Zurich - Lucerne & Christmas Markets on the Rhine

The city of Zurich, a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus

You will be transferred from the airport to the city of Zurich, one of the most beloved cities in Switzerland. After settling to your hotel, you will be able to explore the city at leisure, perhaps taking in its delightful lakeside setting or strolling around its multiples small Christmas stalls and markets. Included is a restful one-night stay in Zurich.

The city of Zurich, a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Zurich before you are transferred to Lucerne, an area known for its spectacular natural setting. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city which becomes even more charming during the Christmas season! Get yourself immersed into the many lights and handicrafts which decorate the old town and end the day at the small Christmas markets where mulled wine and other typical Christmas treats are yours to enjoy.

Included Excursion
A guided tour of Zurich

Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture, sits amid snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Altstadt (Old Town) is bordered on the north by 870m Museggmauer (Musegg Wall), a 14-century rampart. The covered Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), built in 1333, links the Aldstadt to the Reuss River's right bank.

Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture, sits amid snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Altstadt (Old Town) is bordered on the north by 870m Museggmauer (Musegg Wall), a 14-century rampart. The covered Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), built in 1333, links the Aldstadt to the Reuss River's right bank.

The awe-inspiring natural beauty enveloping Lucerne is a true delight, and yours to discover today during a guided tour of this small city. Lucerne effortlessly reflects what most people imagine when they think of a Swiss city, with a backdrop of snow-capped mountain ranges and tree-lined boulevards cutting through the city centre. Enjoy learning about the history of Lucerne as you visit the well-preserved medieval Altstadt, Chapel Bridge and the octagonal Water Tower.

Included Excursion
A guided tour of Lucerne

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Train & cable car ride to Rigi – Weggis (extra expense)

Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture, sits amid snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Altstadt (Old Town) is bordered on the north by 870m Museggmauer (Musegg Wall), a 14-century rampart. The covered Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), built in 1333, links the Aldstadt to the Reuss River's right bank.

After breakfast, journey by coach through idyllic landscapes as you carve a course to the Rhine-side town of Basel. When you arrive, you will be able to board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you. This evening, join your fellow guests for dinner on board.

Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the Swiss, French and German borders. It is located on the bend of the River Rhine and benefits from a Mediterranean climate. It is the third most populated city in Switzerland and has been the commercial hub for Swiss arts and culture since the Renaissance. In 1967 the people of Basel voted to acquire two paintings by Picasso, who was so moved by the Basel people that he donated 3 paintings and a study to the city's Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Arts). Visit the Augusta Raurica, one of the largest Roman archaeology parks in Switzerland, and enjoy a river crossings over the River Rhine by non-motorised ferries. During the summer months, time is spent outdoors, either swimming in the River Rhine, dining al fresco, enjoying open air concerts, cinema, street parties and festivals. Basel is home to over 20 restaurants that have won GaultMillau or Michelin awards, and boasts Switzerland's largest collection of theatre shows, including modern contemporary dance, touring and puppetry theatre.

Breisach is a town located in Southwest Germany on the French border. The town is situated in the Rhine Valley on the banks of the river Rhine and dates back over four thousand years. Breisach and its history can be experienced through the City History Museum, which houses a permanent exhibition taking you from Stone Age through the Celtic, to the Romans and Middle Ages, right up to modern day. St Stephen's Cathedral is home to the city’s famous art treasures, the wheel wells, which are housed in the neighbouring Radbrunnenturm with the forty one metre deep water well. The cathedral is also home to many other treasures including the High Altar of Master HL and wall paintings by Martin Schongauer as well as High Gothic and Roman architecture. A visit to the Blue House, the former Jewish Community Centre, is highly recommended. Now owned by the Friends of Former Jewish Community House Breisach it exhibits memorials to Breisach’s Jewish heritage.

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Rhine town of Breisach. Entrenched between two countries, it’s also known as the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive through the Black Forest Highlands on your way to the Hofgut Sternen complex located at the foothill of Ravenna Gorge, a place where history and tradition merge. It was here that in 1770 Marie Antoinette stopped with 52 beautifully decorated carriages on the way to her wedding to King Louis XVI.

