MS Victor Hugo, 4 Night The Magic of Christmas: Savory delights and holiday traditions on a Rhine River cruise ex Strasbourg, France Return

Join us for a cruise on the Rhine River to explore the oldest, most revered Christmas markets in Europe. Let yourself be swept away by the beauty and charm of long-standing holiday traditions that include dazzling lights, soothing mulled wine, and zesty gingerbread delights. Plunge into the holiday spirit on our exclusive European Christmas cruise.

Day 1
You’ll board our ship at 5 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. After dinner on board, join us for an evening celebrating the Alsatian holiday cookies known as bredeles. Our ship will cruise through the night.

Day 2
We’ll cruise the Rhine to the legendary rock of the Lorelei, following the twists and turns dominated by dramatic ruins, scenic vineyards, and majestic fortresses. Join us in the lounge and tast delicious bredeles!Our next stop is Rüdesheim, a picturesque village lined with narrow, cobblestone streets and half-timbered homes. We’ll board a tourist train(1) for Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, showcasing 350 self-playing, mechanical music instruments dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries and including delicate musical boxes and a gigantic piano-orchestrion. Then enjoy some free time on your own to discover the international Christmas market located in the city’s historic downtown area. The 120 wooden chalets set the stage for an authentic German Christmas market displaying artisan objects, great gift ideas, and delicious culinary specialties such as local confections and cookies, and of course, pretzels! The city is also home to one of the largest nativity scenes in Europe.You’ll return to the ship by walking down the infamous Drosselgasse, lined with numerous cafés and bars. We’ll enjoy dinner on board before a quick escape to the city again this evening to taste the exquisite Rüdesheimer Kaffee.

Day 3
We’ll cruise to Mainz in the early morning. Upon arrival, included excursion: Mainz and its Cathedral (2). Guided walking tour of the historic heart of Mainz. Admire its beautifully restored historic residences and its majestic cathedral. Its impressive silhouette dominates the city with its distinctive towers and rich architectural features. Then enjoy free time to stroll through the Christmas Market, set in a picturesque square against the backdrop of magnificent Renaissance-style historic houses. Wander along the lanes lined with the region’s characteristic Christmas pyramids and wooden chalets displaying handcrafted items, local curiosities and traditional specialties inspired by authentic family cuisine that will delight your taste buds. A true reflection of the German way of life, immerse yourself in this magical Christmas atmosphere to your heart’s content. Return to the ship on foot.After the tour, we’ll have lunch on the ship and spend the afternoon cruising to Gambsheim. Feel free to join us for a bit of onboard entertainment recounting Christmas traditions. Tonight is our festive gala evening. Our ship will cruise through the night.

Day 4
Once we arrive in Gambsheim, we’ll leave by coach for Wingen-sur-Moder and a visit to the Musée Lalique to learn about crystalware-genius René Lalique and his successors. Lalique became one of the greatest names of his time, both as a jeweler and a master glassmaker. His instantly recognizable style was a major influence in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. Discover the company’s wide range of impressive crystal and glass designs, pieces of jewelry, tableware, lights, and vases. Admire the fabulous collections and don’t miss the temporary exhibit just for the holidays! Christmas is the perfect time to showcase the exceptional past and present work of Lalique.Continuation towards Strasbourg for a panoramic tour, then return on board in Strasbourg for lunch.In the afternoon, feel free set out on your own to admire the lights around the city near the cathedral, the Place Kléber, Carré d’Or, and Place Gutenberg. It’s quite a sight! And don’t forget to browse a few of the Christmas Markets set up across the city. We’ll greet you with a hot cup of mulled wine* as you return on board.Enjoy an authentic Alsatian dinner this evening, followed by a quiz to test your knowledge about Alsatian Christmas Markets.

Day 5
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

The MS Victor Hugo is named after one of the most famous figures in French literature. This attractive standard ship sails on the Tisza, Sava, Elbe, Rhine and Danube, rivers with a vast history and culture. Completely refitted in 2019, the MS Victor Hugo is an intimate-sized standard ship, measuring 82 m long and 9,50 m wide. It can accommodate 90 passengers, in 45 comfortable and spacious cabins spread over two decks, offering amenities and providing guests with all the comforts they need during their stay. The decoration is a contribution to romanticism. Mineral and bluish colors refer to the Channel Islands where the writer was exiled, while touches of brass and some art-deco elements evoke the characteristic style of the period. Located on the upper deck, the restaurant offers a delicate cuisine in a refined setting, where large bay windows allow guests to fully enjoy the panorama. The lounge bar with a dance floor is located on the same deck, while on the sun deck, an ideal place to relax and admire the landscapes, passengers can enjoy comfortable sun loungers, as well as a large shaded area.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat’s design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.

Select the Deck to view detail.

MS Victor Hugo - Main Deck

MS Victor Hugo - Upper Deck

MS Victor Hugo - Sun Deck

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Upper Deck 1 double bed

Main Deck 1 double bed

Upper deck 2 beds

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings.

Beds are either 2 lower that can be joined to make a double or a fixed double bed. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Upper deck : 20 cabins (18 twins, 2 double cabins). Equipments : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Main deck 2 beds

All cabins are fitted out to give them a maximum of space and light and feature warm colours and furnishings.

Beds are either 2 lower that can be joined to make a double or a fixed double bed. They have a Floor to Ceiling window. Main deck : 29 cabins (26 twins, 3 double cabins). Equipments : all cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.