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Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise for Solo Travelers & Optional 3 days in Cologne pre-cruise

Dec 15 - 22, 2026

Your Advisor

Linda Walter

Golden Girls Getaways

travelwiselwalter@gmail.com

9142827123

Full Itinerary Daily Overview Pricing

Overview

Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise for Solo Travelers: a 5‑day, 4‑night river cruise on board a five‑star ship, designed for solo travelers. Discover traditional Christmas markets in Rüdesheim, Bonn and Cologne while cruising through the dramatic Rhine Gorge and enjoying full board dining, a free all‑inclusive drinks package and guided tours in Germany’s historic Rhineland cities.

Trip Details

Choose your stateroom

Dec 18 - 23, 2026

3 room options · Starting at $2,549

There are 3 choices in staterooms. All are for single occupants.

Day 1 · Tue, Dec 15 · Cologne, Germany

Optional 4/night, 3/day pre-cruise extension in Cologne

• Arrival - Cologne Arrival at Cologne airport. Private transfer from airport to hotel in Cologne hotel in central Cologne o City Class Hotel am Dom Cologne**** Superior Double Room with Dome view Or Superior Single Room with Dome view

Select if you want a single or double room

Select an option

City Class Hotel am Dom Cologne - Single Room - $1900.00 per person - Single Occupancy
Dec 15, 2026
Breakfast is included each day
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City Class Hotel am Dom Cologne - Double Room - $1575.00 per person - Double Occupancy
Dec 15, 2026
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Day 2 · Wed, Dec 16 · Cologne, Germany

Private walking tour of Cologne

Private walking tour Cologne Christmas markets with English speaking guide appr 4 hrs. incl Cologne Card 48 hrs. KölnCard holders can use all local public transportation within the city limits of Cologne free of charge, depending on the type of Kö...

Day 3 · Thu, Dec 17 · Cologne, Germany

Private Walking tour of Xmas Markets and Food Tour

• Private walking tour Cologne Christmas market with English speaking guide appr 4 hrs. - Begin the day with pick-up at your centrally located Cologne hotel, where your English-speaking guide will meet you. Your first stop is Heinzels Wintermärche...

Day 4 · Fri, Dec 18 · Cologne, Germany

About Your Cruise - Depart hotel to Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets river cruise embarkation

Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise for Solo Travelers Discover the magical ambience of Germany's traditional Christmas markets with their host of unique, inspired gift ideas, plus the stunning Rhineland in its wintry splendour. Cru...

Arrival in Cologne and embarkation

Dec 18

Arrival in Cologne Embark onto your five-star ship. On arrival, see your five-star cruise ship moored in historic Cologne, whose skyline is dominated by the spires of its magnificent cathedral. The dedicated English-speaking crew welcomes you on b...

Inclusions and essential information on River Cruise

What is included in the price? Prices are per person, based on one person in a cabin for sole occupancy. The price for this river cruise in Germany includes: Full board during your cruise from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your ...

Free all-inclusive drinks package on River Cruise

Free All-Inclusive Drinks Package Celebrate your trip with a free drinks package, automatically included for all 2026 and 2027 bookings. Enjoy your all-inclusive drinks package on all European river cruises from 10am until midnight. Drink as much ...

Day 5 · Sat, Dec 19 · Rüdesheim, Germany

About Your Cruise - Scenic cruise through the Rhine Gorge

Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim Sail through the famous Rhine Gorge on our way to Rüdesheim, where you can choose between two afternoon activities. Scenic cruise through the Rhine Gorge Afternoon option 1: Rüdesheim with visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Mu...

Rüdesheim and Christmas market

Dec 19

Rüdesheim After lunch on board, we arrive in Rüdesheim. The quirky, crooked houses and tiny streets provide the perfect chocolate-box setting for its Christmas market. After your excursion you may wander the myriad stalls, glistening in the glow o...

Pick your excursion of choice in Rüdesheim - both are included in the package

After lunch on board, we arrive in Rüdesheim. The quirky, crooked houses and tiny streets provide the perfect chocolate-box setting for its Christmas market. But first you have a choice of included experiences:

You could visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, a fantastical adventure into the world of automatic musical instruments. See the impressive collection of fascinating musical instruments that function like computers, ranging from tiny, delicate music boxes to an enormous orchestrion.

Or you might choose to travel up the hillside, above Rüdesheim's famous vineyards, in a two-seater cable car enjoying lovely views of the Rhine River and surrounding countryside. At the top the views get even better, and a stroll around the Niederwald monument – which celebrates the unification of Germany by Prussians in the 1870s - allows for a peaceful moment looking out over the town.

Afternoon option 1: Rüdesheim with visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
Dec 19, 2026
Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, a fantastical adventure into the world of automatic musical instruments. See the impressive collection of fascinating musical instruments that function like computers, ranging from tiny, delicate music b...
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Afternoon option 2: Rüdesheim with cable car to Niederwald Monument
Dec 19, 2026
Choose to travel up the hillside, above Rüdesheim's famous vineyards, in a two-seater cable car enjoying lovely views of the Rhine River and surrounding countryside. At the top the views get even better, and a stroll around the Niederwald monument...
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Rüdesheim experiences and evening folk show

Rüdesheim But first you have a choice of included experiences: You could visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, a fantastical adventure into the world of automatic musical instruments. See the impressive collection of fascinating musical inst...

Day 6 · Sun, Dec 20 · Bonn, Germany

About Your Cruise - Return passage through the Rhine Gorge and cruise to Bonn

Rhine Gorge & Bonn Cruise through the Rhine Gorge once more, arriving in Bonn for a guided tour. Afterwards explore the festive markets. Scenic Cruise through the Rhine Gorge Guided tour of Bonn Visit to the Christmas market Chef’s dinner Rhine Go...

Bonn and its Christmas market

Dec 20

Bonn This afternoon there’s the opportunity to learn more about this fascinating city, which served as the capital of the West German state from 1949-1990, until the reunification of Germany which restored Berlin as the country’s capital. Whilst i...

Guided tour of Bonn and Chef’s dinner

Bonn This afternoon there’s the opportunity to learn more about this fascinating city. We'll have a guided tour of the main sights around the old town, centred around its two spacious squares. You’ll have some free time to wander the seasonal mark...

Day 7 · Mon, Dec 21 · Cologne, Germany

Return to Cologne and mooring by the cathedral

Dec 21

Cologne During breakfast, we make our return to Cologne as the ever-changing river scenery drifts silently by. As the towering spires of Cologne’s cathedral come into view on the wintry skyline, we moor in the shadow of this ancient monument once ...

Guided tour of Cologne’s old town and Christmas markets

Cologne Arriving in Cologne mid‑morning, we meet our local guide for a walking tour of the old town, focusing on the historic quarter surrounding the magnificent cathedral. Afterward, you may like to return to the ship for lunch on board, or choos...

Day 8 · Tue, Dec 22

Disembarkation in Cologne

Dec 22

Return home It’s time to say goodbye to your crew and start the journey home.