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Rhine Christmas Markets
Trafalgar | 8 Days | Basel Düsseldorf
December 2026 & 2027 Departures
Sail through the heart of Europe on a festive journey along the Rhine. Explore storybook towns, twinkling Christmas markets and local traditions from Basel to Düsseldorf. With guided walks, seasonal tastes and optional adventures along the way, this river cruise blends cultural highlights with the magic of the holidays.
AAA Member Benefits and Special Offers:
- Member Benefits
- Up to $40 per person on-tour credit toward an optional excursion.
Call to Book
1-800-529-3222
Included With Your Trip
Dining
- On embarkation day, enjoy a welcome reception dinner with sparkling wine and a personal welcome from your Captain, Experience Director and Experience Manager
- Dinners on your first and last day on board feature a special menu
- Tea time during one special afternoon sailing
- Lunches and dinners include wine, beer, soft drinks, tea, coffee and water
- Farewell reception with sparkling wine
Activities
- Land experiences are guided by English-speaking Local Specialists and hosts
- Optional Experiences are available to complement and complete your travel experience
- Audio headset systems are provided on land guided tours
- Bicycles are available for on-land use at your leisure
Additional Information
Day 1: Welcome to Basel
Join your ship in Basel and settle in as your festive journey begins. Meet your Experience Director and Experience Manager, then relax and get to know your surroundings. Enjoy dinner on board and start soaking up the seasonal atmosphere of your Christmas market cruise.
Day 2: Get to Know Basel
Explore the Swiss city of Basel with a Local Specialist, discovering a mix of medieval architecture, riverside elegance and seasonal spirit. Wander through the Christmas market in the historic old town, filled with Swiss crafts, warming drinks and festive stalls beneath the spires of Barfüsserkirche. For those keen to see more, an Optional Experience to Lucerne reveals one of Switzerland’s most picturesque cities. See the Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument, stroll through the old town’s painted facades, and browse for classic Swiss souvenirs – from fine chocolate to precision watches.
Day 3: Sail to Strasbourg
Get to know Strasbourg on a walking tour with a Local Specialist. From half-timbered houses to the city’s soaring cathedral, the old town blends history with festive cheer. Explore the Strasbourg Christmas market, one of the oldest in Europe, known for its handcrafted ornaments and regional delicacies. If you’d like to venture further, choose an Optional Experience to sample wines at a local winery before exploring the Christmas markets of Obernai.
Day 4: Discover Speyer & Mannheim
Spend the day your way in Speyer. Join a Local Specialist for a walking tour through one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for its Romanesque cathedral and charming Christmas market. Or choose a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a visit to Doktorenhof, a private vinegar estate where centuries-old methods meet local passion. Taste artisan vinegars in candlelit cellars and learn how this family-run operation supports biodiversity and tradition. In the afternoon, you can opt to visit Mannheim. A city where grand 18th-century architecture meets a modern cultural scene. Join a guided walk through the city’s Baroque squares and see the impressive palace complex before exploring local shops and festive market stalls at your own pace.
Day 5: Explore Mainz and Rüdesheim
Enjoy a guided stroll through Mainz Christmas market with your Experience Manager and Experience Director – a chance to explore traditional stalls set against the backdrop of the city’s grand cathedral. Then join the Breuer family at their traditional weingasthaus for a Be My Guest experience featuring a lunch with seasonal dishes, local wine and live music. Climb aboard the Winzerexpress, a miniature train that winds through the vineyards and cobbled lanes of Rüdesheim. Travel past timber-framed houses dressed for the season as you ride from the old town to panoramic hilltop views. At the Rüdesheim Christmas Market, stalls showcase local crafts and festive treats from across Europe.
Day 6: Scenic Sailing Middle Rhine-Koblenz
Leave Rüdesheim behind this morning as the ship sails through the scenic Middle Rhine, passing castles and vineyard-covered hills. Get to know Koblenz with a Local Specialist who’ll guide you through the city’s old town and landmarks, including the Deutsches Eck, where the Rhine and Moselle meet. The Christmas market fills the streets with colour and tradition, perfect for browsing local treats and gifts.
Day 7: Discover Cultural Cologne
Explore Cologne’s old town on a walking tour with your Experience Director and Experience Manager. You’ll see the city’s famous cathedral and visit its Christmas markets, known for their regional crafts, hearty food and local traditions. There’s time to discover more on your own or join an optional visit to the Michael Schumacher Private Collection. Another option takes you behind the scenes of Cologne’s Kölsch beer culture. Back in the heart of the city, the markets offer plenty to experience – from seasonal snacks to local music and handmade gifts.
Day 8: Tschüss Düsseldorf
Your Christmas market cruise ends in Düsseldorf, where it’s time to say goodbye to your ship crew, Experience Director, Experience Manager and fellow guests. Disembark with festive memories, new friendships and a true taste of Europe’s holiday traditions.
Departure Dates
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Start: November 25, 2026 End: December 2, 2026 Price: $4,349 pp Price My Trip |
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Start: December 9, 2026 End: December 16, 2026 Price: $4,249 pp Price My Trip |
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Start: December 1, 2027 End: December 8, 2027 Price: $3,299 pp Price My Trip |
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Start: December 15, 2027 End: December 22, 2027 Price: $3,299 pp Price My Trip |
Price My Trip
Product Code: AAA-Trafalgar_LF
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