Jacqueline "Jax" Johanning

Christmas on the rhine

Cruise through the heart of Europe’s finest cities, many of whom host large traditional Christmas markets. There’s nothing quite like taking a Rhine River cruise at Christmas time, as you’ll be able to take advantage of the hundreds of stalls all selling ideal Christmas presents for the folks back home.

December 8-15, 2026

The Emerald Cruises Difference

7 nights on board an Emerald Destiny

Guided tour of Breisach

Guided visit to the Christmas market at Ravenna Viaduct

Guided tour of Strasbourg

Christmas traditions in Europe lecture

Including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner

Guided tour of Heidelberg

Walking tour of Koblenz

Guided tour of Cologne's Old Town

Canal cruise

View Cruise Information

About the Sailing

441 days to go

Emerald Destiny

Emerald Cruises

Departing Basel on Tuesday, December 8th 2026

7-night trip going to European Coast (Europe)

Visiting: Basel, Breisach, Kehl, Strasbourg, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Cologne, Amsterdam

Itinerary | About the Ship | Deck Plans | Ports of Call

PAY IN FULL OFFER: Clients who choose to PAY in FULL by February 6, 2026, can choose ONE of the two exclusive incentives listed below

We will offer

$1000.00 fare discount per person.

Free Economy Airfare (max. ticket value $1,500pp) or Free Premium Economy Airfare in categories S and SA (max. ticket value $2,500).

Reservations made inside of 11 months MUST be paid in full within 30 days of the deposited reservation.

Military Discount available. Message me for details!

Pre & Post stays are available through Jax2Travel

EMERALD Takes Care of Everything!
Fare Includes:
■ Airport transfers to and from your luxury Star-Ship, the Emerald Destiny
■ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard
■ Wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
■ Bottled water restocked daily
■ ESPA luxury toiletries onboard (conditioner, shampoo, lotion, and body wash)
■ First-class service from an English-speaking crew
■ Included excursions almost every day
■ EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE experiences and activities (additional fee*)
■ Knowledgeable local guides
■ Wi-Fi onboard
■ Bicycles onboard†
■ Earn EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty points
■ ALL gratuities onboard and on-shore
■ All port charges and overseas transfers

Staterooms

Panorama Balcony Suite: C

Stateroom Type: Suite

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite

Category: C, B, A, R, P

Size: 180 sqft

The Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite is a completely new type of cabin that’s unique to European river cruising. These spectacular suites boast our revolutionary indoor balcony design, complete with decking area, table and chairs – generating an entirely new space for you to enjoy the landscapes you pass. With the touch of a button, the upper part of the cabin’s floor-to-ceiling window drops down to unveil uninterrupted views of the stunning scenery to bring the outdoors in.

Per Guest

Guest 1

Price: $4,620.00
Total: $4,620.00

Guest 2

Price: $4,620.00
Total: $4,620.00

includes all applicable taxes and fees

See All Occupancy Pricing

Panorama Balcony Suite: A

Stateroom Type: Suite

Your Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite offers everything you could possibly need throughout your cruise, and more. You’ll be surrounded by elegant décor and opulent, comfortable furnishings, as you unwind in your home-away-from-home. Relax on your balcony as the stunning landscapes pass by, and transform it from an indoor to an outdoor space with ease, as the floor-to-ceiling window lowers to a halfway point at the touch of a button. Enjoy the river breeze from your comfortable chair, enjoying a good book or the unfolding vistas. Treat yourself to a drink from your suite’s minibar, or use it to keep your complimentary bottle of water chilled, or for any souvenirs that require it.

When it’s time to retire to bed, you can look forward to the exceptional comfort of your queen-size or twin hotel-style bed, complete with luxurious linens. Treat yourself to an indulgent shower with luxury toiletries, to really prepare yourself for an excellent night’s sleep.

Of course, keeping in touch with your loved ones is really easy. Every suite has its own telephone, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi being available throughout the Star-Ship.

Per Guest

Guest 1

Price: $4,920.00
Total: $4,920.00

Guest 2

Price: $4,920.00
Total: $4,920.00

includes all applicable taxes and fees

See All Occupancy Pricing

Balcony Suite: S

Stateroom Type: Suite

Emerald Grand Balcony Suite

Category: S

Size: 210 sqft

Each of our Grand Balcony Suites boasts a number of fantastic inclusions, such as an in-suite Nespresso machine – an added home comfort that means that you can relax with a hot beverage at any time, day or night. You’ll also have the option to order a delicious continental breakfast to enjoy on the balcony. And for the perfect start and finish to your evening meal, you can enjoy pre-dinner canapés and after dinner sweet treats courtesy of your exclusive room service, which is included in the price of your suite.

