If you love Christmas the way I know so many people do then you must try a Christmas Market cruise sometime! I’ve tended to shy away from this experience since I much prefer being warm vs. cold; however, I’ve never heard of anyone going on one and not loving it. Plus there are so many ways to keep warm and especially returning back to a nice, cozy, seasonally decorated, enchanting river cruise ship is such a wonderful treat too.
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - Beautifully Decorated Ship
The European Christmas Markets are some of the best in the world and what better way to experience them than on a river cruise! All river cruise companies have cruises dedicated to this time of year but no one does it any better than AmaWaterways from the moment you board their festively decorated ships.
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways- Cosy, Decorated Lounge
Their holiday cruises sail on the Danube, Rhine and Rhone Rivers commencing from the end of November each year. The markets tend to open during the last week of November and most close by December 22nd or so.
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - Christmas in Europe
The Danube River cruises include such stunning displays as Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace’s giant sparkling Christmas tree, Bavaria’s romantic Christmas market, the 700 illuminated trees of Salzburg’s Hellbrunn Palace, and the colorful stalls of the Passau markets.
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - One of the many Christmas Markets on the Danube
On the Rhine River, you can enjoy one of the top Christmas events in Strasbourg, France with its impressive cathedral and colorful Christmas market. You can also visit Gengenbach, Germany’s huge whimsical Advent Calendar. Also, not to be missed is one of Europe’s largest and most renowned Christmas markets in front of the Cologne Cathedral.
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - Strasbourg, France Christmas Scene
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - Cologne, Germany Cathedral and Christmas Markets
When it comes to tasting the European Christmas markets, there’s hot mulled wine, freshly baked gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, steamed Christmas puddings, and special mouth-watering crescent shaped almond biscuits to name a few of the many delicacies during this special season.
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - Hot Mulled Wine
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - Christmas Goodies
And then there’s the shopping in all the markets for beautiful, handcrafted toys and gifts and those delightfully special Christmas tree ornaments that Germany, as an example, is so very famous for.
Photo Courtesy of AmaWaterways - Christmas Market Decorations
If you’ve not yet experienced a Christmas Markets cruise, then perhaps 2024 or 2025 should be there year for you! If you’re interested in embarking for the 2025 Christmas season, AmaWaterways has a ‘triple savings’ event on right now until the end of December this year. This special includes up to $2000 in savings, a complimentary stateroom upgrade, and an added $100.00 shipboard credit per stateroom. Here’s the link if you want to review these sailing opportunities: Travel Agents Co-Branded Web Page | AmaWaterways™