursion:
Nuremberg City Tour with Christmas Market
Nights Out: Christmas Market Illuminations

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Disembark the ship, then transfer to the Nuremberg International Airport for your flight home.