Table Of Content
- Christmas and New Years Cruises: Holiday Combo Cruises For Those Who Want It All
- Best for old-world charm: Uniworld's Belgian Holiday Markets
- American Cruise Lines' 7-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise
- Budapest, Hungary: Best European Christmas Markets for Local Eats
- Legends of the American West
- Photo-Worthy Wooden Vendor Stalls or Kiosks
- Day 8: Heading Home
The holidays are such a wonderful time to be in Europe, which is arguably the Christmas capital of the world, given the December holiday celebrations. This cruise explores the offshoots of the Rhine and the gently curving Moselle leads to Cochem, where the quaint old town resembles a fairy-tale. On the Main there's another unique beverage to try in Bamberg, which is famous for producing a beer using smoked malt. The itinerary ends with a transfer to Prague and an overnight stay in the Czech capital known as the "city of a hundred spires". 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.
Christmas and New Years Cruises: Holiday Combo Cruises For Those Who Want It All
In addition to exploring its iconic Cathedral, we were graced with one of Europe's grandest Christmas markets – seven distinctively different markets spread all over! It was truly a sight to behold and an unforgettable experience for everyone. Mainz Christmas market is on the squares surrounding the city's Cathedral of St. Martin. It's also nice not to have to figure out how to get from market to market because the cruise line has figured everything out for you.
Best for old-world charm: Uniworld's Belgian Holiday Markets
While the majority of modern-day Christmas market stalls accept credit cards, others stick strictly to the local tender. The city hosts seven Christmas markets with different themes such as the charming Little Angel's children's market (Engelchen-Markt) and a market dedicated to handicrafts. If you're after festivities beyond traditional holiday merriment, Dusseldorf is also the home of the pioneering electronic music band Kraftwerk and you can still find traces of the city's techno legacy in its nightlife. Nearly every Danube River cruise stops in Budapest, often as a port of embarkation or disembarkation.
American Cruise Lines' 7-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise
The most popular is located in front of the stunning Cologne Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece dating back to the 13th century. The market has over 160 stalls selling handmade gifts, sweets, and warm drinks. But the real attraction is the view – the Cathedral in the background provides a stunning backdrop for any holiday photo.
A Christmas Markets river cruise is the very best way to enjoy the holiday season in Germany and throughout Europe. Vienna is known for its elegant architecture and rich history, and nothing embodies that more than the Christmas markets. There are over a dozen throughout the city, but the most popular is the one in front of City Hall.
Oftentimes times, they have even more ornamentation with holiday characters like elves and reindeer or Christmas trees topping the roof. The Christmas market vendors are located in stalls or kiosks that are typically made of wood and decorated with Christmas lights, garlands, and assorted holiday icons. They're a true highlight and really give the markets their unique character. Popular souvenirs include Alsatian beer steins or plush white storks -- a local symbol of good luck. 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.
Eating and drinking is a key component of the Christmas market experience. Each market sells an abundance of food, and the food options change from town to town. In Budapest, the Christmas market in the square in front of St. Stephen's Basilica was a good mix of crafts, decorations and tasty food to try. On the other hand, the Christmas market in Bratislava was more of a food market with just a few stalls for buying goodies to bring home with you. If you can, I suggest bringing at least two pairs of outdoor shoes in case your waterproof shoes can't handle the snow or a few days of rain in a row.
A Viking Christmas Market Cruise: Everything You Need to Know - CruiseCritic.co.uk
A Viking Christmas Market Cruise: Everything You Need to Know.
Posted: Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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. 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. They all showed off the major church in the city center and described how the city navigated various wars.
You'll sail on one of Viking's state-of-the-art Longships which moor in the heart of towns so you're close to all the sights. Back onboard, the ships are beautifully decorated and the daily program will feature special events such as Christmas music performances, tree trimming and cookery demonstrations. Vienna is easily the best Christmas market in Europe for anyone who loves classical music and Christmas carols given the full choral treatment. Austria's capital is famous as the former home of Strauss, Beethoven and Mozart and during the holiday season international choirs stage free performances at the Christmas market held beside Vienna City Hall.
From Darrow, Louisiana, you'll stroll beneath canopies of towering live oak trees to visit historic mansions or glide through the bayou. More historic architecture, along with bird-watching, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi. Vicksburg, Mississippi, is home to one of the Civil War's most famous battlefields. Baton Rouge, Louisiana's capital, has something to satisfy every interest, from Cajun cuisine to tours of the restored World War II-era USS Kidd. One important thing to understand about river cruising is you don’t have to do every activity just because it’s included in your programme.
Instead, tours depart from the nearest port on the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal nearby. So where are the best Christmas markets in Europe and how can you get to them on a river cruise? 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.
The midpoint of the cruise will bring you to the decision to visit either Ghent, which is one of the oldest cities in Belgium, or Bruges, known for its medieval architecture and beautiful canals. The cruise also visits Antwerp, where you can explore the various Christmas markets that are spread throughout the city. Your trip ends in Brussels, with a whole day to explore the cute squares and charming markets and try local fare.
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