which viking christmas market cruise is best

Christmas market river cruises: What to expect on a holiday sailing

Sailing down one of Europe's stunning rivers is a dream trip no matter the time of year, but at Christmas time it's even more special. Ships take travelers from port to port to experience the incredible Christmas markets where stalls are adorned with glittering lights, the smells of sausages and baked goods fill the air, and the sounds of carols can be heard.

Starting in late November through Christmas every year, the cities and towns along the Danube, Rhine, Seine and other rivers set up markets that display each region's holiday traditions. Many of the most popular river cruise lines with ships based in Europe schedule festive cruises to take travelers to shop and dine at these seasonal markets.

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If you're thinking about booking a Christmas market river cruise but don't know where to start, we've got you covered. Here, we've answered the most popular questions about Christmas market river cruises and shared our top tips and tricks to get the most out of the trip.

Is a Christmas market river cruise worth it?

The number-one question people asked me in person and online after I did a Christmas market river cruise down the Danube with Viking in December 2023 was: Is the trip worth it? I vote yes, but there are some things you should know before booking a Christmas market cruise.

If you've had visiting the Christmas markets of Europe on your bucket list, a river cruise is a great way to explore multiple markets in one trip. One of the biggest perks of a river cruise versus a land-based trip is that you unpack once, and your accommodations and dining options float with you down the river from town to town.

Additionally, the cruise director on board acted more like a personal concierge for guests who had questions, giving suggestions for things to do, places to eat and what each Christmas market was known for.

On my seven-night river cruise, I visited six ports and enjoyed a half day of scenic sailing through the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our ports of call were Budapest; Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna; Krems, Austria; Linz, Austria; and Passau, Germany. Each port had at least one Christmas market.

I was most impressed by Vienna, which had two, but the one near City Hall is the one that makes most of the viral TikTok videos and Instagram reels. The City Hall Christmas market is the larger of the two in the city center and is more photogenic. But be sure to go to both Christmas markets in the city. They are about a 10-minute walk from each other and have different foods to try and souvenirs to buy.

Related: The best Christmas market river cruises to book

Which rivers are the best for a Christmas markets cruise?

Picking a river for your cruise can be a challenge, especially if you're not familiar with the destinations on the itinerary. Cruises on the Danube and Rhine are the most popular at this time of year because their ports of call are where most of our Christmas traditions were first created.

On the Danube, you can visit destinations like Vienna, Austria and Passau and Regensburg, Germany. Alternatively, on the Rhine, destinations of interest include Amsterdam; Cologne, Germany; Mannheim, Germany; and Strasbourg, France.

After you find a few river cruises that fit your travel dates, dig into each destination and what it has to offer. Christmas markets are open from midmorning until between 8 and 10 p.m., but there's not enough to do at each market to fill that entire time. I usually spent about an hour at the smaller markets in places like Passau and Linz and about two to three hours at the larger markets in Vienna and Budapest. In each port, you'll want to be sure there are more activities and attractions to fill the rest of your time in port.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

Which river cruise line is best for a Christmas cruise?

Cruise lines that offer Christmas market cruises include Viking , Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways , CroisiEurope, Uniworld and Tauck.

Uniworld cruises are the most expensive, with prices ranging from $3,399 to $7,199 for 8- to 11-day sailings throughout the season. Tauck is also pricier than its competitors, but it's one of the few options that has a family cruise option.

Avalon Waterways offers a more affordable way to see the Christmas markets, with cruises starting at $2,167 for six days of traveling from Budapest to Vienna. But be warned, some cruises do sell out almost a year in advance. CroisiEurope cruises are also more affordable and offer closed-loop cruises where you start and end in the same destination, which is not something that most other river cruise lines offer for Christmas market cruises.

If you're looking for a more active cruise, consider AmaWaterways, where bikes are always available to use in port. On the Danube Christmas Markets tour, you can bike from Weissenkirchen to Melk, passing picturesque villages and vineyards.

Viking is known to be slower-paced than its competitors, with a relaxed vibe. Guest won't have as many choices of activities off or on the ship. The included tours are mostly walking tours.

Related: AmaWaterways vs. Viking: Which of these popular river cruise lines is right for you?

How do I get a good deal on a Christmas market cruise?

Because of the short season for Christmas market river cruises, getting a deal can prove to be a challenge. The best way to get a deal is to book early.

It's common for people to book a Christmas market cruise a year or more in advance. Some companies will offer a discounted deposit for those who book early, and others will offer monetary savings for booking well in advance. Look for wave season (January through March) or Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday deals for river cruise discounts or other promotional offers.

Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here's what you need to know

Do Christmas cruises sell out?

Yes, Christmas cruises can and do sell out. Most riverboats only hold 100 to 200 passengers. The best way to ensure you get the type of cabin and sailing date that you want is to book early.

The more desirable balcony and suite rooms often sell out first, followed by rooms with only upper windows. Cruises that take place in the middle of the season, meaning the first two to three weeks of December, are often more popular than the last week of November or the week of Christmas since some markets might not be open at those times.

Related: These are the best Christmas cruises you can book

How cold is Europe in winter?

The weather is, of course, determined by when and where you're going. Middle and Eastern Europe is often colder than Western Europe, the latter of which has a milder winter season. The later in the Christmas market season you travel, the more likely you are to get rain or snow since winter is setting in across the continent.

On my Viking river cruise from Budapest to Passau in Eastern Europe, the winter weather varied from days with cold rain where I needed to bundle up with extra waterproof layers, to beautiful sunny days where I could strip off my winter jacket for a few hours while touring the Christmas markets.

I used the weather app on my phone to help me determine what to pack. Even 10 days out from my trip, the app was fairly accurate with what the temperatures would be, which ranged from the 20s to the high 40s, and what the day would look like.

What should I wear on my river cruise?

Packing for a river cruise in the middle of winter was the most challenging part of the trip for me. Not only did I have to buy winter clothes since I live in Florida, but I needed to make sure I brought enough layers to keep me warm.

