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USALooking for sure-fire festive cheer this year? These Christmas market river cruise holidays are the best way to see Europe’s most spectacular cities at Christmas.
Looking for sure-fire festive cheer this year? These Christmas market river cruise holidays are the best way to see Europe’s most spectacular cities at Christmas.
If you’re looking for the full Christmas experience and then some (building-sized advent calendar, anyone?), then Germany has it all. TUI River Cruises’ three ‘Discover Germany’ Christmas cruise itineraries all offer a fabulously festive adventure.
Five-night ‘Christmastime on the Rhine’ voyage invites marvelling at Strasbourg’s giant Christmas tree, baking Christmas cookies in Speyer and soaking up ancient cathedrals and cinnamon-scented markets dotted throughout the journey. Prices from £1,116 pp.
A five-night ‘Yuletide Flavours’ Christmas cruise sets sail for some of Germany’s most impressive cities, where towering landmarks preside over glowing Christmas markets. Whack out the winter woollies for an evening on Bonn’s huge ice rink, get merry at one of Dusseldorf’s many beerhalls and satisfy your chocolate cravings with a trip to Cologne’s chocolate museum. Prices from £1,026 pp.
A Christmastime on the Rhine’ river cruise packs in five days of Christmas cheer with a new port every day. What should you look out for? Koblenz building-sized advent calendar – and the largest in the world. Also key is a trip to the Rüdesheim Christmas Market of Nations, for a twist on the traditional Christmas markets. Prices from £1,116pp.
All prices are based on two adults sharing an inside cabin on an all-inclusive basis, including flights from the UK to Germany, 25kg of luggage per person, transfers, tips and all service charges.
Ambassador Cruise Line has unveiled an array of Christmas cruises 2025, gliding along the picturesque Seine, Rhine and Elbe rivers. All of Ambassador’s Christmas voyages are round-trip from London, making for a relaxing and hassle-free holiday. The cruise line’s five-night ‘Festive Getaway’ promises traditional speculaas cookies in Amsterdam, a Rotterdam bedecked in glittering Christmas lights, and snow-flecked chalets and stalls along the Vieux basin in Normandy. Prices from £472pp.
A five-night ‘Hamburg and Amsterdam break’ spends extensive time in Hamburg, arguably one of Europe’s biggest players when it comes to Christmas markets. A trip to the sprawling City Hall market invites cosy evenings sipping Glühwein while browsing artisan decorations, jewellery, toys and glassware. A visit to Germany wouldn’t be complete without a hearty Bratwurst, but how about heading to Hamburg’s St. Petri Church market and trying a Currywurst? The lightly spiced snack is said to be quite the delicacy…so long as you’re hungry! Prices from £438pp.
Christmas holidays are a busy time for most, so if you’re short on time but still keen to get away, Ambassador’s three-night ‘Antwerp Festive Getaway’ is a certain winner. Enjoy two-full days ashore exploring the festive fun of Antwerp, where historic squares and buildings are all aglow. Prices from £459pp.
All meals, entertainment, spa & gym access, plus a range of wellness & fitness classes, Captain’s Gala dinner and a Captain’s cocktail party are included.
Scenic’s Christmas market cruise 2025 is a feast for the senses – think festive market stalls covered in swathes of fairy lights, gingerbread in all manner of shapes and hand-blown glass ornaments, all to the soundtrack of traditional Christmas choirs and music. The eight-day ‘Danube Christmas Markets’ cruise includes a private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein, tastings of regional specialities from local producers of the surroundig Wachau Valley region, as well as expert local guides in each city.
Beginning in Budapest and ending in Nuremberg, you’ll have the freedom of using Scenic’s e-bikes for a different way to explore, plus the luxury of a personal butler for your every need. Prices from £3,129pp.
Includes return flights, private airport transfers, all drinks, dining, tipping, wi-fi, and all Scenic Freechoice excursions.
For a Christmas market cruise that’s a little different, Viking River Cruises’ eight-day ‘Christmastime in Paris & Normandy’ offers quaint, snow-blanketed French countryside paired with the magic of Paris at Christmas. Kick off your holiday with some retail therapy along the grand window displays of Avenue des Champs-Élysées and explore the oh-so-chic Parisian Christmas markets. Viking’s array of excursions includes a ‘Flavours of Paris’ guided walk, ambling through one of the city’s historic quarters, renowned for rich culinary tradition.
