Zurich - Lucerne & Christmas Markets on the Rhine

You will be transferred from the airport to the city of Zurich, one of the most beloved cities in Switzerland. After settling to your hotel, you will be able to explore the city at leisure, perhaps taking in its delightful lakeside setting or strolling around its multiples small Christmas stalls and markets. Included is a restful one-night stay in Zurich.

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Zurich before you are transferred to Lucerne, an area known for its spectacular natural setting. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city which becomes even more charming during the Christmas season! Get yourself immersed into the many lights and handicrafts which decorate the old town and end the day at the small Christmas markets where mulled wine and other typical Christmas treats are yours to enjoy.

Included Excursion
A guided tour of Zurich

Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture, sits amid snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Altstadt (Old Town) is bordered on the north by 870m Museggmauer (Musegg Wall), a 14-century rampart. The covered Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), built in 1333, links the Aldstadt to the Reuss River's right bank.

The awe-inspiring natural beauty enveloping Lucerne is a true delight, and yours to discover today during a guided tour of this small city. Lucerne effortlessly reflects what most people imagine when they think of a Swiss city, with a backdrop of snow-capped mountain ranges and tree-lined boulevards cutting through the city centre. Enjoy learning about the history of Lucerne as you visit the well-preserved medieval Altstadt, Chapel Bridge and the octagonal Water Tower.

Included Excursion
A guided tour of Lucerne

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Train & cable car ride to Rigi – Weggis (extra expense)

After breakfast, journey by coach through idyllic landscapes as you carve a course to the Rhine-side town of Basel. When you arrive, you will be able to board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you. This evening, join your fellow guests for dinner on board.

Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the Swiss, French and German borders. It is located on the bend of the River Rhine and benefits from a Mediterranean climate. It is the third most populated city in Switzerland and has been the commercial hub for Swiss arts and culture since the Renaissance. In 1967 the people of Basel voted to acquire two paintings by Picasso, who was so moved by the Basel people that he donated 3 paintings and a study to the city's Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Arts). Visit the Augusta Raurica, one of the largest Roman archaeology parks in Switzerland, and enjoy a river crossings over the River Rhine by non-motorised ferries. During the summer months, time is spent outdoors, either swimming in the River Rhine, dining al fresco, enjoying open air concerts, cinema, street parties and festivals. Basel is home to over 20 restaurants that have won GaultMillau or Michelin awards, and boasts Switzerland's largest collection of theatre shows, including modern contemporary dance, touring and puppetry theatre.

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Rhine town of Breisach. Entrenched between two countries, it’s also known as the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive through the Black Forest Highlands on your way to the Hofgut Sternen complex located at the foothill of Ravenna Gorge, a place where history and tradition merge. It was here that in 1770 Marie Antoinette stopped with 52 beautifully decorated carriages on the way to her wedding to King Louis XVI.

As part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, you’ll also have the chance to see the postcard-worthy Christmas market situated underneath the 40-metre-high Ravenna Viaduct. Be amazed by the magical aroma of Black Forest specialties and unique handcrafted regional products sold there.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Breisach

EmeraldPLUS
Guided visit to the Christmas Market at Ravenna Viaduct

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Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)

This morning, we’ll dock in Kehl, and you’ll be transferred by coach across the river to Strasbourg, the storied capital of France’s Alsace region. Your guided tour of Strasbourg will include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grande Île, the historical centre of the city, known for its medieval half-timbered buildings, old tanning houses, Baroque sandstone buildings and charming canal system. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of its most charming Christmas markets, where you can enjoy traditional Alsatian Christmas treats and shop for presents and stocking-fillers.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Strasbourg and visit to the Christmas Markets

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Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)

From the first minute, the French Strasbourg enchants with colorful half-timbered idyll, Wilhelminian splendor architecture,new trendy neighborhoods and exciting museums. Even a short visit has a long-term effect thanks to the many inspirations! In the picturesque district of La Petite France, the moment can be enjoyed perfectly with a tarte flambée, before the imposing cathedral with stained glass windows and archways invites you to travel back in time to the Gothic period. Those who are free from giddiness should definitely take the 332 steps up to the viewing platformhere to see the Vosges and the Black Forest in the distance.

Your guided tour of Heidelberg’s rich history includes a visit to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, which overlooks the Rhine River and a red-roofed skyline. Some of the most successful painters of the Romantic era drew inspiration from Heidelberg Castle, including British artist William Turner, who depicted images of the ruins in several of his paintings. Afterwards, stroll down the cobbled streets of the Old Town, touching on the Church of the Holy Spirit and the oldest university in Germany.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Heidelberg

Today, we’ll take you into the heart of Koblenz, an ancient city pulled from the pages of a German fairy tale. Enjoy the picturesque backdrop of vineyards and snow-topped mountain ranges as your local guide takes you through open cobbled squares and down narrow streets.

Included Excursion
Orientation walk of Koblenz

EmeraldPLUS
Christmas traditions in Europe lecture

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Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)

We sail towards Cologne, where you’ll have the opportunity to wander the markets at your leisure, perhaps visiting the ornate stalls beneath the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral, where you can drink traditional glühwein out of beautifully decorated mugs. In the afternoon, you will have the chance to visit Duesseldorf and its many Christmas markets, each having its unique name and personality – such as the Fairytale Market, the Handwerker (hand maker) Market and the Schadowmarket where any present wish could easily be fulfilled and more. All of that with a Christmas scent of roasted almonds and hot mulled wine floating in the air.

Included Excursion
Cologne Christmas markets & beer experience

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Duesseldorf with Christmas Market visit

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Cologne Christmas market & beer experienceb (extra expense)

Rhenish lifestyle between tradition and modernity - Düsseldorf inspires with diversity! Here art and culture lovers get just as enthusiastic as shopping enthusiasts, here the Media Harbor impresses with contemporary architecture as well as the historic Old Town. The old town makes Düsseldorf with more than 250 cozy pubs to the "longest bar in the world". The traditional Altbier is not the only tasty thing here! A stroll along the Königsallee, the world-famous strolling mile, is something one does not want to miss - or rather a visit to one of the numerous sympathetic flea markets? And in the middle of it all: lots of Green and the Rhine with its riverside promenade to breathe easy . No wonder the VIVA Cruises family feels right at home here!

Board a glass-top canal boat for a tour down the Dutch capital’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system, passing historic merchant houses that reflect the bygone era of the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Dutch empire was considered one of the most influential in the world. Throughout the city, you’ll explore the delightful Christmas stalls, each surrounded by people in their finest knitwear drinking hot mugs of mulled wine and enjoying traditional festive foods.

Included Excursion
Canal cruise

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Private hidden Gems tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)

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Dutch Delights (extra expense)

After breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow guests and Star-Ship as you are transferred to the airport, taking memories of quintessential German villages and the magic of Christmas with you.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.