For days exploring the ports, I wore jeans and waterproof boots with long cozy socks, plus a thermal long-sleeved shirt under a sweater. I also brought a midweight puffy winter jacket to wear off the ship. Accessories like a warm hat or ear warmers, gloves and a scarf were also helpful.

Depending on the river cruise line you book, the onboard attire may range from casual to a little more fancy. During the day on Viking, many people wore jeans or sweatpants and a casual shirt. Evenings brought out the more elevated fashion; women donned cute sweaters and dresses, while men dressed in jeans and nicer tops or sweaters.

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. I brought a pair of fleece-lined Crocs to wear off the ship in a few ports where the weather was warmer with no precipitation.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

When should I arrive at the embarkation port?

Always try to arrive at least a day early for any river cruise, especially if you're flying overseas. For some river cruises, the embarkation port is just that, a place to get on the ship and leave. If you arrive the day your cruise begins, you could miss out on exploring the city.

Even if your Christmas market river cruise does have an overnight stay in the embarkation city with tours the next day, it's still best to arrive a day early. Travel days from the United States to Europe can be unpredictable, with delays and missed connections, so you should give yourself plenty of time to get to the ship so you don't miss it.

Some river cruise lines offer pre-cruise extensions that you can bundle with the cruise booking and allow you to arrive early at the embarkation port. These extensions include a hotel stay, and some include a few meals and a guided tour, plus transfers from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the ship.

Are the markets all the same?

Every Christmas market is different in the overall vibe and what it has to offer for visitors. Do some research before you leave home to see what the highlight of each Christmas market is. I did a lot of my research on TikTok and Instagram so I could see what the person was talking about.

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.

My favorite Christmas market was the one at City Hall in Vienna, which happens to be one of the most popular in Europe. It had everything from ice skating and photo-worthy backdrops to prepackaged sweets and plenty of Christmas decorations to try to fit into my already full suitcase.

What are the best things to buy at European Christmas markets?

Popular things to buy at Christmas markets throughout Europe include nativity scenes, handmade toys, nutcrackers, candles and glass or wood ornaments. If something catches your eye, buy it; there's no guarantee you'll find a similar item at the next market.

For example, in Vienna, I spotted a gold beaded ornament that I loved, and I bought it for about 10 euros (about $10.86). I never saw any other beaded ornaments at the Christmas markets before or after Vienna, so I was glad I purchased it when I saw it.

Do make sure that you're buying local products. On my Viking cruise, we were told that some markets are starting to sell mass-produced goods from China. If you want to support local artisans, ask the vendor or look for stickers that say where the products were made.

What should I eat or drink at each market?

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.

Before you cruise, make a list of regional foods you wish to try in each market. Once at the market, look around to see which food stands are popular with locals. Follow their lead because they likely know who has the best treats.

Here are my favorite sweet and savory treats from each Christmas market I visited on my Viking cruise.

• Budapest: chimney cake rolled in crushed hazelnuts
• Bratislava: pork and garlic spiral sausage, potato pancakes similar to latkes but the size of a dinner plate
• Vienna: Champagne cream-filled donut
• Linz: raclette cheese on toasted bread
• Passau: cheese, ham and onion sengzelten (a sort of flatbread with toppings), traditional German bratwurst

Drinking at Christmas markets around Europe normally means getting a hot glass of glühwein, which is mulled wine made with red wine, spices and fruit. The drink is normally served in cute mugs that you can keep as a fun and cheap souvenir. If you don't want to keep your mug, you can return it and get back a euro or two.

What else can I do in each market besides shop?

Each Christmas market is different, and the things to do besides shopping are also varied.

Most of the larger markets, like the ones in Bratislava and Budapest, have live music playing from a bandstand that you can enjoy. In Budapest, the market near St. Stephen's Basilica had a projection show on the exterior of the church, too.

While touring one of the Linz markets, I stumbled upon a small carnival where rides and games were set up for kids to enjoy. Then in Vienna, the City Hall Christmas market had an ice skating rink that was popular with families and couples.

Related: Are river cruises right for kids?

What times do the markets open and close?

Generally, the Christmas markets open in midmorning, anywhere from 9 to 10 a.m., and close between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Some markets will open earlier, and some will close later.

The best way to know the times of each market you're visiting is to do a quick internet search close to the time of your river cruise. Put the name of the city and the words "Christmas Market hours" into your preferred online search tool to get the operational hours for each market.

Do you need cash for the Christmas markets?

You should always carry some cash with you for the Christmas markets. While many of the vendors will take credit cards or Apple Pay, others only want cash.

It's also a good idea to know the currency of each destination you're going to. For example, in Hungary, euros are not accepted anywhere, so I exchanged dollars for Hungarian forints to use at the Christmas market.

What can I do in each city before or after the Christmas market?

Your river cruise will offer an included tour every day. On my Viking river cruise, each day's included tour was a walking tour of the city to point out historic landmarks and show people how to get to the Christmas markets.

After a few days, I found the walking tours somewhat repetitive. They all showed off the major church in the city center and described how the city navigated various wars. The guides make or break the tours, and you never know who you'll get. So I used the tours to help navigate to the city center, then ventured off on my own with my travel companion. We used walking directions on Google Maps as a way to get to destinations we were interested in and to get back to the ship once we were ready to warm up for a while.

River cruises include a lot of perks, including docking right at the edge of most of the towns you visit. This means that in many destinations, you can walk from the ship to the middle of town in mere minutes. Before or after visiting the Christmas market, you can spend your time exploring the city, dining in a local restaurant, sipping hot coffee in a cafe or popping into shops.

For larger destinations like Vienna, Paris or Amsterdam, you might want to do extra research on what there is to do in the city for free or at a discount. Many museums offer free or discounted entry on select days or to select ages.

