Uniworld Cruise

Cologne to Nuremberg - Rhine and Main Holiday Markets

Many of today’s holiday traditions began in Germany. Did you know the Christmas tree, or Tannenbaum, first made its literary appearance in 1605? Or, that bakers in 17th-century Nuremberg began making a delicious treat called lebkuchen, gingerbread, each competing with the other for the most festively decorated cakes using newly discovered spices from around the world? Or, candy canes, then called “peppermint pacifiers,” were the result of a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral becoming so frustrated by children behaving badly during services that he began to pass out the distinctly shaped peppermint treats to keep them quiet? These are just a few of the countless traditions you’ll discover on your Rhine and Main Holiday Markets Cruise.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Everyone will delight in discovering the origins of many of our beloved Christmas traditions from decorated trees to candy canes. Admire delicate glass-blown ornaments, sip mulled wine, nibble on gingerbread and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts to put under your Tannenbaum back home.

Included Features

• 9-night cruise in an outside stateroom on RiverDuchess
• All meals onboard the ship
• 10 shore excursions with English-speaking guides
• Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures

Included Highlights

• Walking Tour of Cologne, Cathedral Visit, and Christmas Markets
• Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum
• Mainz Walking Tour and Christmas Market
• Wertheim Walking Tour
• Full Day Rothenberg
• Würzberg Residenz
• Bamberg Nativity Walk and Christmas Market
• Nuremberg Tour and Christmas Market

The Ship

Itinerary

Day 3 Cologne
Stroll the narrow streets of Old Town with your guide, passing by tiny squares and little churches as you make your way to the Domplatte and one of the most stunning structures in the world, the Cologne Cathedral. After a tour of the cathedral, you’ll browse the stalls at the Cathedral Christmas Market, then proceed on to three other markets: at City Hall; near the Church St. Aposteln; and in front of a Medieval gatehouse.

Day 4 Rüdesheim
A minitrain will take us to Siegfried’s Museum, with its fabulous collection of mechanical musical instruments, housed in one of Rüdesheim’s 16th-century mansions, the Brömserhof. Listen to the sounds of the season played on these unique antique mechanical instruments.

Day 5 Mainz
We’ll walk through Old Town and the Mainz City Square, where we will see Kaiserdom, St. Stephan’s Church, Kirschgarten, and the Kurfürstliche Schloss. Then, later in the day, sip a mug of mulled wine as you stroll through the 200-year-old St. Nicholas Christmas Market with the 1,000- year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral as a backdrop.

Day 6 Wertheim
Stops along our walking tour of Wertheim include the Pointed Tower, a former jail built in 1170, Old Town, Market Square, lined with half-timbered houses and a Baroque Protestant church dating back to the 15th century. We’ll then visit the Wertheim Glass Museum, where you’ll see artisans creating precious hand blown glass Christmas ornaments. Perhaps you’ll want to take one home to keep this memory alive every Christmas.

Day 7 Würzburg (Rothenberg)
Set forth along the Romantic Road from Würzburg to uncover picturesque villages and fairytale castles on your way to Rothenberg. As you walk through this Medieval walled city, you’ll feel like you have stepped back in time to the 12th century. Our day here is spent exploring not only the history of the city, but seeking treasures at the Medieval-themed Christmas Market.

Day 8 Würzburg and Cruising the Main River
Today, you’ll visit Germany’s most pristine example of Baroque architecture, the great Würzburg Residenz, dating from 1744. Admire its sweeping staircase and amazing ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo. Your tour will be capped off with a holiday wine tasting of fabulous Franconian wines in the Residenz cellar. Cruise the Main River in the afternoon to Bamberg.

Day 9 Bamberg
Bamberg continues its centuries-old tradition with Nativity Scenes stationed throughout the city. In fact, there are 34 different stations to view. We’ll walk from scene to scene, enjoying the local color of this special display. We’ll then visit the Christmas Market, with local crafts, smoked sausages, gingerbread and Rauchbier, Bamberg’s smoky beer.

Day 10 Nuremberg
As part of the city tour, we’ll explore the Nazi Party Rally grounds, the Medieval landmark of the Kaiserburg Castle, the Medieval town wall and towers, and the central market with its beautiful fountain. We’ll also visit Nuremberg’s Christmas Market, Christkindlesmarkt, where you can browse through over 200 wooden stalls filled with signature toys and indulge in the tasty treats of the season. While at the market, you’ll certainly want to try the lebkuchen, gingerbread, since Nuremberg is the “Gingerbread Capital of the World.”

Day 11 Depart Nuremberg
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Cost of This Trip