Cruise Description

Discover timeless Christmas traditions in the heart of the Neckar Valley. Sitting on the banks of the Neckar River, Heidelberg hosts one of the most romantic Christmas markets in its historical center as its magnificent castle sits above. Mulled wine and cinnamon aromas will be your guide as you take in the holiday spirit. Each city shimmers in its best festive getups as they dance to Yuletide tunes.

Day 1
We will welcome you on our ship at 1:00 p.m. so that you can drop off your luggage before heading out on a panoramic tour at 2:00 p.m. to see the holiday decorations in Strasbourg and spend some free time at its famous Christmas markets. In the evening, passengers are welcome to (re)board at 6:00 p.m. After you’ve comfortably settled into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment on board. Our ship will begin to cruise to Mannheim. Our ship will cruise through the night.

Day 2
We’ll arrive in Mannheim, our starting point for the tour of Heidelberg and its castle. After a guided tour of the old town, enjoy some free time wandering through the local Christmas markets. Soak up the atmosphere, jump on the old-time carousel like a kid, enjoy the scrumptious food, and throw back a beer or sip on mulled wine*. After our tour, we’ll return on board in Heidelberg. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising the Neckar River towards Eberbach. We’ll pass by what the Germans call the “Romantic Four”. Enjoy some free time to stroll through the vibrant, inspiring town of Eberbach. Join us for dinner and an evening of entertainment.

Day 3
Full-day excursion included: Heilbronn (lunch included - approximately 2.5 hours of round-trip travel).You'll travel from Eberbach to Heilbronn, the wine capital of historic Wurtemberg—an ancient Imperial Free City sitting within beautiful forests and vineyards.During your stroll through downtown, you'll see the astronomical clock on the old City Hall in the market square; St. Kilian's Church and its Renaissance-style belfry; and the Deutschhof, an old monastery that now houses the city museums. At Christmastime, the city overflows with music and traditional spices such as aniseed and cinnamon. Enjoy browsing the decorated stands brimming with crafts and souvenirs around St. Kilian's Church, the City Hall, and the market square. We'll have lunch in a local restaurant.After the excursion, we'll return on board in Heidelberg. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please.

Day 4
We’ll spend the morning cruising. On arrival, join us for a tour of Speyer. The city is littered with impressive landmarks, including the UNESCO-listed cathedral and medieval ruins from the time when it was inhabited by one of the most important Jewish communities in Germany. Speyer also hosts a delightful and ethereal Christmas and New Year market on the famous Maximilianstrasse in front of the Alten Münze (Old Mint). Tonight is our festive gala evening. Our ship will begin to cruise to Strasbourg.

Day 5
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.