Day 1Cologne
Fly into Frankfurt; we meet you at the airport and take you to your ship.* After boarding, you have some free time to relax or do a bit of exploring on your own.
Day 2Cologne & Koblenz
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Cologne, culminating with a visit to the iconic Gothic double-spired Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just outside the cathedral you encounter the first and largest of the Christmas markets we will be visiting. Enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas—and the unique handcrafted Christmas gifts—of the Christmas market before boarding your ship for lunch and afternoon departure. We sail into Koblenz just after dinner; join your Program Director for a guided walk through a fairy-lit seasonal wonderland. Remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 3Rüdesheim
This morning you sail along the most scenic stretch of the Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the river is lined with quaint towns and vineyards and castle after castle silently overlooks the river from its hilltop location. Arrive in Rüdesheim after lunch and ride a miniature train up the hill for a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, an amazing house filled with self-playing musical instruments. Return aboard for dinner as we cruise south along the Rhine. (B, L, D)
Day 4Strasbourg
Sail through more of the glorious Rhine landscape this morning, enjoying unforgettable views of the famous red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg castle along the way. Dock just after lunch in Kehl and proceed to Strasbourg for a canal tour through this multicultural city. After our canal cruise, we go to the Strasbourg Christmas Market. Located in front of the stunning Strasbourg Cathedral, it is the most extensive Christmas market in France, featuring special food and drink like gingerbread, spiced sausages and vin chaud (hot mulled wine) and delightful choir and Nativity performances. Dine aboard and enjoy free time in the quaint little city of Kehl, where we remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 5Baden-Baden
After breakfast we take an excursion to the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, located on the edge of the Black Forest and known for its healing waters as far back as the Roman empire. We encounter our third Christmas market in Baden-Baden, set against the backdrop of the gracious Kurhaus spa resort. The locals here love to celebrate the Advent period by sharing a glass of mulled wine and admiring their delightful “living crèche,” a life-sized Nativity scene complete with real lambs, sheep and fresh hay. Rejoin your ship in Kehl for lunch and scenic cruising. (B, L, D)
Day 6Alsace Wine Country
After breakfast, disembark for a morning tour of the beautiful Alsatian wine region—see the area’s mostly white grapes and visit a working winery. Return aboard for lunch and departure; enjoy the glorious Rhine scenery and twinkling holiday lights as evening falls. (B, L, D)
Day 7Mainz
Awaken in Mainz, a charming town located in the Rhine wine region once home to Johannes Gutenberg. Take a walking tour along the city’s crooked cobblestone streets between half-timbered houses to the Gutenbergplatz, where you see the statue of Gutenberg and the majestic Mainz Cathedral. Then, proceed to the Mainz Christmas Fair, the last of our Rhineland Christmas markets. Breathe in the scent of roasted almonds, hot chestnuts and gingerbread as you stroll through the historic market square, festooned with handmade Advent decorations, wooden toys, candles and much more. Return to your ship for lunch as we depart for Cologne. (B, L, D)
Day 8Cologne
After breakfast, disembark and we take you to the airport for your return flight.* (B)
The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
*Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises. Please note, Viking can only offer air to guests traveling from the U.S. or Canada.