Rhine River Christmas Markets

(191 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Deborah Mitchell

Kansas City, MO

River/Ocean Cruise and All-Inclusive Specialist

I've always been something of a wanderer, having moved on a regular basis as a young child. I was lucky to have many national parks as my backyard, giving me opportunities to explore: Zion National Park, Everglades National Park, Shenandoah Nation...

I've always been something of a wanderer, having moved on a regular basis as a young child. I was lucky to have many national parks as my backyard, giving me opportunities to explore: Zion National Park, Everglades National Park, Shenandoah National Park and Wind Cave National Park.

Although I always expressed an interest in traveling the world, I owe my amazing career, in large part, to my grandfather. This wonderful man loved to travel and, whenever he returned home from a new and exciting destination, he was accompanied by a scrapbook full of stamps, currency and other keepsakes from the country he'd visited.

Eager to follow in his footsteps, I first left the United States as a high school student. I spent an entire summer in France, where I discovered the transformative power of being immersed in a foreign culture.

Given my extensive experience with national parks and international expeditions, my entry into the travel industry was inevitable.

Certified - I became a Certified Travel Consultant with the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA) over twenty years ago and, since then, have enjoyed helping a variety of clients plan group tours and destination weddings.

ALASKA - I am particularly fond of escorting groups to Alaska, as I've discovered that the beautiful scenery and serene atmosphere can truly foster close bonds between friends, family members and even complete strangers.

RIVER CRUISES - I also enjoy planning trips for those interested in checking out Europe. A river cruise can be truly revitalizing, particularly when it is carefully planned by a knowledgeable travel agent. I have personally been on Uniworld, AmaWaterways, and Avalon Waterways.

COSTA RICA -  I just got back from this lovely place and it is now one of my favorite places on this earth!  So diverse!  Arenal/Volcano area is amazing with lots of different types of tours.  Great place for honeymooners or for people wanting to get away from it all.  Guanacaste area--I stayed in a beautiful VILLA overlooking the Pacific ocean, and can help you in that aspect of travel, as well!

I believe that a vacation is the only purchase you can make that will truly leave you feeling wealthier. Whether you dream of traveling abroad or exploring closer to home, I am eager to help you achieve your travel goals.

Feel free to contact me -- it's time to take the first step towards the journey of a lifetime!

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Deborah Mitchell

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1-816-741-7417 ext:5736

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I went on this wonderful Christmas Markets cruise on the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam direction.  Having been on the Danube River Christmas Markets cruises for 2 years in a row, I was wondering if I would really enjoy the Rhine Christmas Markets.  Boy was I surprised!  I had a wonderful time experiencing all the new stops and Christmas Markets. We flew into Basel, Switzerland a day ahead of the cruise, and stayed at a small hotel called the Hotel Basel D.  It is situated right in town, and walking distance to all the neat shops and two Christmas Markets.  Excellent restaurants, pastry shops and stores!!  We decided that we would return to this lovely town and go shoe shopping! Embarkation Day:We walked the 4 blocks from the hotel to the ship about noon, and were welcomed onboard the AmaPrima.  Our room was ready before 1pm (usually they say about 3pm), so we dropped off the luggage, and we went back into town to explore the 2nd Christmas Market, and then went back to the ship.  This evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner onboard with some local beers & wines from the region.  The food on the entire trip was amazing, as always with AmaWaterways.  The ship overnighted in Basel, and departed the next morning at 6am sharp.Day 2 the busses were there to whisk us away to Riquewihr, France.  An enchanting  town, with cobble-stoned streets dotted with shops and tasting rooms, known for its Reisling wines. Day 3:  The ship arrived into Strasbourg about 8am and the tours departed soon after.  There are always different tours that you can go on, some are more ACTIVE than others, like the bike tours, or hiking tours. We visited Strasbourg’s Grande Ile, which is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO back in 1988, the first time such an honor was placed on an entire city center.  It sure is beautiful and we walked along the narrow streets, culminating with the Cathedral Notre Dame de Strasbourg, with its FAMOUS ASTRONOMICAL Clock.  The Christmas Markets were bustling and VERY crowded That evening, there was another tour to the Gengenbach Christmas Market, a historic German market known for its ADVENT CALENDAR larger than life on the façade of the City Hall. After coming back to the ship, we ate at the CHEF’s TABLE restaurant, near the back of the ship, seating only 28 people.  It is a truly unique culinary experience at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE!!  It was a truly amazing  tasting menu, ending with decadent desserts, all paired with carefully selected wines of the region. Day 4:The ship docked in Mannheim, where that is the starting point for two different tours.  We elected to the Heidelberg Castle & Old Town Tour.  There was, also, a Heidelberg Philosopher’s Path Hike (for the more active!) or Medieval Speyer tour (another interesting small town).  Our tour started at the top of Heidelberg at the Castle ruins, with magnificent views overlooking the red roofs of the old town and the Neckar River.  We took the tram down the hill to the city center, and this is where it really started to snow.  This made our trip all the more magical….visiting the several Christmas Markets in the small square and the Hauptstrasse, lined with many cafes, bistros and shops.  Once back on board the ship, we sailed for Rudesheim Germany, where after dinner, there were a couple tours to take, either the Wine Tasting or the Rudesheimer Coffee.  I did the Rudesheim coffee tour and was so glad that I did that, even though I am NOT a coffee drinker.Day 5:This morning, even though it rained most of the day, I walked around the small town of Rudesheim, with its small narrow passageways full of shops and Christmas Markets. We set sail that afternoon for our cruise through the Rhine Gorge, a highlight of the whole trip.  No other river in the world has a greater concentration of castles and ruins, steep slopes covered with vineyards and villagesmalso passing the famous Lorelei Rock.Day 6: Cologne is the biggest city, so far on this cruise, with more than 1 million inhabitants.  We docked in a perfect location, close to the Cologne Cathedral.  In the morning, we took a nice walking tour that included an entrance into the Cathedral, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city.  There are about 5 different Christmas Markets here, and I went to 3 of them.  All very different and interesting. Day 7: We arrived into Amsterdam about 1pm this day, so for once, we could “sleep” in for a change!  Much welcomed, as we were tiring out!  The tour we chose in Amsterdam was the City Tour and Canal Cruise.  A one-hour panoramic bus tour and ending with a scenic canal cruise through the heart of Amsterdam.  We had about an hour to do a little shopping, then headed back to the ship for our last meal….sad to say goodbye to our waiter and wine steward, and the whole staff!We enjoyed so many different experiences and have any wonderful memories, that we will talk about for the rest of our lives.