Think about crusing down one in every of Europe’s iconic rivers as picturesque villages, castles and landscapes cross you by, all whereas twinkling lights from close by Christmas markets dance on the water. Whereas this may sound like a fairytale, it may be a actuality on a Christmas market river cruise.
From late November by means of December yearly, most river cruise firms with Europe-based ships take excited passengers to idyllic cities to study Christmas traditions, store at native Christmas markets and check out tasty seasonal treats.
These river cruises solely run seasonally whereas the markets are open, so they have an inclination to guide up shortly with passengers starting from older adults to all forms of households searching for a winter vacation crammed with festive enjoyable.
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Right here, we listing the eight greatest Christmas markets river cruises to soak up 2024, together with tricks to get essentially the most out of every crusing and highlights to not miss.
Finest for brief cruises: Riverside Luxurious Cruises’ Christmas on the Danube
Should you’re searching for a brief crusing to tack onto the start or finish of a visit, Riverside Luxurious Cruises presents four-night Danube River sailings that begin in Vienna, Austria, and finish in Passau, Germany. Nearly all of the journey is spent in Austria, with port days in Vienna, Krems, Melk and Linz earlier than a closing day in Passau.
In Vienna, you’ll be able to select to go to one of many metropolis’s 100+ museums or go to the long-lasting Opera Home earlier than heading to the Christmas marketplace for a glass of mulled wine and procuring. For these interested by wine, Krems is a must-see vacation spot identified for among the greatest wines within the nation. Earlier than departing from Passau, remember to discover the Christmas market in addition to St. Stephen’s Cathedral to see the spectacular organ, which is the greatest cathedral organ on the earth with nearly 18,000 pipes.
Every ship within the Riverside Luxurious Cruises fleet is all-suite and comes with butler service. Ships supply an indoor pool and a Jacuzzi to make use of earlier than or after your journeys ashore.
Associated: Finest river cruises in Europe
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Riverside Luxurious Cruises’ Christmas Ambiance Alongside the Danube cruises depart in early and mid-December 2024. Fares begin at $1,161 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy.
All of your meals, one tour per vacation spot, gratuities, Wi-Fi, butler service and transfers are additionally included in your cruise fare. Alcoholic drinks are solely included with the Premium All-Inclusive Package deal, which could be chosen at reserving.
Finest for Francophiles: CroisiEurope’s Christmas within the Seine Valley
France is thought for among the most photogenic Christmas markets in Europe, and you’ve got the possibility to see a few of them on a five-night Christmas within the Seine Valley river cruise with CroisiEurope Cruises. These shorter cruises are nice if you would like to spend just a few days in Paris earlier than stepping onto the cruise ship and crusing to a few different stunning cities.
The river cruise begins in Paris, the place you’ll be able to spend the day exploring the town, seeing the Christmas markets in Montmartre or Saint Germain or looking for high-end presents alongside the Champs-Élysées earlier than the 5 p.m. all-aboard time.
Day two will carry you to Rouen, the place you’re invited to hitch Christmas Eve dinner and midnight mass. You may additionally get to see extra of Rouen on day 4 and take a guided tour. You probably have free time, remember to cease in at La Couronne, the oldest working restaurant in France and the place that impressed Julia Baby to begin cooking.
Spend Christmas Day in Honfleur, one of many cutest cities on the voyage. Make sure to get the city’s specialty, a steaming bowl of moules frites (mussels with fries), for Christmas lunch. After three days of touring smaller cities, you may return to Paris, the place the Eiffel Tower is seen from the banks of the Seine.
CroisiEurope’s Christmas within the Seine Valley cruise departs Dec. 23, 2024. Fares begin at $1,570 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy.
Included with the price of the cruise are your whole meals and most drinks, free Wi-Fi, all onboard actions and port charges. Headsets are additionally included for excursions in the event you select to go along with the group for excursions somewhat than venturing off by yourself.