Per Guest

Guest 1

Price: $5,970.00
Total: $5,970.00

Guest 2

Price: $5,970.00
Total: $5,970.00

includes all applicable taxes and fees

See All Occupancy Pricing

Owners Suite: SA

Stateroom Type: Suite

Some of the most sumptuous suites on European waterways, our Owners One-Bedroom Suite has it all. A separate lounge and bedroom area allows the luxury of space, from which to enjoy your complimentary continental breakfast in the morning, a drink from your fully stocked minibar or after-dinner sweet treats before bed.

Your queen-size or twin hotel-style bed will be draped in high quality linens, for the perfect night’s sleep, plus you’ll have the pleasure of selecting your preferred pillow from our extensive menu. Get comfortable for the night after a busy day exploring, and prepare for the next as you unwind with a film on your flat screen TV and infotainment system in true comfort.

A walk-in wardrobe makes unpacking even more of a dream. A great space to keep all your belongings and outfits for special occasions, such as your exclusive dinner at the Captain’s Table. You’ll even have the option to have four items laundered a day to ensure that favourite dress or suit is in the best possible condition for your event.

In the morning, enjoy the perfect wake-up call with a fresh coffee from your in-suite Nespresso™ machine. Sip it on the balcony, wrapped in the comfort of your Emerald Waterways bathrobe and slippers after a refreshing shower in your stylish in-suite bathroom, enhanced by luxurious toiletries.

You’ll have so much to tell your loved ones back home, so we’ve made keeping in contact really easy. Not only will you have an in-suite telephone, but complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the Star-Ship and an iPad means you can choose your favourite method of communication, whenever the moment suits.

Per Guest

Guest 1

Price: $7,070.00
Total: $7,070.00

Guest 2

Price: $7,070.00
Total: $7,070.00

includes all applicable taxes and fees

See All Occupancy Pricing

Itinerary

Day

Date

Port

Arrive

Depart
Day 1

Date 12/08/2026

Port Basel

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 2

Date 12/09/2026

Port Breisach

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 3

Date 12/10/2026

Port Kehl

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 3

Date 12/10/2026

Port Strasbourg

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 4

Date 12/11/2026

Port Mannheim

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 4

Date 12/11/2026

Port Heidelberg

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 5

Date 12/12/2026

Port Koblenz

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 6

Date 12/13/2026

Port Cologne

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 7

Date 12/14/2026

Port Amsterdam

Arrive --

Depart --
Day 8

Date 12/15/2026

Port Amsterdam

Arrive --

Depart --

About the Emerald Cruises Emerald Destiny

Emerald Destiny is one of five of our Emerald Waterways Star-Ships specially designed to traverse the Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle rivers in style. With tasteful and modern décor visible throughout the ship, including in the form of our three-tiered atrium that allows natural light to pour in and illuminate the interior.

At the back of the Horizon Deck, you can find our daytime pool and evening cinema. This is a feature on all of the Star-Ships that sail along the Rhine, Maine, Danube and Moselle. With a retractable roof, floor-to-ceiling windows and picture perfect views; this is the ideal spot for a gentle swim. On selected evenings, the pool seamlessly transforms into a cinema, where you can watch a number of blockbusters and classic films.

Our Reflections Restaurant on the Vista Deck is the centre point of our dining experience on board, where sizeable windows offer excellent views of the surrounding landscapes and you can enjoy regional and seasonal flavours. For a more intimate experience, you can head to the contemporary Horizon Bar & Lounge, where authentic entertainment will be available on selected evenings.

Boasting more than ninety suites and staterooms, the Emerald Destiny has a lot to offer when it comes to comfort, with features that would be aligned with those of a world-class hotel. You can spend your time on this vessel relaxing as picturesque views pass by, watching them from your private balcony as we sail past.

Details and Deck Plans

Year Built	2017	Capacity	182
Year Refurbished	--	Elevators	1
Registry	--	Restaurants	2
Tonnage	0	Bars	2
Cabins	92	Pools	1
Wheelchair Accessible Cabins	N	Theaters	--
Shops	Y	Library	--
Meeting Rooms	--	Casino	--
Spa	Y	Disco	--
Fitness Center	Y	Children's Program	--
Internet Cafe	--

Riviera Deck

Vista Deck

Horizon Deck

Sun Deck

Ports of Call

Basel (Day 1)

Gateway to the Swiss Rhineland, Basel is ideally situated on the Rhine at the crossroads of France, Germany, and Switzerland. As you walk the cobblestone streets of the Old City, retrace the steps of the brilliant scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts, where you´ll see the paintings of Picasso, Dali, Kandinsky, and Mondrian, among others.

