Christmas Cruise on the Rhine

Discover one of the most pedestrian-friendly and oldest towns in Germany, with over 2,000 years of history. On our guided walk through the romantic streets between the St. Castor Basilica and the Liebfrauenkirche (the Church of our Beloved Lady) you will discover the most important sights of Koblenz and the town’s landmark, the Schängel Fountain at the town hall. This tour would not be complete without a visit to the Memorial of Emperor Wilhelm at the famous German Corner where the rivers Rhine and Moselle meet. See the cable car that hovers over the Rhine, built as an attraction and ecologically friendly traffic facility for the Federal Horticultural Show in 2011. This is Germany’s first 3-rope cable car with a transport capacity of 7600 people per hour.

After a short walk through Koblenz, discover Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, situated high above the Rhine. The bottom station of the cable car, which was built especially for the International Garden Show, gives you the most fantastic view s over Koblenz and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. The fortress dates back to 1,000 AD and evolved to its present form between 1817 and 1828. Today, in addition to the Koblenz State Museum with its diverse exhibitions (e.g. on the history of technology and archaeology of the state, fortress history with over 20 exciting stations, multimedia productions and much more), the fortress also houses the Army Memorial and the Koblenz Youth Hostel.

Speyer, the time-honored imperial city on the Rhine, looks back on a rich and eventful past. Historic testimonies of ecclesiastical architecture, impressive facades of different building epochs, winding alleys and romantic squares characterize the face of the city today.

During the city tour enjoy a short guided tour of the Romanesque Imperial cathedral with its striking twin-towered portal, and visit to the beautiful baroque Church of the Holy Spirit, the Old Gate of Speyer and a visit to the medieval Judenhof, one of the most important Jewish medieval sites in Germany. The Jewish community had a storied history in Speyer reaching back over 1,000 years. View the remains of the Jewish courtyard, which was the central area of the Jewish quarter and consisted of the synagogues, and a ritual bath (Mikveh).

Please note: The visit of the Cathedral depends on the opening hours, Holy Masses, etc.).

Enjoy a discovery tour through the beautiful city of Strasbourg. After a short coach trip through the city, the tour continues with a walk through the lovely, historic old part of the town and includes a visit to the famous cathedral Straßburger Münster (not possible on Sundays and public holidays, sometimes with security check). During a boat cruise on the river, discover the famous quarter, “Petite France”. This former mill and tanner district still maintains its medieval charm. Some of the beautiful, half-timbered houses on the banks of the river Ill are up to 500 years old. You will enjoy Strasbourg’s half-timbered houses, the Ponts Couverts, the Palais de Rohan, the Council of Europe and all the other wonders that Strasbourg holds in store for you.

Depart Strasburg and travel overland to the jewel of the German Black Forest, Freiburg, which offers the perfect combination of city experience and nature, as well as culinary delights.  

In 2020, Freiburg celebrated its 900th anniversary of being a "Freie Burg" or 'Free Castle' market and town granted by Duke Konrad and his brother Berthold III. During the excursion, experience the centuries of Freiburg's history along with the famous 'Freiburger Bächle', or open stream system which has been flowing along the streets with crystal clear water since the middle ages. Walk through secluded alleys, across beautiful squares, past historic facades to the impressive Freiburg Cathedral, with it's beautiful 380 foot tower and one of the city's landmarks. Finally, experience the traditional Freiburg Minster Market where a wide selection of local products will tantalize the senses.

Please note: the Freiburg Minster Market is closed on Sundays and public holidays. On the days when the market is not open, conclude the tour with a visit to the Minster.

Mainz has many attractions: the Roman Castrum Moguntiacum, the Jewish Magenza, the residence and capital of the Prince Electors, an archbishopric, a university town and a fortified city of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the Mainz Republic. These are all epochs of “Golden Mainz”, as the city has been known since its heyday in the Middle Ages. A tour through the city will lead you from the tremendous St. Martin’s Cathedral to the Gutenberg museum, where you can experience 4000 years of the history of writing. The museum is a tribute to the inventor of the printing press with moveable letters. His world renowned 42-line bible is one of the prime exhibits.

The cathedral city dates back over 2,000 years and is full of history, the traces of which can be seen everywhere in the Rhine region. During the walking tour, explore the area around the cathedral all the way to the old town. As you travel through the narrow, cobbled streets, and the lively squares such as the Alter Markt or the Heumarkt, you will get a feel for life in Cologne from yesterday and today. Since its completion in 1880, the Cologne Cathedral with its two 515ft high towers has been the city's landmark, as well as the most famous architectural monument and most frequently visited sight in Germany. As your excursion concludes, we invite you to enjoy a glass of typical Kölsch (beer), which is the number one beer in Cologne and large parts of the Rhineland.

Please note: The visit of the Cologne Cathedral depends on the opening hours, Holy Masses, etc.).

During a visit to the chocolate museum, be transported on a journey through the 5000-year cultural history of chocolate. This impressive 43,000 square foot museum features the most comprehensive display of the history of cocoa and chocolate in the world. In total, this unique collection includes approximately 2500 objects surrounding chocolate. During the tour, you will learn everything about the long journey of the cultivation and harvesting of the cocoa beans in the plantations of the tropics, to the finished chocolate product. In the cultural history section "Brown Gold - Sweet Seduction", explore the cult drink of the Mayans and Aztecs in ancient America, through the luxury drink of the aristocracy in the Baroque era, to the sweet rich drink we enjoy today. In a small tasting session, sample how the taste of cocoa develops on its way to becoming a chocolate bar.