Join your river cruise in Basel and settle into your accommodation as the festive experience begins. Meet your Experience Director and Experience Manager before enjoying your first dinner onboard. With the seasonal atmosphere already taking hold, this evening provides a relaxed introduction to the Rhine Christmas Markets cruise.

Explore Basel with a Local Specialist, discovering the city’s medieval architecture, riverside setting and seasonal character. Visit the historic Christmas market beneath the spires of Barfüsserkirche, where Swiss crafts, festive treats and warming drinks create an inviting atmosphere. An optional excursion can take you to Lucerne, including its famous Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument.

Discover Strasbourg on a guided walk through its atmospheric Old Town. Admire its half-timbered houses and soaring cathedral before exploring one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets. Browse handcrafted decorations, regional delicacies and seasonal gifts. An optional experience can continue along the Alsatian Wine Route to a local winery and the Christmas markets of Obernai.

Spend the day exploring Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities. Walk through its historic centre and Christmas market with a Local Specialist, or visit Doktorenhof, a family-run vinegar estate where traditional production methods and biodiversity come together. Later, an optional visit to Mannheim reveals grand Baroque architecture, historic squares and festive market stalls.

Explore Mainz’s Christmas market with your Experience Director and Manager, with the city’s cathedral providing a magnificent backdrop. Continue to Rüdesheim for a Be My Guest experience hosted by the Breuer family, featuring seasonal dishes, local wine and live music. Later, ride the Winzerexpress through vineyards and cobbled streets before visiting Rüdesheim’s Christmas market.

Sail through the scenic Middle Rhine, passing castle ruins, vineyards and dramatic hillsides. Arrive in Koblenz and explore the Old Town with a Local Specialist, including the Deutsches Eck where the Rhine and Moselle meet. The city’s Christmas market provides time to browse festive stalls, sample local treats and soak up the seasonal atmosphere.

Explore Cologne’s Old Town on a guided walk before visiting the city’s famous cathedral and Christmas markets. Browse traditional crafts, festive food and local specialities. Time is available for independent exploration, with optional experiences including the Michael Schumacher Private Collection or an introduction to Cologne’s distinctive Kölsch beer culture.

Your Rhine Christmas Markets experience concludes in Düsseldorf. After breakfast, disembark and say farewell to your crew, Experience Director, Experience Manager and fellow travellers, taking with you memories of festive markets, riverside towns and winter landscapes.