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The Captain's Lounge, Sky Lounge, Main Lounge, and Library take the experience of guests to a whole new level. Decor includes poinsettias, garlands and a 24-foot-tall Christmas tree, according to the line's website. Characters dress in holiday attire, too, and guests can meet Santa Claus, among other activities, though exact offerings vary by ship and itinerary. Aboard our ship decked out in festive décor, travel to some of the most fascinating destinations in the country as you are treated to the best in holiday-inspired cuisine, music, and onboard and onshore enrichment. Uniworld offers its Belgian Holiday Markets cruise on four departure dates from late November through mid-December 2024 (and three December dates in 2025). In Vienna, you can choose to visit one of the city's 100+ museums or visit the iconic Opera House before heading to the Christmas market for a glass of mulled wine and shopping.
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Discover the magic of a Christmas markets cruise, and celebrate Yuletide as the Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians do. It's most important to choose a cruise based on which destinations you wish to visit and which travel dates and itinerary lengths work with your schedule. Fares include meals, drinks during meals and happy hour, Wi-Fi, a library, excursions, bike rentals and a fitness center. Gratuity is not included for hotel stays and meals during the land portion of your trip.
The 8 best Christmas market river cruises for 2024
The cruise ends in Rousse, where you can venture further into Romania to Bucharest, which is known as the "Little Paris of the East" for a city tour and Christmas Market. Day four brings the group to Mannheim, Germany, where you can enjoy a funicular ride to Heidelberg Castle or tour the town of Baden-Baden where the Christmas market is not to be missed. Each ship in the Riverside Luxury Cruises fleet is all-suite and comes with butler service. Ships offer an indoor pool and a Jacuzzi to use before or after your trips ashore.
Reasons to Take a European Christmas Market River Cruise in 2023
Travelers looking to explore all of the Old World historic charm of Belgium will want to book Uniworld's Belgian Holiday Markets cruise. The seven-night cruise visits Belgium and the Netherlands, with port days in iconic cities like Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp. In Rüdesheim, you can choose to take part in a coffee and hot chocolate tasting, marvel at one of the largest mechanical music box collections in the world, enjoy a wine tasting or explore the city on your own. The evening is spent sailing through the Rhine Gorge as you pass 30 castles along the shore. If you're looking for a short sailing to tack onto the beginning or end of a trip, Riverside Luxury Cruises offers four-night Danube River sailings that start in Vienna, Austria, and end in Passau, Germany. The majority of the trip is spent in Austria, with port days in Vienna, Krems, Melk and Linz before a final day in Passau.
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Alternatively, you can visit Valkenburg's underground Christmas market, located inside a cave. The last stop of the cruise is Antwerp, Belgium, where you can enjoy a concert, a beer tasting and time to enjoy the city at your leisure. The last day in Germany is spent in Cologne, where you can visit the beautiful Christmas markets that dot the city landscape, as well as lace up some skates to glide around an open-air ice rink. The cruise ends in Amsterdam, where you can choose to visit the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt House Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, along with taking a scenic canal cruise through the city. The next two days make Strasbourg, France the home port from which you can choose to visit Europa Park in Rust, Germany, or head to Colmar, France, which is famous for its Christmas Markets and Cheese Museum. Be sure to get the town's specialty, a steaming bowl of moules frites (mussels with fries), for Christmas lunch.
Here, you will be able to get numerous unique gifts that are not available anywhere else in the world. River cruises during the winter offer travelers the chance to experience Europe in its most magnificent form. You can cruise on the Rhine with castles sitting on white frosted hills or walk the streets of Nuremberg, exploring the famous Christmas markets. Visiting the Christmas market in Europe will allow you to immerse yourself in the traditions and celebrations of the holiday season. You will visit cathedrals and abbeys, listen to local singers and musicians, and learn about local holiday traditions. The AmaDouro of the AmaWaterways is one of the best river cruise ships on the Douro River.
Imagine sailing down one of Europe's iconic rivers as picturesque villages, castles and landscapes pass you by, all while twinkling lights from nearby Christmas markets dance on the water. While this might sound like a fairytale, it can be a reality on a Christmas market river cruise. Ten-day Christmastime from Nuremberg to Basel offers a Christmas market cruise 2023 on the Main Danube Canal as well as the Main and Rhine River. You’ll visit the wine town of Rüdesheim, the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and Heidelberg Castle to name a few highlights. A host of river cruise lines have already unveiled their Christmas market cruises 2023 so holidaymakers can get planning their trip for next year.
