Rhine Holiday Christmas Markets Cruise 2025

• Arrive at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)

• Check in to our pre-cruise luxury hotel and enjoy an Inspirato Only reception

Accommodations: Luxury hotel in Cologne

• Meander through the narrow, cobbled lanes of Old Town Cologne, lined with traditional houses in every color and a plethora of restaurants and pubs

• Embark on your Christmas Markets adventure as we step aboard the S.S. Elizabeth

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: Dinner

• Begin your day with breakfast aboard the S.S. Elisabeth

• Take an hour drive to Dusseldorf where your local expert will guide you through the streets of Altstadt and stop to enjoy a tasting of the city’s tradition, Altbier

• Stroll through the Dusseldorf Christmas Markets where their stalls are painted to resemble Dusseldorf’s old burgher houses

• Drive back to Cologne and board the S.S. Elisabeth to start sailing towards Koblenz

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: All meals included on board

• Watch the waters of the Moselle River gush into the Rhine as you stand on the spit of land called German Corner

• Spend a relaxing half-day on board the luxurious boutique S.S Elisabeth as you sail the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the extraordinarily picturesque Castles perched atop the steep cliffs

• Delve into the Koblenz Christmas Market, spilling from square to square, with stalls full of unique Rhine Valley handicrafts, baked goods, and wines

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: All meals included on board

• Begins the day in Rüdesheim, which, like many cities along the Rhine, dates back to Roman times, and is now famous for its beauty and entertaining alley of shops and wine bars called the Drosselgasse

• Explore the neighboring Wiesbaden’s Christmas Market to find jewelry, leather goods, books, toys, and more—something special for every special person on your list

• Take a walk with your Cruise Manager through the charming town of Mainz in all its wintertime charm, heading straight towards the local Christmas Market’s hundreds of stalls laid out in front of the town cathedral

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: All meals included on board

• Venture into the storied city of Baden-Baden, whose contemporary flair meshes with hot springs, spas, and unspoiled nature

• Gain further appreciation for the Romans and their love of natural spa facilities as you pass by the Fettquelle, a public thermal fountain where it is believed that the water has health-promoting properties

• Visit the Doktorenhof vinegar estate for a special vinegar tasting in an atmospheric candlelit tasting room in the cellar

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: All meals included on board

• Spend the day in the “Crossroads of Europe,” known for being halfway between Paris and Prague

• Tour this historic town and its cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests, and impossible-to-resist pastry shops with a friendly local guide

• Stop for a warm drink at a café on Place Gutenberg, named for the man who invented moveable type in Strasbourg some 560 years ago

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: All meals included on board

• Visit the town’s illuminated Christmas Street, which is beautifully decorated with more than 100 Christmas trees

• Discover the Basal Christmas Market, with more than 150 stands, offering locally made craft items, unique ornaments, and delicious seasonal baked goods

• Find museums and art galleries, specialty shops, and cozy wainscoted restaurants near Market Square

• Enjoy a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: All meals included on board

• Disembark and enjoy smooth travels home after a fantastic and festive program, now with cherished holiday memories

Accommodations: S.S. Elisabeth

Meals Included: Breakfast