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Douglass Payne
Douglass Payne
Senior Coordinator of Alumni Education and Travel
Catherine Nichols
Catherine Nichols
Senior Coordinator of Faculty Relations and Travel
Audrey Liles
Audrey Liles
Coordinator of Alumni Enrichment

2024 Holiday Markets

Dec. 10 – 18, 2024 ~ Waitlist Only
Tour Operator: AHI (Read more and book online.)
Price: From $2,995 (airfare additional)
Tour Length: 9 days
View brochure (PDF)

Feel the magic of the holidays in Germany and France on a seven-night Rhine River cruise! Celebrate centuries-old traditions in festive markets aglow with twinkling lights and good cheer and overflowing with handmade decorations and other treasures. Savor the sounds of carolers and bells and the scent of nutmeg, cinnamon and fresh pine in the air. Visit Heidelberg’s castle and enjoy an exclusive musical performance in the romantic old town. You’ll also stroll through Freiburg, a vibrant university city, and admire the details of Cologne’s spectacular cathedral. In the ports of Breisach, Strasbourg, Rüdesheim and Düsseldorf, choose excursions that fit your interests, such as wine tastings, culinary tours or cultural experiences. Aboard your exclusively chartered, first-class ship, revel in the beauty of the Rhine Gorge and sip warm, spicy Glühwein. This heartwarming journey includes an ample meal plan, plus wine and beer with lunch and dinner. There is no supplement for solo travelers.

Schedule of Events

  • Day 1 : Depart U.S.
  • Day 2 : Zurich | Transfer to ship in Basel
  • Day 3 : Breisach | Freiburg
  • Day 4 : Strasbourg
  • Day 5 : Mannheim | Heidelberg
  • Day 6 : Rudesheim | Rhine Gorge | Cologne
  • Day 7 : Cologne
  • Day 8 : Dusseldorf
  • Day 9 : Disembark sip | In Transit

Eligibility

We offer the Tar Heel Travel program as a service to our alumni and friends of the University. As travel is a Carolina Alumni member perk, we require one traveler per room to be a Carolina Alumni member in order to be eligible to travel. For more information or to join, contact the membership office at (800) 962-0742 or become a Carolina Alumni member online.

Mobility Information

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy your tour to its fullest.

Our trips involve a considerable amount of daily standing and walking, up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets. Typical distances are between 2-4 miles per day, unassisted. Some tours have excursions in high altitudes, very early morning departures and/or excursions involving Zodiacs and/or floating docks.

Please contact the tour operator directly with concerns specific to your tour and your needs. For highly active tours, you may wish to speak with your doctor.

Additional Information

Note: Tour schedule is subject to change due to local conditions. Many excursions in this program involve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are located in areas not closely accessible by motorcoach.

Join Tar Heel Travel’s listserv, and don’t forget to connect with Tar Heel Travel on Facebook and Twitter.

All prices and itineraries (including port order) are tentative and subject to change; final pricing adjustments may occur after the release of marketing materials.

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