Join a guided walking tour through Cologne’s Altstadt, threading past lively squares and riverside lanes to the city’s awe-inspiring Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Step inside to admire jewel-toned glass and the famed Shrine of the Three Kings, centerpiece of centuries of pilgrim devotion.

Learn how the cathedral took over six centuries to complete and survived wartime bombardment. Your guide reveals Roman roots, guild traditions, and the culture of Kolsch beer, as the twin spires command the skyline above the Rhine.

Explore with a local expert on a guided city walk through Koblenz’s cobbled lanes and handsome squares to the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle at the Deutsches Eck. Pause for sweeping river views and look across to the hilltop Festung Ehrenbreitstein, keeper of the city’s commanding position.

Discover Roman origins and medieval merchants’ houses decorated with timbered gables. Seasonal lights and evergreen garlands heighten the city’s wintry charm as you trace stories of emperors, electors, and river trade at the heart of the Rhineland.

Stroll into storybook Rudesheim to wander narrow lanes and half-timbered courtyards, including Rudesheim’s Drosselgasse, the town’s festive heart. Duck into cozy Weinstuben and perhaps sample Rudesheim coffee—flamed with Asbach brandy and crowned with cream—while vines from the Rhine-side vineyards stripe the hills above.

Hear how wine, river trade, and pilgrimage shaped the town’s fortune, and browse ornament-filled boutiques that glow with seasonal sparkle. A compact, charming center ensures plenty of atmosphere in every alley and archway.

Discover Strasbourg’s historic core on a guided walk across the Grande Île UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gaze up at the pink-sandstone Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, then meander canals and bridges into Petite France, where crooked, half-timbered houses lean over glistening water.

Feel the blend of French and German influences in architecture, dialect, and cuisine. From the storied Maison Kammerzell to the Great Christmas Tree on Place Kléber, Strasbourg’s festive streets brim with centuries of tradition and wintertime allure.

Visit one of Germany’s oldest cities on a guided exploration culminating at the mighty Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Step into the vast Romanesque nave and the serene crypt of the Salian emperors, whose marble tombs anchor a millennium of imperial history.

Wander past the neo-Gothic Gedächtniskirche and the Altportel city gate as your guide traces Speyer’s role in the Reformation and the Holy Roman Empire. Offered as an included choice on Christmas Eve, in place of Heidelberg’s tour.

Explore Heidelberg’s baroque lanes on a guided tour, taking in the romantic silhouette of Heidelberg Castle above the river. Cross the graceful Alte Brucke and admire church spires, student taverns, and elegant facades that reflect centuries of university life.

Hear how philosophers, poets, and princes shaped Germany’s oldest university town, with classic vantage points framing red roofs and wooded hills. Offered as an included choice on Christmas Eve, in place of Speyer’s tour.

Discover the “Pearl of the Rhine” on a guided tour through Boppard’s cobbled core, from the twin-towered St. Severus Church to the remarkably preserved Roman town walls. Boutique-lined alleys and timbered houses create a welcoming, small-town rhythm beside the river.

Stroll the Rheinallee promenade along a sweeping U-bend of the Rhine, where lights twinkle across the water and steep vineyards frame the scene. Your guide reveals Roman roots, medieval markets, and the enduring viticultural tradition.

Taste the season with a cozy onboard pairing as you sample Gluhwein and Stollen. Warm, spiced wine releases notes of citrus and clove, while the buttery loaf reveals marzipan, candied fruits, and almond. It’s a gentle, convivial ritual of winter cruising.

Your crew shares the stories behind these festive treats and how families across Germany celebrate with them. River scenery drifts by outside, adding a wintry backdrop to warming spices and cheerful conversation.

Celebrate in style at a beautifully set table for a Christmas Gala Dinner. Multiple courses showcase seasonal dishes and regional flavors, paired with attentive service and the glow of twinkling decorations for a truly festive ambience on the river.

Share toasts with fellow travelers as the ship provides a warmly lit, gently moving salon. It’s a refined evening that captures the generosity and conviviality of Christmas on the Rhine.

Gather in the lounge for a festive Christmas concert performed by professional singers, blending traditional carols and seasonal favourites with cherished melodies. A soprano and tenor bring warmth and resonance to the room as candle-soft lighting sets a serene mood.

Enjoy moments of quiet reflection and joyful sing-along refrains while winter landscapes slip past outside. This elegant performance deepens the holiday spirit with artistry and heart.

Enjoy an intimate classical performance by a professional duo, with string and piano works that echo the river’s poise. Expect works by Beethoven and his contemporaries rendered in a refined chamber-style setting ideal for close listening.

The program nods to the Rhine’s cultural lineage—Bonn’s famous son among them—while the ship’s calm ambience heightens nuance and tone. A cultured evening pairs perfectly with a nightcap and conversation.

Experience a lively Rhenish folklore show featuring accordion-bright tunes, humor, and audience camaraderie. Clap along to foot-tapping melodies as performers share regional songs and dance that celebrate Rhineland traditions and festive cheer.

Between stories and refrains, you’ll sense the warmth of local culture—good-natured, musical, and made for winter evenings. It’s spirited entertainment that brings the riverside tavern atmosphere on board.

Learn festive baking techniques during a hands-on Stollen-making demonstration. Watch the crew measure spices, knead spiced dough, and shape the marzipan seam before dusting everything in snowy sugar—an aromatic masterclass in Germany’s beloved Christmas loaf.

Hear how regional variations arose and why Stollen graces holiday tables across the country. Practical tips and tasting notes ensure you can recreate this centerpiece back home.

Ride the vineyard train as you ride the Winzerexpress road train to the Bromserhof and explore Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet. In this atmospheric mansion, marvel at orchestrions, barrel organs, and delicate music boxes—ingenious precursors to digital playback—within the historic Bromserhof.

This optional visit replaces the guided tour of Rudesheim. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to availability and minimum numbers.

Cruise the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley and cruise the Rhine Gorge, gliding beneath terraced vineyards and castle-topped crags toward the fabled Loreley Rock. From the deck, watch winter mists drift around Marksburg Castle and the mid-stream fortress of Pfalzgrafenstein at Kaub, while the river narrows and quickens between towering cliffs.

Hear tales of medieval tolls and river pilots as you savor brisk, fresh air and crisp seasonal views. This is the Rhine at its most dramatic—storied strongholds, steep slopes, and a landscape whose legends echo through every bend.