As part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, you’ll also have the chance to see the postcard-worthy Christmas market situated underneath the 40-metre-high Ravenna Viaduct. Be amazed by the magical aroma of Black Forest specialties and unique handcrafted regional products sold there.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Breisach

EmeraldPLUS
Guided visit to the Christmas Market at Ravenna Viaduct

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Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)

Kehl is a town located in southwest Germany on the River Rhine, across from the French City of Strasbourg. The town is not known as a tourist destination, however it benefits from idyllic landscape and a water-rich environment. Walk or cycle along the Reinpromenade or the garden of the Zweubüchter and enjoy a picnic at one of Kehl’s numerous excavation lakes. Nature lovers will enjoy spotting animals hiding along the rivers, lakes and bushes. Discover Kehl’s turbulent war and peace history with a guided tour of the centre and its surrounding villages. Visitors will also experience the town’s habitat and culture which is characterised through the half timbered houses and streets. Kehl town centre features a large pedestrian zone with many retail outlets, street cafes and outdoor dining to enjoy. A few minutes by public transport and visitors will find themselves in the centre of metropolitan Strasbourg.

This morning, we’ll dock in Kehl, and you’ll be transferred by coach across the river to Strasbourg, the storied capital of France’s Alsace region. Your guided tour of Strasbourg will include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grande Île, the historical centre of the city, known for its medieval half-timbered buildings, old tanning houses, Baroque sandstone buildings and charming canal system. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of its most charming Christmas markets, where you can enjoy traditional Alsatian Christmas treats and shop for presents and stocking-fillers.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Strasbourg and visit to the Christmas Markets

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Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)

Mannheim, Germany, is a dynamic city known for its distinctive grid layout and vibrant cultural scene. Located at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers, it features the impressive Mannheim Palace and the lush Luisenpark. The city's modern architecture contrasts with its historical roots, while its thriving arts scene includes theaters, museums, and music festivals. Mannheim is also a key industrial and commercial hub, making it a blend of cultural richness and economic vitality.

Your guided tour of Heidelberg’s rich history includes a visit to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, which overlooks the Rhine River and a red-roofed skyline. Some of the most successful painters of the Romantic era drew inspiration from Heidelberg Castle, including British artist William Turner, who depicted images of the ruins in several of his paintings. Afterwards, stroll down the cobbled streets of the Old Town, touching on the Church of the Holy Spirit and the oldest university in Germany.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Heidelberg

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.

Today, we’ll take you into the heart of Koblenz, an ancient city pulled from the pages of a German fairy tale. Enjoy the picturesque backdrop of vineyards and snow-topped mountain ranges as your local guide takes you through open cobbled squares and down narrow streets.

Included Excursion
Orientation walk of Koblenz

EmeraldPLUS
Christmas traditions in Europe lecture

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Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)

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.

We sail towards Cologne, where you’ll have the opportunity to wander the markets at your leisure, perhaps visiting the ornate stalls beneath the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral, where you can drink traditional glühwein out of beautifully decorated mugs. In the afternoon, you will have the chance to visit Duesseldorf and its many Christmas markets, each having its unique name and personality – such as the Fairytale Market, the Handwerker (hand maker) Market and the Schadowmarket where any present wish could easily be fulfilled and more. All of that with a Christmas scent of roasted almonds and hot mulled wine floating in the air.

Included Excursion
Dusseldorf city tour with Christmas Markets

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Duesseldorf with Christmas Market visit

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German Beer Experience (extra expense)

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

Board a glass-top canal boat for a tour down the Dutch capital’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system, passing historic merchant houses that reflect the bygone era of the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Dutch empire was considered one of the most influential in the world. Throughout the city, you’ll explore the delightful Christmas stalls, each surrounded by people in their finest knitwear drinking hot mugs of mulled wine and enjoying traditional festive foods.

Included Excursion
Canal cruise

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Private hidden Gems tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)

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Dutch Delights (extra expense)

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

After breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow guests and Star-Ship as you are transferred to the airport, taking memories of quintessential German villages and the magic of Christmas with you.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

Please note: Preview itinerary subject to change.