Name: Christmas Markets on the Danube
Brand: Emerald Cruises

Overview

Join Emerald Cruises aboard Emerald Destiny for 12 nights of discovery and relaxation, departing from the port of Basel. You'll step ashore at 3 ports across Northern Europe and Baltic Sea, with standout stops at Breisach and Bernkastel-Kues along the way. Life on board the Emerald Destiny is as much a part of this holiday as the ports themselves - and Emerald Cruises ensures there's plenty to enjoy both on board and ashore. Prices start at £3,226 per person for this 12-night Emerald Cruises voyage.

Emerald Cruises

Emerald Cruises offers a modern, relaxed, super-premium all-inclusive cruising experience, with contemporary and elegant ships and bucket-list destinations.

Onboard, guests are able to dine at four all-inclusive and unique outlets, enjoying free-flowing alcoholic beverages at mealtimes. Flexibility is key, with its range of shore excursion packages, and every aspect of the trip is taken care of – including flights and transfers.

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

Basel

Basel is Switzerland’s gateway to the Rhine, combining medieval and modern charm. Its Old Town has narrow streets, Gothic spires and the impressive Basel Minster cathedral. With world-class art fairs and museums, including the Kunstmuseum and Fondation Beyeler, Basel is strong on culture. The city’s riverside promenade is lively in summer, with cafés and outdoor events.Basel is at the crossroads of Switzerland, France and Germany, making it a fascinating mix of influences, ideal for art and history lovers.

Day 2

Breisach

Breisach is set on a hilltop, overlooking the Rhine and the vineyards of the Kaiserstuhl region. The town’s St Stephen’s Cathedral, with its striking tower, is a prominent landmark visible from the river.Breisach’s compact historic centre offers quiet streets, traditional wine taverns and small museums. The surrounding rolling vineyards produce some of Germany’s best white wines.

Day 2

Colmar

Day 3

Kehl

Day 3

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is on the border of France and Germany, and its culture and architecture reflect a blend of both influences. The Grande Île, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a maze of timber-framed houses, cobbled streets and canals often called “La Petite France”.The Strasbourg Cathedral, with its intricate pink sandstone façade and astronomical clock, dominates the skyline. Strasbourg also has a reputation as a European political centre, housing the European Parliament.

Day 4

Rüdesheim

Day 4

Mainz

Mainz is known for its Roman heritage and inspiration, which is visible in archaeological sites and the Mainz Cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The city is also the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, with a museum dedicated to his revolutionary legacy.The old town has colourful half-timbered houses, busy markets and inviting cafés where you can enjoy local wines. The Rhine promenade is perfect for relaxed walks with views of passing river traffic and bridges.

Day 5

Rüdesheim

Day 6

Bernkastel-Kues

Often called the 'Pearl of the Moselle', these twin towns straddle both sides of the river. Guests flock here for its medieval market square, the ruins of Landshut Castle and the surrounding vineyards, best explored on guided hikes or cycling tours.

Day 7

Koblenz

Day 7

Cochem

If you're looking to step into a fairytale, this is the right place. Perched on a dramatic bend in the Moselle, Cochem exudes storybook charm, crowned by the magnificent Reichsburg Castle – a visit here is an absolute must.

Day 8

Koblenz

Day 8

Bonn

Day 9

Nijmegen

Discover the oldest city in the Netherlands, known for its distinctly youthful vibe. Set on the banks of the Waal, Nijmegen's history stretches back to Roman times, and there's plenty to explore. Museum de Bastei is especially intriguing, with secret passageways and even an ancient mammoth skull on display. Or take things at a more relaxed pace. Spend your time in port strolling through the Grote Markt and sipping wine from a local vineyard.

Day 10

Dordrecht

Day 10

Rotterdam

Often overlooked in favour of Amsterdam, Rotterdam is long overdue its flowers. Many now consider it the Netherlands' hippest city. Bombed heavily during World War II, it has spent the decades since reinventing itself as one of Europe's most compelling centres of modern architecture. Highlights include the playful Cube Houses by visionary architect Piet Blom and the 'Horn of Plenty', a swirling digital artwork across the ceiling of the Markthal. Take in sweeping views of the city from Euromast Tower before exploring the city's maritime roots at the excellent Maritime Museums.