Bottom line

If you've ever wanted to explore European Christmas markets, a river cruise is an easy way to do it. Many of the best river cruise brands and guided group tour companies offer Christmas markets river cruises throughout Europe.

You'll make the most of your vacation if you do a little bit of research to determine what there is to do in each city before or after your market visit, which local foods you should try and what to shop for at the markets themselves.

No matter which river you traverse, cruise line you pick, or Christmas markets you visit, you'll be able to immerse yourself in European holiday culture, learning about the food and drink specialties of the places you visit and how each destination celebrates the holidays. And since you're on a river cruise, you can experience multiple cities and countries while someone else does the navigation for you, and you only have to unpack once.

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Viking Christmas River Cruise with Dazzling Markets Along the Danube

There’s a charm during the holiday season in Europe unlike any other place I've experienced, which I saw through the lens of a Viking Christmas River Cruise. A magical ambiance fills the region with smiling and laughing patrons, enjoying glühwein and each other’s company in historic squares and small streets in old villages.

During one such season, I was lucky enough to board a Viking ship on a river cruise that sailed along the Danube River . It stopped at charming cities of all sizes with dazzling Christmas markets.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase,  at no cost to you . We truly only recommend hotels, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

A Winter River Cruise in the Spirit of Christmas

Cruising in Europe during winter may sound like an oxymoron. But Viking proved that cruising isn't just for laying out on the top deck with tropical destinations on an itinerary. (There are benefits to cruising in any season, and winter provides beautiful holiday sparkle wherever you go.)

There’s one thing you get in December in Europe that you can’t get any other time in any other place: European Christmas Markets. And they are amazing!

Christmas River Cruise Route along the Danube

The route we took was called the Romantic Danube, and included stops in the following places:

• Budapest, Hungary
• Vienna, Austria
• Krems, Austria
• Passau, Germany
• Regensburg, Germany
• Nuremberg, Germany

I met my friend Julie Deily, of The Little Kitchen, in Budapest to board the Viking Atla river cruise ship.

We started in Budapest, which is a gorgeous place to begin. The lights on their parliament building are particularly spectacular at night; it was great the scene from on the Danube River , aboard the Viking cruise ship.

Our River Cruise Viking Ship: Atla

The Viking Atla was our vessel for our Christmas River Cruise. Don't forget that the sun sets significantly earlier during December in Europe than during the summer months, like July and August. About three to four hours earlier.

So by the time we got back to the ship the first day – after dropping our luggage off in the morning, touring around the city and returning for dinner – it was already dark. Our next day was really the first day I was able to see the ship in sunlight and view its beauty.

We arrived to the warmth and glow of the lights inside the ship; isn't it romantic to see the ship this way with string lights twinkling atop reflecting in the river? It was especially nice to see limited yet tasteful holiday decorations – like wreaths with red bows and green garland – adorning the inside of the ship.

Don't forget to pack European outlet converters for your cabin aboard the ship!

We appreciated its clean Scandinavian design, from our stateroom to the river cruise ship's grand staircase, and common areas.

The top of the staircase looked towards a warm, cozy common area. Some board games were stashed there for guests that were great to play during the evenings.

There were more games at the top of the ship: a little golf putting green and shuffleboard.

Christmas River Cruise Start: Budapest, Hungary

The cruise begins in Budapest. You're able to fly into the city, of course, but I extended the trip beforehand in Munich and Stuttgart, Germany. (Since I had to leave the cruise early I wanted to make the most of my time in Europe.) I flew to Budapest from Munich to start the Christmas river cruise.

Arriving to Budapest Early

I spent the two nights before I was able to board the Viking Atla at an Air BnB on the river (coincidentally, not far from where the ship was docked) and touring Budapest.

It was great to see the city's sites and incredible markets. They were all around and very easy to walk to from the ship. My Christmas market favorites were consistently the beautifully illuminated concession stands. I loved the lights, the decorations, and the holiday colors.

The Budapest Christmas markets sold things like marzipan sweets made from almond paste, strudel cakes (from cherry to peach, apple, and strawberry), to smoked salmon slow-cooked for hours, and Hungarian goulash in bread bowls. There were also plenty of wooden toys and craft keepsakes to purchase.

Seeing the Sites in Budapest

We were able to visit several sites in Budapest including the famous Parliament building on the “Pest” side of the river the day the cruise started. And we toured the area around the famous Buda Castle on the “Buda” side of the river as well.

Before we left Hungary and sailed for Vienna we were able to go to the Great Market Hall. It's also known as Central Market Hall , and is a huge food market in Budapest that was built in the 1890s. ( We love a good food market .)

We were lucky enough to try a local favorite, called Hungarian Langos. It is fried dough that is covered with toppings of your choosing, most traditionally sour cream and cheese, which is exactly how I had it. (I still crave it! And I haven't had it since because I haven't found it anywhere in the United States.)

I had some leftover local currency that I wanted to spend before we left the country. So I bought some Hungarian Paprika, a spice they're known for. (And I ended up buying it again when we returned for a Danube River Cruise with Emerald Cruises in late October.)

Currency in Hungary is different than the currency you'll need for Austria and Germany. Hungarian Forints are needed in Hungary, and then you'll need Euros for the remainder of the cruise. Credit cards work almost anywhere, especially after the pandemic prompted more cash-only businesses to start accepting cards. But it's always best to keep some cash on hand too.

I used it a ton after the trip, constantly making my favorite Hungarian mushroom soup recipe , which I specifically discovered to use the paprika. (The word, “paprika,” is Hungarian.)

Next Stop on the Danube River: Vienna, Austria

Vienna was a city I'd been looking forward to visiting for many years. Yet, I admit, we only saw a limited amount of it because it was so frigidly cold we could barely stand being outside!

We hopped between indoor and outdoor spaces hoping the wind would subside so we could enjoy the outdoor Christmas markets yet have our body temperature stay warm.

