Christmas Markets on the Rhine with Dlx River Ship MS Leonora and SUN
CHRISTMAS MARKETS ON THE RHINE WITH DLX RIVER SHIP LEONORA
GERMANY – FRANCE
Düsseldorf (*Cologne) – Koblenz - Romantic Rhine Route – Rüdesheim - Worms /Speyer
(*Heidelberg) – Strasbourg 1 night accommodation(*Colmar) – Stuttgart
The ship cannot dock at the ports marked with (*). The cities and towns marked with (*) can be visited by private vehicle.
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FLIGHT INFORMATION |
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DIRECTION |
DATE |
FLIGHT CODE |
ROUTE |
DEPARTURE |
ARRIVAL |
|
OUTBOUND |
16.12.2026 |
XQ 958 |
ADB – DUS |
11:40 |
13:15 |
|
RETURN |
20.12.2026 |
XQ 973 |
STR- ADB |
14:10 |
18:55 |
Day 01 İZMİR ADNAN MENDERES – DÜSSELDORF
16 December 26 / Wednesday Meeting at 09:00 in front of the Sun Express Airlines counter at the International Departures Terminal of İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport. Following check-in and passport procedures, we fly to Düsseldorf at 11:40 on flight XQ 958. Arrival at 13:15 local time. After leaving the airport, we take a city tour of Düsseldorf and visit the Christmas markets. We then transfer to our ship and complete the check-in procedures. Our ship departs Düsseldorf at 17:00 today.
Day 02 KOBLENZ - ROMANTIC RHINE ROUTE CRUISE - RÜDESHEIM
17 December 26 / Thursday We will dock at the port of Koblenz at 06:00 in the morning. Guests who wish may join the extra Koblenz and Mountain Cable Car tour organized by our guide, where you can also see the Moselle River. We take the cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein Castle, from where we enjoy an aerial view of Koblenz’s famous German Corner, the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. We then take a walking tour of Koblenz and visit the Christmas Market. Our ship will depart from the port of Koblenz at 12:00. We cruise through the Romantic Rhine Route, the most beautiful section of the Rhine River. During this cruise, more than 20 medieval castles and magnificent landscapes can be seen. Following our ship’s arrival in Rüdesheim at 19:00, it will remain in port until 01:30 at night.
Day 03 WORMS - SPEYER
18 December 26 / Friday We dock at the port of Worms at 09:00 in the morning. After a short technical stop, our ship will set off for Speyer at 09:30. Our ship will arrive in Speyer at 12:30 and depart Speyer at 20:00.
Guests who wish may join the extra Heidelberg tour. We tour the city of Heidelberg, whose population consists predominantly of students. Heidelberg is also famous for its printing and printing press machinery, which is named after the city. Heidelberg Castle, the enormous wine barrel Grosses Fass exhibited in the castle cellars, Carl-Theodor Bridge, popularly known as the Old Bridge (Alte Brücke), and the Heiligegeistkirche (Historic Church) located in the very center of the Old Town are among the places to be seen. After the tour, we return to our ship waiting for us at the port of Speyer.
Day 04 STRASBOURG
19 December 26 / Saturday We arrive at the port of Strasbourg at 08:00 in the morning. Our ship will remain moored in Strasbourg tonight.
In the morning, we begin the extra Strasbourg and Colmar City tour with our guests. Strasbourg, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988, is also home to the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Strasbourg, the seventh-largest city in France by population, is where we first visit the European Court of Human Rights. After a photo stop in front of the building, we proceed to the historic city and begin our walking tour. Historic streets, Notre Dame Cathedral, Rohan Palace, Kammerzell, shopping streets and Kleber Square are among the places to be seen on this tour. We then walk with our guests who wish to the Petit France (Little France) district. Our tour ends with free time in the center of Strasbourg. Those who wish may explore Colmar in detail by mini train as an extra.
Day 05 STRASBOURG – STUTTGART- İZMİR ADNAN MENDERES
20 December 26 / Sunday After breakfast, we disembark from the ship and transfer to the airport for your return flight. Following check-in and passport control, we depart for İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport at 14:10 local time on Sun Express Airlines flight XQ 973. Our tour ends upon arrival in İzmir at 18:55 local time.
CANCELLATION & REFUND CONDITIONS
The following deduction amounts or rates will apply based on the date on which the cancellation request is made.
