River cruises supply leisurely exploration and intimate adventures. Taking a river cruise across the holidays means you get to expertise timeless traditions, like European Christmas markets. Our journey advisor, Carie Skerritt, says “One of the best half about Christmas markets is immersing your self within the tradition of the group.”
European Christmas Market Magic
Heat up with a steamy mug of mulled wine as you wander the enchanting stalls of a few of the largest and most well-known Christmas markets in Europe. Store handmade ornaments, toys, and presents as you inhale the festive aroma of gingerbread and roasted chestnuts. Dazzling decorations and lights delight the eyes, whereas the sound of Christmas carolers and church bells fill the air.
Most European Christmas markets are open from the final week of November by December 22. A number of of those Christmas market river cruises begin in November, so you’ll be able to nonetheless be residence in loads of time for the vacations.
What To Anticipate On An AmaWaterway Luxurious Christmas Market River Cruise
A big number of actions, together with excursions, and selection of excursions let cruisers select their very own journey. AmaWaterways’ Christmas market cruises are decked out in vacation cheer. Onboard experiences embrace “Footwear for St. Nick” the place passengers set slippers out to be crammed with treats identical to European youngsters do on St. Nicholas Day. Visitors are invited to deck the halls in the course of the ship’s Tree-Trimming Celebration. For those who cruise on Christmas Eve, you’ll be able to anticipate finding Christmas cookies in your stateroom. A vacation feast, full with all of the trimmings, tops all of it off.
Our journey advisors Carie Skerritt and Bill Sharo with Dream Holidays will help you guide any of those Christmas market river cruises through our Book A Trip page. “AmaWaterways is taken into account a luxurious merchandise,” remarks Skerritt, who recommends the cruise line for everybody from foodies to multi-gen vacationers. “There’s something for everybody so that you don’t must have a gaggle chief chargeable for everybody’s wants and desires — it’s all included,” she provides. “The ships are adorned and festive so simply being on the ships places you within the vacation spirit,” in keeping with the journey advisor. Listed below are some Christmas market river cruises you’ll be able to book today!
1. Magna On The Danube
Budapest To Vilshofen
- Size: 7 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $2,399
- Dates: October 6 – December 22
Expertise Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany (together with the enduring capital cities of Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna) in all of their vacation glory. Peruse a few of the finest vacation markets in Europe, together with Regensburg and Salzburg. Budapest Christmas Market is Hungary’s largest. Happening on the cobblestone Vorosmarty Sq., this handcrafts-only market is a superb place to seek out one-of-a-kind presents. With over 150 vendor stalls, Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt takes place in entrance of its Nineteenth-century city corridor.
2. Christmas Markets On The Danube
Budapest To Vilshofen (Or Reverse)
- Size: 7 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $2,399
- Dates: November 28 – December 19
This route additionally cruises alongside the second-longest river in Europe by Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, stopping within the capital cities of Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna, in addition to Salzburg. Each Magna on the Danube and Christmas Markets on the Danube excursions cruise by The Wachau Valley, the place you’ll be able to take a strolling tour of Dürnstein.
Nevertheless, this river cruise additionally provides you the chance to go to Linz, the place you will discover some of the lovely Austrian Christmas markets at Hellbrunn Palace. It additionally stops in Passau, the place a strolling tour brings you to St. Stephen’s Sq. and its baroque cathedral within the coronary heart of Previous City. At Passau Christkindlmarkt, you will discover cute little Bavarian-style model houses, cookie cutters, and olive wooden merchandise from Assisi.
3. Christmas Markets On The Rhine
Amsterdam To Basel (Or Reverse)
- Size: 7 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $2,299
- Dates: November 25 – December 21
Cruise by France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Switzerland because the Rhine takes you to a number of European cities with cherished Christmas markets. In Cologne, go to Christmas Market at the Cathedral, one of many best German Christmas markets. Positioned within the coronary heart of town, the market takes place on the foot of a UNESCO-designated Gothic cathedral.
What’s higher than purchasing? Buying whereas tipsy! Go wine tasting within the winemaking city of Rüdesheim then take pleasure in vacation traditions from all over the world on the Rüdesheim Christmas Market of Nations.
Often called the “Capital of Christmas,” Strasbourg boasts the oldest and largest Christmas Market in France, Christkindelsmärik. Take a look at the world’s largest Advent calendar on the Heidelberg Christmas Market, the place the city corridor home windows rely down the times to Christmas, revealing the portrait of a world-famous artist every night time.