Luckily there were great options to explore indoors too. We were outside, then went inside, then outside, then back inside, repeat, repeat… Luckily the wind eventually died down.

After being outdoors for a bit to walk around Schönbrunn Palace and a nearby park, we switched to see the inside of Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral . We warmed up afterwards with hot cappuccinos and cookies at a beautiful coffee shop called Konditorei Demel .

Visting a Candy Maker in Vienna

One of my favorite stops of the entire trip was visiting a candy shop that had me in awe of its bite-size creations. It's worth a stop at Zuckerl Werkstatt ; they still create their beautiful hard candies by hand. I felt like I was in a room at Willy Wonka's home!

It was really neat to see a candy maker expertly work a pile of yellow tinted hot sugar over and over again, and watch it turn to solid white in front of our eyes. We learned the air helps change its color.

I even bought a candy souvenir for Dan. It was one of my first gifts for him, as it was early on in our relationship. (Later on I'd learn that sweets aren't really his thing! Haha.)

Christmas Markets in Vienna

Exploring the Christmas markets of Vienna most near the city center, with mugs of hot glühwein, was in order when we left the candy store. We nestled around new friends we met on the cruise and talked about the day. By this time the holiday lights were starting to turn on as daytime turned to night.

It's entertaining to see the different mug designs each European Christmas market has. They're all different. You pay a small fee for the mug that is given back to you if you return the mug to the vendors. Or, you can collect the mugs as souvenirs.

I was pleased to venture to visit another holiday market in front of their city hall, or Rathaus , before we headed back to the ship.

I just love “maroni” on a winter day in Europe. Maroni is simply chestnuts , for us westerners…roasting on an open fire, as the holiday song goes. You can buy a bag of chestnuts for just a few euros, which is all you need.

Warm alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages flow at the markets and the sounds of holiday choirs and music fill the air.

There are food vendors selling bratwurst (a personal favorite) and pretzels, craftsmen selling wooden nativity scenes and ornaments, and tables casually scattered about the streets and sidewalks between kiosks for patrons to use to converse with friends, relax and people watch.

Vienna has so many different pockets of Christmas markets. But the two I visited were a delightful look into their culture during the holidays and left me with a reason to go back one day: to explore more of the Vienna Christmas markets and explore the city more entirely.

Viking Events Coordination in Vienna

Viking had scheduled a cooking class for us, creating traditional Viennese crepes with a berry reduction to go with it during the afternoon. It was the perfect indoor activity for us to warm up and have a sweet little Viennese snack.

Later that night, I enjoyed a performance showcasing Mozart and Strauss, arranged specifically for guests of the Viking cruise that evening. The Vienna Residence Orchestra was there, live, and their singers were of the highest caliber.

Sailing on the Danube River

One of the great things about sailing on the Danube between Hungary and Germany is you get to see fairy tale scenes like the image below, of a random castle on the side of the river.

We saw a lot of industrial scenery aboard our Emerald River Cruise in The Netherlands , which was great in its own way. But the views along the Danube River are, indeed, very romantic. As is the stargazing in the evening on the top deck. (Don't forget to download a stargazing app for the cruise on your phone before you leave for your trip!)

We learned we were experiencing a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Wachau, when we sailed the stretch of the Danube River between Melk and Krems, Austria.

This valley is noteworthy for its medieval landscape along the river, which is historically significant for its agriculture, architecture, and settlements.

Romantic Danube River Stop at Krems, Austria

Krems, Austria is a charming European area filled with rolling hills of vineyards. Grapes for some wines served onboard Viking were from this area, perhaps not coincidentally.

The most famous attraction here was Benediktinerstift Göttweig , an abbey run by a few dozen monks situated on top of the hill. Needless to say the view from there is spectacular, especially at night. The abbey fresco, staircase and bookcases are not to miss.

We were there just before sunset so we were able to see it with some natural sun and then with sparkling lights in the town below as we exited after dark.

Charming Holiday Markets in Passau, Germany on Our Christmas River Cruise

When we woke up in Germany we had just docked in Passau. The view was one of a misty morning, with the city's colorful buildings lining the Danube. It perfectly reflected on the water.

This was one of my favorite scenes of the trip.

I immediately left the ship to begin exploring the small, quaint European town. (I couldn't have known at the time that a couple of years later I would photograph a groom from Passau, in his New York wedding. He was shocked I had previously been to his Bavarian town, all thanks to a Viking River Cruise.)

The city center is just steps from where the ship docks, watched over by St. Stephen's Cathedral . The baroque building towers above the town square, where the Christmas markets are.

Inside the cathedral is an ornate and beautiful interior filled with frescoes and interesting architectural details.

After I exited St. Stephen's, I walked around the town a bit. Passau is also known as the “City of Three Rivers,” because it's where 3 rivers converge. It was fun to wander around to see many waterfront scenes in the city.

By the time I was back in the town center, the market vendors were opening for business. I opted for an early bratwurst sandwich for lunch before I sadly had to leave the cruise to go to the airport.

The ship continued on to Regensburg, Germany and the Christmas market river cruise ended in Nuremberg.

What to Pack if You're Sailing with Viking During Christmas

That's just the tip of the iceberg and the appeal of cruising with Viking for a Christmas river cruise. Late November and December are a lovely time to experience the holiday spirit through the Christmas Markets set up in Europe. It's a joy to participate in the festivities at each port.

You'll gain memories at each destination along your river cruise, along with the warmth and love that the holiday season brings. And that is something you can't get on any other sailing besides a Christmas time river cruise.

Gone is the need to “look good in a bathing suit” for a winter cruise! You can eat all the yummy, delicious foods you want because you're in sweaters and a heavy winter jacket anyway. Haha!

But don't forget to pack gloves, a warm hat, scarf and a heavy coat. You'll need it! We also recommend bringing quality lotion to keep your skin moisturized since the air is very dry in Europe in December, and Chapstick too.

