Festive Season on the Rhine

Your fare excludes:

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 Amsterdam

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. A city of charming canals, elegant gabled houses, splendid museums and abundant bicycles, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is a delight to explore. Its patchwork of waterways forms about 90 islands connected by 1,500 bridges. The legacy of the Dutch Golden Age lives on in gilded manses and in the lush paintings of Rembrandt and other Dutch masters that adorn the Rijksmuseum, The Netherlands’ grand repository of art and cultural history. Discovering Amsterdam is a pleasure best pursued on foot; visitors line the tranquil canals and linger over Dutch pancakes, or take a stroopwafel to go.

Day 2 Scenic Sailing: Waal & Merwede & Dordrecht

Sail the bucolic waters of the Rhine, deep into the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt Delta, classic Dutch landscapes unfurl all around. Flat farmland, charming windmills and svelte poplar trees line the shores, and vast tracts of land stretch in all directions, growing all manner of bounty, from tomatoes to tulips. Gaze upon Friesian cows and tidy villages with their neatly laid farmhouses and marvel at how much of this land was reclaimed from the sea, saved by the stirrings of traditional windmills and the building of dikes.

Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland. Throughout the city, there are hundreds of historic monuments and landmarks, including the Grote Kerk and the 13th-century Augustinian monastery known as Het Hof. The picturesque waterways and decorative bridges of Dordrecht exude a bygone era and are best explored on foot. The inner-city harbours are centuries old and lined with grand warehouses that have now been transformed into elegant homes. With a relaxed atmosphere and a plethora of quaint cafés and shops, Dordrecht oozes old-world charm.

Day 3 Düsseldorf & Cologne

The yuletide season in Düsseldorf is a feast for the senses. The air carries the scent of candied roasted almonds, a mouthwatering sweet snack, popular over the festive season. There are several Christmas markets located throughout the city. In the Old Town, burgher-style huts, modelled on the city’s traditional architecture, offer a range of tasty treats, from bratwurst to stollen, a cake-like bread filled with fruits, spices and nuts. In front of City Hall, the Handwerkermarkt offers crafts by local artists, while the Schadowmarkt lines the main shopping street amid festive store window displays.

Themed winter markets feature across Cologne during the holiday season, inviting visitors to browse colourful market stalls for handmade gifts, beautiful artwork and colourful crafts. The towering Gothic Cologne Cathedral provides a stunning backdrop to the city’s festivities and array of offerings from its red wooden stalls. Beneath the pointed roofs of Cologne harbour’s tented market, unique crafted goods are displayed amid the twinkling lights of boats bobbing in the marina.

Day 4 Koblenz & Rüdesheim

Koblenz is a traditional German country town with a wine heritage that spans centuries; a key ingredient for the warming glühwein that is served from taverns and market stalls during the holiday season. The scent of cinnamon, cloves and spices waft from steaming mugs as the sounds of festivities fill the air from one of the many musical performances, creating a toe-tapping atmosphere. Centered around the Schängel fountain, the Koblenz Christmas market offers all the flavours of the yuletide season from its famous Christmas bakery.

The Rhine River flows through one of Germany’s most scenic regions. As you sail its most picturesque stretch, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine, you will pass vineyard-blanketed hills whose steep slopes require vintners to pick grapes by hand, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Admire splendid castles and dramatic rocks along the banks, all of which have stories to share. Perhaps you will marvel most at the Lorelei Rock at a dramatic curve in the river. Its eponymous river maiden mesmerised sailors with her song and lured them to their demise at her feet.

Located in the picturesque Rhine Valley, Rüdesheim is brimming with festive cheer. The vibrant Drosselgasse, a narrow alleyway lined with decorated restaurants and bars, is the perfect place to explore and immerse in the spirit of the holiday season. Traditional Rhineland music provides the backdrop to a tankard of Christmas beer. Market stalls offer an array of tasty morsels from various nations, and local artisans demonstrate their talents with displays of unique, handcrafted gifts.

Day 5 Mannheim & Speyer

Mannheim’s Christmas market is a holiday season shopping extravaganza, centered around the city’s iconic water tower. One of Germany’s oldest and largest markets, more than 160 booths host vendors from around the world, offering handicrafts and handmade items. Beautiful glassware, and carved wooden toys and games, sit alongside Christmas lanterns, colourful baubles and ornaments, all of which are presented in quaint wooden houses. Luxurious cashmere scarves, sheepskin mittens and felt hats are the ideal purchase to take home as gifts for friends and family.

Speyer’s Old Town transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. With the historic Old Gate as a stunning backdrop, market stalls are brimming with yuletide treats, serving Christmas cookies and steaming mugs of aromatic glühwein. Skaters don their woollen hats and gloves, and take to the ice for some festive fun, while visitors browse for unique handmade gifts. The holiday atmosphere continues into January, bringing the opportunity for New Year merrymakers to enjoy the festivities and sample regional specialties, such as potato soup and yeast dumplings.

