Christmas markets river cruises in Europe a wonderful tradition
Save on Emerald Waterways’ sailings for 2018 by booking before Oct. 31
Whenever I’m pressed to say what my favourite time of year to take a European river cruise is, I invariably come up with the same response: December. It is during the last month of the year that Europe’s famous Christmas markets are on full display throughout much of France, Germany, Austria and Hungary, and cups of piping-hot gluhwein (mulled wine) keep the chill out of the air.
Typically held between Nov. 25 and Dec. 24, these Christmas markets are almost exclusively outdoor gigs, held in the town’s central square. In major cities, like Vienna, more than a dozen different markets are on offer, each with their own unique wares, food, drinks and atmosphere on offer.
My inaugural European river cruise just happened to be a Christmas markets voyage, and I’ve been hooked on these fabulous sailings ever since. They’ve become something of a tradition for me, and I’ve done my best to impart that tradition on family and friends as well. Not only that, but in recent years I’ve met an increasing number of couples and families with grown children on these winter sailings who all say the same thing: the voyage itself is their gift to each other; a tradition they repeat as often as possible. To be sure, a river cruise along the Rhine or the Danube sure beats scraping the car windows, or fighting for that last parking spot at the mall. Perhaps that’s why these sailings sell out well in advance; some of the best holiday river cruises this year are already completely sold out, or have limited availability as I write this.
Because of that, Emerald Waterways (cruise.center/emerald) is offering some pretty great reasons to book one of its 2018 Christmas markets river cruises in Europe. Sailings booked between now and Oct. 31 can save approximately $400 per couple on the line’s eight-day river cruises, and up to $800 per couple for its 15-day flagship river cruises.
Emerald’s 15-day Christmas Markets of Europe river cruise is a real winner, particularly if this is your first time river cruising or visiting these festive holiday markets. Departing from Amsterdam on Dec. 4, 2018, this one-off sailing travels from the Netherlands to Germany, where stops are made in Cologne, Rudesheim, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Bamburg, Nuremberg, Regensburg and Passau before continuing on through Austria and, finally, Hungary.
Nuremberg’s sprawling (and jam-packed) Christmas market may be the most frequentlyphotographed in all of Europe, but I prefer the quieter markets in Passau and Regensburg; the latter of which has a fabulous secondary market at Schloss Thurn und Taxis.
Within easy walking distance of your river cruise ship, this so-called Romantic Christmas Market has wooden stalls, open fire pits and one of the coziest atmospheres of any market in Europe. That it’s set on the sprawling grounds of Schloss St. Emmeram (St. Emmeram Palace), doesn’t hurt, either.
Amazingly, the lowest-category stateroom on board this sailing already shows as sold out — even though it is 16 months away.
For 2018, Emerald Waterways is also offering its eight-night Danube Delights & Christmas Markets sailings from Budapest to Nuremberg or reverse; its weeklong Danube Explorer Christmas Markets from Munich to Budapest; and the massive combination itinerary, Paris to Prague & the Christmas Markets of Europe River Cruise that spans 21 days in length.
If you’ve never heard of Emerald Waterways, consider this your chance to get acquainted. Sporting sleek interior decor and cool features like an aft-facing swimming pool that turns into a glassenclosed cinema by night, Emerald has made a name for itself by including things that other river cruise lines don’t. Airport to ship transfers, gratuities, and a selection of daily shore excursions and beverages, all are included in the price of the cruise.
Founded in 2013 as the more affordable offering from Australia-based Scenic, the line now sports a fleet of seven modern river cruise ships, all built in the last four years.
If you’re lucky, you still might be able to snag a 2017 holiday river cruise departure. If not, this is the best time to plan to spend the holidays in 2018 overseas in Europe, floating down the Danube in style with Emerald Waterways.
Happy cruising.
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