4. Iconic Christmas Markets
Nuremberg To Budapest (Or Reverse)
- Size: 7 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $2,299
- Dates: November 27 – December 19
Because the identify suggests, this cruise takes you thru Austria, Germany, and Hungary to a few of the most iconic Christmas markets on the Danube. Nuremberg’s historic Christkindlesmarkt is maybe the best-known Christmas market in Germany. In accordance with our expert tips on European Christmas markets, it’s best to attempt the mulled wine from Vollrath’s Heidelbeergluhwein and Nuernberger Rostbratwürste (well-known grilled sausage in a bun), and choose up a Zwetschgenmännlein, a singular figurine carved out of dried plums.
Step again in time at a Bavarian palace at Regensburg’s Romantic Christmas Market. Craftsmen promote toys, akin to dolls and marionettes, whereas craftsmen peddle their pottery and work on the Lucreziamarkt. Whereas in Vienna, you’ll discover a Christmas market seemingly round each nook. End the journey by exploring the beautiful markets of Budapest.
5. Magical Christmas Markets
Nuremberg To Vienna (Or Reverse)
- Size: 7 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $2,399
- Dates: December 4 – December 25
This magical cruise takes you down the Danube, one in all Europe’s most lovely rivers, to Austrian and German Christmas markets. Picket cubicles take over cobblestone streets for one of many oldest and hottest Christmas markets, Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt. Pattern the gingerbread, mulled wine, and roasted almonds at this world-famous market.
Stroll by the romantic medieval German city of Regensburg to go to some of the lovely Christmas markets in Bavaria in entrance of Thurn and Taxis Fort. Blacksmiths, glass blowers, candle-makers, basket weavers, and a hat-maker exhibit their expertise at stalls whereas promoting their items in one of many nation’s best-preserved medieval cities.
This cruise additionally stops by the aforementioned Christmas markets of Salzburg, in addition to 4 of Vienna’s most enchanting markets, together with the regal Schönbrunn Palace, the charming Maria Theresa markets, and Vienna’s largest (and busiest), Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz.
6. Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps Christmas
Amsterdam To Basel (Or Reverse)
- Size: 7 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $2,099
- Dates: October 9 – December 25
Encompassing The Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland, this Rhine River cruise fantasy presents fairytale castles and historic vineyards along with Christmas markets. Beginning in canal-laden Amsterdam, this cruise winds its method by the German metropolis of Cologne, the place you’ll be able to browse town’s most spectacular Christmas markets.
Then it’s on to the winemaking hamlet of Rüdesheim and the festive Christmas markets of Heidelberg. Forty hilltop castles and fortresses dot the banks of the historic Rhine Gorge, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cross the border into the majestic mountain landscapes of France’s Alsace area as sweeping Swiss Alps views await in Strasbourg.
7. Rhine & Moselle Delights
Basel to Amsterdam
- Size: 10 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $3,199
- Dates: November 27
Uncover 4 nations — France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland — alongside the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Discover the fairytale cities of Riquewihr, Freiburg, Bernkastel, and Cochem. Take a gondola trip in Rüdesheim earlier than visiting the Christmas markets.
Germany’s Roman roots are on show in its oldest metropolis, Trier. In reality, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is residence to so many Roman relics it’s also known as the “Rome of the North” or “Second Rome.” Stroll between the Essential Market, Cathedral Sq., and the Christmas Market at Viehmarkt Square and it’s possible you’ll simply run into the reigning Mulled Wine Queen.
8. Colours of Provence Christmas Cruise
Lyon to Avignon
- Size: 7 Nights
- Beginning Worth Per Individual: $
- Dates: December 2 – December 16
Cruising by the South of France feels like a superb solution to kick off the vacation season. See the streets of Lyon mild up in the course of the metropolis’s annual Festival of Lights. In Oignt, Provençal nativity scenes known as crèches show terracotta collectible figurines generally known as santons. Admire the artwork displays projected onto partitions of former limestone quarry caves at Carriéres de Lumiéres.
Why You Ought to E book With Our Journey Advisors
Our journey advisors will be sure that you obtain each AmaWaterways river cruise supply that you just qualify for, together with complimentary shore excursions and drinks. They provide as much as $300 credit score to spend onboard. Our journey advisors may also show you how to guide lodge stays at ports on both facet of your voyage.
Not solely do you get unique bonus presents once you book through our travel advisors as a substitute of immediately with the cruise line, however you additionally rack up AmaWaterways Privilege Rewards advantages. Our journey advisors aren’t simply involved with providing the very best offers — they’re additionally dedicated to providing the very best expertise.
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