Enjoy these cities in full festive flow, tuck into gingerbread and visit the Christmas markets. While a cruise on the Rhine is very relaxing and the pace leisurely, to enjoy all the cruise has to offer, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances. If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries we visit on this tour to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel. If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund for the unused land portion if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply.
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So use the morning to walk around town or get tickets to tour the Anne Frank House. On your second day in Amsterdam, visit the Rijksmuseum and take an evening canal cruise with the group. Foodies will love it when the cruise heads to Gouda to explore the history of the city plus get a tasting of stroopwafels, which are cookie sandwiches invented in the city.
It is advisable to consider the specific area you are in and frame your expectations accordingly. If you are uncertain about pricing at different Christmas markets, the cruise concierge can provide valuable insights and guidance. The medieval town is transformed into a fairy-tale wonderland, with winding streets, Tudor houses, and glittering lights. Visitors to this market should try the famous Rothenburger Schneeball pastry, a fried golden pastry made with plum Schnapps. Mulled wine, otherwise known as gluhwein or glogg, is a Christmas market delicacy in Europe. Typically, it is red wine infused with cinnamon, cloves, and oranges, sometimes cocktails with brandy, amaretto, or vodka, and served in quirky souvenir mugs.
We have another delicious lunch on board before we reach Boppard, a gorgeous town on a dramatic, almost U-shaped river bend. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’, the town is renowned for its storybook medieval atmosphere of captivating cobbled streets lined by tucked-away shops, traditional houses and characterful restaurants. Like many riverside settlements in the area, the Romans founded Boppard and their legacy remains in the superbly preserved town walls the finest in Germany. This delightful medieval setting provides a picturesque backdrop for a crisp but cosy December day, with the bewitching lights bedecking the half-timbered buildings. If you are planning a Christmas market river cruise in Europe, AmaMagna by AmaWaterways is definitely worth considering. It is one of the largest river cruises in the region and offers a unique experience.
If you want to spend Christmas on a river cruise ship, book onto our Rhine Christmas Charms or A Festive Fairy Tale itinerary. You’ll join the ship for a week-long cruise a few days before Christmas Day, and tick off a handful of German ports – with Strasbourg in France thrown in for good measure. In the spirit of the season, you can expect festive treats like mulled wine and Christmas carols throughout your sailing. On our Rhine Christmas Charms itinerary you’ll spend the big day in Koblenz, where you can see the meeting point of the Moselle and Rhine rivers.
This morning enjoy more glorious views of dramatic, rocky vineyard-topped valley sides dotted with romantic ruined castles. What better way to spend your last morning on board than on deck or in the welcoming lounge as we progress majestically downstream. As the towering spires of Cologne’s cathedral come into view on the wintry skyline, we moor in the shadow of this ancient monument once again. It took six centuries to complete, and among its many treasures are the magnificent stained glass windows and gilded sarcophagus said to contain the remains of the three kings from the Nativity story. This majestic building provides a superb setting for the huge Christmas tree which stands proudly in Cathedral Square. We also see the vibrant old town, beautifully restored and boasting an abundance of excellent shopping and cosy bars, some of which still brew their own beer.
Available staterooms start at $3,898 for the Dec. 18 cruise and $4,098 for the Dec. 11 and 25 cruises, per person based on double occupancy. The fares include one night in a hotel before the cruise, all food and drinks, Wi-Fi and more. If your cruise starts in Amsterdam, you don't have to be on the ship until 4 p.m.
You can enjoy warm, fatty sausages just off the grill, fresh pancakes, and garlic-and-cheese flatbread here. Visiting a Christmas market is one of the most fun and interesting things to do during the festive season. Various cruise lines offer this tour to make sure that all the visitors can experience the deep-rooted European tradition and feel the magic of these beautiful and enchanting Christmas markets.
Pack comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in, as many of the sites visited were built centuries ago and have uneven surfaces, some steep inclines and many steps. For the welcome and farewell dinners, you may wish to dress more formally – jacket and tie for men, casually elegant attire for ladies (not required). Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate service animals on any river cruise for medical and legal reasons. If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and inform us at time of booking. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling.
