Christmas Markets along the Rhine (port-to-port package)

4 nights from £892pp departing Friday 13th Dec 2024

Christmas markets are in full boom during the holiday season. The smell of freshly baked goods fills the air surrounding the festive wooden booths selling artisan gifts. We'll visit several markets during this cruise for an authentic German holiday experience, including those in Speyer, romantic Heidelberg, the Christmas Market of Nations in Rdesheim, and Koblenz.

Itinerary

Map

					Arrive	Depart
	13th13	DecDec	202424	Cologne, Germany, embark on the MS Lafayette	18:00
Cologne is a city in western Germany located across the Rhine river. It is the oldest in Germany, dating back 2000 years and is considered the region’s cultural hub. The city is known for its iconic landmark of the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral set against the reconstructed Old Town buildings. When in Old Town, visit the historic Old Town Hall and the Roman Church Great St Martin, or take time out and sit at one of the traditional breweries and enjoy the scenery around you. Historical sites such as the Roman Dionysus mosaic and the medieval Overstolzenhaus are worth a visit too. Another iconic sight in Cologne is at Hohenzollern Bridge. Here, local and tourist couples affix padlocks to the railings of the bridge and swear their loyalty to each other, they then throw the key into the Rhein to ensure everlasting love. Cologne is home to over 30 stages providing cabaret, free ensembles, theatre and dance and also celebrates its openly gay culture. Possible transfer by coach to Strasbourg.(4)Boarding.Cruise to Koblenz overnight.
	14th14	DecDec	202424	Cologne, Germany		02:00
Cologne is a city in western Germany located across the Rhine river. It is the oldest in Germany, dating back 2000 years and is considered the region’s cultural hub. The city is known for its iconic landmark of the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral set against the reconstructed Old Town buildings. When in Old Town, visit the historic Old Town Hall and the Roman Church Great St Martin, or take time out and sit at one of the traditional breweries and enjoy the scenery around you. Historical sites such as the Roman Dionysus mosaic and the medieval Overstolzenhaus are worth a visit too. Another iconic sight in Cologne is at Hohenzollern Bridge. Here, local and tourist couples affix padlocks to the railings of the bridge and swear their loyalty to each other, they then throw the key into the Rhein to ensure everlasting love. Cologne is home to over 30 stages providing cabaret, free ensembles, theatre and dance and also celebrates its openly gay culture. Cruise to Koblenz.Optional excursion: Koblenz, the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, and free time at the Christmas market.
	14th14	DecDec	202424	Koblenz, Germany	13:00
Located in the West of the country, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It is situated on both banks of the river Rhine, at its confluence with the Moselle River. The beginnings of Koblenz can be traced back to its military beginnings around 8 BC. The city is rich in its history and heritage and is easily explored on foot. Take the cable car crossing over the river Rhine for spectacular aerial views or enjoy the city from the one thousand year old fortress, Ehrenbreitstein. The upper middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique landscape can be enjoyed and discovered through the interactive multimedia journey at the Romanticum. Historical and architectural sites of interest include Stolzenfels Castle, the Electoral Palace of Koblenz and Old Town. From the romantic winding streets and small squares of Old Town, stroll through the alleyways from the Church of the Holy Virgin to the St Kastor Basilica and enjoy the picturesque buildings and squares along the way. Koblenz is also very popular for its Riesling and strong Spatburgunder wines since the Romans introduced it two thousand years ago.
	15th15	DecDec	202424	Koblenz, Germany		06:00
Located in the West of the country, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It is situated on both banks of the river Rhine, at its confluence with the Moselle River. The beginnings of Koblenz can be traced back to its military beginnings around 8 BC. The city is rich in its history and heritage and is easily explored on foot. Take the cable car crossing over the river Rhine for spectacular aerial views or enjoy the city from the one thousand year old fortress, Ehrenbreitstein. The upper middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique landscape can be enjoyed and discovered through the interactive multimedia journey at the Romanticum. Historical and architectural sites of interest include Stolzenfels Castle, the Electoral Palace of Koblenz and Old Town. From the romantic winding streets and small squares of Old Town, stroll through the alleyways from the Church of the Holy Virgin to the St Kastor Basilica and enjoy the picturesque buildings and squares along the way. Koblenz is also very popular for its Riesling and strong Spatburgunder wines since the Romans introduced it two thousand years ago. We'll spend the morning cruising the romantic Rhine River to Rdesheim.Optional excursion: Tour of the city by tourist train, a visit to the mechanical music cabinet museum, and free time at the Christmas market.(2)In the evening, Drosselgasse awaits you with its numerous cafs, bars, and music.
	15th15	DecDec	202424	Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany	13:00
Rudesheim am Rhine is a town in the Rhine Valley in Germany and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rhine Gorge. It is known for its production of Riesling wine and has been popular for its wine making since ancient times. The Medieval Bromserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum and wine is a crucial part of Rudesheimer culture. The town is surrounded with vineyards and wineries, as well as many local wine bars and seasonal wine taverns. Wine tasting is a must do in Rudesheim and dining out is a great accompaniment. The local cuisine is seasonal and is closely intertwined with the wine growing traditions together with soups such as Zwiebelkuchen, Handkäs mit Musik and Spundekäs. Nordic Walking is popular around town, with five adventure trails around the vicinity, as well as many popular cycling routes. Great views of the town can be found from the water, the cable car to Niederwald Monument and the Monument itself. Old Town has the best examples of the town’s architecture with Eagle Tower, Oberstrasse and Rheinstein Castle some key sites to visit.
	16th16	DecDec	202424	Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany		02:00
Rudesheim am Rhine is a town in the Rhine Valley in Germany and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rhine Gorge. It is known for its production of Riesling wine and has been popular for its wine making since ancient times. The Medieval Bromserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum and wine is a crucial part of Rudesheimer culture. The town is surrounded with vineyards and wineries, as well as many local wine bars and seasonal wine taverns. Wine tasting is a must do in Rudesheim and dining out is a great accompaniment. The local cuisine is seasonal and is closely intertwined with the wine growing traditions together with soups such as Zwiebelkuchen, Handkäs mit Musik and Spundekäs. Nordic Walking is popular around town, with five adventure trails around the vicinity, as well as many popular cycling routes. Great views of the town can be found from the water, the cable car to Niederwald Monument and the Monument itself. Old Town has the best examples of the town’s architecture with Eagle Tower, Oberstrasse and Rheinstein Castle some key sites to visit. We'll spend the morning cruising to Speyer. Enjoy some free time in Speyer OR optional excursion: Heidelberg and its Christmas Market.Our ship will cruise to Strasbourg.
	16th16	DecDec	202424	Speyer, Germany	13:00	18:00
Speyer is a town located in southwest Germany situated beside the river Rhine. Originally founded by the Romans, it is one of the oldest settlements in Germany and is situated in the popular wine growing region of the Palatinate. A key attraction of Speyer is the Historical Museum of the Palatinate, which is one of the most celebrated culture-history museums in Germany. It features five permanent collections including Prehistory, Roman Times, Cathedral Treasury, Modern Era and Wine Museum. Not far from the museum, visitors will find the Imperial Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is considered the largest preserved Romanesque church in Europe. Originally constructed by Konrad II, this magnificent and looming building was intended to demonstrate the Lord’s religio-political claim to power against the papacy. Speyer has been producing wine since its Roman beginnings and wine tasting, festivals and events are popular all year round. The town is popular for outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling as well as guided walking tours of the town.
	17th17	DecDec	202424	Strasbourg, France, disembark the MS Lafayette	08:00
Disembarkation.