Associated: Finest river cruise strains all over the world
Finest for households: Adventures by Disney’s Rhine River Christmas Markets Cruise
Households trying to discover Christmas markets by means of Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands will get pleasure from Adventures by Disney’s Rhine River Cruise: Christmas Markets crusing. The eight-day cruise permits youngsters as younger as 5 to hitch, although Disney’s urged age is 8 or older.
What actually makes Adventures by Disney stand out is the Journey Guides, Disney-trained leaders who’re consultants in every vacation spot. Every Journey Information travels with the group all through the cruise so your loved ones actually will get to know them, and so they get to know you. This enables them to make personalised suggestions about actions and meals. As you stroll by means of every city they share the historical past, tradition and legends of the vacation spot.
The weeklong journey begins in Basel, Switzerland. The subsequent two days make Strasbourg, France the house port from which you’ll be able to select to go to Europa Park in Rust, Germany, or head to Colmar, France, which is legendary for its Christmas Markets and Cheese Museum. You may have many of the second day to get pleasure from Strasbourg.
Day 4 brings the group to Mannheim, Germany, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a funicular journey to Heidelberg Fortress or tour the city of Baden-Baden the place the Christmas market is to not be missed.
In Rüdesheim, you’ll be able to select to participate in a espresso and sizzling chocolate tasting, marvel at one of many largest mechanical music field collections on the earth, get pleasure from a wine tasting or discover the town by yourself. The night is spent crusing by means of the Rhine Gorge as you cross 30 castles alongside the shore.
The final day in Germany is spent in Cologne, the place you’ll be able to go to the gorgeous Christmas markets that dot the town panorama, in addition to lace up some skates to glide round an open-air ice rink. The cruise ends in Amsterdam, the place you’ll be able to select to go to the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt Home Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, together with taking a scenic canal cruise by means of the town.
Adventures by Disney’s Rhine River Cruise: Christmas Markets cruise departs Dec. 19, 2024. Fares begin at $6,599 per grownup and $5,899 per little one beneath 11, primarily based on double occupancy.
Fares for the once-a-year cruise embrace most meals, drinks at lunch and dinner (plus a nightly cocktail hour the place a spread of blended drinks are complimentary), excursions in every port of name, porter service, transportation in port, Wi-Fi, gratuities for onboard employees and Journey Guides, and onboard leisure.
Associated: Are river cruises proper for youths?
Finest for {couples}: Viking’s Danube Christmas Delights
{Couples} trying to get away for the vacations ought to think about Viking’s Danube Christmas Delights river cruise. The seven-night cruise takes passengers to 4 nations: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. The journey combines alternatives to discover the ports of name with lectures and cultural performances onboard the ship.
In Budapest, you may spend two days exploring the town at locations like Fortress Hill and the Grand Market Corridor earlier than procuring and eating on the Christmas market in entrance of St. Stephen’s Basilica. Then in Bratislava, Slovakia, the group will attend an organ live performance and procuring on the Outdated City Christmas market.
In Vienna, Austria, the entire metropolis comes alive with lights and a festive spirit. One factor to not miss right here is the extra-charge tour to a neighborhood vineyard, the place you’ll rejoice the yr’s harvest and classic.
One other spotlight of the cruise is Krems, the place the group will go to Göttweig Abbey and get unique entry to the chapel within the inside courtyard to see the nativity scene. (The chapel is often closed to guests.) Lastly, in Passau, you’ll be able to watch an Creation wreath demonstration or take a flight to see the landmark Neuschwanstein Fortress, which impressed Walt Disney’s Sleeping Magnificence Fortress at Disneyland Park.
Viking presents Danube Christmas Delights river cruises from late November by means of mid-December in 2024 and 2025. Fares begin at $2,799 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy.
Fares embrace shore excursions in each port; free Wi-Fi; all meals; beer, wine and gentle drinks with lunch and dinner; port taxes and costs; and visits to UNESCO World Heritage Websites. In choose ports, passengers can join non-obligatory excursions which might be an added price. These might be well worth the upcharge, relying on the kind of expertise you wish to have.
