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While travelers may see many of the same products across the bigger markets, each also has its own history and unique style of Christmas ornaments and arts and crafts. In Germany, for instance, you’ll find more wood crafts such as hand-carved nutcrackers, while in Austria you’ll see more glass ornaments and snow globes, which were invented there. “It definitely puts you in the spirit of the holidays,” says Camille Cutrone Holubar, president of Vista Travel Consultants, a Virtuoso-affiliated travel agency in New Jersey, who has taken six of the cruises. Not only will you get exclusive bonus offers when you book through our travel advisors instead of directly with the cruise line, but you also rack up AmaWaterways Privilege Rewards benefits.
Budapest To Vilshofen
The entire city is wrapped in a “Winter Glow” through the festive season and transforms into a festival that celebrates light, Christmas cheer and unforgettable experiences. This year we are heading to the beautiful Hamburg and Bruges markets, both of which are rich with Christmas culture for you to explore. Stroll Mainz’s ancient streets and discover one of Germany’s prettiest Christmas markets. Immerse yourself in the romantic atmosphere of Trier’s festive Christmas markets. Yes, please keep me updated with the latest special offers, travel inspiration, product updates, and event invites.
French-German Christmas Market Cruises
Fares include Wi-Fi, wellness activities, daily entertainment and cultural performances, all meals, drinks at lunch and dinner plus a daily cocktail hour, excursions in each destination and access to knowledgeable guides. 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. Day two will bring you to Rouen, where you are invited to join Christmas Eve dinner and midnight mass. If you have free time, be sure to stop in at La Couronne, the oldest operating restaurant in France and the place that inspired Julia Child to start cooking. Riverside Luxury Cruises' Christmas Atmosphere Along the Danube cruises depart in early and mid-December 2024.
Day 11
Colmar, Mulhouse, and Strasbourg are all synonyms of breathtaking Christmas markets. My favorite German Christmas markets are the ones in the romantic Rhine valley, Cologne (Rhine River), and the ones in Passau and Regensburg, on the Danube River. Christmas market cruises on the Rhine are probably the most popular way to hop from one German Christmas market to another. • COVID-19-related rules vary by country, so travelers should do their research, and check the CDC’s country-specific recommendations.
Salzburg Christmas Markets
Nuremberg’s historic Christkindlesmarkt is perhaps the best-known Christmas market in Germany. Europe during winter is unlike anywhere else, with gingerbread stalls and twinkling fairy lights welcoming in the festive period. Discover the magic of a Christmas markets cruise, and celebrate Yuletide as the Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians do. The cruise continues into the Netherlands at Maastricht, where you can explore the city and its Christmas market, or head to Aachen, Germany, for festive fun. Alternatively, you can visit Valkenburg's underground Christmas market, located inside a cave. The last stop of the cruise is Antwerp, Belgium, where you can enjoy a concert, a beer tasting and time to enjoy the city at your leisure.
On those cruises, the line offers kid-friendly menus, onboard activities such as cooking classes and dessert-making for kids, craft workshops, games, movie nights and more. Like the markets, the ships themselves are decked out with Christmas trees and holiday decorations throughout. Plus, activities and excursions are holiday focused, making them great for families and multigenerational travel. “More and more families and multigenerational groups are seeing the value and ease.
Day 2
Nuremberg's other claim to fame is its pork sausages -- much smaller than typical German sausages or wurst -- which are sold in portions of six to a dozen. After sampling gingerbread beer in Wurzburg, guests will make their way to Wertheim to explore the glasswork and wines that line the stalls of its Market Square. Hit all the top spots on Crystal Cruises' Grand European Christmas Markets cruise, which takes travelers through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands during a 16-day trip. From exploring living nativity sets in Baden-Baden to sampling crepes, sausages, baguettes, and chocolates in Colmar, this cruise promises an itinerary filled with festive cheer. Starting in Budapest, the cruise heads to Vienna, where guests get a tour of the city and its Christmas markets.
These Holiday Cruises Will Take You to Christmas Markets Around Europe
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. 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.
Pre: Budapest
Some craftsmen sell toys, such as dolls and marionettes, while others peddle their pottery and paintings at the Lucreziamarkt. Stroll the river promenade, decorated with festive holiday lights, and explore the Old Town. Uniworld offers its Belgian Holiday Markets cruise on four departure dates from late November through mid-December 2024 (and three December dates in 2025).
Cruising the Mediterranean in Winter: Pros and Cons - Cruise Critic
Cruising the Mediterranean in Winter: Pros and Cons.
Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. Guests will also be able to indulge in holiday treats at La Couronne, which is where Julia Child famously enjoyed her first lunch in France. Explore this multicultural city’s highlights and shop for gifts at the Christmas market.
Check out the world’s largest Advent calendar at the Heidelberg Christmas Market, where the town hall windows count down the days to Christmas, revealing the portrait of a world-famous artist each night. Cruise through France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland as the Rhine takes you to several European towns with cherished Christmas markets. In Cologne, visit Christmas Market at the Cathedral, one of the best German Christmas markets.
Germany is the undisputed heartland of Europe's festive holiday market scene and Cologne is undoubtedly among the best European Christmas market destinations. It has seven holiday markets in total, with the most famous held against the magnificent backdrop of the city's UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral. A huge Christmas tree forms the centerpiece of the market and it's well worth climbing the 509 steps to the top of the cathedral tower to get a panoramic view of the city and riverscape.
After a day at sea, guests will head to Bruges to explore the city's famous Christmas market. The market is filled with festive ice sculptures, horse-drawn carriage rides, and an array of wooden chalets offering dainty ornaments, toys, and more. In markets from Strasbourg and Berlin to Amsterdam and beyond, you can sip mulled wine and nibble on pastries as you meander your way through the stalls and chalets. Whether you prefer to collect glühwein mugs in Germany or shop for tartan Christmas ornaments in Scotland, here are 10 of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Though dates vary by year and location, you can typically expect the markets on this list to be open from late November to late December or early January. Uniworld has designated select sailings of its Classic Christmas Markets itinerary from Nuremberg to Frankfurt as family-oriented cruises called the Generations Collection.
The cruise also includes several wine tastings, and a tour of Nuremberg's Old Town, which becomes illuminated with festive lights and bustling stalls during the holidays. With its stunning street decorations and bustling ice skating rinks, London is one of the best places on earth to visit at Christmas. The pinnacle of the city's festive offerings, though, is Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
The market held in the Volksgarten Gardens in Linz is a magical place for adults and children alike. It features Austria's largest wooden nativity scene, featuring life-size, hand-painted figures. Every 30 minutes in the late afternoon there is a short nativity play with special effects and a classical music soundtrack. Sip on a warming glühwein and enjoy the seasonal festivities of Koblenz’s Christmas market. Here's a look at the best Christmas markets in Europe to visit this year, from Italy and Germany to the United Kingdom.
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