Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll meet your group at Amsterdam airport and transfer to the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. Once you're settled into your cabin, spend the afternoon wandering through Amsterdam's canal streets on your own schedule. The evening brings everyone together for dinner on board with your fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner on board with fellow guests)
Optional Activities
- Explore narrow-cobbled streets and gabled houses of Amsterdam
- Day 2
Amsterdam
This morning you'll board a glass-top canal boat that takes you through Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal network, where you'll pass historic merchant houses dating back to the Dutch Golden Age. The afternoon opens up for checking out Christmas markets scattered throughout the city, with festive decorations, mulled wine, and holiday treats available everywhere.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Glass-top canal boat tour of Amsterdam's UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system
Optional Activities
- Browse Christmas stalls and markets
- Purchase festive foods and seasonal treats
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canal System - Day 3
Cologne
You'll travel to Cologne and join a guided tour through the Old Town with its winding streets and historic architecture. After that, seven different Christmas markets await your exploration, transforming the city into a winter celebration. Around the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, you can try traditional glühwein and browse seasonal goods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cologne's Old Town
Optional Activities
- Wander Christmas markets at leisure
- Visit ornate stalls beneath Cologne Cathedral
- Purchase souvenirs and seasonal treats
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral 
- Day 4
Koblenz
A local guide leads you through Koblenz's cobbled squares and narrow streets to help you get oriented. You'll head to the German Corner where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet, where panoramic views show off the Rhine valley with its vineyards and snow-capped mountains in the distance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Koblenz including German Corner and Rhine confluence
Optional Activities
- Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs German Corner (Deutsches Eck) - Day 5
Heidelberg
During your guided tour of Heidelberg, you'll see the castle ruins that overlook the Rhine River and the city's red-roofed skyline. Walking through the Old Town's cobbled streets, you'll pass the Church of the Holy Spirit and Germany's oldest university, with plenty of time to take in the rich history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Heidelberg including Heidelberg Castle ruins and Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Heidelberg Castle Church of the Holy Spirit - Day 6
Strasbourg
You'll travel by coach from Kehl to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. A guided tour takes you through Grande Île with its UNESCO-listed medieval half-timbered buildings and old tanning houses connected by charming canals. Later, you can wander through Christmas markets selling traditional German treats and holiday goods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Kehl to Strasbourg
- Guided tour of Strasbourg including UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grande Île
Optional Activities
- Visit Christmas markets
- Shop for presents and stocking-fillers
- Sample traditional German Christmas treats
Landmarks/POIs Grande Île 
- Day 7
Black Forest
After arriving in Breisach, a scenic drive takes you through the Black Forest Highlands to the Hofgut Sternen complex at Ravenna Gorge. The Christmas market at the 40-metre-high Ravenna Viaduct offers Black Forest specialties and handcrafted regional products, giving you a real sense of local craftsmanship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Breisach
- Guided visit to the Christmas Market at Ravenna Viaduct
Optional Activities
- Scenic drive through Black Forest Highlands
Landmarks/POIs Ravenna Viaduct Hofgut Sternen - Day 8
Departure
You'll have breakfast on board and then say goodbye to your fellow guests and the Star-Ship before transferring to the airport. You're heading home with memories of German villages, Christmas markets, and your time on the Rhine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
