Marella “Mistletoe and Rhine” River Cruise on TUI Aria
Itinerary (no docking or leaving times are given until on board)
Thursday 3 December 2026
Manchester
TOM 2466 from MAN to DUS. Dep.
MAN at 08:10 Arr. DUS at 10:30 (BST+1)
Coach pick-up at DUS.
14:00 check in on ship – Marella Aria.
Accommodation is Superior French Balcony Cabin. Free time in Düsseldorf?
Friday 4 December 2026
Cologne
The Rhine between Cologne and Rüdesheim is one of the most scenic on the Rhine so I hope we see it in daylight.
Christmas Markets = Major Markets and Dates for 2026
Cologne
Cathedral Market (Roncalliplatz)
4.5(412) · Christmas market
Approx. 150 wooden stalls set under the giant gothic spires.
Heinzels Winter Fairytale (Alter Markt
& Heumarkt)
4.6(299) · Christmas market
Features a large ice-skating rink and the traditional house elves theme
Market of Angels / Markt der Engel
(Neumarkt)
4.7(127) · Christmas market
Cologne's oldest market with white angel-themed huts.
Harbour
Christmas Market (Chocolate Museum)
Maritime-themed market by the Rhine River with a Ferris wheel
Village
of St. Nicholas (Rudolfplatz)
4.7(70) · Christmas market
3.4(25) · Christmas market
Highlights & Food
- Mulled
Wine (Glühwein): Costs around €5 per mug, plus a €4 to €5
deposit for collectible, year-dated ceramic souvenir mugs
- Local
Treats: Try potato pancakes (Reibekuchen) with apple sauce,
smoked salmon (Flammlachs), bratwurst, roasted almonds, and
gingerbread (Lebkuchen)
- Transport: You can hop on the Christmas Market Express road train, which connects the major market locations throughout the day
For more, see - https://shorturl.at/RZKDh
Saturday
5 December 2026
Rüdesheim
Christmas Markets
- Hours:
- Sunday to
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday and
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
· Admission: Free. Location: Historic old town, incl. Marktstraße, Rheinstraße, Oberstraße, Drosselgasse, and Marktplatz.
What to Expect
- International Stalls: Over 20 nations present
traditional goods, crafts, and food specialties from around the world
alongside classic German offerings
- Local Specialties: Try Rüdesheimer Kaffee
(made with local Asbach Uralt brandy and whipped cream), regional goulash
in bread bowls, Glühwein, and baked treats
- Attractions: Walk through the car-free
medieval Drosselgasse lane, take the cable car up to the Niederwald
monument for views of the Rhine Gorge, or enjoy the festive atmosphere in
the old town
- Visit the Uralt brandy distillery? €25 per person including the tasting of two spirits and one liqueur. Shop has lots of connected merchandise. Lasts one hour. Bookable in advance
For more, see - https://wonderfulwanderings.com/germany/rudesheim/christmas-market/
Sunday
6 December 2026
Frankfurt
Note: Shops are normally closed on Sundays in Germany. Some cities and towns schedule special "shopping Sundays" (verkaufsoffene Sonntage) during the Advent/Christmas market season where local town centre shops are allowed to open for a few hours (often around 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM). Check the local city's official tourism website to see if a specific date applies.
Recommend seeing the famous Römer – Frankfurt’s medieval town hall in the Altstadt. Germany’s Shakespeare, Goethe, was born here in 1749.
The main markets are at the Römerberg, Paulsplatz, Mainkai, Hauptwache, Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz, and the Roßmarkt.
For more, see - https://www.visitfrankfurt.travel/en/experience/festival-and-events/frankfurt-christmas-market
The Rhine between Cologne and Rüdesheim is one of the most scenic on the Rhine so I hope we see it in daylight.
Monday
7 December 2026
Koblenz
Market Squares
& Highlights
- Münzplatz: The largest square featuring a Christmas mill, coin barn, children's carousel, and diverse food and craft stalls
- Jesuitenplatz: Known for half-timbered houses, gift stalls, and the Baroque town hall’s large Advent calendar on the roof
- Am Plan: Features a traditional rotating Christmas pyramid, mulled wine stands, and a children's carousel
- Görresplatz: A cozy Christmas village with a family-friendly train running through a Christmas forest and heated huts
- Zentralplatz: Located near the Forum Confluentes (where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet), featuring a giant wooden Ferris-style wheel and illuminated trees
- Liebreifrauenkirche: The smallest square, known for Feuerzangenbowle (mulled wine with rum-soaked burning sugar) and weekend Christmas stories
- Willi-Hörter-Platz / Rathaushof: Home to the SchaEngelbar wine offerings and a town hall courtyard nativity scene
For more see - https://www.koblenzer-weihnachtsmarkt.de/en/
Tuesday
8 December 2026
Düsseldorf
08:45 Coach pick up from ship
11:45 dep. DUS on TOM 2255
12:10 arr. MAN
