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Classic Christmas Markets with Uniworld

Pentravel
8 days
24 Nov 25 to 01 Dec 25
Book by 31 Oct 24
A cruise for those wanting to experience the quintessential magic of the holidays.

Includes

  • 8 Day Uniworld Boutique River Cruise
  • 7-night cruise in a deluxe riverview stateroom on the regal River Duchess
  • Delicious, five-star, farm-to-table cuisine: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
  • Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
  • Unlimited premium spirits and wines on-board, including fine wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, and mineral water
  • 6 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
  • Onboard entertainment and enrichment
  • All gratuities on-board
  • Onboard fitness centre and wellness classes with a certified wellness instructor
  • Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks for onshore use
  • Shipwide internet and wi-fi access
  • Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
  • State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio- headset system on all shore excursions
  • Mandatory port charges of R4,000 per person

Excludes

  • Flights
  • Arrival / departure transfers
  • Visas
  • Travel Insurance
  • Items of a personal nature

Extras

  • Note
  • The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.

Highlights

  • 7-night cruise onboard on the regal River Duchess
  • All meals onboard
  • Unlimited premium spirits and wines on-board
  • Carefully curated excursions

Itinerary

Day 1: Nuremberg, Embark

Arrive at Nuremberg International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

Day 2: 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. A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date. Featured Excursion Nuremberg City Tour with Christmas Market Beautiful at any time, Nuremberg’s Old Town is especially magical when dressed in all of its holiday splendor. 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.

Day 3: 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. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date. Featured Excursion Bamberg Walking Tour with Christmas Market The entire heart of historic Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is yours to explore today. In the splendid late-Romanesque Imperial Cathedral you will find the only papal tomb in Germany, that of Pope Clement II (who was the bishop of Bamberg before he became pope).

Day 4: Kitzingen (Rothenburg), 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 Today’s lunch will be on your own. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date. Featured Excursions Full-Day Rothenburg with Walking Tour and Christmas Market Rothenburg really does look like a fairytale version of the Middle Ages. Great stone walls surrounding the medieval core stand tall, linking towers, bastions, and parapets, and timber-framed houses decked out for the holidays line the narrow cobblestone streets and tiny squares.

Day 5: 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. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date. Featured Excursions Würzburg Residence Visit with Christmas Market This 300-room UNESCO World Heritage–designated residence was constructed over a period of 60 years in the 18th century. An extraordinarily lavish palace, it was created under the auspices of two Schönborn prince-bishops, Lothar Franz and Friedrich Carl.

Day 6: 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. Featured Excursion Wertheim Walking Tour with Mulled Wine and Christmas Stollen Demonstration While you're still onboard, enjoy a cup of mulled wine and join a stollen (traditional German fruitcake) baking demonstration by a master baker. Then venture into town where you’ll see the dramatic ruins of Wertheim Castle standing high above the village

Day 7: 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. A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date. Featured Excursions Wiesbaden Twinkling Star Christmas Market The Sternschnuppenmarkt (or “Twinkling Star”) Christmas Market in Wiesbaden is a delight for visitors young and young at heart, festively decorated and well-organized, with a colorful stage and a good mix of friendly vendors.

Day 8: Frankfurt, disembark

Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to the Frankfurt International Airport for your flight home.

Ship info

River Duchess
The River Duchess, a jewel in the crown of Uniworld's river fleet, captivates discerning travelers with its impeccable features, enticing destinations, and diverse accommodation options. This floating boutique hotel, with its charming ambiance, promises an unparalleled river cruising experience. Boasting an array of luxurious features, the River Duchess combines classic elegance with modern amenities.

Terms & conditions

Prices is per single cabin, include discounts, and are subject to availability and rate of exchange changes. Offers above are a guide only and will vary depending on departure date, our guide price is based on the cheapest departure within the stipulated season and availability is correct at time of loading. Visas may be necessary and insurance is essential. Pentravel and Tour Operator terms and conditions apply, and can be requested. Excludes flights, transfers, visas, travel insurance and anything not mentioned. Savings are not valid on all itineraries and/or departure dates, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. High season supplements and block out dates may apply, pricing varies pending departure date. Package excludes flights. You can do optional free-time add-on experiences in your free time and pay for them as you travel (additional costs apply). Uniworld reserves the right to withdraw promotional offers and adjust savings anytime. All savings / discounts mentioned have already been included in the advertised price. Advertised price is based on 24 November 2025 departure. At time of loading this may not be a definite departure. Pentravel and Tour Operator reserves the right to withdraw or amend promotional offers at any time. These packages are based on CASH price. E&OE;.

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R78,000
R70,200
per person sharing including port charge
Details
Valid on 24 Nov 2025
Stay
8 days
Dates
24 Nov 25 to 01 Dec 25
Book by
31 October 24
Experience ID
756

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