Breisach (Day 2)

This European town on the Rhine gave the Breisgau region its name. St. Stephan's cathedral on the high basalt cliffs and the Rhine gateway with museum hark back to the time when the noble Staufer family built the fortress to defend the town. The Badischer Winzerkeller is Europe's biggest producer-seller of wine. Also a centre for many important sekt producers.

Attractions & Activities

Breisach's most prominent landmark is the Cathedral of St. Stephanus. Visible from any part of the city, this landmark towers prominently high above the Rhine.

Kehl (Day 3)

Kehl is a town in southwestern Germany in the Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the river Rhine, directly opposite the French city of Strasbourg. The village of Kehl was first mentioned in 1038. In 1338 the first permanent bridge between Kehl and Strasbourg was completed. In 1678 the city was taken over by France, as it was considered to be part of the defence system of Strasbourg. Hence the village was transformed into a fortress in 1683 by the French architect Vauban.

Strasbourg (Day 3)

The multicultural city of Strasbourg exhibits both French German influence due to its location along the Rhine River at the border of both countries. The old streets of "Petit France" with wooden houses and picturesque canals seem to make time stand still. The carefully restored Cathedral of Notre Dame contains a combination of architectural styles, and is most recognized for its 465-foot tall, graceful spires. Another landmark is the 18th century Chateau des Rohan, which houses three of the city's major museums.

Mannheim (Day 4)

Today, Mannheim still does just as much to promote culture and the arts as it did in the time of Prince Elector Carl Theodor. The city's classical "chessboard" ground plan dates from the 17th century. The former heart of the Kurpfalz is now the lively centre of the Rhine-Neckar triangle, with a very strong service sector and a rich and varied cultural and arts scene. The city centre is particularly attractive, with its elegant shops and many inviting cafe's and restaurants.

Heidelberg (Day 4)

Heidelberg is located approximately 80KM to the south of Frankfurt and is sometimes described as being at the heart of Europe. Given that European borders are in a constant state of flux this is probably no longer true! Heidelberg isn't a large place. Visitors generally spend most of their time in the old town. The old town starts at Bismarckplatz, which is the main hub for trams and buses, at one end of the Hauptstrasse. The old town then runs along the Haupstrasse all the way down to the the Karlstor, past the castle. The Haupstrasse was pedestrianised in 1976. Generally you won't see too many cars in the old town. If you're staying outside of the centre, then all you need to do is hop on a bus or tram that is going in the direction of Bismarckplatz. The Hauptstrasse runs parallel to the river Neckar.

Koblenz (Day 5)

This 2,000-year-old city at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. History buffs can explore the Neoclassical Residence Schloss, the Prince Elector´s palace; the Deusches Eck, a settlement founded by the German Order of Knights in 1216; and Ehrenbreitstein, the oldest fortress in Europe.

Cologne (Day 6)

The largest city on the Rhine, its commercial importance was already established as long ago as the Middle Ages. In the time of the Roman Empire, Cologne was the most important trading and manufacturing centre north of the Alps.

Attractions & Activities

Founded by the Romans, Cologne is more than 2,000 years old. Its Gothic cathedral, which dominates the skyline, is a top attraction. Construction took place over a 600-year period, and the cathedral is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Toast the town with Kolsch, Cologne's own beer style.

Amsterdam (Days 7, 8)

A center of European commerce since the 15th century, Amsterdam is a lively city of canals, museums and entertainment. Perhaps you'll choose to explore this Dutch capital by canal boat. Visit the Anne Frank House and the Rijksmseum, with its collections of Flemish masterpieces.

Attractions & Activities

Life in Amsterdam is centered on its many canals. So the best way to see the city is aboard a glass-topped canal boat, gliding through the town center. Discover the elegant merchant mansions and rows of waterside warehouses, which once housed the riches brought from the Far East. Look for the 17th-century "Skinny Bridge" and Amsterdam's narrowest house as you make your way past beautiful old churches to the Anne Frank House. Journey by the Jordaan, the old French Quarter that is now a popular artists' haunt with a wide assortment of cafés, antique shops, boutiques and galleries.

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