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2025

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2026

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2027

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Who is travelling?

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

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From
$7,196
NZ $5,710 per person

Rhine Christmas Markets 2026 - 8 Days (9 destinations)

8 days
From Zurich to Amsterdam
4.3
42 traveler reviews
From
$7,196
-21%
NZ $5,710 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
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2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
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Plan your adventure:
River Cruise
Scenic waterways and effortless exploration
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 10 - 50
Ages 12+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Zurich to Basel

    You'll arrive in Zurich and head to Basel to board your Scenic Space-Ship. After meeting the crew, there's a welcome reception this evening to get your cruise started.

  2. Day 2

    Basel to Breisach

    Start with breakfast in your suite and enjoy butler service throughout the day. The ship cruises to Breisach on the Rhine, where you can either check out Colmar's Christmas Markets or head to Freiburg to see the festive decorations and historic cathedral.

    Meals
    Breakfast (Breakfast in Crystal Dining)

    Included Activities

    • Breakfast in Crystal Dining

    Optional Activities

    • Guided tour of Colmar with Christmas Markets
    • Guided tour of Freiburg Christmas with Markets and 13th Century Freiburg Cathedral
    Landmarks/POIs
    Freiburg Cathedral
  3. Day 3

    Strasbourg

    A guided walking tour takes you through Strasbourg's mix of French and German influences. You'll see the cathedral, walk through the charming Petit France district, and explore Grand Ile to get a sense of the architecture from different centuries.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided walking tour of Strasbourg including cathedral, Petit France and Grand Ile
    Landmarks/POIs
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    Petit France
    Grand Ile
  4. Day 4

    Mannheim to Heidelberg

    The ship docks in Mannheim, known for its grid-like layout and industrial history. You can take an orientation tour with free time in Heidelberg, or go for a deeper historical tour that includes Heidelberg Castle. If you're interested, there's an optional classical concert at Bruchsal Palace in the evening.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Orientation tour of Heidelberg with free time
    • Historical tour of Heidelberg including Heidelberg Castle, courtyard, balcony viewpoint, and world's largest Wine Barrel
    • Private Classical Concert at Bruchsal Palace with welcome drink
    Landmarks/POIs
    Heidelberg Castle
    Bruchsal Palace
  5. Day 5

    Rüdesheim

    Arriving in Rüdesheim, you'll notice the steep vineyards surrounding the town. A mini-train takes you to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum where there are over 350 self-playing instruments from the 1700s and 1800s. After that, you have free time to wander around town.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Mini-train ride from pier to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
    Landmarks/POIs
    Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
  6. Day 6

    Rhine Gorge to Cologne

    Early morning brings views of the Rhine Gorge with its vineyards and old castles passing by. You'll arrive in Cologne for a walking tour of the Cathedral and the Christmas Markets. The ship doesn't leave until after dinner, so you'll have time to soak in the holiday atmosphere.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Cruise through Rhine Gorge
    • Walking tour of Cologne including Cologne Cathedral and Christmas Markets
    Landmarks/POIs
    Cologne Cathedral
  7. Day 7

    Düsseldorf

    Docking early in Düsseldorf lets you experience the Christmas markets with mulled wine and holiday decorations. A local guide leads a walking tour to explain the holiday traditions, then you have free time to explore the Old Town and browse the Konigsallee market stalls.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Walking tour of Düsseldorf with local guide
  8. Day 8

    Amsterdam Departure

    After breakfast, you'll transfer from Amsterdam to the airport for your flight home, bringing your European Christmas cruise to a close.

    Meals
    Breakfast
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What's Included

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  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

Number of tours

756

Age Range

12 to 99 years old

Response time

within 2 days

Response rate

92%

Scenic Tours are renowned as being the premiere European river cruise company...

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Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Ship

Customer Reviews

  • Christine
    · August 22nd, 2025
    It really was an excellent cruise and I enjoyed it immensely. The only comment I would make is the act that all alcohol and excursions are obviously factored into the cost and personally I don't drink very much and am unable to participate in any excursion that involve walking a distance. I would like to think I would be able to go on another cruise but perhaps pay for any drinks and excursions.
    Show more
  • CHYE
    · October 10th, 2023
    Overall Good. Staff service was generally excellent. F&B was good. Excursions could be improved.
    Show more
  • Michaeljohnson
    · October 24th, 2022
    April was amazing all the knowledge of the places we visited. A credit to the ship nothing was too much trouble lots of fun. Thank you
    Show more

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

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Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
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Ends on 12 Nov, 2025
  • -21%
    From Tuesday
    24 Nov, 2026
    To Tuesday
    1 Dec, 2026
    English
    From:
    $7,196
    NZ $5,710 per person
    Multiple Room Types
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    • Free eSim with every purchase

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From
$7,196
-21%
NZ $5,710 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 330221

  • Currencies
    Euro
    France, Germany and Netherlands
    Fr.
    Swiss Franc
    Switzerland
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from New Zealand you will need an adaptor for type J.

    Type J
    Switzerland
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Germany and Switzerland. Ideally 6 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before February 4th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after February 4th, 2026, a minimum payment of $1,000 is required to confirm your booking with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec