Christmas on the Rhine with Uniworld

Fly in premium economy to Europe and enjoy a magical festive season with Christmas lights as the perfect backdrop, uncover the Christmas traditions in towns full of European charms.

Cruise Journey

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Itinerary
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Discover the roots of our Christmas traditions as you explore some of Europe’s most charming towns. Browse for unique ornaments in Basel’s Christmas Market. Sip vin chaud as you stroll to Place Kléber to behold the enormous, brilliantly lighted tree of Strasbourg. See how the baroque town hall of Koblenz is transformed into an Advent calendar and find unexpected treasures in the stalls clustered around Cologne’s magnificent cathedral.

Savor tantalizing once-a-year treats with Uniworld’s “Taste of Christmas” program, including gingerbread and warm spiced wine. Revel in brightly painted carousels and handmade ornaments, medieval squares illuminated by twinkling lights, life-sized Nativity figures, and joyful brass choirs. Sail through castle-strewn hillsides and visit charming towns decked in festive finery for a holiday season you will never forget.

Package Inclusions:

Switzerland, France and Germany provide the perfect backfrop for this true connoisseur's Christmas market cruise

Your Xmas Market holiday package includes:

Return premium-economy class flights from Sydney to Basel, returning from Cologne
7 night Uniworld River Cruise from Basel to Cologne visits Christmas Market in Switzerland
All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks & mineral water
Captain’s Welcome and Farewell receptions & Gala dinners
Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
Most transfers + more

** Travel date is: 16 December 2024

Highlights:

Visiting 3 countries: France, Germany, Switzerland
Visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites
Guided “Taste of Christmas” program

Upgrade Options

Want to make your trip even more enjoyable?

Optional Upgrades:
French Balcony from additional $1299 per person
Deluxe Balcony from additional $2599 per person

Looking for business class?
Upgrade from additional $5199 per person

Itinerary

16 DEC 2024 Sydney to Basel, Switzerland

Your magical trip starts when you arrive at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. You will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

17DEC2024 Basel

Basel is a cultural and artistic powerhouse, with all sorts of galleries, theaters, and museums. And at this time of year, the city’s Christmas Market draws visitors from all over Europe, as does its Christmas Street, lined with more than 100 beautifully decorated and illuminated Christmas trees. Do you have a special wish for Christmas? Write it in the Wish Book, which lies open in Basel’s 17th-century Town Hall during Advent, waiting for residents and visitors to express their hopes and dreams for the holiday—or for the world.

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

18DEC2024 Kehl (Strasbourg)

Strasbourg is invariably described as quaint, a rather overused word that in this case is perfectly apropos. It’s also been known as the “Crossroads of Europe” for its strategic location halfway between Paris and Prague. With a friendly local expert, see this historic town with its cobbled lanes, half-timbered homes, giant stork nests, and impossible-to-resist pastry shops that will win your heart. You won’t want to miss the holiday treats like bûche de Noël, the delicious Christmas cake made to look like a yule log.

19DEC2024 Mannheim (Baden-Baden)

Your ship left France behind and sailed into Germany during the wee hours of the morning. If you speak no German, here’s one phrase you might want to learn now: “Fröhliche Weihnachten,” or “Merry Christmas!” Today you’ll have two choices: Venture into the storied city of Baden-Baden, whose contemporary flair meshes with hot springs, spas, and unspoiled nature, or visit the Doktorenhof vinegar estate for a special vinegar tasting. The atmospheric cellar is like no other you’ll ever experience, and the candlelit tasting room is decked for the holidays.

20DEC2024 Mainz, Rüdesheim

Mainz’s Old Town brims with specialty shops tucked into lovingly restored buildings. You’ll find jewelry, leather goods, books, toys—something special for every special person on your list. Or opt to explore neighboring Wiesbaden’s Christmas Market. However you choose to spend your time in Mainz, you’ll head back to the ship for a short cruise to Rüdesheim, which, like many cities along the Rhine, dates back to Roman times, when the Rhine was the northern border of the empire. Today, Rüdesheim is famous for its beauty and its entertaining alley of shops and wine bars called the Drosselgasse.

21DEC2024 Cruising the Romantic Rhine River, Koblenz

Spend a spectacular morning onboard your luxurious boutique ship as you sail the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this stretch of the Rhine is extraordinarily picturesque: Castles perch atop steep cliffs above the water and each quaint village is marked by the spire of its historic church. After sailing past 40 miles (65 kilometers) of gorgeous scenery, you’ll reach the famous intersection of the Rhine and the Moselle. Here, where the two rivers meet, you’ll find the enchanting town of Koblenz. Watch the waters of the Moselle gush into the Rhine as you stand on the spit of land called German Corner before embarking on a walking tour of Koblenz’s historical treasures.

22DEC2024 Cologne

Your local expert will show you favorite haunts around the Old Town and share some of the cathedral’s most intriguing and magical secrets with you.

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

23DEC2024 Cologne - Sydney

Disembark the ship. You will be transferred to Cologne Bonn Airport for your flight home. End of this magical trip.

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions apply: All prices are quoted in Australian dollars, based on per person double occupancy unless stated otherwise, and inclusive of all taxes and discounts. All prices & itineraries are current as at 18 MAR 2024 & subject to change without notice. Prices are subject to change due to availability, currency fluctuations, dynamic pricing, fuel price, and tax increases. Price includes any stated bonus nights, upgrades & package savings, if applicable. All passports, visas, travel permits, and vaccinations are the responsibility of the travelling passenger to secure prior to travel. Airfares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice, based in premium economy class from SYD and are subject to the carriers' flight schedules and conditions, aircrafts for flight within Europe may not have premium economy class available which in this case, economy class will be provided by the operator, Please call us for prices from other airports. Travel packages advertised may include multiple products provided by several suppliers to provide a travel itinerary. Each component of the package will be treated independent of each other, and the specific terms & conditions of each product supplier will apply. Hotels may charge resort fees, or a security bond not included or mentioned in this package, payable direct upon check-in. Package based on Classic Stateroom with a riverview.