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Nov 29, 2008*
Dec 6, 2008
Dec 13, 2008*
Dec 20, 2008

2009 Departures
* Please call us to inquire about 2009 prices and itinerary details

Sunday, Nov 29, 2009*
Sunday, Dec 6, 2009
Sunday, Dec 20, 2009

River Queen

1-888-942-3301

Certain restrictions apply. All rates in U.S. dollars. Prices, savings offers, and other terms subject to change without notice. Images, logos, photographs etc. on this page is copyrighted by Uniworld. It is presumed to be accurate and is subject to change without notice.

Celebrate the holidays in three countries all on one unforgettable journey along the Rhine

Switzerland, France and Germany provide the perfect backdrop for this true connoisseur’s Christmas Markets’ cruise. Each day will be like unwrapping one beautiful gift after another all in a wonderful setting of the inescapable romantic spirit of the Rhine. Basel, Switzerland, is located exactly at the corners of three countries, Germany, France and Switzerland. Holiday festivities take place in this perfect traditional Swiss atmosphere of the historic Old Town. Christmas ornaments, tasty baked goods, bratwurst and spiced glühwein are plentiful and provide the ideal starting place for your cruise. A visit to Strasbourg will mesmerize you. This charming town clustered along narrow, winding lanes and quaint canals appears to have been lifted out of the pages of a Grimm’s fairy tale. It’s hard to believe, but this town becomes even more alive during the holidays with one of the oldest and largest Christmas Markets in France. As you sail the Rhine, especially the 40 miles along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you are in a winter wonderland with ancient fortresses, medieval castles and half-timbered villages.

The legacy of Germany’s holiday traditions lives on
Germany, where many of our signature holiday traditions began—Christmas trees, nutcrackers, gingerbread, candy canes and the legend of St. Nick—is certain to warm your heart and lift your spirits. Stroll through the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle and the city’s Christmas Market spanning five squares. You’ll be awed as you browse through the Christmas Market in Cologne located in front of the grand cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the streets of Mainz with over 2,000 years of history and home to Gutenberg’s printing press, and enjoy Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum with its unique collection of self-playing music instruments while in Rüdesheim. This cruise offers so much! The personality of each country shines even more brightly at this time of the year with its special holiday traditions. We invite you to share in the joy of the Christmas season and enter into a special festive mood as you sail along the Rhine through three wonderful countries.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Shoppers looking for unique and handcrafted gifts, as well as Christmas enthusiasts looking for origins of many traditions, including Christmas trees, nutcrackers, gingerbread, candy canes and St. Nick!

BASEL TO COLOGNE - 9 DAYS

DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Basel

DAY 2: Basel (embark)
Arrive in Basel where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D)

DAY 3: Basel
Featured Excursion: Basel walking tour and Christmas Markets. Irresistible Optional Tour: Half-day tour of Lucerne. Enjoy a walking tour through Basel. Delight in Basel’s Christmas Market in the heart of the historic Old Town and visit the illuminated Christmas Street, beautifully decorated with over 100 Christmas trees. And if you are looking for truly unique gifts, visit the shop of Johann Wanner with its array of elegant angels, ornaments, and glass-blown figurines. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)

DAY 4: Strasbourg
Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise and Christmas Markets. Irresistible Optional Tour: Alsatian wine road and wine tasting. Cruise through Strasbourg on a canal cruise, viewing Petite France, especially picturesque at this time of year. Visit the oldest Christmas Market in France, in a breathtaking setting right in front of Strasbourg’s gothic cathedral. (BB, L, D)

DAY 5: Speyer (Heidelberg), Mainz
Featured Excursion: Full-day Heidelberg including lunch at a local restaurant
Your guided tour includes a visit to the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle and a stroll through Old Town, capped by a lunch at a local Restaurant. You’ll have ample time to explore the Heidelberg Christmas Market spanning over five squares. Marvel at the Christmas Pyramid with figures from the city’s history rotating inside the tower at the Marktplatz, or take a ride on the nostalgic carousel turning merrily around at the Universitätsplatz. (BB, L, D)

DAY 6: Mainz, Rüdesheim
Featured Excursion: Mainz walking tour, Christmas Market, Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum. Our walking tour of downtown Mainz includes a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. After the museum, we will walk through Old Town and end up in the historic market square in Mainz. Stroll through the 200-year-old St. Nicholas Christmas Market with the 1,000-year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral as a backdrop. During the afternoon, we cruise from Mainz to Rüdesheim, where we will visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum, or we’ll visit the Christmas Market of the Nations along Rüdesheim’s most popular street, the Drosselgasse. (BB, L, D)

