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Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Uniworld

Classic Christmas Markets (2026)

Everyday Price From

$6,119

$6,799

8 days

No Countries

Overview

Discover villages with fairytale houses and a friendly, festive atmosphere. Share traditional holiday goodies with the people who made them. Watch as modern children abandon their usual electronics and discover the enchantment of hand-carved wooden toys, as scents of cinnamon and roasting nuts fill the air. Sail through Christmas country, trying Frankfurt’s famous apple cider and Nuremberg’s gingerbread. Throughout, cozy up to steaming mugs of glühwein (warm spiced wine) and do as the locals do by collecting different mugs from each stall and town you visit. Embrace the holiday spirit in Germany, the land where many Christmas traditions began, and find the magic of the season in the smiles that you meet along the way. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Locations Visited

Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt

Countries Visited

Germany

Travel Style

Cruise, All Inclusive

Accommodations

7 nights included

Classic Christmas Markets (2026)

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Itinerary

COLLAPSE ALL EXPAND ALL

Day 1

Frankfurt (Embark)

Arrive at Frankfurt International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Continental Breakfast

Frankfurt is known as the “Mainhattan” of Europe, a financial powerhouse with soaring skyscrapers, but that’s done nothing to diminish the cultural heart of the city. Frankfurt’s old town, the Altstadt, is as charming as it gets, and has hosted some of the best Christmas markets on the continent for centuries. Opt to stay in town today for a “Taste of Christmas” walking tour featuring all sorts of sugary and savory treats, or alternatively, head out of town on an excursion to the Christmas market in Wiesbaden.

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Lunch

    Welcome Dinner

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Located at the confluence of the Tauber and Main rivers, Wertheim is a lovely village dating back over a thousand years. It epitomizes the friendly, slow-paced small-town atmosphere of many German villages; here, residents greet each other by name as they do their daily shopping for fresh bread and sausage in tiny shops. On your guided walking tour of the village, you’ll hear a lot about daily life in Wertheim, as well as facts about the town and its history. Its many well-preserved medieval buildings—complete with low doors and tiny windows—attest to the inconveniences of life in the Middle Ages.

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Lunch

    Dinner

This morning, you’ll head off to see the Würzburg Residence, a baroque-style palace famous for its gigantic ceiling fresco. Later, visit the town’s renowned Christmas Market, held in front of the old City Hall, for some one-of-a-kind gifts for friends back home. Beautifully decorated wooden booths are illuminated by the soft glow of Christmas lighting, and the air is filled with the scent of roasted chestnuts and the sound of Christmas carols. One of the best ways to embrace a different culture is through encounters with local residents, which you’ll experience this afternoon in a typical Franconian village. Make new friends over hot drinks and homemade seasonal treats.

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Lunch

    Dinner

Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Rothenburg looks like something straight out of the pages of a storybook, with its medieval walls, cobbled streets, Gothic churches, and Hansel-and-Gretel houses. Join a local expert for an insightful walking tour, and then wander amongst the stalls at one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Dinner

Today’s lunch will be on your own. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

The fact that Bamberg still exists today is something of a miracle—it survived WWII bombing virtually unscathed. It’s a superb example of a medieval German city, one compact enough to explore on foot with a local expert. You’ll also have free time to visit not just one but four Christmas Markets and a captivating amount of nativity scenes located along nativity trail.

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Lunch

    Dinner

Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

For a holiday extravaganza, look no further than Nuremberg, which boasts the largest and grandest Christmas Market in all of Germany— and that’s really saying something. The “Gingerbread Capital of the World” pulls out all the stops during the holidays, as you’ll see for yourself on a panoramic tour guaranteed to put you in a festive mood. Stroll through the castle gardens and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, then walk through a maze of cobblestone lanes down to the central Market Square. There, spread out before the Church of Our Lady, is the largest Christmas Market in Germany.

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Lunch

    Farewell Dinner

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to the Nuremberg International Airport for your flight home.

  • Meals

    Breakfast Buffet

    Continental Breakfast

Featured Excursions do not require booking. Excursions that are listed as "Choose between..." must be booked onboard however there is no additional cost. Please refer to the excursion details below to view purchasing options for our Masterpiece Collection excursions where applicable.&nbsp;<em>Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.</em>

What's Included

  • What's Included image

  • Dining

    • All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
    • 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
    • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
    • Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
    • Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks, and mineral water
  • What's Included image

  • Excursions

    • 6 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
    • Guided “Taste of Christmas” and “Village Day” programs
    • State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all shore excursions
    • Use of Nordic walking sticks
  • What's Included image

  • Accommodations

    • 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the regal S.S. Elisabeth or the elegant S.S. Emilie
    • Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
    • Free Wi-Fi
  • What's Included image

  • Experiences

    • 1 country: Germany
    • 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites
    • Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
    • Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
    • Cultural enrichment, including captivating onboard local entertainment

Ship Details

Royal Suite
  • Luxurious riverview suite (506 sq ft - 47 sq m) with a spacious living room
  • King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, walk-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, and flat-screen TV with infotainment center
  • Large bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, comfortable bathrobes and slippers, double sink vanity, and rain shower
  • Additional amenities and service include: in-suite butler service; packing and unpacking assistance; in-room breakfast; daily fruit and cookie plate, and an elegant evening snack; espresso machine and fine teas; fully stocked mini bar; bottle of wine upon arrival; shoe shine; and free laundry service
  • Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship
S.S. Elisabeth

Dates & Prices

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Terms & Conditions

*Price shown is per person based on double occupancy, is valid for select stateroom categories only.

Click on Terms and Conditions for details.

†The exact amount of the Costco Member Benefit will be calculated during the booking process.