You may also want to pack an expandable bag as well because you may buy a bunch of amazingly unique, local items at the holiday markets. And you'll need a way to bring them back home on the plane!

Going on a river cruise? Also check out:

• 26 Helpful Things to Know your First Time on a River Cruise
• Quick-Reference Guide to Cruising on the Danube River (including Prices)
• River Cruise vs Ocean Cruise: What’s the Difference?

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The Best Christmas Market Cruises

These sailings will deliver you to europe’s enchanting holiday market celebrations in style..

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Avalon Waterways’ holiday-themed Main River sailings kick off in Nuremberg, Germany.

Photo by Shutterstock

In November and December, the air in Europe becomes scented with gingerbread and mulled wine as the continent’s famous Christmas markets set up shop. Expect scenes brimming with colorful lights, local choir groups performing, and sweets and handmade crafts and ornaments being sold from spruce huts. Often this seasonal show is in the heart of the city, or in a popular town square, and sometimes the events are massive—the famous market in Nuremberg, Germany, for instance, has more than 200 stalls. You can do your holiday shopping all while taking in the celebratory city sights.

One of the best ways to visit these festive fairs is on a river cruise. River cruise lines will deliver you directly to them with their Christmas market cruises—highly popular sailings along the Danube and the Rhine , Germany’s Main River and France’s Seine that include visits to the merry markets. While there may still be some availability on 2019 holiday sailings, your best bet is to get a jumpstart on planning for 2020 as these cruises tend to book far in advance.

Best for exploring historic traditions

Avalon Waterways’ Germany-focused Main River Christmastime itinerary from Nuremberg to Mainz (near Frankfurt) visits Bavarian towns and villages decked out for the holidays. A shipboard lecturer discusses German holiday traditions along the way. Stops include historic Bamberg, where throughout town locals build nativity scenes. An optional excursion visits the town of Rothenburg and the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas shop there, home to a massive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations. Onboard, the ship is embellished with holiday-themed decor, and you can learn how to bake traditional cookies from the region.

Best for Francophiles

Experience Christmastime in Paris and Normandy with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection , a spirited sailing on France’s Seine River. Included are château visits such as a private cocktail reception with the owners of the 17th-century Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, colorfully decorated for the holiday. You will also experience Christmas traditions in the medieval city of Rouen. At the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Paris, view the impressive crèche (nativity scene) and hear a choral performance. The square in front of the cathedral hosts a Christmas market with venders selling French crafts, crepes, and roasted chestnuts. Some sailings are designated for families, with special activities for kids age 4 to 17.

Best for an over-the-top holiday experience

Crystal goes all out to deck the halls of its river cruise ships.

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Beyond holiday celebrations in places such as Vienna and the historic Bavarian town of Vilshofen, Germany, which hosts a floating Christmas market on the Danube River, Crystal River Cruises’ luxury ships dazzle with their own exaggerated holiday displays. Think life-sized toy soldiers, meticulously decorated Christmas trees, and poinsettia garlands galore. The food, too, is designed to be an extravagant representation of European Christmas traditions. Sailings on the Danube include seasonal activities, such as snowshoe hiking in the Bavarian forest. In medieval Regensburg, Germany, there’s a visit to a Christmas village and market at a former Benedictine monastery that is now an exquisitely restored baroque palace.

Best for families

Adventures by Disney brings families to Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace on its Christmas markets Danube River cruise.

Photo by Vitaliy Kyrchuk/Shutterstock

Adventures by Disney hosts a very merry Christmas celebration on the AmaViola , a vessel Disney’s touring arm charters from river cruise line AmaWaterways . The sailings are on the Danube between Budapest and Vilshofen, with several market experiences along the way. In Vienna, guests experience the impressive Schönbrunn Palace, where the outdoor Christmas market offers music, handicrafts ,and children’s activities. Also in Vienna, guests can go ice skating in the center of the city. The itinerary includes an excursion to Salzburg, Austria, showcasing sights from the iconic movie The Sound of Music , as well as the charming city’s own famed Christmas extravaganza.

Best for revelers

U River Cruises’s Dashing Through the Danube sailings combine visits to Christmas markets with pub crawls, onboard silent disco parties, rooftop yoga, and mixology lessons. In Budapest, you might attend some raves; in Bratislava, Slovakia, check out one of the microbreweries in between searching for handcrafted Bohemian Christmas decorations and toys; and in Passau, Germany, do a torch-lit walk along the river while drinking mulled wine and singing Christmas carols. An optional tour in Regensburg visits the high-tech BMW factory, where you can fantasize about your ultimate holiday gift.

Best for the wellness-minded

For those hoping to burn off some of those holiday calories, AmaWaterways has fitness instructors on its ships running a full roster of fitness classes such as stretching, dance, and cardio training. If the weather allows, you can borrow bikes for exploring the ports, too. The line’s holiday sailings on the Danube and Rhine get you to famed Christmas markets such as the Alsatian delight of Strasbourg, France, and Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, where resisting the baked goods is particularly difficult in the self-proclaimed “gingerbread capital of the world.”

Best itinerary and excursions

Tauck goes the extra mile when it comes to its holiday-themed shore excursions in places like Vienna.

Courtesy of Tauck

Tour operator Tauck puts an emphasis on beyond-the-norm excursions that are included in its cruise fare. A holiday sailing on the Rhine from Basel, Switzerland, to Cologne, Germany, includes a day trip into the Black Forest and to Baden-Baden, Germany, for the famous spa town’s Christmas market, held in the complex of the belle époque casino there. Witness local bands and choirs perform holiday music and real sheep appear in Baden-Baden’s “living nativity.” From Cologne, there’s a visit to the German town of Aachen to try the special gingerbread they’ve been making there for 600 years.

