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Rhine Christmas Markets & Castles All-Gay River Cruise 2027
8 days from Strasbourg, France to Frankfurt, Germany
December 09 – 16, 2027
Transcend Cruises Transcend Connect
 Winter, Beautifully Different. The places are extraordinary. So are the people you meet. Cathedral squares filled with Christmas lights. Castles above the river. A warm welcome waiting onboard. In December 2027, travel from France into Germany with the community that makes all-gay river cruise feel like coming home. Unpack once. Step into the markets, return for exceptional dining and flowing drinks, then settle into an evening of exclusive entertainment. Seven nights to celebrate the season, together.
A Season to Savor
Warm glühwein. Glowing Christmas markets. Good company.
Wooden market stalls. Handcrafted ornaments. The scent of gingerbread in the evening air. Leave room for the little discoveries.
Eight destinations. One wonderful week.
From Strasbourg’s canals to Frankfurt’s Römerberg, follow the Rhine and Moselle through the heart of the holiday season.
Thoughtfully Included
More of the moments. Less to think about.
Your fare brings the best parts of the journey together, from your first taste of the markets to the last toast of the evening.
• Exceptional dining
All onboard meals are included, from your welcome aboard through breakfast on departure day, along with a rotating late-evening snack service and complimentary room service.
• Open bar
Premium spirits, wines, beers and cocktails are included throughout the cruise, along with soft drinks, juices, water, specialty coffees and teas.
• Curated experiences ashore
Curated small-group excursions are included at each port, bringing you closer to the region’s history, culture and Christmas traditions.
• Exclusive entertainment
Festive gatherings, theme parties, welcome and farewell receptions, and JHT signature entertainment created especially for our cruise.
• Wellness & active pursuits
Enjoy the complimentary thermal suite with heated tile loungers, a dry sauna, whirlpool, secluded steam room and experience shower, along with the fitness center, yoga, bikes, e-bikes and Nordic walking sticks.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
Unlimited onboard Wi-Fi is included throughout the cruise, subject to availability and local connectivity.
• Frankfurt airport transfers
Transfers between Frankfurt Airport and the ship are included within our designated arrival and departure windows.
The cruise begins in Strasbourg and ends in Frankfurt. Included arrival transfers depart from Frankfurt Airport on December 9, 2027 for guests whose flights arrive by noon. If arriving before December 9, you may join the airport transfer on the morning of December 9.
Your Home on the Rhine
Meet Transcend Connect.
A contemporary river ship with the intimacy of a boutique hotel. Spacious French-balcony staterooms, panoramic views, and inviting spaces to make your own.
The all-new Transcend Connect is truly the most advanced vessel to ply the rivers of Europe. With state-of-the-art green technology and a dedicated three-level well-being area of the ship, every luxury and convenience is at your fingertips.
Every of our (60) 210 square feet staterooms converts into a stunning two-room suite with a living room, two full baths, and much more. Multiple dining venues onboard serve elevated cuisine, while signature cocktail and wine bars provide comfortable and relaxing venues to enjoy the passing scenery along the picturesque Rhine River.
Come in from
the Christmas lights.
The main lounge, dance floor and bar bring everyone together. A barista coffee bar in the library and two intimate salons offer quieter corners for conversation.
Dining with a view
Two-story, floor-to-ceiling restaurant windows frame the riverside towns. A wine vault with private tasting capability and a chef’s table add to the ship’s dining spaces.
The Forum & entertainment
A dramatic tiered venue connects the lounge and restaurant decks. Enjoy exclusive entertainment and festive gatherings created for the gay cruise community. Other events may include presentations or culinary demonstrations.
Spa & wellness
A 2,600-square-foot wellness facility spans three levels, with heated ceramic loungers, two treatment rooms, the multisensory Mind Oasis by Rituals, and a Technogym-equipped fitness zone. Hydrotherapy facilities, experiential showers, hot and cold saunas, and relaxation areas offer space to recharge.
Thoughtful touches onboard
Still and sparkling water stations are available throughout the ship, with a refillable water bottle for each guest. Visit the Aft Lounge for fresh-pressed vegetable and fruit juices.
A welcome bottle of sparkling wine awaits in standard staterooms, with Champagne in Suites. Self-service guest laundry is available; additional charges may apply.
