Contact UsCall Us Today
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?

  • Adults only

    S.S. Emilie is an adults-only ship

  • Couples

    An adults-only atmosphere made for two

  • Over 50s

    A gentle pace with daily excursions and no sea days

Type

River, Luxury

Ship

S.S. Emilie

Departure Date

8 December 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

Nuremberg

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

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. You could not ask for a more perfect place to begin an exploration of Christmas traditions than Nuremberg. 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

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

Würzburg

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

Würzburg

This morning, you’ll head off to see the Würzburg Residence, a baroque-style palace famous for its gigantic ceiling fresco.

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

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

Frankfurt

Disembark the ship. If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you will be transferred to the Frankfurt 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.

View More Images
Suite

Grand Suite

Luxurious riverview grand suite (412 sq ft - 38.25 sq m) with two French Balcony windows that can be opened to half-height

Grand suites include built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat and flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, comfortable bathrobes and slippers, a rain shower and tub, backlit magnifying mirror, and a secluded toilet area

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

View More Images
Suite

Suite

Luxurious riverview suite (286 sq ft - 26.5 sq m) with two French Balcony windows that can be opened to half-height

Built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat and flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, comfortable bathrobes and slippers

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

Balcony

Deluxe French Balcony

Luxurious riverview stateroom (194 sq ft - 18 sq m) with a French balcony

Built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, comfortable bathrobes and slippers

Balcony

French Balcony

Please note this category is only available for 2026 sailings.

Luxurious riverview stateroom (194 - 227 sq ft / 18 - 21 sq m) with a French balcony

Built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, comfortable bathrobes and slippers

Balcony

French Balcony A

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

Luxurious riverview stateroom (194 - 227 sq ft / 18 - 21 sq m) with a French balcony

Built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, comfortable bathrobes and slippers

Balcony

French Balcony B

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

Luxurious riverview stateroom (194 - 227 sq ft / 18 - 21 sq m) with a French balcony

Built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, comfortable bathrobes and slippers

Outside

Classic

Luxurious riverview stateroom (175 sq ft - 16.25 sq m)

Built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, backlit magnifying mirror, comfortable bathrobes and slippers

View More Images
classic

Gustav's Restaurant

Gustav's Restaurant can be located on the Athene Deck.

Exclusive

Private Dining

The Private Dining can be located on the Danae Deck.

View More Images
Lounge

Belvedere Lounge

The Belvedere Lounge can be located on the Adele Deck.

Bar

Aft Lounge

The Aft Lounge can be located on the Adele Deck.

Sun Deck

Sun Deck

The Bridge and Loungers can be located on the Sun Deck.

View More Images
Reception

Reception

The Reception is located on the Athene Deck.

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.
Spa

Serenity River Spa™

Relax at the Serenity River Spa™ with a soothing facial or massage treatment.

Gym

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center can be located on the Adele Deck.

View More Images

The Generations Collection

Share the joys of river cruising with the entire family.

Find out more here.