MS Lafayette

Launch Year

1992

Refit Year

2014

Tonnage

15,000

Capacity

Cabins

Accessible

Sun Deck

Upper Deck

Main Deck

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Restaurant

Located on the upper deck, the restaurant is where all meals are served during your cruise. It seats all guests at tables which vary in size with a panoramic view. The atmosphere is casual but elegant.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Sun Deck

Take advantage of the sun deck to relax! It is equipped with chairs and deckchairs, allowing you to cool off while enjoying a panoramic view of the magnificent landscapes.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

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Holiday Summary

	4 nights cruising on the Rhine
	All meals included
	Drinks included with meals & at the bar
	Gala dinner & evening welcome cocktail
	Free Wi-Fi in lounge & bar
	Headsets included for excursions
	Travel Assistance & Repatriation Insurance
	Port Taxes and Fees
	ABTA and ATOL Protection*

Oceanview staterooms from		£892pp
C_DBL_PP	Cat C (Main Deck, Double Bed)	£892pp
A_GLS_PP	Cat A (Main Deck, Adjustable Twin Beds)	£969pp
C_GLS_PP	Cat C (Main Deck, Adjustable Twin Beds)	£892pp

	Oceanview
	(All prices are £GBP per person)
Fri 5th Dec 202505 Dec 25	911
Sat 13th Dec 202513 Dec 25	911