Christmas Markets Along the Rhine - Southbound 2025

8 days
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4.4/5 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$3,990
See departure dates

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!

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

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 – $1,536 Value! Walking tours of market cities and towns with local guides Visits to Old Town Heidelberg and historic Heidelberger Schlöss (Heidelberg Castle) *Please note: Operating dates for the Christmas Markets could be subject to change; every effort will be made to visit as scheduled.

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Köln

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Düsseldorf. 
Transfers are included from the Düsseldorf Airport and Düsseldorf Train Station to the riverboat where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Guests enjoying a pre-stay in Düsseldorf at The Steigenberger Icon Parkhotel will receive a transfer from the hotel to the riverboat. If ...
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 ...

Please Note: 

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. Head out for the heights of Mt. Pilatus via gondola to enjoy spectacular views of the city and Lake Lucerne; after de...

Day 8 Journey home

Tour ends: Basel, Switzerland.
Fly home anytime. Upon disembarking the riverboat (no later than 9:00 AM), transfers are included to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Basel's SBB train station; guests can also transfer to Zürich Airport or Zurich Hauptbahnhof (train station). Please allow 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Basel, Switzerland

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,990
Price per day$499
Last Updated: 11/13/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
30 Nov 2025
08 Dec 2025
$4,190
$4,190
$5,690
14 Dec 2025
22 Dec 2025
$3,990
$3,990
$5,490

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.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.4/5  Great
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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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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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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
MS INSPIRE
MS INSPIRE Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Inspire cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Rhine and Moselle rivers as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open
MS INSPIRE
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
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-RCY2025

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