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FROM THE RESERVATION DATE TO THE DEPARTURE DATE |
APPLICABLE DEDUCTION RATE |
|
180 days or more before |
%10 |
|
179 – 159 days before |
%15 |
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158 – 120 days before |
%25 |
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119 – 90 days before |
%30 |
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89 – 60 days before |
%50 |
|
59 – 45 days before |
%60 |
|
44 – 30 days before |
%75 |
|
29 – 10 days before |
%90 |
|
9 days or fewer before |
%100 |
The ship, which began operating in 2008, initially sailed under the name Avalon Scenery and was later renamed Ms Leonora. It was completely renovated in 2025, with the refurbishment completed. The ship is 110 m long, 11.40 m wide, 5.85 m high and has a total of 3 decks. It features 67 cabins and has a passenger capacity of 138. Cabins with French balconies are 16 m² in size. All cabins are equipped with amenities such as air conditioning, TV, telephone, minibar, safe, hairdryer, clothes hangers, towels and shampoo. On the ship, where approximately 40 friendly staff members will serve you, you can also fully enjoy the river on the Sun Deck, the top deck of the ship, with complimentary sun loungers, tables and seating areas. At the Restaurant on the lowest deck of the ship, you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the table assigned to you on board. In the Club Lounge Bar at the rear of the ship, prepared for you, you can spend a pleasant time playing card games, backgammon and okey. In the Lounge at the entrance of the ship, you can attend local shows, presentations about the rivers, events such as the “Welcome” and “Farewell cocktails”, and activities such as “Tea & Coffee hour refreshments”. In addition, thanks to the Turkish program sent to your cabins every night, you can easily follow the next day’s schedule.
Important information regarding your flight;
* The airport meeting time is generally 2 hours and 30 minutes before the flight, and the details will be communicated separately 2 days before the tour departure. Due to security checks at European airports, you will be transferred to the airport 3 hours before the return flight.
* Departure and arrival times are local times and are determined by the airlines..
* There is limited availability for domestic flight connections; availability must be checked during the final reservation and the arrangements must then be made.
* Cities providing connections other than Ankara and Izmir must also be confirmed.
* Confirmed domestic flight connections are valid for the most suitable domestic flight available within 24 hours.
* Domestic connection prices may not be valid for groups. Please ask about our special prices.
* The Operator Agency acts as an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol dated 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delays on scheduled and charter flights, or the times may change before the existing tour and flight. The Operator Agency is obliged to notify you of these changes as soon as possible. Our passengers have purchased the tour knowing and accepting that the flight details may change.
Things you need to know about OUR RIVER TOURS;
- There is no minimum participation requirement for our tour. It is definitely scheduled to operate in December and is conducted with a Turkish-speaking guide.
- Guests holding an ordinary (burgundy) passport need a visa. Multiple Entry / Multiple Schengen)
- Guests holding a green passport and service passport do not need a visa.
- You must have a passport valid for 6 months from the end date of the trip and issued no more than 10 years ago.
- Obtaining foreign currency in euros before the trip will make cash payments during your shopping more convenient.
- For purchases of 100 euros or more, you may request a tax refund form. After leaving the European Union, you can complete the tax refund procedures at the last point of exit following customs and other procedures.
- There are no doctors or medical personnel on river vessels. In emergencies, reception will call medical teams from the nearest healthcare facility to the ship within a very short time. However, for any health-related need, our ship stops at the nearest point to medical institutions and assists in the urgent transfer of ill guests to hospitals or similar institutions. We also recommend that you bring the medications you regularly use, together with their prescriptions, and obtain comprehensive travel health insurance.
Healthcare services provided on board and at healthcare facilities are subject to a fee.
- We do not expect you to encounter any problems that could threaten your health in the meals you consume during your ship journey. Nevertheless, when you are not on board, we recommend that you be careful about eating and drinking, consume only bottled water, avoid ice, milk and dairy products, consume meat and fish products that you are sure have been thoroughly cooked, and choose fruits such as bananas and pineapples that can be peeled.
- As you may enter more than one country during your trip, the applicable local time for each port visited by the ship will be stated. Since disembarkation and boarding will take place according to the time at the port where you are located, please adjust your watches accordingly.
- During navigation on river vessels, especially when crossing borders, your mobile phone can be used if your line is enabled for international calls (roaming). Sometimes, your mobile phone may lose signal because there are no base stations in forested areas.
- During your trip, we recommend that our male guests bring a suit and our female guests bring an evening dress for the captain's Welcome & Farewell Cocktail evenings. If traveling during the summer season, we recommend bringing t-shirts, short- and long-sleeved shirts, cotton trousers, shorts, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket and a thin sweater for the evenings, all of which can be easily put on and taken off. In addition, you may bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, earplugs for possible noise, a camera, a video camera, their chargers and spare memory cards. During the winter season, we recommend clothing that allows you to move comfortably and keeps you warm. The open areas of the ship may be cool in every season while sailing.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the main dining restaurant on board. In addition, afternoon tea and light snacks are served at night in the lounge area upstairs.
- The electrical outlets in the cabins are the same as those in Turkey.