Finest for old-world allure: Uniworld’s Belgian Vacation Markets
Vacationers trying to discover the entire Outdated World historic allure of Belgium will wish to guide Uniworld’s Belgian Vacation Markets cruise. The seven-night cruise visits Belgium and the Netherlands, with port days in iconic cities like Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp.
The cruise is a closed loop, beginning and ending in Brussels. On day one, take time to discover the town by yourself after dropping your baggage off on the ship. Then on day two within the metropolis, get pleasure from all of the chocolate you’ll be able to with a tour and chocolate tasting, plus a go to to the Christmas market. On day three, you may have to determine whether or not to go to Ghent or Bruges, each of which have stunning structure and a Christmas market and supply alternatives to attempt native meals.
The cruise continues into the Netherlands at Maastricht, the place you’ll be able to discover the town and its Christmas market, or head to Aachen, Germany, for festive enjoyable. Alternatively, you’ll be able to go to Valkenburg’s underground Christmas market, situated inside a cave. The final cease of the cruise is Antwerp, Belgium, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a live performance, a beer tasting and time to benefit from the metropolis at your leisure.
Uniworld presents its Belgian Vacation Markets cruise on 4 departure dates from late November by means of mid-December 2024 (and three December dates in 2025). Fares begin from $3,799 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy.
The cruise fare contains premium spirits and wine, entry to bikes and strolling sticks, health lessons, Wi-Fi, enrichment lectures, and shore excursions in every port. Onboard gratuities and group transfers to and from the airport are additionally included.
Associated: River cruise packing listing: What to pack when touring by riverboat
Finest for solo vacationers: Tauck’s Yuletide Spirit
Solo vacationers trying to get pleasure from a river cruise with out the effort of a single complement ought to take a look at Tauck’s Christmas market itineraries. On all European river cruises, together with the seven-night Yuletide Spirit: Amsterdam to Brussels cruise, the road waives the one complement on Class 1 riverview cabins.
In case your cruise begins in Amsterdam, you do not have to be on the ship till 4 p.m. so use the morning to stroll round city or get tickets to tour the Anne Frank Home. In your second day in Amsterdam, go to the Rijksmuseum and take a night canal cruise with the group. Foodies will find it irresistible when the cruise heads to Gouda to discover the historical past of the town plus get a tasting of stroopwafels, that are cookie sandwiches invented within the metropolis.
The midpoint of the cruise will carry you to the choice to go to both Ghent, which is without doubt one of the oldest cities in Belgium, or Bruges, identified for its medieval structure and exquisite canals. The cruise additionally visits Antwerp, the place you’ll be able to discover the assorted Christmas markets which might be unfold all through the town. Your journey ends in Brussels, with a complete day to discover the lovable squares and charming markets and check out native fare.
Tauck presents 4 December departures of its Yuletide Spirit: Amsterdam to Brussels cruise in 2024 and 2025, which means the final cruise units sail after Christmas. Fares begin at $3,690 for solo vacationers in a Class 1 room, however guide quickly as the one rooms are already promoting out.
Solo vacationers ought to know that these cabins do not have a balcony and are the smallest on the riverboat at 150 sq. ft, however you probably will not be spending a lot time in your room on this crusing. The cruise fare contains all gratuities, personal shore excursions, meals, limitless drinks together with premium spirits, and fundamental Wi-Fi, plus airport and prepare transfers.
Finest for an prolonged cruise: Avalon Waterways’ Festive Time on the Romantic Rhine
Vacationers searching for an extended cruise that sails deep into the southern a part of Europe will wish to think about the Avalon Waterways’ Festive Time on the Romantic Rhine river cruise, which incorporates one evening in Lucerne and three nights in Lake Como. There are additionally Festive Time on the Romantic Rhine itineraries that do not embrace the land-based post-cruise days if you’d like a shorter journey.
