Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets
7 nightsfrom £3,499 per person
Uniworld's Rhine Holiday Markets suits travellers who want the most inclusive fare on the Rhine, with spirits, gratuities and UK flights all in, sailing between Basel and Cologne with two nights at each end. It is also the priciest here, with December 2026 fares up to £7,099 per person.
Photo Rolf Heinrich, Köln · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Follow the ports in sailing order
| Port | Mooring | Christmas market |
|---|---|---|
| Basel | Steiger 2, St. Johanns-Park (River Duchess, 25 November); Klybeckquai (River Duchess, 9 December); Steiger Klybeck or Steiger 1 (S.S. Antoinette)Basel gets two days at the southern end of the route. | Basel Christmas Market on Munsterplatz |
| Strasbourg | Uniworld's tour includes Place Kleber and its tree. | Strasbourg Christkindelsmarik |
| Baden-Baden | Mannheim (Basel to Cologne) or Germersheim (Cologne to Basel)Uniworld visits Baden-Baden by coach from the Rhine. | Baden-Baden Christkindelsmarkt |
| Mainz | Mainz shares a day with Rudesheim. | Mainz Christmas Market |
| Koblenz | Koblenz turns its baroque town hall into an Advent calendar, and the ship sails the Middle Rhine the same day. | Koblenz Christmas Market |
| Cologne | Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer (S.S. Antoinette, 25 November) or Vorhafen Deutz Ost (S.S. Antoinette, 9 December)Cologne gets two days at the northern end of the route. | Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market |
Pick a December departure
- 25 Nov to 2 Dec 2026from £3,499 per person (2026)
- 2 Dec to 9 Dec 2026from £5,099 per person (2026)
- 9 Dec to 16 Dec 2026from £7,099 per person (2026)
- 16 Dec to 23 Dec 2026from £4,449 per person (2026)
Fares are the operator's published lead-in prices for the year shown. Check the cabin grade, any flight and the port charges before you book.
Do the same route by train
Basel, Strasbourg, Mainz, Koblenz and Cologne all have direct or one-change connections; Strasbourg to Basel takes 77 minutes on the published fastest train. The Middle Rhine line between Mainz and Koblenz follows the same castle-lined gorge the ship sails.
- Strasbourg to Baselfastest 1 h 15 min, computed from the timetable
The ports are Basel, Strasbourg, Mannheim or Germersheim for Baden-Baden, Mainz with Rudesheim, Koblenz and Cologne. Uniworld publishes its piers by ship and date, and in Basel and Cologne these change through the season. Uniworld says most Christmas markets end on 23 December, so the 16 December sailing is the last that suits market-goers.
Uniworld posts low and high water notices on its port locations page and emails guests when a sailing changes. On 11 October 2026 that page reported low water on the Danube forcing ship swaps and a hotel start in Budapest.
Quick answers about Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets
Where do Uniworld ships dock in Cologne?
Uniworld's port page lists Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer for the S.S. Antoinette on 25 November 2026 and Vorhafen Deutz Ost on 9 December 2026. Uniworld advises checking the page 24 hours before boarding.
Are gratuities included on Uniworld's Rhine Holiday Markets cruise?
Yes. Uniworld includes gratuities for ship staff, crew and the cruise manager, along with unlimited drinks on board and UK flights in its UK fares.
What does Uniworld do when river levels are too low?
Uniworld posts a statement on its port locations page during unusually low or high water, updates affected sailings there and emails booked guests about any major change or cancellation.
Which towns does Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets stop at?
Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets sails the Rhine over 7 nights and calls at Basel, Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, Mainz, Koblenz and Cologne, in that order.
How much does Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets cost?
Uniworld publishes Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets from £3,499 per person (2026). That is the lead-in fare, so check the cabin grade and what it includes before you compare it.
When does Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets sail in December 2026?
Uniworld lists four departures of Uniworld Rhine Holiday Markets in December 2026, leaving on 25 Nov, 2 Dec, 9 Dec and 16 Dec.