7-night Christmas Markets Along the Rhine Southbound Cruise

Düsseldorf is a wealthy city -- the richest in Germany. It's big and commercial, full of banks and industrial offices and skyscrapers, but it's also refreshingly clean. Düsseldorf got its start as a settlement on the right bank of the Rhine, but today it's spread out on both sides -- the older part on the right, and the modern, commercial, and industrial part on the left. Five bridges connect the two sections, the most impressive being the Oberkassel. Parks and esplanades line the riverbanks.

Cologne is a city where cathedral spires tower over Germany's oldest city and its innumerable cultural and historical treasures, world-famous museums and active art scene. In Cologne, street music on the Hohe Strasse or galas in the modern opera house; pavement painting on the cathedral concourse or old masters in the Wallraf Richartz Museum; the annual music festival along the inner ring road or carnival in the entire city all becomes synthesized into a vivacious work of art in a cosmopolitan metropolis boasting more than a million inhabitants which has never lost its neighborly character. From venerable breweries offering unique Kolsch beer and typical Cologne delicacies to first-class restaurants - boasting well in excess of 3000 public houses, restaurants and breweries Cologne is one of Germany's leading gastronomic lights. The world feels at home in Cologne, where people meet for a Kolsch, a chat or simply a laugh.

Rüdesheim is located in the heart of the Rhine river area at the southern entrance to the Lorelei valley. This romantic holiday town offers much to visitors seeking a fabulous German experience. As you cruise down the Rhine, if you listen carefully, you just might hear the siren calling as you pass the Rock of Lorelei. One attraction to visit is the Niederwald monument. Erected between 1877 and 1883, this huge monument symbolizes the re-establishment of the German Empire and unity. From Rudesheim, one can either take the foot path to the monument or the cablecar leading to the top. The panoramic views from the top are spectacular. Rudesheim is also famous for the Abbey of St. Hildegard. Some think the building is older than it is, but truly, it was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Other sites to see are the Wine Museum in Broemserburg Castle, Siegfried's Mechanical Music Instruments Museum and the Medieval Torture Museum, which boasts a wide collection of medeival relics.

From its start as a quaint fishing village more than a thousand years ago, Mannheim has grown into one of the largest and most developed cities in Southern Germany. For a short time in the eighteenth century, the city served as a regional government center, and many of the grand old buildings remain. Boasting a large university and a nearby industrial center, Mannheim is a center of the arts and commerce. Considered by many to be one of the best-planned German cities, its easily navigable streets are arranged in a letter and number pattern. Numerous shops and design houses abound, and local events keep things interesting throughout the year. Noted attractions include the Wasserturm, which may well be the most beautiful water tower in the world, and the Residenzschloss, the largest baroque palace in the country. For its size and location, Mannheim is a great getaway with many interesting and enjoyable things to do and to see.

Heidelberg's fairy tale setting has captivated imaginations for centuries in works from writers to painters to composers. Its culture shows in its museums, private galleries, playhouses, concerts by Philharmonic and the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra, and jazz and dance revues. Browse Main Street and Old Town's fascinating shops. Peruse stores and bars of Untere Strasse around the Church of the Holy Spirit and in “Plöck“ street. Scout treasures at the boroughs of Neuenheim and Handschuhsheim. Walk Philosopher‘s Path, one of Europe‘s most scenic overlooks with expansive views of Old Town and Heidelberg Castle. Saints‘ Mountain has a lookout tower, an amphitheater, and ruins of St. Michael‘s Basilica. Königstuhl Mountain is an excellent place to hike. Other unique attractions are: “Tiefburg“ (sunken castle), Neuburg Benedictine Monastery, the mountainside cemetery above Weststadt and Südstadt neighborhoods, and “Karlstorbahnhof“ culture center.

Come spend a couple of relaxing days in Baden-Baden. Be enchanted by Baden-Baden's unique atmosphere and its vast array of amenities. Its spa, resort and convention town, snuggled at the foot of the Black Forest, is well-known throughout the world - for its thermal baths, its casino, its horse races and its new Festival Hall. Discover what else gives Baden-Baden its unmistakable flair. A long menu of first-rate diversions - from cultural to sporting events, gastronomy to fine hotels, shopping to leisure pursuits - awaits. The city, the landscape or several attractions are powerful reasons. It is always in season in Baden-Baden.

The rich architectural heritage of Strasbourg makes it an excellent tourist city. It has always been a town of passage, and has all architectural styles. The past is written in its walls, and its streets have a timeless quality. Few people can resist the charm of its half-timbered houses and picturesque alleys. Discover the pretty colored facades and impressive portals. Strasbourg is a popular destination where one can forget his usual surroundings. The old city lies around the cathedral on an island formed by two arms of the Ill river. La Petite France is the district which is most reminiscent of old Strasbourg. It is home to many craftsmen and antiques dealers. Its narrow streets offer a series of half-timbered houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with large inner courtyards and high sloping roofs. The exceptional warmth and hospitality of the people and the gastronomic reputation of Strasbourg makes tourists want to stay.

The third-largest city in Switzerland, Basel stands on the Rhine at the point where the French, German, and Swiss borders meet. At the entrance to the Swiss Rhineland, Basel is the capital of the half-canton of Basel-Stadt. On its borders are the French Vosges, the German Black Forest, and the Swiss Jura Mountains. Grossbasel, or Greater Basel, lies on the steep left bank, and Kleinbasel, or Lesser Basel, is on the right bank.

Without a doubt one of the prettiest towns in Switzerland, Lucerne lies in the heart of the country on famous lake of Lucerne. Dotted with Renaissance and Baroque fountains, colorful paintings on the gables and commanded by the exquisite wooden bridge, the Kapellbrücke and Wasserturm, the 13th century octagonal water tower, Lucerne's character is pure charm. Spectacular views and sights abound from almost every vantage point in and around Lucerne. The Old Town Hall is a fine example of a Renaissance building while the City Wall, built between 1350 and 1405 stands proud above the city. A stroll along the quay leads past the modern health resort and onto the largest, most important Transport Museum in Europe and the only Planetarium in Switzerland. The famous Lion Monument and Glacier Garden make for remarkable viewing as do the mountain peaks surrounding the city. A short drive from town takes visitors to some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth, and a short drive from Viewaldstätter Lake leads to nearby winter resorts and many more lakes.

The third-largest city in Switzerland, Basel stands on the Rhine at the point where the French, German, and Swiss borders meet. At the entrance to the Swiss Rhineland, Basel is the capital of the half-canton of Basel-Stadt. On its borders are the French Vosges, the German Black Forest, and the Swiss Jura Mountains. Grossbasel, or Greater Basel, lies on the steep left bank, and Kleinbasel, or Lesser Basel, is on the right bank.