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Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise (Germany), a cruise by Riviera Travel

Cruise · 7 nights · with Riviera Travel

Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise

A seven-night Riviera Travel cruise aboard MS Emily Brontë winding through the festive markets and historic towns of the Rhine from Cologne to Strasbourg and back.

Duration
7 nights
Departures
2 dates
Choose a month below
Sails from
Cologne
Returns to the same port
Ship
MS Emily Brontë
From
£2,279
per person, sharing

Highlights

What makes this one worth it

  1. Cruise through the Rhine GorgeWith views of ruined castles

  2. Christmas markets in Rüdesheim and Strasbourg

  3. Guided tours of Koblenz, Speyer or Heidelberg, Boppard and Strasbourg

  4. Festive folk and classical music performances on board

About the trip

Set sail on MS Emily Brontë, a floating hotel decorated for the season, as it cuts a path along the Rhine from Cologne. The journey begins with a gentle cruise to Koblenz, a city where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet beneath a fortress and timber-framed houses. There's a Rhenish folklore show on board to start the festive atmosphere early.

One of the cruise's unique features is its passage through the Rhine Gorge, where steep vineyard-covered slopes rise sharply, dotted with ruined castles like the one perched on Loreley Rock. Rüdesheim offers narrow streets, gingerbread bakeries and local brandy coffee in intimate cafes. Christmas Day is spent in Strasbourg, where twisted medieval alleys are aglow with lights and the stunning gothic cathedral dominates the skyline.

Other stops include Speyer or Heidelberg on Christmas Eve, with options to explore historic churches or university town streets, and Boppard on Boxing Day, a medieval town ringed by Roman walls. The voyage concludes in Cologne, where the tour includes a visit to the majestic twin-spired cathedral. Riviera Travel's well-trained crew oversee this relaxed exploration of the Rhine's festive charm.

49°N50°N51°N
The route in outline: places are joined in the order visited, not by the roads or sea lanes taken.
  1. 1 Cologne
  2. 2 Koblenz
  3. 3 Rüdesheim am Rhein
  4. 4 Speyer
  5. 5 Heidelberg
  6. 6 Strasbourg
  7. 7 Boppard

Itinerary

The route, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Cologne

  2. Day 2

    Koblenz

  3. Day 3

    Rhine Gorge

  4. Day 4

    Rüdesheim

  5. Day 5

    Speyer or Heidelberg on Christmas Eve

  6. Day 6

    Strasbourg on Christmas Day

  7. Day 7

    Boppard on Boxing Day

  8. Day 8

    Cologne

When to go

Departures and prices

Lowest price each month, per person.

Riviera Travel confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.

Need to know

Before you book

Price based on
Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
Travelling alone
Check with Riviera Travel
Flights
Not needed if you join at Cologne
What’s included
Check with Riviera Travel
Accessibility
Check with Riviera Travel

For full details of what’s included, check with Riviera Travel. See the full details on their site

Questions people ask

How long is Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise?
Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise is a 7 nights cruise holiday.
Where does Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise depart from?
Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise departs from Cologne.
Who operates Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise?
Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise is operated by Riviera Travel aboard MS Emily Brontë.
How much does Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise cost?
Prices for Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise start from £2,279, subject to availability.

The operator

Riviera Travel

River cruises and escorted tours

A British operator that began in 1984 with a handful of tents in the south of France. Its tours and river cruises travel with a Riviera tour manager or cruise director looking after the group.

You book with Riviera Travel directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.

New to Germany? Our Germany guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

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