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Classic Christmas Markets

Classic Christmas Markets

About This Cruise

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.

Who Is This Cruise For?

  • Couples

    Luxury service and an intimate, small-ship feel

  • Over 50s

    A gentle pace with daily excursions and no sea days

Type

River, Luxury

Ship

S.S. Elisabeth

Departure Date

25 November 2026

Cruise Line

UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruises

Duration

7 Nights

Select Your Cabin Type
Select your cabin type
Call Us at 01 6874149

Itinerary

Germany

Frankfurt

Arrive at Frankfurt International Airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

Germany

Frankfurt

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.

Germany

Wertheim

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.

Germany

Würzburg

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.

Germany

Kitzingen

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

Germany

Bamberg

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.

Germany

Nuremberg

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.

Germany

Nuremberg

Disembark the ship. If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you will be transferred to the Nuremberg International Airport for your flight home.

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.

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Suite

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

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Suite

Suite

Please note this category is only available for 2026 sailings.

Luxurious riverview suite (253 sq ft - 23.5 sq m)

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-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

Butler service, such as packing and unpacking assistance, shoe shining, complimentary laundry service, and in-room breakfast delivery

In-room treats: fresh fruits and treats from your pastry chef delivered daily, a complimentary menu of specialty snacks and cocktails, Nespresso coffees and fine teas, a fully stocked mini bar, and a bottle of wine upon arrival

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship,

Suite

Suite A

Please note this category is only available on 2027 & 2028 sailings.

Luxurious riverview suite (253 sq ft - 23.5 sq m)

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-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

Butler service, such as packing and unpacking assistance, shoe shining, complimentary laundry service, and in-room breakfast delivery

In-room treats: fresh fruits and treats from your pastry chef delivered daily, a complimentary menu of specialty snacks and cocktails, Nespresso coffees and fine teas, a fully stocked mini bar, and a bottle of wine upon arrival

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship.

Suite

Suite B

Please note this category is only available on 2027 & 2028 sailings.

Luxurious riverview suite (253 sq ft - 23.5 sq m)

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-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

Butler service, such as packing and unpacking assistance, shoe shining, complimentary laundry service, and in-room breakfast delivery

In-room treats: fresh fruits and treats from your pastry chef delivered daily, a complimentary menu of specialty snacks and cocktails, Nespresso coffees and fine teas, a fully stocked mini bar, and a bottle of wine upon arrival

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship.

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Balcony

Signature French Balcony

Please note this category is only available for 2026 sailings.

Luxurious riverview stateroom (253 sq ft - 23.5 sq m). *Please note that stateroom 202 is 237 sq ft (22 sq m), 16 sq ft smaller than the other Signature French Balcony staterooms

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, and flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, rain shower, comfortable bathrobes, and slippers

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship

Balcony

Signature French Balcony A

This category is only available on 2027 & 2028 sailings.

Luxurious riverview stateroom (253 sq ft - 23.5 sq m). 

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, and flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, rain shower, comfortable bathrobes, and slippers

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship.

Please note that stateroom 202 is 237 sq ft (22 sq m), 16 sq ft smaller than the other Signature French Balcony staterooms.

Balcony

Signature French Balcony B

This category is only available on 2027 & 2028 sailings.

Luxurious riverview stateroom (253 sq ft - 23.5 sq m). *Please note that stateroom 202 is 237 sq ft (22 sq m), 16 sq ft smaller than the other Signature French Balcony staterooms

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, and flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, rain shower, comfortable bathrobes, and slippers

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship.

Balcony

Deluxe French Balcony

Luxurious riverview stateroom (188 sq ft - 17.5 sq m)

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, and flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, rain shower, comfortable bathrobes, and slippers

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship

Balcony

French Balcony

Luxurious riverview stateroom (188 sq ft - 17.5 sq m)

King-sized bed (convertible to 2 singles), fine custom linens, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, and flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, rain shower, comfortable bathrobes, and slippers

Note that amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship

fine

Restaurant

The Restaurant can be found on the Cologne Deck.

Exclusive

Vintage Room

The Vintage Room can be found on the Basel Deck.

Food Hall

Bistro

The Bistro can be found on the Basel Deck.

cafe

Pantry

The Pantry can be found on the Cologne Deck.

room

24-Hour Room Service

Craving a bite in between breakfast, lunch or dinner? Inquire about 24-hour room service and à la carte menus. 

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Bar, Lounge

Lounge

The Lounge can be found on the Basel Deck.

Bar

Vista Bar

Vista Bar can be found on the Sun Deck.
Reception, Atrium

Lobby

The Lobby can be found on the Cologne Deck.

Bar, Sun Deck

Sun Deck

The Sun Deck offers sun loungers and the Vista Bar.

Spa, Wellness

Serenity River Spa™

Relax at the Serenity River Spa™ with a soothing facial or massage treatment.
Exercise Class, Wellness, Yoga

Wellness on the Water™

Start your day with sunrise yoga on the top deck, a TRX® Suspension Training class, or work out at your own pace in the well-equipped fitness center.
Gym

Fitness Centre

The Fitness Centre can be found on the Amsterdam Deck.

Pool

Swimming Pool

The Swimming Pool can be found on the Basel Deck.

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The Generations Collection

Share the joys of river cruising with the entire family.

Find out more here.