Ivory_Ireland_NoBG
Éire Trips
European Christmas Market River Cruise with Hazel
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-23 at 15.05.47_21557eda
Set sail on a magical seven-night river cruise with Hazel aboard a luxurious Travelmarvel vessel, where every moment blends festive wonder with scenic delight. Begin with a warm Captain’s Welcome Reception as you settle in, then glide through vibrant towns and cities Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Rüdesheim, Cochem, Cologne, and Amsterdam while indulging in 20 included meals, daily drinks from soft beverages to local wine,
Unique excursions like gingerbread tasting in Freiburg, a ride on the charming Winzerexpress through Rüdesheim’s Christmas market, a guided walking tour of fairytale Strasbourg, a visit to storybook Cochem with its own festive market, a guided exploration of Cologne and a serene canal cruise through Amsterdam’s twinkling Ice Village—all culminating in a fond farewell over a Captain’s dinner and a transfer to your onward flight.
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-23 at 15.06.45_d18eb234

What's Included

Seven nights cruising
Aboard a Travelmarvel river ship with the services of a Travelmarvel Cruise Director and local guides
Gingerbread tasting
Travel by coach on a scenic drive to the Freiburg Christmas market 
Explore 7 towns, villages and cities
Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Rüdesheim, Cochem, Cologne & Amsterdam
Drinks
Onboard water stations, plus tea and coffee, soft drinks, beer and local wine during lunch and dinner on your cruise
Winzerexpress 
Ride the  mini-train into Rüdesheim and explore the Christmas market
20 meals
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
Day 1
Arrival & Embarkation 
December 9th 2027
 
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your river ship. Tonight, after enjoying some time to relax and settle in, enjoy a Captain’s Welcome Reception onboard. You will have the opportunity to get to know your fellow guests and meet your crew.
Day 2: Breisach
Coach Tour
December 10th 2027
 
Disembark in Breisach to explore the Black Forest region. Travel by coach, on a scenic drive through Kaiserstuhl and Karlsplatz to the Freiburg Christmas Markets, where you’ll enjoy a gingerbread tasting. Return to your river ship for a Welcome Dinner on board.

Included: Breakfast · Tour with Gingerbread Tasting · Dinner.
Day 3: Strasbourg
Walking Tour
December 11th 2027
 
Arrive in Strasbourg, the charming Alsatian city that straddles the border between France and Germany. Fairytale houses line cobblestone streets, while canals weave through the city, with Strasbourg Cathedral dominating the World Heritage-listed city centre. Discover its picturesque sights on a guided tour, taking in the stunning scenery.

Included: Breakfast - Guided Sightseeing Tour with food tasting - Dinner.
Day 4: Rüdesheim
Museum Visit
December 12th 2027
 
Continue cruising through one of the highlights of your holiday – the Rhine Gorge, a stretch of river renowned by locals as the most beautiful section of the Rhine. Watch in awe as steep slopes, blanketed in vineyards and dotted with ancient castles, drift by. Your ship will then dock in Rüdesheim, a charming wine town nestled along the Rhine. Here, the Winzerexpress mini-train will take you through the town to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, home to one of Germany’s most fascinating collections of automated musical instruments.

Included: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 5:
Cochem December 13th 2027
 
Sit back and soak up the scenery as you cruise through some of Europe’s prettiest stretches along the Moselle River. Disembark in the quaint town of Cochem in the Moselle Valley. Explore the narrow alleyways with their half-timbered houses and visit the magnificent Cochem Castle. Perched on a hill overlooking the beautiful Moselle River, this castle could be straight from the pages of a fairytale. Cochem’s Christmas market is just as idyllic as the town itself, which goes to great lengths to decorate festively and create seasonal flair for those who visit.

Included: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 6: Cologne
Guided Tour
December 14th 2027
 
Having entered Germany, arrive in Cologne and be met by the magnificent Cologne Cathedral on the banks of the Rhine. You will disembark here, learning on a guided tour about the famous twin spires of this landmark cathedral, which took over six centuries to complete.  Later on tonight, enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Included: Breakfast · Guided Tour · Lunch · Farewell Captain’s Dinner.
Day 7: Overnight in Amsterdam
Canal Boat Tour
December 15th 2027
 
With historic houses lining its banks and studded with low bridges, Amsterdam’s network of 17th-century canals lends the city its nickname – ‘The Venice of the North’. Today you will board a glass-top boat and glide past the city’s waterside sights with a local guide. Back on land, enjoy some free time to explore the city’s Ice Village Christmas market at your leisure. Pick up some traditional Dutch Christmas foods and marvel at the magical display of lights strung alongside the canals.

Included: Breakfast · Canal Boat Tour · Lunch · Dinner.
Day 8: Amsterdam
Disembark Ship
December 16th 2027
 
After breakfast, disembark and be transferred to Amsterdam airport for your onward flight.

Included: Breakfast

Double 
or Twin

based on 2 people Sharing

€2695
per person

Solo travelers from €5195

  • Prices inclusive of flights from Dublin to Basel and Amsterdam to Dublin. Cruise-only prices available on request.

French Balcony  Mid Deck

based on 2 people Sharing

€3345
per person

Solo travelers from €6295

  • Prices inclusive of flights from Dublin to Basel and Amsterdam to Dublin. Cruise-only prices available on request.

French Balcony Suite Upper Deck

based on 2 people Sharing

€3495
per person

Solo travelers from €6545

  • Prices inclusive of flights from Dublin to Basel and Amsterdam to Dublin. Cruise-only prices available on request.

Owners 
Suites

based on 2 people Sharing

€4045
per person

Solo travelers from €7145

  • Prices inclusive of flights from Dublin to Basel and Amsterdam to Dublin. Cruise-only prices available on request.

Fill out the form below to start exploring your options

Contact Us River Cruise 2027
First Name
Last Name
Are you interested in any addons or extras

Eire Trips is an authorised agent/representative of GTI Travel (Derek Keogh Tours Ltd). Travel arrangements for the 2027 Christmas Markets Cruise are provided by GTI Travel, which is licensed and bonded by the Irish Aviation Authority, License No. TA0533