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Rhine Holiday Markets
7 Nights Cruise Basel to Cologne (or reverse)

Basel to Cologne (or reverse) - 8 days	For further assistance call 1-800-526-8539
Ship - S.S. Antoinette	Ask about our Travel Insurance

Detailed Itinerary: Basel to Cologne

Skip to Colgone to Basel itinerary

Day 1: Basel (Embarkation)

Arrive at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg where you’ll be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2: Basel

Featured Excursion: Basel walking tour and Christmas Market

Your city walk introduces you to Basel, Switzerland’s second-largest city. Delight in Basel’s Christmas Market, located in the heart of historic Old Town, and visit the illuminated Christmas Street, which is beautifully decorated with over 100 Christmas trees. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Day 3: Kehl (Strasbourg)

Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise and Christmas Market

Situated halfway between Paris and Prague, Strasbourg is known as “The Crossroads of Europe” and home of the magnificent, single-spire Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral as well as many beautiful half-timbered houses. See Strasbourg as it has been seen through the centuries - on a canal cruise. Enjoy Petite France, which is especially picturesque at this time of year. And visit the oldest Christmas Market in France in its breathtaking setting right in front of Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral. (BB, L, D)

Day 4: Germersheim (Heidelberg)

Featured Excursion: Full-day Heidelberg and Christmas Market

Situated on the banks of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is one of Germany’s most beautiful cities and one of the best-preserved Medieval cities in Europe. It is also home to one of Germany’s oldest universities. Your tour of Heidelberg takes you past the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a once-fortified castle, and through Old Town, which is all dressed up for the holidays. You’ll have ample time to explore the Heidelberg Christmas Market, which spans over five squares. Marvel at the Christmas Pyramid rotating inside the tower at the Marktplatz, or take a ride on the carousel. (BB, D)

Day 5: Mainz, Rüdesheim

Featured Excursion: Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum

Enjoy the morning at leisure in the town of Mainz, once home to Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. Stroll through Old Town and the city square, where you’ll see Kaiserdom, St. Stephan’s Church, and Kurfürstliche Schloss. Explore the St. Nicholas Christmas Market with 1,000-year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral as a backdrop. During the afternoon, cruise from Mainz to Rüdesheim, located in the heart of the Rhine Valley. Rüdesheim has been a magnet for romantics ever since the early 19th century. Its rolling hills, historical monuments, and winding alleyways are a real treat. While in Rüdesheim, you’ll visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum and its unique collection of self-playing musical instruments. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Rüdesheim, cruising the romantic Rhine River, Koblenz

Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour and Christmas Market

In the morning, you’ll cruise to Koblenz via the breathtaking 40 miles of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its 40 castles strung like pearls on the hillside, and the famous Lorelei Rock, the valley is the perfect example of the romantic Rhine. Once you arrive in Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, you’ll begin your walking tour through romantic alleyways lined with half-timbered houses decorated for the season. You’ll pass by St. Castor’s Church, the Church of Our Lady, Schängel Fountain, and historic City Hall. Afterward, delight in the Koblenz Christmas Market with its dozens of wooden stands offering arts and crafts, spicy mulled wine, and sweet Christmas cakes. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Cologne

Featured Excursions: Cologne walking tour, cathedral visit, and Christmas Markets

Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town as you make your way to Cologne Cathedral, the city’s beloved landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cologne boasts no fewer than five Christmas Markets, so we have planned an entire day in this city for you to discover these markets at your own pace following the tour. Be sure to visit the Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, as well as Alter Markt in front of the City Hall, Neumarkt in Cologne’s shopping area, and the Medieval Christmas Market in front of the Chocolate Museum. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Note: No tours are given inside Cologne Cathedral on Sundays or Catholic holidays.

Day 8: Depart Cologne (Disembarkation)

Disembark the ship and transfer to Cologne Bonn Airport for your flight home. (CB/BB)

Departures & Pricing

Detailed Itinerary: Cologne to Basel

Skip to Basel to Cologne itinerary

Day 1: Cologne (Embarkation)

Arrive at Cologne Bonn Airport where you’ll be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2: Cologne

Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour, cathedral visit, and Christmas Markets

Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town as you make your way to the cathedral, the city’s beloved landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cologne boasts no fewer than five Christmas Markets, so we have planned an entire day in this city for you to discover these markets at your own pace following the tour. Be sure to visit the Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, as well as Alter Markt in front of the City Hall, Neumarkt in Cologne’s shopping area, and the Medieval Christmas Market in front of the Chocolate Museum. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Note: No tours are given inside Cologne Cathedral on Sundays or Catholic holidays.

Day 3: Koblenz, cruising the romantic Rhine, Rüdesheim

Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour and Christmas Market

In the morning, you’ll begin your walking tour of Koblenz through romantic alleyways lined with half-timbered houses decorated for the season. You’ll pass by St. Castor’s Church, the Church of Our Lady, Schängel Fountain, and historic City Hall. Afterward, delight in the Koblenz Christmas Market with its dozens of wooden stands offering arts and crafts, spicy mulled wine, and sweet Christmas cakes. In the afternoon, you’ll cruise to Rüdesheim via the breathtaking 40 miles of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its 40 castles strung like pearls on the hillside, and the famous Lorelei Rock, the valley is the perfect example of the romantic Rhine (BB, L, D)

Day 4: Rüdesheim, Mainz

Featured Excursion: Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum

In the morning visit Rüdesheim that is located in the heart of the Rhine Valley. Rüdesheim has been a magnet for romantics ever since the early 19th century. Its rolling hills, historical monuments, and winding alleyways are a real treat. While in Rüdesheim, you’ll visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum and its unique collection of self-playing musical instruments. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in the town of Mainz, once home to Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. Stroll through Old Town and the city square, where you’ll see Kaiserdom, St. Stephan’s Church, and Kurfürstliche Schloss. Explore the St. Nicholas Christmas Market with 1,000 year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral as a backdrop. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Germersheim (Heidelberg)

Featured Excursion: Full-day Heidelberg and Christmas Market

Situated on the banks of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is one of Germany’s most beautiful cities and one of the best-preserved Medieval cities in Europe. It is also home to one of Germany’s oldest universities. Your tour of Heidelberg takes you past the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a once-fortified castle, and through Old Town, which is all dressed up for the holidays. You’ll have ample time to explore the Heidelberg Christmas Market, which spans over five squares. Marvel at the Christmas Pyramid rotating inside the tower at the Marktplatz, or take a ride on the carousel. (BB, D)

Day 6: Kehl (Strasbourg)

Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise and Christmas Market

Situated halfway between Paris and Prague, Strasbourg is known as “The Crossroads of Europe” and home of the magnificent, single-spire Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral as well as many beautiful half-timbered houses. See Strasbourg as it has been seen through the centuries - on a canal cruise. Enjoy Petite France, which is especially picturesque at this time of year. And visit the oldest Christmas Market in France in a breathtaking setting right in front of Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Basel

Featured Excursion: Basel walking tour and Christmas Market

Your city walk introduces you to Basel, Switzerland’s second-largest city. Delight in Basel’s Christmas Market, located in the heart of historic Old Town, and visit the illuminated Christmas Street, which is beautifully decorated with over 100 Christmas trees. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 8: Depart Basel (Disembarkation)

Disembark the ship and transfer to  EuroAirport Basel-Mullhouse-Freiburg for your flight home.  (CB/BB)

Departures & Pricing

Advisements:

• A valid passport is required for travel.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
• Holiday markets generally open from the begining of Advent until December 23. The cruise operator reserves the right to substitute appropriate sights and excursions in keeping with the celebrations of the season.

* For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the operator and the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.

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