Rhine and Main Holiday Markets

Cologne to Nuremberg  -  11 Days

Day 1:	Depart Home Gateway City to Cologne
Day 2:	Arrive Cologne Featured Excursions: Arrive in Cologne and be greeted by a representative who will escort you to the ship. (D)
Day 3:	Cologne Featured Excursions: Walking Tour of Cologne, Cathedral Visit, and Christmas Markets Onboard Highlights: Captain's Welcome Dinner 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. (B, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)
Day 4:	Rüdesheim Featured Excursions: Siegfried's Mechanical Music Museum Optional Tours: Irresistible Optional Tour: 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. (B, L, D)
Day 5:	Mainz Featured Excursions: Mainz Walking Tour and Christmas Market Optional Tours: Full-day Excursion to Heidelberg with Lunch, Castle and Christmas Market 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. (B, L, D)
Day 6:	Wertheim Featured Excursions: Wertheim Walking Tour Onboard Highlights: Insightful Lecture 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. (B, L, D)
Day 7:	Würzburg (Rothenberg) Featured Excursions: Full Day Rothenberg Onboard Highlights: Exciting Local Entertainment 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. (B, D)
Day 8:	Würzburg and Cruising the Main River Featured Excursions: Würzberg Residenz Onboard Highlights: Insightful Lecture 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. (B, L, D)
Day 9:	Bamberg Featured Excursions: Bamberg Nativity Walk and Christmas Market Onboard Highlights: Exciting Onboard Entertainment 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. (B, L, D)
Day 10:	Nuremberg Featured Excursions: Nuremberg Tour and Christmas Market Onboard Highlights: Captain's Farewell Dinner 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." (B, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Day 11:	Depart Nuremberg Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight home.