The Magic of Christmas: Savory delights and holiday traditions on a Rhine River cruise (port-to-port cruise)

You’ll board our ship at 5 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail.

After dinner on board, join us for an evening celebrating the Alsatian holiday cookies known as bredeles. Our ship will cruise through the night.

We’ll cruise the Rhine to the legendary rock of the Lorelei, following the twists and turns dominated by dramatic ruins, scenic vineyards, and majestic fortresses. Join us in the lounge and tast delicious bredeles!

Our next stop is Rüdesheim, a picturesque village lined with narrow, cobblestone streets and half-timbered homes. We’ll board a tourist train(1) for Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, showcasing 350 self-playing, mechanical music instruments dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries and including delicate musical boxes and a gigantic piano-orchestrion. Then enjoy some free time on your own to discover the international Christmas market located in the city's historic downtown area. The 120 wooden chalets set the stage for an authentic German Christmas market displaying artisan objects, great gift ideas, and delicious culinary specialties such as local confections and cookies, and of course, pretzels! The city is also home to one of the largest nativity scenes in Europe.

You’ll return to the ship by walking down the infamous Drosselgasse, lined with numerous cafés and bars. We’ll enjoy dinner on board before a quick escape to the city again this evening to taste the exquisite Rüdesheimer Kaffee.

We’ll cruise to Mainz in the early morning. Once we arrive, we will visit Mainz and its Cathedral(2). Accompanied by your guides, set off to discover the majestic Mainz Cathedral, one of the most important religious buildings in Germany. Founded in 975, this thousand-year-old cathedral dominates the historic heart of the city and bears witness to more than a thousand years of history, art, and architecture. You will admire its impressive silhouette with its characteristic towers, as well as its rich architectural features, reflecting the various styles that have shaped its evolution over the centuries. The visit will continue with a walk through the surrounding streets of the old town, allowing you to enjoy the authentic atmosphere that surrounds this emblematic monument of Mainz.

After the tour, we’ll have lunch on the ship and spend the afternoon cruising to Gambsheim. Feel free to join us for a bit of onboard entertainment recounting Christmas traditions.

Tonight is our festive gala evening. Our ship will cruise through the night.

Once we arrive in Gambsheim, we’ll leave by coach for Wingen-sur-Moder and a visit to the Musée Lalique to learn about crystalware-genius René Lalique and his successors. Lalique became one of the greatest names of his time, both as a jeweler and a master glassmaker. His instantly recognizable style was a major influence in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. Discover the company’s wide range of impressive crystal and glass designs, pieces of jewelry, tableware, lights, and vases. Admire the fabulous collections and don’t miss the temporary exhibit just for the holidays! Christmas is the perfect time to showcase the exceptional past and present work of Lalique.

Continuation towards Strasbourg for a panoramic tour, then return on board in Strasbourg for lunch.

In the afternoon, feel free set out on your own to admire the lights around the city near the cathedral, the Place Kléber, Carré d’Or, and Place Gutenberg. It’s quite a sight! And don’t forget to browse a few of the Christmas Markets set up across the city. We’ll greet you with a hot cup of mulled wine* as you return on board.

Enjoy an authentic Alsatian dinner this evening, followed by a quiz to test your knowledge about Alsatian Christmas Markets.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.