Day 6 Strasbourg

Strasbourg is said to be the capital of Christmas in France, with the city’s cathedral square taking center stage as it is transformed into a winter wonderland. The city’s Christkindelsmärik is the oldest in France, dating back to 1570. Hundreds of stalls are brimming with colorful wares, fine food and mulled wine, bringing festive cheer in abundance. Alsatian specialties feature an array of hearty classics, from bretzels (soft, bread-like pretzels) to bredele (star-shaped spiced cookies), and knacks (sausages) to pain d’epices (gingerbread).

Day 7 Breisach

Breisach is a gateway to the fabled Black Forest region, built on a basalt rock outcropping in the Rhine plain. It is located in one of the warmest parts of Germany, across the river from French Alsace, famous for its wine growing. But Breisach, too, can boast about its wine: it is home to Europe’s largest cellars, with a storage capacity of more than 160 million litres The most prominent landmark of Breisach is the Romanesque-Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Its two towers are visible from throughout the city and from the Rhine.

Day 8 Basel

A delightful blend of old and new, Basel is Switzerland’s best-kept secret. During the holiday season, the medieval Old Town is transformed into a magical yuletide affair. Cobblestone streets are lined with wooden chalet-style huts selling all manner of festive treats and gifts. Visitors to the Christmas market can enjoy a warming cup of aromatic glühwein in a decorated boot-shaped mug. Hand-carved tree decorations, cheerfully painted ceramics and delicious food are sold from stalls throughout the city. After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home.

• Shore excursions are available each day of the cruise and vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.

Multiple departures from Amsterdam and Basel or Basel to Amsterdam in March to November 2024, 2025 & 2026

Below price based on departure on 28 November 2025, Basel to Amsterdam on the Viking Eir, Save up to $2,000 per couple

• Standard (F) from $5295 $4,295pp twin share*
• S​tandard (E) from $5395 $4,395pp twin share*
• F​rench Balcony (D) from $6195 $5,195pp twin share*
• F​rench Balcony (C) from $6395 $5,395pp twin share*
• Veranda (B) from $6895 $5,895pp twin share*
• V​eranda (A) from $7095 $6,095pp twin share*
• Veranda Suite (AA) from $9795 $8,795pp twin share*
• Explorer Suite (ES) from $11995 $10,995pp twin share*

Call today and ask about Basel to Amsterdam to our experienced Travel advisors to discuss this outstanding travel opportunity on 1300 414 198

NOTE: all prices correct at the time of publishing, prices are subject to availability and change at the time of booking.

Stateroom - Standard, Veranda, French Balcony - A private sanctuary on the river. Each of the spacious staterooms offers deluxe comfort during your river cruise. All staterooms have a hotel-syle bed topped with European linens and duvets providing the perfect place to turn in after a full day of exploring Europe's great towns and cities. You will feel pampered by bathrooms equipped with heated floors and premium Freyja bath products.

Suites - Veranda Suite & Explorer Suite - The ultimate in lavish comfort, enjoy two full size rooms. These outstanding spaces are amount the largest two person suites on Europe's River and provide commanding views.

All staterooms feature:

• Outside staterooms with river view
• Bottled water replenished daily
• Voltage: 220V & 110V (US outlet), plus USB ports
• Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed with optional twin-bed configuration
• All Upper & Middle Deck staterooms have a full veranda or French balcony (a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door)
• Private bathroom with shower; heated floor & anti-fog mirror; premium Freyja toiletries; robes & slippers (upon request)
• 40" or 42" flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more
• Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control
• * All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

Dining & Entertainment- On your ship, you can expect spacious, airy public areas and abundant options for al fresco dining. Also, on our ocean and expedition voyages, as always, you can enjoy complimentary 24-hour room service. Now, more options for spaced seating in all dining venues will allow for physical distancing; there will be additional table service at all bars and lounges; and new capabilities will allow you to watch more live events and enriching content through your in-room entertainment system.

Physical Distancing & Face Masks - Public health experts agree that proper physical distancing and the use of face masks are effective in helping slow the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Face masks are optional while moving about the ship. Please note: Viking’s Medical Team continually monitors conditions and may deem face masks to be necessary while moving about the ship, based on conditions at the time of travel. While ashore, guests will need to comply with any local guidelines for face masks and physical distancing. Face masks continue to be required for all crew.

Shore Excursions & Exploration- We have redesigned our land program, limiting group size and will continue to monitor conditions in each destination. All shore excursion motor coaches are fully sanitised. Face masks are recommended for guests on shore excursions, unless otherwise required to comply with local regulations. Guests may explore independently while following requirements in the country they are visiting.