Christmas Markets Along the Rhine - Southbound 2021

8 days
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

River Cruise
Exclusive Tauck experiences, special holiday events, much yuletide cheer... and of course, Tauck's uncommon access ashore... set the tone for this holiday journey between Düsseldorf and Basel aboard ms Inspire!
From$2,890
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Travel along the Rhine for the holiday season
    • from Düsseldorf to Basel aboard ms Inspire
    • both perfect waysto capture all the magic of Christmas Marketsin Germany and France.Along with all the inclusions that are part of every Tauck river cruise
    • Tauck's Christmas market experience wows you with special holiday touches like an onboard tree-trimming party...glühwein and other treats aboard the riverboat
    • decorated in a festive seasonal theme... a traditional European Christmas dinner with all the fixings... special evenings of onboard holiday-themed entertainment... walking in the footsteps of celebrities at the Kurhaus casino in Baden-Baden... a lecture on Alsatian storytelling traditions in Strasbourg... a cookie-making demonstration and a visit to the fanciful Siegfried's Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rüdesheim... a traditional German lunch in Heidelberg and much more!

What's this trip about?

    Exclusive Tauck experiences, special holiday events, much yuletide cheer... and of course, Tauck's uncommon access ashore... set the tone for this holiday journey between Düsseldorf and Basel aboard ms Inspire!

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Düsseldorf, Germany
End CityBasel

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • France

Attractions

  • Heidelberg
  • Lucerne
  • Strasbourg

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Visits to Christmas Markets in Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden and Strasbourg All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors & Tauck Cruise Director All private Tauck shore excursions – $1,294 Value! Walking tours of market cities and towns with local guides Visits to Old Town Heidelberg and historic Heidelberger Schlöss (Heidelberg Castle)

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Köln

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Düsseldorf. 
Transfers are included from the Düsseldorf Airport and Düsseldorf Train Station to the ms Inspire, where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Guests enjoying a pre-stay in Düsseldorf at the Hotel Breidenbacher Hof will receive a transfer from the hotel to the riverboat. If you...
Day 2 Historic Köln

Travel back in time as you make your way along the River Rhine… Glide past rolling hillsides and see the magnificent castles of centuries past… each with its own unique story to tell… Your Tauck Director will give you insights into ...

Day 3 Music, sweet treats & more in Rüdesheim

Rüdesheim
- Holiday carols, children's laughter, carousels... the season's joyful noises reverberate across this little town on the Rhine as you browse the shops and stalls of its Weihnachtsmarkt, another Christmas Market tour standout, winding your way through its quaint cobblest...
Day 4 Discover the spirit of the holiday season in Heidelberg

Heidelberg
- With thousands of stars twinkling in the trees... hundreds of booths sprawling across five city squares... and an ice rink glistening in the shadow of Heidelberger Schlöss... you’ll think you’ve stepped inside a snowglobe at this shining Weihnachtsmarkt! Festooned with...
Day 5 Christmas in Baden-Baden & the Black Forest

Baden-Baden
- The Black Forest's special magic casts its spell over the Christmas Market of this famous spa town, set adjacent to its sumptuous Belle Èpoque casino complex - the Kurhaus - which screen icon Marlene Dietrich called "the most beautiful casino in the world." Cheered by ...
Day 6 A walking tour of Strasbourg and its Christmas Markets

Strasbourg
- Steaming mulled wine... gingerbread... Advent wreaths... a towering Christmas tree, dwarfed by soaring Strasbourg Cathedral... nearly every street and building aglow with lights and decorations... bredle, the tiny, traditional holiday cakes of Alsace... the unmistakabl...
Day 7 Lucerne & Mt. Pilatus at Christmastime

From the riverboat this morning, set off on a shore excursion to Switzerland's lakeside "City of Lights," Lucerne. On an orientation tour with your Tauck Director, highlights include the Kappelbrucke, a covered wooden footbridge cro...

Day 8 Journey home

Tour ends: Basel, Switzerland.
Transfers are provided from the riverboat to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or to Zürich Airport or Zürich Hauptbahnof (Zürich Central Train Station); guests enjoying a post-stay in Basel will receive a transfer from the hotel to the airport. Please allow three hours for airport check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Basel, Switzerland

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,890
Price per day$361
Last Updated: 5/15/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
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Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-RCY2021

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