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

Stadtgarten 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