Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive at the airport and get picked up for transfer to your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. Once on board, spend the afternoon walking through Amsterdam's cobbled streets and checking out the iconic gabled houses at your own pace. This evening, head to dinner with the other guests on the ship.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner on board with fellow guests)
Included Activities
- Explore Amsterdam's canals and narrow cobbled streets at leisure
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canal System 
- Day 2
Amsterdam
Board a glass-top canal boat and see the UNESCO World Heritage canal system, passing historic merchant houses from the Dutch Golden Age. After that, wander through the Christmas stalls scattered around the city where you can grab hot mulled wine and festive treats.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Glass-top canal boat tour of Amsterdam's UNESCO World Heritage canal system
Optional Activities
- Dutch Delights (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canal System 
- Day 3
Cologne
In Düsseldorf, check out several Christmas markets including the Fairytale Market, Handwerker Market, and Shadowmarket. Later you'll sail toward Cologne and spend time walking through its Christmas markets at your own pace, finding stalls set up beneath the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Düsseldorf with Christmas market visit
- Düsseldorf city tour with Christmas markets
- Cologne Christmas markets visit
Optional Activities
- German Beer Experience (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral - Day 4
Koblenz
Join a local guide to explore Koblenz's cobbled squares and narrow streets, with vineyards and snow-topped mountains surrounding the city. Before visiting the Christmas market, you'll attend an EmeraldPLUS lecture covering Christmas traditions across Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation walk of Koblenz with Christmas market visit
- EmeraldPLUS lecture - Christmas traditions in Europe
Optional Activities
- Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
- Day 5
Heidelberg
Take a guided tour through Heidelberg's history, seeing the castle ruins that overlook the Rhine River and the red-roofed skyline. You'll walk down the cobbled Old Town streets and pass by the Church of the Holy Spirit and Germany's oldest university, then head to the Christmas market.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Heidelberg with visit to Heidelberg Castle ruins
- Walking tour of Old Town including Church of the Holy Spirit
- Heidelberg Christmas market visit
Landmarks/POIs Heidelberg Castle Church of the Holy Spirit - Day 6
Strasbourg
Leave the ship in Kehl and take a coach to Strasbourg in France's Alsace region. A guide will show you the UNESCO World Heritage Grande Île with its medieval half-timbered buildings, old tanning houses, and canal system. After that, visit the Christmas market to try traditional Alsatian treats.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Kehl to Strasbourg
- Guided tour of Strasbourg including Grande Île
- Strasbourg Christmas market visit
Optional Activities
- Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Grande Île - Day 7
Black Forest
Stop in Breisach, a Rhine town that opens up to Germany's Black Forest region. You'll take a scenic drive through the Black Forest Highlands to the Hofgut Sternen complex at Ravenna Gorge's foothill, a place where Marie Antoinette visited in 1770. Visit the Christmas market set beneath the 40-metre-high Ravenna Viaduct.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Breisach with Christmas market visit
- Scenic drive through Black Forest Highlands
- Visit to Hofgut Sternen complex
- Guided visit to Christmas market at Ravenna Viaduct
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Ravenna Viaduct - Day 8
Basel
After breakfast, say goodbye to your fellow guests and the Star-Ship, then transfer to the airport. You'll head home with memories of the quintessential German villages and the festive spirit of Christmas along the Rhine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
