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Here you will find all the usual Christmas fare of locally made gifts, Glühwein and sweet pastries. With all the Christmas lights reflecting in the river, this truly is a sight to behold. Sail through Christmas country, trying Frankfurt’s famous apple cider and Nuremberg’s gingerbread. Throughout, cozy up to steaming mugs of glühwein (warm spiced wine) and do as the locals do by collecting different mugs from each stall and town you visit. Embrace the holiday spirit in Germany, the land where many Christmas traditions began, and find the magic of the season in the smiles that you meet along the way.
New York City, USA - Winter Village Igloos
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. Upon arrival, you can savour all the seasonal delights, finish your Christmas shopping, sip a mulled wine (or Glühwein) and simply soak in the magic. Then, of course, nothing quite says Christmas like Antwerp’s Groenplaats adorned in lights and traditional décor. Wander through stalls of seasonal offerings, take a skate on the rink, and revel in Belgium’s timeless festivities. Festive fanatics in the know come to Valkenburg in the Netherlands every year to top up on festive cheer.
Toronto, Canada - Life-size Gingerbread House
The cruise fare includes all gratuities, private shore excursions, meals, unlimited drinks including premium spirits, and basic Wi-Fi, plus airport and train transfers. These river cruises only run seasonally while the markets are open, so they tend to book up quickly with passengers ranging from older adults to all types of families looking for a winter holiday filled with festive fun. Guided sightseeing tours take guests to Christmas markets in Vienna, Regensburg, Nuremburg, and Prague. The tour through Vienna's Christmas markets will be a culinary one, offering a chance to sample some of the country's most beloved holiday goodies.
Treasure the magic of Europe's Christmas Markets along the Rhine or Danube
This evening, we’ll meet our new Sisters for a welcome drink and an informational meeting. For a shorter option, consider exploring the quaint Christmas markets of Bruges on this three-night cruise from Cunard. In Strasbourg, guests will also be able to explore wine cellars that date back to 1472 and visit the Christmas market of Eguisheim. Explore this multicultural city’s highlights and shop for gifts at the Christmas market. There’s also a one-of-a-kind backdrop, the city’s grand Town Hall, State Capitol, and the Market Square Church, the latter of which is beautifully illuminated. One thing not to miss here is the extra-charge excursion to a local winery, where you will celebrate the year's harvest and vintage.
Located in vast caves underneath the town’s ancient ruins, this underground market is filled with festive market stalls, spectacular decorations, life-size nativity sculptures and Christmas trees. The caves are turned into a subterranean winter wonderland over the festive season. Valkenburg is under two hours from Antwerp where many cruise ships stop in the run up to Christmas. Join your local expert for an exploration of Frankfurt’s culinary delicacies, including holiday treats such as bethmännchen, a marzipan- filled pastry named for a 19th-century...
Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine
You’ll be able to join us for our guided sightseeing tour of the city, the medieval home of Germany’s Roman Empire dynasties. Take the opportunity to stroll through dozens of Bamberg’s nativity scenes, from miniature to life-size. Today, you’ll arrive in Prague and be welcomed by your private driver who will transfer you to our hotel.
Day 11
New York’s cruise port remains incredibly busy even in the midst of winter thanks to it being the launch point for a myriad of Caribbean cruise itineraries. The Big Apple is also linked to Southampton in the UK by Cunard’s historic transatlantic liner service. Thanks to its Colonial past and large expatriate population, Singapore has some truly excellent Christmas displays whichattract millions of visitors each year. What is more, thanks to Singapore’s diminutive size, all of Singapore’s festive treasures are easy to explore from the city’s main cruise terminal. Christmas Wonderland at ‘Gardens by the Bay’ is just one of the city’s many Christmas attractions. People come here from all over the world to see the magnificent light sculptures, the impressive array of floral ice carvings and the park’s Candy Cane Christmas Tree which stands eight metres tall.
Detailed Itinerary
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The nine-day cruise starts in Germany in Munich and travels down through Salzburg, Linz, and Vienna, in Austria, before heading to Slovakia. From floating ice rinks to gigantic gingerbread houses, travel experts at Panache Cruises have named the top ten most unusual Christmas markets, all of which are best explored by cruise ship. Indulge in the epitome of refined elegance and unmatched comfort with our luxury river cruise experience.
Spain and Portugal
Frankfurt is known as the “Mainhattan” of Europe, a financial powerhouse with soaring skyscrapers, but that’s done nothing to diminish the cultural heart of the city. Frankfurt’s old town, the Altstadt, is as charming as it gets, and has hosted some of the best Christmas markets on the continent for centuries. Opt to stay in town today for a “Taste of Christmas” walking tour featuring all sorts of sugary and savory treats, or alternatively, head out of town on an excursion to the Christmas market in Wiesbaden.
Catch up on any shopping you missed the night before, or just warm your hands with a mug of mulled wine before heading back to the ship. The fact that Bamberg still exists today is something of a miracle—it survived WWII bombing virtually unscathed. It’s a superb example of a medieval German city, one compact enough to explore on foot with a local expert.
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The meter-long sausages, pretzels, pastries and spiked punch you will find in every market are undeniably delicious. The moment you fall in love is when you should buy (unless you feel like you're being ripped off). Otherwise, you will end up kicking yourself back on the ship, empty-handed and dreaming of that one little angel ornament you fell in love with three ports ago. Note that most banks will charge a hefty fee for withdrawing cash in other currencies and/or countries.
These cruise itineraries give you the chance to explore holiday markets dating back to the Middle Ages, and to discover the villages with local treasures like traditional winemaking and artisan crafts. Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as you journey through storybook villages. Sample tasty yuletide treats and regional delicacies as you browse colorful stalls for handcrafted ornaments and unique gifts. Admire the twinkling lights of Cologne and revel in the merry atmosphere of the Rhine Valley, as storefront displays, wine cellars and markets embrace the holiday season. Enhance the magic of your Christmas Markets river cruise by embracing the magic a little longer with our exclusive pre or post-cruise extensions.
You’ll also have free time to visit not just one but four Christmas Markets and a captivating amount of nativity scenes located along nativity trail. It's most important to choose a cruise based on which destinations you wish to visit and which travel dates and itinerary lengths work with your schedule. Fares include meals, drinks during meals and happy hour, Wi-Fi, a library, excursions, bike rentals and a fitness center. Gratuity is not included for hotel stays and meals during the land portion of your trip. 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.
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