European Christmas Market River Cruise
From LoveToKnow Cruises
A European Christmas market river cruise is a wonderful way to experience the unique and festive atmosphere of town markets along European waterways.
What is a Christmas Market River Cruise?
A Christmas market river cruise is a type of European cruise that offers an intimate engagement in the holiday sites and sounds in European markets. The Christmas season produces some of the loveliest artistic and culinary selections of the year, and retail Christmas markets offer crafts and artistic items, local delicacies and desserts, beautiful holiday sights, and traditional entertainment. These river market cruises have different itineraries offered by various companies, but they offer the opportunity to visit some of the most interesting cities in Europe.
This type of cruise if perfect for individuals looking to purchase unique and handcrafted gifts from Europe, as well as experience many wonderful local highlights of the holiday season. You may experience some of the finest music, delicious dining, and delightful historic excursions as you visit towns and villages in various areas. The smaller river cruise boats have the advantage of having access to places that may not be available via larger ships.
The waterways typically utilized include the Rhine, Moselle, and Danube Rivers, and packages vary from simply day cruises to all-inclusive seven-night vacations. Areas of France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovokia, Holland, and Belgium are emphasized on various itineraries. The Christmas markets typically last about four weeks, coinciding with the advent season. Markets are often established near a city's principal church, and cruise passengers may have the opportunity to attend services at historic church as part of their itinerary.
Booking Your European Christmas Market River Cruise
There are a number of companies that offer, and some specialize in, Christmas market river cruises in Europe.
Euro River Cruises
Euro River Cruises offers eight different cruise packages for experiencing European Christmas markets. Cruises range between four and ten nights, and itineraries may include geographical excursions, guided tours, cultural and historic events, concerts, sightseeing, and onboard parties and dances in addition to exploring the charming and unique Christmas markets of cities like Vienna, Prague, and Nuremburg (where the largest Christmas market in the world exists).
Christmas Market Tours
Christmas Market Tours offers nearly fifty different Christmas tours to choose from ranging from seven to twelve days. The voyages highlight unique aspects of the cities, towns, and villages they visit, creating itineraries that offer unique choices such as streudal-making, historic and cultural lectures, guided tours, folk entertainment, motorcoach transportation offshore, concerts, and unlimited wine and beer options, along with the various Christmas markets for holiday shopping.
River Cruise Tours
River Cruise Tours has ten different Christmas market cruise options, from eight to eleven days. These river cruises offer many of the aforementioned experiences, nightly music or poetry, and they offer an additional customizable option of adding three night stays in specific cities to some packages.
Blue Danube Holidays
Blue Danube Holidays offers an exciting Christmas market cruise experience with a three night stay in Paris and a seven night river cruise from Paris to Amsterdam.
Gate 1 Travel
Gate 1 Travel has both Christmas market and Christmas River Market vacation packages available. The deluxe river cruise packages include sightseeing, tours, meals, and the wonderful Christmas markets courtesy of the river cruise boat the MS Bolero.
Elegant Cruises
Elegant Cruises has available five to seven day cruises visiting Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau and Vienna. Walking and city tours, musical events, and optional excursions are additions to the Christmas market experiences.
A Note on Packing
Since many individuals planning a European Christmas market river cruise anticipate returning with some of the unique and handmade items from the various Christmas markets, it's important to consider leaving adequate room for return packing for your voyage. Some cruise ships may also be able to help arrange shipping for excess purchases, though fees for these services can be exorbitant.
There are additional options to those companies mentioned here that offer river market cruises highlighting the local Christmas shops and other festivities. Wherever you choose to book your cruise from, be sure to plan well in advance, as the magic of these holiday cruises makes them sought-after vacations.
Learn More
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