Scenic sailing through Normandy will include an overnight call on the wintry wonderland city of Rouen, with its cobbled streets and intriguing Roman history. Prices from £3,495pp.
Includes a complimentary shore excursion at each port of call, return flights from London and selected regional airports, all onboard meals, all enrichment & entertainment, tips and wi-fi.
Viva Cruises has a range of Christmas river cruises 2025. The line’s seven-night ‘Prague Advent Magic’ cruise takes in the romantic markets and pretty bridges of the Czech capital, before sailing onto Dresden, where the city’s famous sweet Stollen awaits at the Striezelmarkt. Continue on to Meissen with its celebrated porcelain history and impressive castle, and finish among the mighty Christmas markets of Berlin. Prices from £1,595pp.
Another option is Viva Cruises’ ‘Rhine Time Out’ four-night voyage. Roundtrip from Frankfurt, the cruise calls on festive favourites of Mannheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Mainz and Wiesbaden – each with their own distinct Christmas charm. Onboard, take to the top deck and try out the ship’s mulled wine against a backdrop of glimmering city lights. Make sure not to miss the daily high tea – included with Viva’s Christmas market cruises all-inclusive package. Prices from £695pp.
Price includes full board meals, snacks and all drinks, as well as high tea, welcome sparkling wine on arrival, reusable VIVA water bottle, wi-fi, tips and daily-stocked mini-bar.
Riverside Luxury Cruises Christmas market cruises promise to add a little luxury to your celebrations.
Itineraries include a four-day ‘Danube Gifts of the Season’ voyage, featuring guided tours of capitals Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna. Onboard, guests will be serenaded by the dulcet tones of live music and fun games, set among the ship’s elegant five-star interiors. Prices from £1,613pp. Can be extended into an eight-day extravaganza for true Christmas fanatics.
Alternatively, there’s the seven-day ‘Yule Time on the Rhine’ cruise – starting off in Frankfurt, with visits to Christmas markets across Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Bonn and Düsseldorf. Scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge will give insta-worthy photo opportunities aplenty, while guided tours in Bonn will uncover gems of Germany’s former historic capital – and birthplace of Beethoven! Wine lovers are also in for a treat with a day in Rüdesheim, renowned for its popular Riesling. Prices from £4,890pp.
If a New Year cruise appeals more, ring in 2026 while cruising along the Danube or Rhine rivers, where varied itineraries include midnight drinks and canapés plus a glitzy New Year’s Eve dinner onboard.
Prices include return flights and transfers, full-board dining, select excursions and tours.
AmaWaterways put on a Christmas market extravaganza this year, and 2025 is no exception. Highlights include a spectacular 14-night festive ‘Grand Danube’ cruise, sailing through no less than seven countries. Starting out in Austria’s capital, also known as the ‘city of music’, soak in the sparkling grandeur of Vienna Opera House and Imperial Palace before sailing through the rolling hills of Austria’s Wachau Valley (think serious Sound of Music territory…but make it Christmassy). Excursions range from a full day at Salzburg’s famed Christmas markets to guided bike rides through the Wachau valley.
A seven-night Christmas market cruise from Basel to Amsterdam calls on Strasbourg for one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets that dates back to the 16th century, the Christkindlesmarkt of Bamberg – complete with dozens of nativity scenes, and sailing through Germany’s Black Forest. Prices from £2,627 pp.
Prices include all dining, entertainment and shore excursions.
CrosiEurope’s Christmas market cruises 2025 programme is jam-packed with itineraries ranging from the more classic Christmas destinations to festive gems you might not necessarily expect. The good news is CroisEurope’s Christmas voyages are all wallet-friendly at £1,000pp or under.
The cruise line’s ‘Christmas traditions and santons along the canals of Provence’ cruise is a great bet if you’re looking to avoid the icy chill associated with most Christmas markets, while discovering the charms of provincial southern France at Christmas. Expect immaculate chateaus and medieval cities, fabulous food, plus traditional festive markets. Prices from £854pp.
For a more traditional Christmas market river cruise, the port-to-port ‘Christmas in Alsace and show at the Royal Palace’ cruise takes in the enchanting markets of Strasbourg, guided tours along the Potter’s trail, plus a spectacular show at the city’s Royal Palace. Only three-nights long, this cruise offers a great taster cruise to anyone who might not have tried a Christmas market cruise yet. Prices from £588pp.
Prices include all onboard meals, drinks, entertainment and port excursions.
