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If having more room to move is important to you, you may want to book a slightly higher cabin category with a larger floor area. While it’s possible to cruise year-round in Europe, choose your sailing date with care, as itineraries that are early or late in the season may be impacted by high or low river levels. If this happens, you could end up being bussed between ports instead of sailing. While it’s impossible to accurately predict river levels in advance, a mid or shoulder-season sailing is more likely to be hassle-free. For centuries, Christmas markets have been a beloved tradition in many countries across Europe.
Gengenbach, Germany
If you want to support local artisans, ask the vendor or look for stickers that say where the products were made. Packing for a river cruise in the middle of winter was the most challenging part of the trip for me. Not only did I have to buy winter clothes since I live in Florida, but I needed to make sure I brought enough layers to keep me warm.
When Can I Go On A Christmas Markets River Cruise?
Being able to spend time relaxing and soaking up the beauty of the river from the top deck is one of the joys of river cruising, whether you’re in port or sailing along one of Europe’s beautiful rivers. No need to worry about directions or traffic – simply sit back, relax, and watch the scenery pass by. Additionally, many of the ports are located in the heart of the towns, making it easy to explore without spending extra time (or money) on transportation. Finally, meals and accommodations are included in the price, making it a great value for travelers. We firmly believe that river cruises are the best value for the money because they include things like excursions/tours, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and gratuities in most cases.
When to book
We opted for the Festive Rhine River cruise that goes from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The Rhine River is one of my favorites in Europe and after living in Germany for three years, I was impressed with this itinerary. You’ll be overwhelmed with so many delicious options, including great sweet treats. Sometimes Sailing is a cruise-focused website by Dan and Mikkel Woodruff, a couple passionate about cruising. For footwear, we recommend boots of some sort of well-insulated sneakers or shoes. Dan wears suede or leather shoes he is comfortable walking a few miles in and I usually wear a leather bootie of some sort; Sorel boots are my go-to.
Day five is when travelers can enjoy Mainz and see the Gutenberg Museum or travel further on a bus to Heidelberg to explore Heidelberg Castle. Solo travelers should know that these cabins don't have a balcony and are the smallest on the riverboat at 150 square feet, but you likely won't be spending much time in your room on this sailing. The cruise fare includes all gratuities, private shore excursions, meals, unlimited drinks including premium spirits, and basic Wi-Fi, plus airport and train transfers.
7 Cruise Lines Offering Festive Christmas Cruises in 2023 - Travel + Leisure
7 Cruise Lines Offering Festive Christmas Cruises in 2023.
Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Holiday market river cruises typically begin sailing in late November, with cruises over Thanksgiving as well as during Christmas and New Year's. European (and American) Christmas markets usually take place during the four weeks of Advent -- the Christian holy season leading up to Christmas -- and extend into the first week of January. The Elbe is a fascinating Viking river cruise Christmas market destination and ideal for anyone who has already traveled on the Rhine.
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. 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. 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.
Our festive river cruises
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.
Drinks to Try at the German Christmas Markets
And with so many itineraries to choose from, the hardest part might be deciding where to go! Give me a call and I can help you narrow down your decision and make some Christmas dreams come true. Christmas market cruises, which are offered by a number of river cruise lines, are the perfect way to absorb this special holiday experience.
I did a lot of my research on TikTok and Instagram so I could see what the person was talking about. Even 10 days out from my trip, the app was fairly accurate with what the temperatures would be, which ranged from the 20s to the high 40s, and what the day would look like. If you're looking for a more active cruise, consider AmaWaterways, where bikes are always available to use in port. On the Danube Christmas Markets tour, you can bike from Weissenkirchen to Melk, passing picturesque villages and vineyards. Additionally, the cruise director on board acted more like a personal concierge for guests who had questions, giving suggestions for things to do, places to eat and what each Christmas market was known for. Sailings are available from late September to early November 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Daytime is a little more relaxed and easier to navigate before the bigger crowds come out at night to fill the town squares. This is when people enjoy their nights of dinner and drinking at the Christmas Markets. A traditional Christmas markets staple is gluhwein, and the hot spiced wine comes in red, white and even rosè. We also saw a number of other hot drinks, like hot Chardonnay, hot Riesling, hot aperol or hot Hugo. There is something extra special about the festivities in Europe during this time of year.
I brought a pair of fleece-lined Crocs to wear off the ship in a few ports where the weather was warmer with no precipitation. On the Danube, you can visit destinations like Vienna, Austria and Passau and Regensburg, Germany. Alternatively, on the Rhine, destinations of interest include Amsterdam; Cologne, Germany; Mannheim, Germany; and Strasbourg, France.
I was most impressed by Vienna, which had two, but the one near City Hall is the one that makes most of the viral TikTok videos and Instagram reels. The City Hall Christmas market is the larger of the two in the city center and is more photogenic. They are about a 10-minute walk from each other and have different foods to try and souvenirs to buy. Regardless of whether your ideal holiday season is spent bundled up by the fire or in your snorkeling gear, we’ve got you covered. Here are five holiday cruise options to consider as you make your plans. Complementing the itinerary will be gourmet Pacific Northwest cuisine and more than 40 regional wines curated by an onboard culinary team.
The markets begin right after Thanksgiving and run up to Christmas Eve (and even beyond for some cities). They're the perfect way to see multiple Christmas Markets in a short amount of time during the most festive season in places like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. We love cruises because you unpack your luggage in your stateroom once and don't need to move or pack again until the cruise is over.
For example, in Hungary, euros are not accepted anywhere, so I exchanged dollars for Hungarian forints to use at the Christmas market. For example, in Vienna, I spotted a gold beaded ornament that I loved, and I bought it for about 10 euros (about $10.86). I never saw any other beaded ornaments at the Christmas markets before or after Vienna, so I was glad I purchased it when I saw it.
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