7 Days in Europe – Christmas Magic Along the Rhine

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7 Days in Europe – Christmas Magic Along the Rhine

12/20/2027

Overview

Join us as we host a gay group trip along the Rhine River from December 20–27, 2027. This 7-night festive cruise aboard VIVA Cruises sails from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Basel, Switzerland, with stops in charming Rhine towns and some of Europe’s best Christmas markets.

Highlights include Koblenz, Cochem, Rüdesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, and Breisach, plus a special Christmas Eve in Speyer. Expect medieval castles, twinkling Old Towns, mulled wine, winter scenery, and plenty of festive atmosphere.

Our group will also enjoy daily group meals, shore excursions, cocktail hours, activities, and more.

Scroll down to the FAQs section to view pricing.

Duration

7 Days

Tour Type

Specific Tour

Languages

___

Group Size

40 people

Included/Excluded

7 nights on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers
Free wifi onboard
All meals included with breakfast & multi-course gourmet menus
Selection of alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks
Beverages in minibar in cabin
Onboard entertainment & performances
Welcome bottle of sparkling wine
Tips & gratuity onboard

Flights
Additional services
Visas (if applicable)
Travel insurance
Shore excursions
Extra onshore meals or drinks not listed above
Optional tips or gratuity for onshore guides

7 Days in Europe – Christmas Magic Along the Rhine

Included/Excluded

7 nights on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers
Free wifi onboard
All meals included with breakfast & multi-course gourmet menus
Selection of alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks
Beverages in minibar in cabin
Onboard entertainment & performances
Welcome bottle of sparkling wine
Tips & gratuity onboard

Flights
Additional services
Visas (if applicable)
Travel insurance
Shore excursions
Extra onshore meals or drinks not listed above
Optional tips or gratuity for onshore guides

Preliminary Itinerary

Day 1: December 20, 2027

Düsseldorf, Germany

Depart Düsseldorf at 5:00 PM

Düsseldorf blends tradition with modern style, from the historic Old Town and its 250+ pubs to the striking architecture of Medienhafen. Stroll along Königsallee, browse local markets, or relax by the Rhine promenade, all while soaking up the city’s art, culture, shopping, and famous Altbier.

Day 2: December 21, 2027

Andernach & Koblenz, Germany

Arrive to Andernach at 5:30 AM

Andernach is a historic Rhine town known for its medieval walls, towers, and the world’s tallest cold-water geyser.

Depart Andernach at 11:30 AM

Arrive to Koblenz at 1:30 PM

In Koblenz, the Rhine and Moselle meet at the famous Deutsches Eck, home to the imposing Kaiser Wilhelm Monument. Ride the cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for sweeping views over the city and both rivers.

Departure Koblenz at 11:30 PM

Day 3: December 22, 2027

Cochem & Winningen, Germany

Arrive to Cochem at 7:30 AM

Cochem charms with its riverside setting, vineyard-covered hills, cobblestone Old Town, and hilltop Reichsburg Castle overlooking the Moselle.

Depart Cochem at 2:30 PM

Nearby Winningen is a picturesque wine village surrounded by steep vineyards, offering a quieter glimpse of the Moselle Valley’s scenic beauty.

Overnight in Winningen

Day 4: December 23, 2027

Rüdesheim, Germany

Depart Winningen at 4:30 AM

Arrive to Rüdesheim at 1:30 PM

Rüdesheim is a picturesque Rhine wine town famous for lively Drosselgasse, lined with wine taverns and traditional houses. Take the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument for sweeping views across the Rhine and surrounding vineyards.

Depart Rüdesheim at 8:30 PM

Day 5: December 24, 2027

Speyer, Germany

Arrive to Speyer at 8:00 AM

Speyer is a 2,000-year-old city on the Rhine dominated by its impressive red sandstone cathedral and imperial crypt. Most major sights are clustered in the walkable Old Town, alongside plenty of cafes and restaurants.

Departure Speyer at 11:30 PM

Day 6: December 25, 2027

Strasbourg, France

Arrive to Strasbourg at 12:00 PM

Strasbourg charms with colorful half-timbered houses, canals, and its magnificent Gothic cathedral. Wander through La Petite France, stop for tarte flambée, or climb the cathedral tower for views toward the Vosges and Black Forest.

Overnight in Strasbourg

Day 7: December 26, 2027

Breisach, Germany

Depart Strasbourg at 5:00 AM

Arrive to Breisach at 1:00 PM

Breisach combines historic charm with striking landmarks, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Rheintor museum. Its churches, old streets, and cultural sights make it an easy place to explore on foot.

Departs Breisach at 10:00 PM

Day 8: December 27, 2027

Basel, Switzerland & Departure

Arrive to Basel at 6:00 AM

Basel blends centuries of history with bold modern architecture at the crossroads of Switzerland, Germany, and France. Highlights include Basel Cathedral, the Rhine, the Red Town Hall, Spalentor, and around 40 museums.

This is the departure day after 7 awesome days together. Disembark from the ship after breakfast and if your schedule allows, make the most of your time in Basel before leaving.

Tour Highlights

Group tour with gay guests
European Christmas markets
Discover 3 countries
Plenty of free time to explore
Gourmet multi-course meals
Selection of alcoholic beverages
Onboard entertainment & activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Click the 'Book Now' button at the top of this page. You'll be directed to a booking request form to add your contact information as well as the number of guests. Once you submit your booking request we'll get in touch with you via email to finalize your booking. You only need to put down a 20% deposit on voyage fare to hold your reservation.