- Accommodation at hotels before or after the river cruise program may not be of the same standard as our river ship. They should not be expected to provide the same services. During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events and sports tournaments, hotels may be used at distances greater than the specified kilometers. Triple rooms may be provided depending on hotel availability, and in such rooms the bed provided for the third person may be smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed and 1 additional bed. Since additional beds consist of foldable beds, also known as opening-closing beds and coach beds, participants making reservations for a third person and/or child are deemed to have declared that they accept the possible lack of space and bed type in the rooms. Child discounts are valid for one (1) child staying with 2 adults and meeting the age group specified in the pricing section.
- If hotel accommodation outside our ship is included in the tour program, the breakfasts provided are served in accordance with the breakfast culture of the country visited and generally consist of a limited continental breakfast menu of butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee; for groups, they may be served in a separate room allocated to the group.
SOME TECHNICAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR RIVER TOURS;
- The times stated in the program were obtained from Sun Express Airlines‘ and Scylla Cruise. Otto Cruise is not responsible for any changes that may occur in the times. Therefore, due to any change in schedule, Otto Cruise may make changes to the days without disrupting the content of the program and the scope of the services.
- The durations of the tours at the ports, the places to be visited and their order are determined by the operator company and may be changed or completely cancelled when necessary.
- Otto Cruise will not be responsible for natural disasters such as rises or falls in river water levels, or force majeure situations such as strikes occurring in level pools / canals or the inability to dock at the planned port.
- Otto Cruise will not be responsible for out-of-program situations that may arise in such cases, such as a change of port or a change in the arrival and departure times at the port.
- During the flight, each passenger is entitled to take one piece of luggage into the cabin measuring 36 cm (height) x 23 cm (width) x 56 cm (length). In addition, each passenger is entitled to take 1 suitcase weighing no more than 20 to 23 kilograms, provided that it is checked into the aircraft's baggage hold.
- One of the dinners you will have during the ship journey is an official dinner, and our guests are expected to bring formal attire for this evening.
- During check-in on the ship, each guest will hand over their passport and receive their cabin key. In some cases, passports may be collected for the ship manifest and local procedures. Passports will be returned on the same day.
- Guests who will make their onboard purchases by credit card must register their credit cards at reception within 5 days after the start of the trip. No charge will be made to your credit card and no specific amount will be blocked during the registration process.
- *The ship's departure times must be strictly observed. At ports, you must board the ship no later than 45 minutes before the ship's departure time. Otherwise, you may not be allowed to board the ship. Otto Cruise will not be responsible for such a situation. Passengers who miss the plane or ship are responsible for the transportation costs required to rejoin the tour.
- It is strictly forbidden to bring alcoholic beverages, irons, hair dryers, water heaters, bottle warmers, electric blankets or similar items onto the ship. There is a hair dryer in every cabin and a water heater in many cabins.
- At the beginning of our ship journey, luggage tags in specific colors will be assigned for your luggage. Filling out these tags completely is extremely important to ensure that your luggage is delivered correctly to your cabins.
- Your luggage may not arrive at your cabin immediately on the ship's first departure day. Therefore, it is advisable to place your essential items in a small hand luggage bag and take it with you on the first day you board the ship.
- On the first day of your trip, a safety drill and presentation will be held so that you can familiarize yourself with the evacuation procedures in an emergency. Participation is extremely important. Your guides and the ship employee responsible for your room will direct you to the meeting point for the drill.
- Every evening, a detailed program for the following day will be left in your cabin. This program contains complete information about all activities on the ship, entertainment events and important notes.
- We kindly ask you to take good care of all your personal belongings throughout the tour. There is a safe in all cabins on the ship where you can store your valuables. Our agency accepts no responsibility for the loss or theft of money and valuable personal belongings left in the cabin or luggage. Support will be provided to send your found belongings to you by cash-on-delivery cargo service from the country where they were found.
At the end of your ship journey, the tags that will be left in your cabins one night beforehand must be attached. You must leave your luggage in front of your cabin doors early in the morning; it will then be collected and lined up in front of the buses that will provide the transfer. It will be collected by the passengers here.
What's Included
Airport taxes & port taxes
4 nights' full-board accommodation on the Deluxe River Ship, built in 2008 and completely renovated in 2025 (Full board begins with dinner on the day of embarkation and ends with breakfast on the day of disembarkation)
Airport transfers (on the day of embarkation and the day of disembarkation)
Live music and activities on board
All-day coffee & tea station and afternoon tea treats on board
Welcome Cocktail
Captain’s Gala Cocktail, Gala Special Menu
Luggage handling service on the first and last day of the cruise
Professional Turkish guidance and assistance services
Tourist city taxes (50 Euros)
TURSAB compulsory professional liability insurance
Not Included
Visa fee and service charge
Domestic connecting flight ticket
Ship Personnel Service Fee (calculated at 15 Euros per person per night and added to your room account as a total of 60 Euros per person)
All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on board
All personal expenses
Entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites not specified in the program
Travel & Health Insurance and surcharge premium (for guests aged 65 and over)
Tips for drivers and guides
International departure fee