It’s Not a Mystery Why Christmas Market Cruises are Magical

It’s not hard to imagine, since we’re on the tail end of winter, the cozy feeling of being indoors with a hot cup of cocoa, or hot spiced wine when it’s a bit chilly outside. Now imagine that when you look out your balcony door, you see the magical twinkle lights of centuries old European towns and their Christmas markets. What an enchanting time of year to cruise Europe.

Traditionally held in the town square, Christkindlmarkt, or Christmas Markets, have festive food, drinks and seasonal items from open-air wooden stalls while you are being serenaded and entertained with traditional singing and dancing. The history of Christmas markets goes back to the Late Middle Ages in Europe, and in many parts of the former Holy Roman Empire – which you’ll learn a lot about on your daily walking tours and are a part of the included excursions in most river port cities. In fact, Vienna, Austria’s “December market” goes back to 1298 with up to a dozen different markets in any given year—most of which are located around the famous Ringstrasse (ring road) that encircles the city’s historic core.

If you’re lucky, (in my opinion), snow will be falling down just a little bit as you sail along the river and will blanket the villages along the way. And you won’t have to worry about driving in the snow or being able to get your Christmas shopping done because you finished up your Christmas shopping before you left for your cruise. For those last-minute items, there’s time to bundle up and just walk off the ship right into the middle of the village or town where you’ll join in the town’s Christmas market experience and enjoy a cup of “gluhwein” and maybe a wurst or very large pretzel, or even a gingerbread cookie. And then after all of that, it’s back to the ship where you will simply love your four-star accommodations, with an amazing staff that addresses you by name from the 2nd day on, and you set sail overnight and arrive by morning for another day of enchanting experiences.

​Be mesmerized by the Christmas markets of Nuremberg & Regensburg. Marvel at the small clay figurines representing the people of a typical village—the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker in Linz. Visit four amazing Christmas Markets in Vienna. Wrap yourself in holiday spirit, in the place, where so many Christmas traditions began.

If this excites you, and even sounds exactly like what sugar-plum dreams are made of, then contact me to find out more and secure your spot on a Magical Christmas Markets Cruise.

​CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Day Destination Activities

Day 1 Vienna – EMBARKATION

Day 2

• Vienna – Morning city tour with Town Hall Christmas Market or Alte Donau bike tour
• Artisans and Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Markets

Day 3

• Melk – Benedictine Abbey tour or Danube bike tour
• Wachau Valley – Scenic cruising or Melk to Dürnstein bike tour
• Dürnstein – Walking tour and wine tasting or Apricots and Sweets tasting
• Krems – Wine tasting or Evening walk

Day 4

• Linz – Walking tour or Full-day Salzburg or Castle and “Culture Mile” bike tour
• Half-day Salzburg or Český Krumlov

Day 5

• Passau – Walking tour and Christmas Market or Passau bike tour

Day 6

• Regensburg – Scenic cruising; Walking tour or Bavarian specialties tasting or
• Walhalla bike tour
• Thurn and Taxis Royal Christmas Market

Day 7

• Nuremberg – City tour; Nuremberg Christmas Market
• Cruise Main – Danube Canal

Day 8 – Nuremberg – DISEMBARKATION

OPTIONAL PRE & POST-CRUISE LAND PROGRAM AVAILABLE.

SOUNDS MAGICAL. SCHEDULE MY FREE CONSULTATION!