For the longer 12-night cruise and land-based journey, friends will embark the cruise ship in Amsterdam, the place they’ll get pleasure from a day of free exploration earlier than boarding the riverboat, adopted by an Amsterdam canal cruise on day two. The cruise then departs for Germany, the place it is possible for you to to discover the Christmas markets in Cologne and Rüdensheim on days three and 4. Day 5 is when vacationers can get pleasure from Mainz and see the Gutenberg Museum or journey additional on a bus to Heidelberg to discover Heidelberg Fortress.
Day six brings the cruise to Strasbourg, France, the place you’ll be able to tour the La Petite France District and wander by means of the nice and cozy glow of the Christmas market. The cruise then heads again to Germany to go to the Black Forest, the place you’ll be able to study native traditions and German winemaking.
The ultimate cease on the cruise is Basel, Switzerland, the place you’ll disembark the ship to take a motor coach tour that begins in Mount Pilates, the place you’ll journey 7,000 ft up the mountain in a gondola for unbelievable views. Your journey continues with a land-based post-cruise bus tour to Italy’s Lake Como on days 9 by means of 12. You’ll be able to take a ship journey across the lake, discover the town by yourself and marvel on the Duomo.
Avalon Waterways supply its Festive Time on the Romantic Rhine cruise on Dec. 8, 2024. Costs begin at $4,822 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy.
Fares embrace meals, drinks throughout meals and completely happy hour, Wi-Fi, a library, excursions, bike leases and a health heart. Gratuity will not be included for resort stays and meals throughout the land portion of your journey.
Finest for distinctive locations: AmaWaterways’ Gems of Southeast Europe
Whereas many river cruises traverse the waters round France, Germany and Austria, AmaWaterways’ Gems of Southeast Europe itinerary takes friends to Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Romania. The seven-night cruise sails between Budapest and Giurgiu alongside the Danube River.
In case your crusing begins in Budapest, you may have to arrive a day early in the event you plan to discover the town; the cruise doesn’t supply excursions right here. Your first cease will likely be Mohacs, the place you’ll be able to benefit from the close by Christmas Markets in Pecs or enterprise to Szekszárd for a wine tasting. Day three is cut up between Vukovar and Novi Unhappy, the place you’ll be able to discover the historic cities and benefit from the vacation cheer with dwell music, artisan crafts and pleasant bites of meals.
The cruise continues to Belgrade, the place you’ll be able to wander across the metropolis by yourself, take a hike to Belgrade Fortress or placed on a helmet and take a motorbike journey round city. Day 5 is thrilling for nature fanatics as you sail by means of The Iron Gates, which is a collection of gorges that mark the border between Serbia and Romania.
The cruise ends in Rousse, the place you’ll be able to enterprise additional into Romania to Bucharest, which is called the “Little Paris of the East” for a metropolis tour and Christmas Market.
AmaWaterways’ Gems of Southeast Europe departs on a number of dates between late November and late December in 2024 (2025 dates run mid-November to mid-December). Fares begin at $2,880 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy.
Fares embrace Wi-Fi, wellness actions, every day leisure and cultural performances, all meals, drinks at lunch and dinner plus a every day cocktail hour, excursions in every vacation spot and entry to educated guides.
Backside line
Should you’ve ever thought of a Christmas market river cruise, 2024 is the yr to lastly cross the expertise off your bucket listing. Most of the greatest river cruise manufacturers and tour firms supply Christmas markets river cruises all through Europe, whether or not you are searching for a family-friendly possibility, solo journey sans single complement or a cruise with distinctive locations.
It is most essential to decide on a cruise primarily based on which locations you want to go to and which journey dates and itinerary lengths work along with your schedule. However do not forget to think about the cruise line.
The inclusions on many of the river cruises are related however can fluctuate in scope, akin to which drinks are included or price further, and what number of complimentary shore excursions you’ll be able to select from. You may additionally wish to take into consideration the general vibe of your journey and what your expectations are, whether or not you are searching for a luxurious journey with extra upscale ships and better service ranges or a extra reasonably priced possibility that emphasizes exploring and discovering your personal adventures.
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