How much does it cost?

From £1,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,700 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels and international rail from Brussels to Cologne (outbound) and return are included, with First and Standard Class options. Rail is also included for the return journey via Brussels to London on Day 7.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the seven days.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included each day. A drinks package is provided with dinner every night of the cruise, and a Christmas gala dinner with a choice of traditional German or British menu is served on Christmas Day.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included and must be booked separately.

When does this tour run?

Great Rail Journeys has one confirmed departure in December 2026.

Are optional excursions available?

Yes. The cruise includes a choice of excursions to Heidelberg or Speyer on Day 3, and optional pre or post-tour London hotel stays and UK rail connections can be added.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour & river cruise

Christmas on the Rhine: Cologne & Strasbourg

Seven-day Christmas river cruise from London through Rhine cities and gorge

Great Rail Journeys operates this seven-day Christmas river cruise that begins with Eurostar from London St Pancras through Brussels to Cologne, then continues aboard the MS Amadeus Amara for six nights. The ship sails through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, visiting Koblenz, Mainz, Heidelberg or Speyer, Strasbourg, and Rüdesheim before returning to Cologne for the journey home. The pace is relaxed, with full board and all meals included. Days combine guided tours of historic cities with free time to explore picturesque towns. A Christmas gala dinner with choice of menu, seasonal afternoon tea, mulled wine, and festive carols create a celebratory atmosphere throughout. The tour suits couples and luxury-seekers who want escorted comfort, history-rich destinations, and the romance of a Rhine cruise during the festive season.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £1,999 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Single supplement (from GBP 3,199) is significantly higher than half the base double price; confirm cabin tier options before booking
The itinerary offers a choice between Heidelberg or Speyer on Day 3; your final excursion depends on the ship's routing that day

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Aboard MS Amadeus Amara
To Cologne, where we board our luxurious ship ahead of our Christmas cruise
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras for the Eurostar to Brussels, then continue by train to Cologne to board the MS Amadeus Amara with a welcome cocktail and first dinner onboard, sailing upstream towards Koblenz.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Amara
To Koblenz and through the scenic Rhine Gorge
Free time in Koblenz to see the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and Deutsches Eck, then lunch onboard before cruising through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Amara
The historic cities of Heidelberg and Speyer
A choice of excursions to Heidelberg, with its castle and Karl Theodor Bridge, or Speyer, with its Romanesque cathedral, followed by onboard mulled wine and gingerbread-making.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Amara
Exploring beautiful Strasbourg and celebrating Christmas
A relaxed Christmas morning sailing before a coach transfer into Strasbourg to see the Cathedral and Petit France district, followed by a Christmas-themed gala dinner onboard with a choice of German or British menus.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Amara
Guided tour of Mainz and free time in Rüdesheim
A Boxing Day walking tour of Mainz including the Gutenberg Museum, then sail to Rüdesheim for free time to explore its wine culture and Drösselgasse.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Amara
Exploring the cultural city of Cologne
A morning walking tour of Cologne taking in the Cathedral, Old Town and Hohenzollern Bridge, with a free afternoon and a final dinner onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7rail
Homeward bound
Disembark in Cologne and continue by rail to Brussels, joining the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Board the Eurostar from London St Pancras and travel via Brussels to Cologne, where you board the MS Amadeus Amara with a welcome cocktail
Day 2Sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, viewing the Deutsches Eck where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet near Koblenz
Day 4Celebrate Christmas Day in Strasbourg with a leisurely morning onboard, then explore the cathedral and Petit France district; a gala dinner with a choice of traditional German or British menu follows
Day 5Join a guided walking tour of Mainz on Boxing Day and visit the Gutenberg Museum, then have free time in Rüdesheim to sample local Riesling wine

Included

Tour Manager/Cruise Director team escorted throughout
6-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara
Five-star service onboard
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
First & Standard Class rail options available; Eurostar Plus on First Class departures; all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, including a spectacular gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Complimentary luggage service from your home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
A superb choice of excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,700 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels and international rail from Brussels to Cologne (outbound) and return are included, with First and Standard Class options. Rail is also included for the return journey via Brussels to London on Day 7.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the seven days.
What meals and drinks are included?: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included each day. A drinks package is provided with dinner every night of the cruise, and a Christmas gala dinner with a choice of traditional German or British menu is served on Christmas Day.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance are not included and must be booked separately.
When does this tour run?: Great Rail Journeys has one confirmed departure in December 2026.
Are optional excursions available?: Yes. The cruise includes a choice of excursions to Heidelberg or Speyer on Day 3, and optional pre or post-tour London hotel stays and UK rail connections can be added.