DAY 7: Rüdesheim, Cruising the Romantic Rhine, Koblenz
Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour and Christmas Market. Departing in the morning from Rüdesheim to Koblenz, you’ll sail along one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine River Valley, the scenic 40 miles of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once docked in Koblenz, your walking tour will take you through romantic alleys with half-timbered houses, decorated for the season. We’ll pass by St. Castor’s Church and the Church of Our Lady, and then we’ll proceed to the market square with the Schaengel Fountain and historic City Hall. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Koblenz Christmas Market. Delight in the dozens of wooden stands with arts and crafts, spicy mulled wine, and sweet Christmas cakes. (BB, L, D)

DAY 8: Cologne
Featured Excursion: Walking tour, Cathedral visit and Christmas Markets. Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town as you make your way to the cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. As Cologne boasts no less than five Christmas Markets, we have planned an entire day in this city for you to discover the markets at your own pace after the tour. Gaze at the biggest Christmas tree in Rhineland in front of the impressive setting of the cathedral. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner) Note: On Sundays and Catholic holidays, guided tours inside the cathedral will not be possible.

DAY 9: Cologne (disembark), transfer to airport
Disembark the ship in Cologne and transfer to Cologne Airport for your flight home.
 

COLOGNE TO BASEL - 9 DAYS 

DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Cologne

DAY 2: Cologne (embark)
Arrive in Cologne where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D)

DAY 3: Cologne
Featured Excursion: Walking tour, Cathedral visit and Christmas Markets. Stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town as you make your way to the cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. As Cologne boasts no less than five Christmas Markets, we have planned an entire day in this city for you to discover the markets at your own pace after the tour. Gaze at the biggest Christmas tree in Rhineland in front of the impressive setting of the cathedral. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner) Note: On Sundays and Catholic holidays, guided tours inside the cathedral will not be possible.

DAY 4: Koblenz, Cruising the Romantic Rhine, Rüdesheim
Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour and Christmas Market. Irresistible Optional Tour: Rüdesheim Dinner and entertainment. Your walking tour of Koblenz will take you through romantic alleys with half-timbered houses, decorated for the season. We’ll pass by St. Castor’s Church and the Church of Our Lady, and then we’ll proceed to the market square with the Schaengel Fountain and historic City Hall. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Koblenz Christmas Market. Delight in the dozens of wooden stands with arts and crafts, spicy mulled wine, and sweet Christmas cakes. Departing in the morning from Koblenz to Rüdesheim, you’ll sail along one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine River Valley, the scenic 40 miles of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BB, L, D)

DAY 5: Rüdesheim, Mainz
Featured Excursion: Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, Mainz walking tour and Christmas Market. In the morning, we will visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum, before cruising to Mainz. Our walking tour of downtown Mainz includes a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press. After the museum, we will walk through Old Town and end up in the historic market square in Mainz. Stroll through the 200-year-old St. Nicholas Christmas Market with the 1,000-year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral as a backdrop. (BB, L, D)

DAY 6: Speyer (Heidelberg)
Featured Excursion: Full-day Heidelberg including lunch at a local restaurant. Your guided tour includes a visit to the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle and a stroll through Old Town, capped by a lunch at a local Restaurant. You’ll have ample time to explore the Heidelberg Christmas Market spanning over five squares. Marvel at the Christmas Pyramid with figures from the city’s history rotating inside the tower at the Marktplatz, or take a ride on the nostalgic carousel turning merrily around at the Universitätsplatz. (BB, L, D)

DAY 7: Strasbourg
Featured Excursion: Strasbourg canal cruise and Christmas Markets. Irresistible Optional Tour: Alsatian wine road and wine tasting. Cruise through Strasbourg on a canal cruise, viewing Petite France, especially picturesque at this time of year. Visit the oldest Christmas Market in France, in a breathtaking setting right in front of Strasbourg’s gothic cathedral. (BB, L, D)

DAY 8: Basel
Featured Excursion: Basel walking tour and Christmas Markets. Irresistible Optional Tour: Half-day tour of Lucerne. Enjoy a walking tour through Basel. Delight in Basel’s Christmas Market in the heart of the historic Old Town and visit the illuminated Christmas Street, beautifully decorated with over 100 Christmas trees. And if you are looking for truly unique gifts, visit the shop of Johann Wanner with its array of elegant angels, ornaments, and glass-blown figurines. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

DAY 9: Basel (disembark), transfer to airport
Disembark the ship in Basel and transfer to Basel Airport for your flight home.

LUCERNE

Lucerne (pre- or post-optional extension)
Located on the lush shores of Lake Lucerne and framed by the awesome peaks of the Swiss Alps, Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most picturesque cities. Join us on an included exploration of this charming Swiss region. This is a perfect addition to your winter wonderland trip along the Rhine.

Included in your 3-day grand city stay:

• 2 nights at the First Class Monopol Hotel (or similar)

• Basel airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-ship transfers, or ship-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers

• Fully hosted by expert Uniworld representatives

• Breakfast daily

• Lucerne walking tour and Christmas Market

Only $499 per person
(single supplement $149)

Note: This extension is for cruises that begin or end in Basel.