Best for cultural immersion

On Viking River Cruises’ Christmas market sailings on the Rhine and Danube, guests have the opportunity to learn new traditions both at the festive markets on shore and shipboard. On the ships, you can enjoy holiday cookies and other baked treats, special musical presentations by local performers, tree trimming, and gingerbread and strudel-making demonstrations. There are also hands-on sessions in creating regional crafts such as wreaths and ornaments, plus holiday-themed quizzes in the lounge. While you sail past a parade of holiday lights from your ship’s festooned sundeck, the crew serves mulled wine to keep you warm.

• Expeditions
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Christmas Markets

Celebrate an Old World Christmas on one of Europe’s great rivers. Glittering cities across France, Germany, Austria and beyond light up with Christmas markets offering hand-carved toys and ornaments. While you shop, sample hot chocolate, spicy glühwein and aromatic gingerbread.

Christmas on the Seine

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Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle

Christmas on the Main & Moselle

Christmas on the Rhine

Christmas on the Danube

Danube Christmas Delights

Christmas Along the Elbe

Highlights of christmas markets.

Enjoy visits to Europe’s delightful Christmas markets, onboard festivities and more—all designed to complement your itinerary’s regular highlights. Join us in exploring the lands where our most cherished holiday traditions began and treat yourself to a true European Christmas. Here is a preview of all you will enjoy during a Christmas Market cruise with Viking

• Exuberantly decorated Christmas markets nestled in charming cities
• Yuletide cookies, cakes and other freshly baked treats
• Cobblestone streets illuminated by holiday lights
• The angelic songs of strolling carolers
• Storybook villages and snow-capped castles on the riverside
• Hand-carved toys and ornaments from Christmases past
• Onboard music performances, tree trimming and cooking demonstrations
• Good tidings and cheer shared with rosy-cheeked market vendors

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Christmas Markets on a Viking River Cruise

Story & photos by Neil Wolkodoff

Christmas may be the most magical time in Europe, and the best way to see both Europe and these festive events is a river cruise. Viking Cruises has been perfecting this itinerary longer than anyone in Europe (since 1997) and is expert at blending culture, history and an abundance of Christmas cheer. The market season in Europe runs from about November 30 to December 22, essentially three weeks to taste, celebrate and learn. 

The ideal way to start a Rhine Getaway at Christmas is to spend three days in Amsterdam before embarkation. Viking has hotel packages, and Amsterdam is easy to navigate with their “ I amsterdam” City Card . You can also pick a hotel by city region and then zip around to your interest areas using the same transport pass, which also includes many local discounts and added attractions, like museums.

Like most cruises, there is a range of times you can get to the ship, then meet and greet the crew while finding your cabin. The cabins are more substantial than anticipated. Moreover, here, the operative concept is to rest up and go, so you aren’t in the cabin that much. The ship is well appointed with the main restaurant, and a large bar/lounge and an extensive top deck for viewing. The cuisine rotates by region and city, expect some specialties of that town every night with regular favorites. Given the 190 passengers and the diversity of tastes, Viking has mastered the art of blending great regional food with solid favorites, like the grilled ribeye.

The first night, after check-in, there is more meeting and bar greeting. Viking is small enough you can meet all the other passengers in conversations, meals or mingling and that is the main focus of the first night as the ship sets sail. Viking is about meaningful interaction with other guests, the staff and the culture and history of each stop along the way. On most days, the ship sails at night then docks during the day for exploration. Each night, each cabin receives a detailed overview of the next stop complete with key sites, tours, docking, and departure information. 

The included tours are more than adequate, which presents the essential history, landmarks and cultural nuances of that city. Each stop has at least one added, extra charge tour for the more adventurous of those sailing with Viking a second or third time. Viking is very picky about tour guides in each city, they have to be experts in their area, and undergo extensive training and periodic reviews. Hop off in the morning, go as directed, and Viking has done all the planning from transportation to the specific itinerary for the day, you just provide a little personal locomotion on the tour. You don’t miss a word tour-wise because each tour guide is connected to each participant with a unique wireless headset.

On and off the ship is easy as it’s always the second deck, and Viking has some of the best docking locations in each city. The included maps pinpoint your exact dock location, interesting local landmarks, and markets, so a walking tour on your own is secure.

Day 1: Windmills and More Windmills. Kinderdijk is the most famous windmill town in Holland, and you get a living history lesson on windmills and their importance to land reclamation in early Holland. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the original 150 windmills are now down to 19 in Kinderdijk. A fantastic display of hydraulic technology from almost 200 years ago.

Day 2: Cologne, Germany. Germany celebrates Christmas like no other nation in Europe, so abundant Christmas markets appear to pop up every few blocks. Each market has a special gluhwein mug, just purchase and refill at a nominal rate during your walk. Here the included tour takes you to Old Town, the Cathedral and St. Martin’s Church. If you want to toast with the best of them, the evening excursion is an immersion in Cologne’s Beer Culture and Dinner.

Day 3: Koblenz & Rudesheim, Germany. The morning trek is up to the 700-year-old Marksburg Castle, then do a guided sailing for the afternoon seeing castles and their stories. Once the ship docks in Rudesheim, you are further entrenched in the history of romanticism with storybook villages, renown Riesling and chardonnays. The additional tour features a wine tasting and dinner at the Eberbach estate.

Day 4: Heidelberg & Speyer, Germany. While Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany, the actual Manheim Steamroller, the first propelled tractor originated in the town. The grandeur of the Heidelberg castle, a Gothic-Renaissance masterpiece, was also a draw for artists and others, including Mark Twain. Moreover, of course, more Christmas markets along the way.

Day 5: Kehl & Strasbourg. Not to be outdone by the Germans, Strasbourg makes a huge Christmas statement French-style with numerous Christmas markets. A grand included tour of the city’s famed cathedral, historical center, and parliament starts the day. For a better taste of the region, the Test the Best of Alsace tour combines meeting food merchants, sommeliers, and notable local chefs. The people of Alsace are a little independent, and thus the food and wine are different than in both mainstream Germany and France. If a speed interest drives you, the Mercedes Benz Factory tour will get your motor running autobahn style.

