Christmas markets in Europe

Sail, shop, sail and shop some more on a Rhine River cruise that stops at some of Europe’s unique Christmas markets. In France, visitors can sift through the stalls at the annual market in front of Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral. And in Germany, Heidelberg hosts a distinctive holiday bazaar, with its Christmas Pyramid, a rotating tower featuring historic figures. Also, visitors will take a canal cruise through Strasbourg and a walking tour of Koblenz and will explore Cologne Cathedral, a Gothic monument.

Info: Uniworld Grand River Cruises, Palm Beach, Fla.; (800) 733-7820, www.uniworld.com.

Itinerary: Basel, Switzerland; Strasbourg, France; Speyer, Heidelberg, Mainz, Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne, Germany.

Dates: Dec. 14 to 22.

Price: Fares start at $2,498, double occupancy (single supplement $1,698), including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Basel and home from Cologne, the cruise aboard the River Queen, all onboard meals, eight shore excursions with English-speaking guides and airport transfers. Port taxes of $84 are not included.