The price of the trip can vary based on the cabin type and booking date but starts at €1,150 per person based on double occupancy in a standard cabin. You can click the link below to view live pricing. CLICK TO SEE RATES (e.g. price per person for 2 people sharing a cabin) Solo travelers pay just a 30% single supplement for a private cabin. However, any solo bookings made before March 31, 2023 will recieve a promotional 'no single supplement offer.' All prices above are final and already include taxes and fees.

Payment Policy:

A 20% deposit per person is required to hold your reservation. The remaining balance will be due in September 2027 for a standard booking. For solo travelers participating in our roommate-matching program, final payment is due in August 2027.

Cancellation Policy:

From booking until 181 days before the cruise start date – The deposit is fully refundable.

From 180 to 120 days before the cruise start date – 10% of the total cruise fare will be forfeited. As the deposit is 20%, the remaining 10% will be refunded.

From 119 to 90 days before the cruise start date – 20% of the total cruise fare will be forfeited.

From 89 to 30 days before the cruise start date – 40% of the total cruise fare will be forfeited.

From 29 to 15 days before the cruise start date – 60% of the total cruise fare will be forfeited.

From 14 to one day before the cruise start date – 80% of the total cruise fare will be forfeited.

Cancellation on the day of departure or failure to appear for the cruise – 90% of the total cruise fare will be forfeited.

You can view the full cancelation policy here.

We don't like to place an age limit on the trip. But in saying that it's best suitable for ages 18+ and that guests are healthy and can get into the spirit of the trip. Our average age range is usually between mid-'30s and mid-'60s but we've also had younger and older on past trips. Our trips are also active and include many walking tours so it may not be suitable if you if you can't spend several hours on your feet, walking around the city and up and down hills.

Absolutely! Although we are not able to match you with a roommate, Viva Cruises offers private, solo traveler cabins and charges only a 30% single supplement. Plus, any solo bookings made before March 31, 2023 will recieve a promotional 'no single supplement offer.'The majority of guests on our trips are solo travelers so you won't be alone!

If you have more questions, simply fill out this form with your information and questions and we'll get in touch with you.

The trip is open to any member or ally of the LGBT+ community. While the vast majority of our guests tend to be gay men, we're happy to welcome anyone who is friendly, welcoming and has an open mind.

No, Viva Cruises is a mainstream, river cruise line open to anyone that launched in 2018. It was started by the renowned Swiss shipping company Scylla AG, which currently owns a fleet of 40 ships. They have dedicated themselves to comfortable travel on water - with a convincing all-inclusive offer for their guests as well as exclusive destinations in Europe. The MS VIVA TWO ship is the second new build of VIVA Cruises with 95 cabins accommodating up to 190 passengers Although we will be joining a ship with other guests, our small gay group trip of approximately 20-40 gay guests will offer daily group meals together, group shore excursions, cocktail hours, group activities and more!

You should plan to fly into Germany at least the day before the cruise starts. We recommend flying into Munich so your flight should arrive in Munich on December 21st or before. This is to ensure you have enough time to board the ship, should there be any flight delays or cancellations.

You can either get a hotel in Munich the night before the cruise and then take the train from Munich to Passau on the morning of December 22nd or fly into Munich and immediately take a train to Passau and spend the night there. Either option is fine, it just depends on your preference.

We recommend staying in the city center somewhere near the central train station. That's both for the convenience of getting the train to/from Passau, but also where all the interesting sights and Christmas markets are located. You can find a list of recommended hotels in our Munich Gay Guide.

Generally speaking, embarkation/check-in begins two hours before the start of the journey; therefore, usually from 2pm since the ship departs at 4pm from Passau. Disembarkation on the day of departure begins after breakfast, at 9:30am at the latest. Embarkation in Passau is either in Lindau or in Passau's old town. You will receive the arrival information via email shortly before the start of the trip.

Düsseldorf has its own international airport (DUS), with easy public transportation into the city center. The airport is approximately 18 minutes from Düsseldorf Central Station by direct public transportation.

The ship will normally dock near Düsseldorf's Old Town, and the exact embarkation location will be confirmed in your cruise documents before departure. From the airport or central station, you can also take a taxi directly to the ship.

Our cruise ends in Basel, which is served by EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL). Bus 50 connects Basel SBB train station with the airport in approximately 20 minutes.

For additional international flight options, Zurich Airport (ZRH) is also a convenient alternative and can be reached from Basel by train.

The exact docking location in Basel will be provided in your final cruise documents.

7 Days in Europe – Christmas Magic Along the Rhine

Overview

Duration

Tour Type

Languages

Group Size

Included/Excluded

Included/Excluded

Preliminary Itinerary

Day 1: December 20, 2027

Düsseldorf, Germany

Day 2: December 21, 2027

Andernach & Koblenz, Germany

Day 3: December 22, 2027

Cochem & Winningen, Germany

Day 4: December 23, 2027

Rüdesheim, Germany

Day 5: December 24, 2027

Speyer, Germany

Day 6: December 25, 2027

Strasbourg, France

Day 7: December 26, 2027

Breisach, Germany

Day 8: December 27, 2027

Basel, Switzerland & Departure

Tour Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reserve my spot?

How much does the trip cost?

What are the payment terms & cancellation policy?

Is there an age limit?

I'm a solo traveler. Can I come alone?

I have more questions. How can I contact you?

Is this trip only for gay men?

Is Viva Cruises a gay cruise?

When should I arrive and where should I stay?

Where and what time is embarkation and disembarkation?

How do I get to Düsseldorf for the cruise?

How do I get home from Basel?

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