Today on the way to Rüdesheim, our captain navigates a stretch of the Rhine River Gorge that has been marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beauty and impressively adapted vineyards and dwellings which cling to the river’s steepest riverbanks. Venture on deck with a proper cup of something hot and keep your eyes wide open for castle sightings (you are bound to see one of the 30+!) along the stark winter shore. And we will gather for a time of worship on this third Sunday of Advent.

Our afternoon visit to Rüdesheim will offer the opportunity to experience the city by gondola, bicycle, or on foot through the city’s markets. Those who really want to stretch their legs may choose to hike through a local vineyard home to hallmark German Rheingau varietals, including the region’s famed mineral-forward Riesling. As you explore the cobbled city streets, look out for the life size nativity scene which has been the enduring centerpiece of Rudesheim’s Christmas Market of Nations. Perhaps fortify yourself with a warm mug of the city’s unique Rudesheimer Coffee, traditionally prepared with an oak-barrel-aged local brandy whose production methods date back to 1892.