Christmas on the Rhine

Celebrate the Christmas season and discover the history and culture of Mannheim. Transfer by motor coach to the city center to explore the “Chessboard City” of Mannheim, famed for its grid-like layout dating back to the 17th century. Set out on a walk to see one of the city’s imposing landmarks, the Wasserturm (Water Tower), and discover the various districts and its oldest building, St. Sebastian Church. If you are lucky, you may hear the glockenspiel from the tower that rings three times a day. Immerse yourself in the yuletide season at the Christmas market and learn how advent was celebrated here in the past. Enjoy free time to browse for unique gifts as you relish in the festive scents and sounds of the colorful market stalls, before returning to your ship.

Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Christmas Market of Nations Set in the heart of the historic Old Town, the Rüdesheimer Weihnachtsmarkt features more than 120 vendor stalls representing the yuletide foods and traditions of 20 different countries. At the pier, board a mini-train to the Marktplatz, the epicenter of the vibrant holiday market that spreads through the Old Town’s cobblestone streets. Upon arrival, you will have time to revel in the season’s good cheer as you browse the many attractions while seasonal music and the aroma of regional delicacies fills the air. You may stop and try a mug of Rüdesheim’s favorite coffee made with a locally distilled Asbach Uralt brandy, or search for the perfect Christmas memento to take back home. Afterward, return to your ship by mini-train or explore independently and make your own way back.

Raise your glass and give a hearty “Prost!” to a delicious and fun evening. Despite its growing popularity, Rüdesheim has retained its small-town riverside charms. Nowhere is this more apparent than along the Drosselgasse, a narrow pedestrian way overflowing with wines and oom-pah-pah tunes. Visit one of the town’s oldest restaurants, whose proprietors keep another tradition alive—the earth-to-table approach to dining that brings the rich and varied flavors of their beloved Rheingau straight to your plate. During this evening excursion, board a mini-train to the 15th-century Drosselgasse. Take in the medieval atmosphere during a stroll past cozy wine bars and lively taverns, then sample the bounty of Germany’s Rheingau region during a festive meal. Enjoy a full-course dinner with traditional music, and try the local Schnapps vom Brett as a digestif.

Enjoy dinner in a former Cistercian monastery whose lush vineyards have produced wines for centuries. Drive to Kloster Eberbach, a monumental yet simple Romanesque and early Gothic monastery church renowned for its architectural heritage. Its vineyards have been maintained throughout its history, despite its secularization in 1803 and various incarnations since. Meet your host in the historic wine cellar, where grapes were once transformed into sweet Rieslings for centuries. Here, you will have the chance to sample some of the monks’ favorite wines. After, enjoy a guided tour of the church and the monks’ cloister, once strictly reserved for the use of ordained monks. Proceed to the restaurant, where you will enjoy a dinner prepared with the freshest ingredients from the Rhinegau. After a delicious meal in a hallowed setting, return to your ship.

Enjoy a delicious dinner of German specialties at the site of one of the Rheingau region’s most celebrated vineyards. Drive past gently rolling hills to Schloss Johannisberg, set amid Germany’s renowned wine-making region. Its vineyards skirt the estate’s grounds for acres and have been prolific for 900 years. Upon arrival, join your host for a tour through the vines, concluding in the estate’s wine cellar. Here, grapes grown on the grounds have been transformed into sweet Rieslings for centuries. You will have the chance to sample three of your host’s favorites and gain insight into the soil, climate and processing that produce the perfect glass. Proceed to the dining venue on the estate grounds overlooking the vineyards, where you will enjoy a meal prepared with the freshest ingredients from the Rheingau.

Discover Heidelberg, a town so steeped in charm that it stood at the center of the German Romantic movement. Join your guide for a drive to Heidelberg, then ascend to the majestic Heidelberg Castle, a treasure trove of Renaissance-era buildings. Built during the early 13th century, it was once the residence of the Palatinate monarchy. Descend into the Old Town for a walking tour to the turreted Heidelberg University. Along the way, pass a festive Christmas market, its vendors filling the Market Square with holiday cheer. See the school’s tower, where unruly boys were incarcerated for misdeeds, and the Red Ox tavern, where they boasted to their mates about their imprisonment. Share a special lunch with a group of modern-day students and hear their views on attending Germany’s oldest university. After, enjoy free time to browse the Christmas market, before returning to your ship.