AMAWaterways Christmas Market Cruises

AmaWaterways Ship in Budapest

Getting into the holiday spirit on Christmas Market Cruises

It's that time of year--Christmas in July. While some may be working on whittling the shopping list, we're thinking about booking one of the Christmas Market Cruises to experience the sights, smells, and sounds of the season while strolling through Europe's Christmas Markets. 

Christmas Market in Vienna

In Europe, most Christmas Markets open in late November and close in late December. But how to choose the right itinerary from all of the Christmas Market Cruises?

In 2018, AMAWaterways is offering seven different Christmas Market Cruises. For travelers seeking a 7-night option, there are five options: the Melodies of the Danube, Iconic Christmas Markets, Magical Christmas Markets, Christmas Markets on the Rhine, and Treasures of the Main & Rhine. There's also the 10-night Rhine & Moselle Delights cruise, and the all-encompassing 12-night Magnificent Europe (Christmas Cruise). 

The Christmas Markets on the Rhine is a 7-night itinerary departing from Amsterdam and wrapping up in Basel (or reverse depending on dates). Cruising through four countries on the Rhine (France, Germany, Netherlands, & Switzerland), travelers will see Cologne's Christmas Market enhanced by the city's famous Gothic Cathedral that serves as a backdrop, Strasbourg's "Capital of Noel", and Heidelberg's Christmas Market in the the city's Old Town. In 2018, this itinerary departs November 24, November 26, December 8, December 10, December 15, December 17, and December 24.

Cologne's Christmas Market 

The Magical Christmas Markets cruise from Nuremberg to Vienna (or reverse) is a 7-night itinerary on the Danube River. While cruising through Germany, cruisers will experience markets in Nuremberg and Regensburg, see clay figures depicting typical villagers--the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker in Linz, and while in Vienna, Austria travelers will experience four distinct Christmas markets. In 2018, this itinerary is available for departures November 23, November 24, November 25, November 30, December 7, December 8, December 9, December 15, December 16, December 22, and December 23. 

Experiencing Vienna's Christmas Markets via AmaWaterways Christmas Market Cruise

The Iconic Christmas Markets cruise is a 7-night experience from Nuremberg to Budapest (or reverse). Sailing along the Danube through Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia, cruisers will experience Germany's oldest Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Regensburg’s Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Castle, Vienna's variety of markets, and traditional handmade products in the market at Budapest’s Vörösmarty Square. For travel in 2018, the itinerary is available November 23 and December 14. 

Vienna Christmas Market

For an itinerary traveling from Budapest to Vilshofen, the Melodies of the Danube is a 7-night cruise departing December 16 for Christmas markets, or December 28 to visit the New Year's markets. While the Treasures of the Main & Rhine begins in Nuremberg and ends in Amsterdam for a cruise visiting Nuremberg, the Baroque architecture of UNESCO World Heritage Würzburg Residenz, and the storybook towns of Wertheim, Miltenberg, and Rüdesheim, with a departure on December 28. 

Prague Christmas Market

Looking for a longer cruise over Christmas? The Rhine & Moselle Delights is a 10-night cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. Meandering through France, Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, this cruise takes guests to Strasbourg, Rudesheim, and the Moselle Valley, with a departure on December 22. 

Shopping at the Vienna Christmas Market 

Interested in a longer Christmas Market River Cruise? The 14-night Budapest to Amsterdam cruise departs on December 21, taking travelers on an epic journey through Austria, Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands along the Rhine, Danube, and Main Rivers. Providing an itinerary filled with romance, history, and culture, travelers will follow the route of emperors, kings, and queens to countless UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Regensburg's charming Old Towns, the Melk Abbey, and the Gothic Cathedral in Cologne. 

In addition to the variety of itineraries, cruisers experience a luxurious setting from the moment they step aboard the ship. Travelers begin each day with breakfast aboard the ship, and gourmet dinners are served on-board with flavors reflecting the local cuisine. 

Twin Stateroom on AmaWaterways Cruise

Whatever itinerary one chooses, the Christmas Market River Cruises offer an authentic cultural experience where travelers can discover handcrafted, heirloom quality Christmas keepsakes, sip mulled cider, and take in the sights and the sounds of Christmas in Europe.