Day 6: Breisach, Germany. At the entrance to the Black Forest, you experience the mountain landscape, cuckoo clocks, Christmas stands and even Black Forest Cake. If history is calling, the optional tour to the Colmar area, where the WWII “Pocket Battle” was fought will stir emotion. Included are numerous battlefield memorials, and a stop at the site of Audy Murphy’s machine gun stand against German forces made him the most decorated American soldier of all time. If spirits are in the cards, then the Gelderman winery, founded in 1838, is renown for its’ sparkling wines using traditional, in bottle fermentation.

Day 7: Basel, Switzerland. Docking early in Basel, and then it is off the ship for optional excursions to Lucerne or Zurich or air transport home. 

Neil Wolkodoff , PhD, is a Sports Scientist in Denver, Colorado who has worked with golfers over the last 15 years. During the rare free times, he travels to exotic golf destinations to see how golf, culture and local geography mix in different locales. He has penned articles for Colorado Avid Golfer, Golf Digest, and Golf Magazine. In his travels, he has golfed with royalty, tour professionals, the local duffer, and the occasional goat.

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Viking Christmas Markets Review: Favorite Things

Beginning our Viking River Cruise holiday sailing, I was already sold on the travel experience that a river cruise can provide. That was solidly defined on a Viking sailing last summer. The focus of the experience is largely off the ship. I got that. River cruising is a viable travel option when matched with the right traveler. But editorial questions were posed. What about that destination focus? What parts stand out as stellar reasons to go on a Christmas markets cruise?

Let’s take a look.

• Ghluwein – Simply put, this potent holiday beverage is a signature item of Christmas markets . Served in souvenir mugs that can be refilled at a discount, each is customized for the market where they are sold. Better yet, Viking showed us how to make it at home before our sailing came to an end.
• Live The Sound Of Music – Let’s face it, this is the place where the iconic 1965 movie was filmed and it looks very much the same today, even in winter. While we can watch the film on our stateroom television, we’re choosing to wait until we get home. The “we were there” moments should be spectacular.
• Unique Gifts – As anticipated, there was a wide selection of gifts being sold at the Christmas markets . Odds are that those looking for unique holiday gifts will find plenty from which to choose. Held in the city center, where we saw open-air markets in the summer, the scene is every bit as vibrant during the holidays. Difference: In the summer it was pointless to buy fresh meat or fish to bring home. Holiday gifts are not perishable as are the personal memories created finding them.
• Another Side Of Fabulous – While we sailed the same stretch of the river Danube in the Summer, doing so in the Winter is an entirely different experience. While some of the ports are the same on our itinerary, we visited them at different times of the day, rarely duplicating previous experiences. So yes Bob, James and Mary Lou (friends from last sailing) the Grand Euro itinerary did not “spoil” the Christmas Markets cruise for me.
• Sausages – As mentioned earlier in this series on A Viking Christmas , we know nothing of sausages at home. We just thought we did. It will be difficult to pick up a package of name brand bratwurst at the local supermarket upon return.
• Eat Bad Things And Live To Tell About It – Our Viking river cruise includes a tour every day. Part of the tour requires walking more distance than one might at home makes up for it. On board our Viking longship we find a nice variety of food, served in reasonable portions.
• Holiday Spirit – Some people get into the December holidays with gusto and need no encouragement to deck the halls. Others may need a shot of holiday cheer and Christmas markets provide a double dose.
• Wine Tour Opportunities- Scenic cruising through the Wachau valley on our Viking river cruise I was reminded of how pretty the many vineyards were as we sailed along in the summer. Made still by winter, wineries continue tours with more of a focus on education than walking the fields of vines.
• History Is Not Seasonal – One of the features of a river cruise is a focus off the ship . Those interested in visiting places they may have seen only in movies, television or read about in books have every opportunity to see them in winter. Complemented by local guides who add commentary appropriate for the season (“this is where the Nazi’s nearly froze to death”) added a seasonable component to their running commentary along the way.

On my summer sailing, several of the other passengers on Viking Odin had done a Christmas Markets sailing before. They pointed out along the way where the markets would be and what to expect, many with a tone of satisfaction, confidently assuring me that it would be a marvelous experience.They were right.

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Viking Christmas Market Cruise: A Festive Journey Through Europe’s Best Markets

by Judith Eve | Nov 27, 2023 | Cruise Lines & Cruise Types

Viking Christmas Market Cruise is a perfect way to celebrate the holiday season in Europe. The cruise offers an opportunity to explore the Christmas markets in various cities across France, Germany, Austria, and beyond. These markets are known for their hand-carved toys, ornaments, and other festive decorations.

Viking River Cruises, the world's biggest river cruise line, offers a variety of vacations to experience the Christmas markets. The Viking Christmas Market Cruise is an eight-day journey that takes travelers along the Rhine and Danube rivers, highlighting three countries: Hungary, Austria, and Germany. The itinerary includes guided tours of charming cities and villages, visits to castles and cathedrals adorned with festive displays, and plenty of opportunities to sample hot chocolate, spicy glühwein, and aromatic gingerbread.

For those who want to experience the holiday season in a unique way, the Viking Christmas Market Cruise is an excellent choice. It offers a chance to immerse oneself in the old-world charm of European Christmas markets while enjoying a luxurious river cruise experience. Whether traveling solo or with family and friends, the Viking Christmas Market Cruise promises to be a memorable and festive holiday adventure.

Viking Christmas Market Cruise Overview

A Viking Christmas Market Cruise is a perfect way to celebrate the holiday season in Europe. Viking River Cruises offers a variety of itineraries that take travelers through the heart of Europe, stopping at some of the most charming and historic cities along the way. These cruises typically take place in November and December, and offer a unique opportunity to experience the holiday season in a new and exciting way.

