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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. Exploring the Christmas markets of Vienna most near the city center, with mugs of hot glühwein, was in order when we left the candy store. We nestled around new friends we met on the cruise and talked about the day. By this time the holiday lights were starting to turn on as daytime turned to night. After two river cruises, I've also gleaned that river cruise passengers tend to be extremely well-traveled.
NEW! Treasures of the Danube
The bathrooms are small but incredibly space-efficient, and our room also had a veranda big enough for two chairs. Generally, the Christmas markets open in midmorning, anywhere from 9 to 10 a.m., and close between 8 p.m. Each Christmas market is different, and the things to do besides shopping are also varied.
The 8 best Christmas market river cruises for 2024 - The Points Guy
The 8 best Christmas market river cruises for 2024.
Posted: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Night Jewels Of Europe With Prague & ParisDetails
The Rhine Getaway cruise sails down the Rhine, the busiest river in all of Europe. Port calls are almost all in Germany and France, and you make at least one stop – sometimes two – per day. The atmosphere in most European cities around Christmas is already so festive that Viking doesn't really have to do a whole lot to create a “Christmas market” cruise itinerary. Drinking at Christmas markets around Europe normally means getting a hot glass of glühwein, which is mulled wine made with red wine, spices and fruit. The drink is normally served in cute mugs that you can keep as a fun and cheap souvenir.
Night Cities Of LightDetails
Day six brings the cruise to Strasbourg, France, where you can tour the La Petite France District and wander through the warm glow of the Christmas market. The cruise then heads back to Germany to visit the Black Forest, where you can learn about local traditions and German winemaking. 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.
Viking offers Danube Christmas Delights river cruises from late November through mid-December in 2024 and 2025. The river cruise starts in Paris, where you can spend the day exploring the city, seeing the Christmas markets in Montmartre or Saint Germain or shopping for high-end gifts along the Champs-Élysées before the 5 p.m. France is known for some of the most photogenic Christmas markets in Europe, and you have the chance to see some of them on a five-night Christmas in the Seine Valley river cruise with CroisiEurope Cruises. These shorter cruises are great if you'd like to spend a few days in Paris before stepping onto the cruise ship and sailing to three other beautiful towns.
Crew - As usual, the crew were fantastic, attentive, and full of holiday cheer. They are usually one of the highlights of any Viking Cruise, ocean or river. As with every Viking cruise, there is a free excursion at each stop and you can choose to pay for some optional excursions. We recommend paying for the Colmar and the Heidelberg excursions as they were the most bang for the buck. In addition, if you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend staying for the whole day in Cologne and taking the train to catch the ship in the evening in Dusseldorf.
Speaking of those Viking cruisers, there's a common belief among people who have never been on a river cruise that they are mostly “for” an older crowd. And while there were lots of older couples and groups of friends on my Christmas market cruise, there was also a fairly sizable younger crowd, too. There were about a dozen 20-somethings traveling with a larger group from Pennsylvania, and we had a young couple honeymooning on the ship, too.
Colmar, France
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. My favorite Christmas market was the one at City Hall in Vienna, which happens to be one of the most popular in Europe. It had everything from ice skating and photo-worthy backdrops to prepackaged sweets and plenty of Christmas decorations to try to fit into my already full suitcase. 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. Explore a lively arts scene and indulge in a sweet treat from one of the city’s chocolatiers.
The 28 Most Magical Christmas Markets in Europe
Festive Season: Cruising to Europe's Best Christmas Markets - Luxury Travel Advisor
Festive Season: Cruising to Europe's Best Christmas Markets.
Posted: Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
View the crystal-adorned Christmas tree and enjoy mulled wine at the Christkindlimarkt. Stroll Mainz’s ancient streets and discover one of Germany’s prettiest Christmas markets. You'll find seasoned artisans who've been sharing their craft at these Christmas markets in Europe for years, along with new makers ready to show their unique takes on homemade ornaments.
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. Passau is also known as the “City of Three Rivers,” because it's where 3 rivers converge. One of the great things about sailing on the Danube between Hungary and Germany is you get to see fairy tale scenes like the image below, of a random castle on the side of the river. Warm alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages flow at the markets and the sounds of holiday choirs and music fill the air. So by the time we got back to the ship the first day – after dropping our luggage off in the morning, touring around the city and returning for dinner – it was already dark.
For those interested in wine, Krems is a must-see destination known for some of the best wines in the country. Before departing from Passau, be sure to explore the Christmas market as well as St. Stephen's Cathedral to see the impressive organ, which is the biggest cathedral organ in the world with almost 18,000 pipes. That's just the tip of the iceberg and the appeal of cruising with Viking for a Christmas river cruise. Late November and December are a lovely time to experience the holiday spirit through the Christmas Markets set up in Europe. During one such season, I was lucky enough to board a Viking ship on a river cruise that sailed along the Danube River. There’s a charm during the holiday season in Europe unlike any other place I've experienced, which I saw through the lens of a Viking Christmas River Cruise.
Fares include shore excursions in every port; free Wi-Fi; all meals; beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; port taxes and fees; and visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In select ports, passengers can sign up for optional excursions that are an added cost. These could be worth the upcharge, depending on the type of experience you want to have. 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. 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.
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's common for people to book a Christmas market cruise a year or more in advance. Some companies will offer a discounted deposit for those who book early, and others will offer monetary savings for booking well in advance. Look for wave season (January through March) or Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday deals for river cruise discounts or other promotional offers. Because of the short season for Christmas market river cruises, getting a deal can prove to be a challenge.
Join us along these culture-rich banks, whose scenic vineyards, ancient monasteries and elegant cities have inspired travelers for centuries. Discover Berlin’s highlights, from the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie. Rijksmuseum - a stunning museum full of conventional art as well as modern art, it’s worth spending at least a half day here. The library viewing platform is worth checking out - just ask one of the staff members how to get there as the place is a complete maze.
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