A taste of
the good life.
Exceptional meals, beautifully prepared. A favorite cocktail shared with friends. The pleasure of returning to a welcoming ship after a day of discovery.
Views to linger over.
Space to unwind.
Watch the scenery from a comfortable lounge seat, settle in for a quiet conversation, or step out on deck to take in the river — and enjoy the ship’s one-of-a-kind fire pit, the only fire pit found aboard a river cruise ship.
Your Private Retreat A room with
a river for a view.
Every stateroom aboard the ship features a French balcony. Enjoy river views, L’Occitane en Provence toiletries and plush bathrobes. Choose your place along the Rhine.
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Rhine Christmas Markets & Castles
All-Gay River Cruise 2027
Itinerary
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Date |
Port |
Meals |
| 09 Dec |
Strasbourg, France |
R, D |
| 10 Dec |
Mannheim / Heidelberg, Germany |
B, L, D |
| 11 Dec |
Koblenz, Germany |
B, L, D |
| 12 Dec |
Cochem, Germany |
B, L, D |
| 13 Dec |
Cologne, Germany |
B, L, D |
| 14 Dec |
Rüdesheim, Germany |
B, L, D |
| 15 Dec |
Mainz, Germany |
B, L, D |
| 16 Dec |
Frankfurt, Germany |
B |
Day 1 - Strasbourg, France
Canals, half-timbered lanes & festive French-German charm.
Where France and Germany meet, Strasbourg glows in December. Half-timbered houses line quiet canals, the Gothic cathedral towers over lantern-lit lanes, and café windows steam with mulled wine and pastry. This is also where our journey together begins.
Your highlights
• A private canal cruise through La Petite France aboard a glass-roofed boat
• A guided walking tour of the old town, including the Cathédrale Notre-Dame
• Time on your own to browse one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets
The experience
Your first day starts with something special: a private cruise along Strasbourg's canals aboard a glass-topped boat, drifting past illuminated half-timbered houses in La Petite France. From there, a guided walking tour leads you through the old town and into the soaring Cathédrale Notre-Dame, one of Europe's great Gothic masterpieces. You'll then have time on your own to wander the market stalls, sip vin chaud, and pick up a few treasures before a comfortable coach ride returns you to the ship.
A little more to love
Strasbourg is two cultures in one gorgeous city — French elegance, German coziness, and a holiday atmosphere that feels made for strolling hand in hand.
Day 2 - Mannheim / Heidelberg
A romantic castle above a lively old university town.
Heidelberg pairs a magnificent hillside castle with one of Germany's most charming old towns — a place of grand ruins, riverside views, and the easy energy of a centuries-old university city.
Your highlights
• A guided walking tour of the Old Town
• A guided tour of Heidelberg Castle grounds, riding up by funicular
• Time on your own along the Hauptstrasse's holiday market stalls
The experience
After a scenic coach ride to Heidelberg, a local guide leads you through the cobblestone lanes of the Old Town before taking you up to Heidelberg Castle in style, aboard the historic funicular. Once you've explored the castle grounds and their sweeping views over the Neckar Valley, you'll have time to browse the festive stalls lining the Hauptstrasse, one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets, before heading back to the ship.
A little more to love
Few views in Europe match Heidelberg Castle at dusk — romantic, a little dramatic, and completely unforgettable.
Day 3 - Koblenz, Germany
Where the Rhine meets the Moselle at the Deutsches Eck.
Koblenz sits at one of Germany's great river crossroads — the dramatic meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle, watched over by a mighty fortress and threaded with handsome historic squares.
Your highlights
• A guided walking tour of Koblenz's historic old town
• The Deutsches Eck, where the Rhine and Moselle rivers converge
• Time to browse the riverside Christmas market
• A tour of Marksburg Castle
The experience
A guided walking tour brings you through Koblenz's handsome old-town squares and out to the dramatic Deutsches Eck, the point where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. From there, you'll have time to browse the market along the riverfront and warm up with regional wine and local treats. You'll also visit Marksburg Castle for a closer look at one of the fortresses guarding this stretch of river.
A little more to love
There's something wonderful about standing at the exact point where two storied rivers become one — with a fortress view thrown in for free.
Day 4 - Cochem, Germany
A fairytale castle & wine town tucked into the Moselle valley.
