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Christmas Markets of the Rhine

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20252026
5 days From £1,199 £899 per person
4.4 stars(142 reviews)
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Experience a Christmas cruise along the Rhine, indulging in the landscapes of the Rhine Gorge and exploring festive markets in towns and cities like Rüdesheim and Koblenz

Save £300pp

Save £300pp on River Cruise 2025 and selected 2026 holidays, when you book by 31st January 2025.

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2025 Tour code: RLM26

About the tour

Feel the spirit of Christmas on this cruise along the beautiful Rhine. Discovering Germany at the most magical time of the year we stop at traditional Christmas markets along the way. Strolling through the stalls, admire the craftsmanship of local artisans and savour the flavours that define the season.

On board, soak up the natural beauty of the Rhine landscapes and enjoy festive treats, from traditional German delicacies to international Christmas favourites. Join us in a celebration of festive cheer on this five-day cruise.

Unforgettable experiences

Exploring Rhine Christmas markets
Exploring Rhine Christmas markets
Soak up the festive atmosphere and Christmas markets of Cologne, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, and Bonn, visiting town squares and indulging in the scents and tastes of Christmas.
Spending time in Koblenz
Spending time in Koblenz
Enjoy a visit to the historic city of Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, to discover its sights and festive markets.
Touring Bonn
Touring Bonn
Explore the city of Bonn, the famous birthplace of Beethoven, as we wander its picturesque streets.
Gingerbread demonstration
Gingerbread demonstration
Take part in a gingerbread baking demonstration and take home the skills to recreate Christmas magic in your own kitchen.
Celebrating with mulled wine
Celebrating with mulled wine
Sip on a glass of mulled wine while festive carols fill the air aboard our ship, creating a perfect blend of warmth and merriment.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – To Cologne to board our luxurious ship

We meet at St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Brussels, continuing by train to Cologne. Here, we board our luxurious cruise ship, which is bedecked in Christmas finery. We enjoy a welcome cocktail on board ahead of dinner. Tonight we set sail upstream through the lower Rhine towards charming Rüdesheim.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – The enchanting Rhine Gorge and delightful Rüdesheim

We sail through the landscapes of the Rhine Gorge during breakfast this morning. Relax and soak up views of centuries-old castles, emerald forests, and the legendary Lorelei rock, which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. This monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, and we hear of them as we sail by.

This afternoon, we arrive in the town of Rüdesheim, famous for its white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety. Unique Christmas markets are found in the town's historic centre and offer a variety of goods from across 12 nations.

You have time to wander amongst the stalls shopping for gifts, or maybe sample a Rüdesheim Coffee, made with local Asbach Uralt Brandy and served with whipped cream. You could stroll along the Drösselgasse, a vibrant street in the Old Town lined with half-timbered houses, quaint shops, and wine bars.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Picturesque Koblenz

We leave Rüdesheim behind this morning to set sail for Koblenz. Cruising back through the enchanting Rhine Gorge, we enjoy a gingerbread making demonstration in the lounge.

On arrival in Koblenz, enjoy time at leisure in this historic city. You could admire the Deutsches Eck, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Alternatively, explore the Christmas markets or visit one of the popular taverns.

We enjoy a highlight of our holiday this evening - a Christmas-themed gala dinner on board. We can choose between two delicious menus: one with traditional German food, including duck consommé, braised goose leg, and pear and marzipan strudel. The other menu is traditional British food, including roast turkey, pigs in blankets, and, of course, Christmas pudding with brandy butter.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Vibrant Bonn and cultural Cologne

During a relaxed breakfast, we set sail for Bonn, the birthplace of the world-renowned composer, Ludwig van Beethoven. On arrival, we step back in time with a guided tour of the history-filled streets. We see the Beethoven monument and lovely Hofgarten Park. We continue to the Minster - one of Germany's oldest churches - beneath which are Bonn's lovely Christmas markets.

The markets are delightful, casting the city in the golden glow of fairy lights. In December the town hall is transformed into an enormous Advent Calendar with a different window lit up each day throughout the month.

Back on board, we enjoy lunch as we sail back to Cologne. This afternoon, we enjoy a delightful Christmas-themed afternoon tea, sampling festive classics including mince pies, stollen, gingerbread, pigs in blankets, turkey and stuffing sandwiches, and of course, mulled wine.

On arrival in Cologne, you have free time to enjoy Cologne's magnificent markets. There are seven to choose from, each with a unique character, however the most popular is the Cathedral Christmas Market. This market has a dramatic backdrop of Cologne's Gothic Cathedral and hosts around 160 festive stalls, selling everything from charming wood-carved gifts to delicious local delicacies.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Homeward bound

After breakfast this morning, our cruise comes to an end and we make our way to the railway station. We continue by rail to Brussels and join the Eurostar to London St Pancras, where our festive holiday ends.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Train

Eurostar

Ships

MS Amadeus Riva
MS Amadeus Nova

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London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.4 stars4.4 / 5 · 142 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (90)
  2. 4 stars
    (36)
  3. 3 stars
    (9)
  4. 2 stars
    (3)
  5. 1 star
    (4)

Mr Reese

4 stars

Submitted 22/Dec

Initially we had to travel from Brussels to Cologne by coach which took 5.5 hrs with only 1 comfort stop for 1/2 hour. Also the coach driver locked the on board toilet. On 2 occasions the boat moved without any communication whilst we were on shore. Every time the cruise director made an announcement he also mentioned gratuities which became very tedious. If I want to give any gratuities I will make the decision by myself without being reminded constantly. Rhudesheim an Rhine Christmas market was a big disappoint more a very tacky seaside. Koblenz was a lot of very small markets spread all over the city also no directions from the ship .Bonn was a great market but we only had 3 hours to explore a very large market where the other disappointing markets we had a whole day. Colgne market was apparently only 10 minutes from the ship but it took us 25 minutes to arrive on a public holiday which nobody mentioned to a very very crowded market which caused a couple of people to have panic attacks. The cabin and the waiting staff were extremely helpful. Overall the food was excellent apart from a very bad evening meal on the Friday night

Collected by Trustpilot

Pauline

4 stars

Submitted 22/Dec

Lovely cruise with fantastic staff. The ship was comfortable, very festive and the food excellent. Felt the itinerary could have been better as would have liked longer in Cologne. Getting there at 4pm on a Sunday when it was so busy was nit ideal.

Collected by Trustpilot

K Jenkins

2 stars

Submitted 20/Dec

The trip was underwhelming and the amount of information provided on the location of the Christmas markets in each town was seriously lacking. The cruise line accommodations and meals were okay.

Collected by Trustpilot

John Bass

3 stars

Submitted 19/Dec

Many of the stalls only served food and drinks. Some issues on board although restaurant food and service was excellent.

Collected by Trustpilot

L Draper

5 stars

Submitted 19/Dec

An enjoyable holiday and the ship was excellent. The Eurostar delay and change in travel arrangements due to a derailment in Germany , though disappointing, was beyond Great Rail’s control . However I am not happy that I did not receive a reply to the email I sent concerning the change that was made to our cabin , and as one or two others have said this is not good PR.

Collected by Trustpilot

James

4 stars

Submitted 19/Dec

Markets were great, ship and staff the same. Coach transfers from Brussels to Cologne and return rather than train was not great.

Collected by Trustpilot

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