Days 11-13

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ lively capital, famous for its historic canals and art museums. Cruising into the city reveals a network of waterways lined with tall, narrow houses with ornate gables, a hallmark of Dutch Golden Age architecture. The city’s past as a busy trading city can be seen in its harbour and historic buildings.Exploring on foot or by bike, visitors can check out world-class museums such as the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, alongside the poignant Anne Frank House. The city’s compact centre makes it easy to wander through charming neighbourhoods like Jordaan with its boutique shops, cafés and galleries.Despite its popularity, Amsterdam maintains a relaxed vibe with leafy canals and parks offering a peaceful break from the busy centre.

Day 1

Basel

Day 2

Breisach

Day 2

Colmar

Day 3

Kehl

Day 3

Day 4

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 7

Day 8

Day 8

Bonn

Day 9

Nijmegen

Day 10

Dordrecht

Day 10

Rotterdam

Days 11-13

Amsterdam

180

Passengers

Crew

2017

Launched

3544t

Tonnage

135m

Length

11m

Width

13kts

Speed

Decks

EUR

Currency

Emerald Destiny

At Emerald Cruises & Tours, your enjoyment always comes first. Every aspect on board your Emerald Star-Ship is thoughtfully designed with you in mind – from the contemporary accommodation and inviting social spaces to the personalised service you'll receive from the crew.

All Prices

Customer reviews

Reviews

Not 5 star

We didn't get the wow fact I was expecting it was a lovely clean yacht Entertainment was not the best very little of it considering it was almost Christmas. The staff were nice . Breakfast was ok , lunch was nice The evening meals not great . Room was big and clean it was a lovely experience, but for what we paid i would not do it again .

Emerald Cruises Emerald Sakara

Reviews

Eastern Europe on the Danube

The arrangements on the first day left a lot to be desired! We had been flown to Bucharest the day before and stayed in a lovely hotel with a large swimming pool. We were told cases to be ready by 7 a.m.and leave at 9.It was a cold,wet day so,after the city tour,we had 2 hours to waste in bad weather. We think the departure from the hotel should have been later(e.g.usual 11 a.m.checkout),done the city tour then gone straight to the ship. On board,the food and wine was good BUT often,if we as two people sat on a table for 4 or 6,we were not served until the table was full! I commented about this and we got better and quicker service for one day then it lapsed again! It was even worse if I sat by myself in the bar as I was then mostly ignored! The ports of call were interesting but mixed weather. The company still keeps calling the cabin!"Panorama Balcony" BUT the dictionary definition of balcony is"external"so an inside balcony with a window to open is NOT a balcony. I queried this with crew but was brushed off!

Emerald Cruises Emerald Luna

Reviews

Luxury at every level

We had an amazing cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia on Emerald Harmony. The boat itself is superb,, carrying a maximum of 84 passengers, though a particular cruise only had 54, with 40 crew. That means that passengers really get cared for and within 24 hours all the crew members knew our names and our preferences. The food is superb – fine dining every lunchtime and every evening, accompanied with high-quality wines. and the tourist gave a good balance of the typical things you would expect to see as a tourist (cities, palaces and temples) but also local village life, with the opportunity to meet up close with local people and to see the businesses run from their homes. It was an incredible exposure to culture of that part of the world. Emerald arranged everything superbly and we wouldn’t hesitate to travel with them again.

Emerald Cruises Emerald Harmony

Reviews

Very good

Food & crew excellent. A little diasppointed with the lack of daytime cruising. Only fault was with the travel arrangements to Lyon and return from Marseille. on both flights assistance for my wife who has difficulty walking long distances was not organised and on the return flight we were not even allocated seats together.

Emerald Cruises Emerald Liberte

Reviews