Tiny, colorful, and impossibly picturesque, Cochem curls along a bend of the Moselle beneath a hilltop castle — the kind of town that looks hand-painted, especially in its winter finery.
Your highlights
• A transfer up to Reichsburg Castle and a guided tour of its interior
• A guided walking tour of Cochem's colorful old town
• A tasting of local Moselle wines
• Free time in the town's Christmas market
The experience
You'll be whisked from the ship for the short ride up to Reichsburg Castle for a guided tour through its fairy-tale halls and towers, followed by a guided walking tour of Cochem's postcard-perfect old town. A tasting of crisp Moselle wines, grown on the steep hillsides just outside town, rounds things out nicely, with time left over to browse the market squares before heading back to the ship.
A little more to love
Cochem is the intimate counterpoint to the big cities — small, warm, and utterly charming, with some of the best white wine on Earth.
Day 5 - Cologne, Germany
A soaring cathedral, buzzing markets & big-city sparkle.
Cologne brings the energy: a colossal Gothic cathedral, a lively Rhine waterfront, world-class museums, and some of Germany's most celebrated Christmas markets — all with a famously open, welcoming spirit.
Your highlights
• A guided walking tour of Cologne's old town
• A visit inside the magnificent Cologne Cathedral
• Free time to explore the markets beneath the cathedral spires
The experience
A guided walking tour takes you through Cologne's lively old town and inside the soaring Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece . From there, you're free to explore the city's celebrated Christmas markets at your own pace — among the liveliest in Germany, with Kölsch and roasted chestnuts never far away.
A little more to love
Cologne is joyful, inclusive, and alive — a city that knows how to celebrate, and makes everyone feel like part of the party.
Day 6 - Rüdesheim, Germany
Rhine wine, the Drosselgasse & classic river-town cheer.
Rüdesheim is the Rhine at its most classic — vineyard slopes rising straight from the river, music drifting from snug taverns, and the famous Drosselgasse lane packed with warmth and cheer.
Your highlights
• A guided walking tour of Rüdesheim's old town
• A guided tour of the Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
• Time on your own along the lively Drosselgasse
The experience
A guided walking tour brings you through Rüdesheim's charming old town before a visit to the whimsical Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, home to a dazzling collection of self-playing instruments. You'll then have time on your own along the Drosselgasse, Rüdesheim's famously lively lane of taverns and wine stalls — the flaming Rüdesheimer coffee comes highly recommended. A little more to love
It's the Rhine distilled into one small town — wine, music, twinkling lights, and pure Gemütlichkeit.
Day 7 - Mainz, Germany
Gutenberg's city — cathedral squares, markets & wine.
The city where Gutenberg changed the world, Mainz blends a thousand years of history with an easygoing wine-country soul — grand cathedral, half-timbered squares, and a riverfront made for walking.
Your highlights
• A guided walking tour of Mainz's historic center
• A guided tour of the Gutenberg Museum, with a live printing demonstration
• Free time in the market surrounding the cathedral square
The experience
A guided walking tour leads you through Mainz's half-timbered lanes before a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, where a live printing demonstration brings the birth of the printed word to life. Afterward, you'll have free time to browse the stalls tucked around the cathedral square before we head back to the ship.
A little more to love
Mainz feels genuinely local — a proud, relaxed wine city where history is simply part of daily life.
Day 8 - Frankfurt, Germany
Skyline meets storybook at the Römerberg — farewell day.
Our journey ends where old and new Germany stand side by side — the gabled Römerberg square framed by a gleaming skyline, with festive energy filling the streets between.
Your highlights
• A guided walking tour of Frankfurt's old and new town
• Free time at the markets around the Römerberg, including the Frankfurt Gay Christmas Market
• A guided tour of the Städel Museum's renowned art collection
The experience
A guided walking tour introduces you to Frankfurt's striking mix of rebuilt medieval architecture and gleaming modern skyline. You'll then have free time to enjoy the markets around the Römerberg — including the popular Frankfurt Gay Christmas Market, always a highlight for our group. We'll end with a guided tour of the Städel Museum's celebrated art collection for anyone who'd like a cultural detour before we say goodbye.
A little more to love
Frankfurt sends you home with the perfect last image: centuries of history glowing beneath a 21st-century skyline, and a market that celebrates right alongside you.
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