One of the highlights of a Viking Christmas Market Cruise is the chance to explore the many Christmas markets that dot the cities along the itinerary. These markets are a beloved tradition in Europe, and offer a chance to sample local food and drink, shop for handmade gifts and crafts, and soak up the festive atmosphere.

Viking River Cruises offers a number of different itineraries for their Christmas Market Cruises, with options that visit cities in Germany, France, Austria, and beyond. Each itinerary is carefully crafted to provide a unique and memorable experience for travelers, with plenty of opportunities to explore historic landmarks, sample local cuisine, and immerse themselves in the local culture.

Dates and pricing for Viking Christmas Market Cruises vary depending on the itinerary and departure date. However, travelers can typically expect to pay a premium for these cruises due to the popularity of the holiday season. That being said, Viking River Cruises does offer a number of special deals and promotions throughout the year, so it's always worth checking their website for the latest offers.

Overall, a Viking Christmas Market Cruise is a fantastic way to experience the holiday season in Europe. With its charming cities, festive markets, and luxurious river cruise experience, it's a vacation that is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.

The Magic of Europe's Christmas Markets

Europe's Christmas markets are a sight to behold. From the exuberantly decorated market stalls to the twinkling holiday lights, these markets offer a festive atmosphere that is hard to resist. Whether you're looking for unique gifts or simply want to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, there's something for everyone at these markets.

One of the best ways to experience Europe's Christmas markets is on a Viking Christmas Market Cruise. Viking offers a variety of itineraries that take you to some of the most popular Christmas markets in Europe. From Nuremberg to Vienna, these markets offer hand-carved toys and ornaments, spicy glühwein, and aromatic gingerbread.

In addition to the markets themselves, Viking's Christmas Market Cruises also offer plenty of other holiday-themed activities. Guests can enjoy traditional holiday meals, attend concerts featuring local choirs and musicians, and even take part in a Christmas tree decorating ceremony.

For those who want to do more than just shop and eat, Viking also offers a variety of shore excursions that allow guests to explore the history and culture of the regions they visit. From exploring medieval castles to touring local museums, there's plenty to see and do on a Viking Christmas Market Cruise.

Overall, Europe's Christmas markets are a must-see for anyone who loves the holiday season. And with Viking's Christmas Market Cruises, you can experience the magic of these markets in a unique and unforgettable way.

Cruise Destinations and Highlights

The Viking Christmas Market Cruise takes its passengers on a magical journey through some of Europe's most enchanting cities, towns, and villages. From the Black Forest to the Rhine, from Paris to Prague, this cruise offers a unique opportunity to experience the Old World charm of Europe during the holiday season.

Passengers will embark on one of Viking's luxurious longships and set sail from Amsterdam, passing through Cologne, Koblenz, and Mannheim before arriving in the multicultural city of Strasbourg. Here, they will have the chance to explore the city's picturesque streets and visit its famous Christmas markets, which offer everything from Alsatian fare to handmade ornaments and gifts.

The cruise continues along the Rhine, with stops in Basel and Breisach, before entering the Black Forest region of Germany. Passengers will have the opportunity to sample some of the region's famous cuisine and visit landmarks such as the Cochem Castle and Cologne Cathedral.

As the cruise makes its way down the Danube, passengers will have the chance to explore the historic cities of Passau, Regensburg, and Budapest, with shore excursions that offer a glimpse into the rich history and culture of these regions.

The cruise concludes in Prague, where passengers can take in the city's stunning architecture and visit its famous Christmas markets, which offer a wide variety of traditional Czech food and drink.

Overall, the Viking Christmas Market Cruise offers a unique and unforgettable way to experience the holiday season in Europe, with its stunning scenery, rich history, and charming Christmas markets.

Holiday Traditions and Festivities

One of the highlights of a Viking Christmas Market Cruise is the opportunity to experience the unique holiday traditions and festivities of Europe. The Christmas markets, with their dazzling array of ornaments and decorations, are a feast for the eyes and senses.

German holiday traditions are on full display at the markets, with hand-carved wooden toys, nutcrackers, and intricate glass ornaments available for purchase. Visitors can also sample traditional German holiday treats, such as spicy gingerbread and fragrant mulled wine.

Onboard festivities are just as delightful, with music performances and tree trimming ceremonies adding to the holiday cheer. Guests can indulge in freshly baked yuletide cookies and other treats, while strolling carolers serenade them with classic holiday tunes.

These markets are a wonderful way to experience Christmases past, with their emphasis on handmade crafts, traditional decorations, and old-world charm. Whether you're looking to do some holiday shopping or simply soak up the festive atmosphere, a Viking Christmas Market Cruise is sure to be a memorable experience.

Exploring the Christmas Markets

One of the main highlights of a Viking Christmas Market cruise is the opportunity to explore the charming markets that are scattered throughout Europe during the Advent season. These markets offer a unique shopping experience where visitors can find a variety of handmade crafts, jewelry, and gifts that are perfect for the holiday season.

As visitors stroll through the cobblestone streets of these storybook villages, they will be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the festive season. The market vendors offer a wide range of items, from hand-carved toys to gingerbread and other delicious treats. Visitors can also enjoy the sounds of carolers and take in the snow-capped castles and riverside scenery.

In addition to shopping, visitors can also participate in cooking demonstrations and meet artisanal producers who offer unique products that are perfect for gift-giving. The markets are also a great place to sample some of the local cuisine and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or spicy glühwein.

One of the highlights of the Christmas Market cruise is the opportunity to visit the cathedrals and other historic sites that are located near the markets. Visitors can take in the stunning architecture and learn about the rich history of the region.

Overall, the Christmas Markets offer a festive and friendly atmosphere that is perfect for visitors of all ages. Whether you are looking for unique gifts or simply want to soak up the holiday spirit, the Christmas Markets are a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Europe during the Advent season.

Danube Christmas Delights

Viking River Cruises offers a unique opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas in Europe with their Danube Christmas Delights itinerary. Passengers will sail through four enchanting countries, stopping to explore cultural capitals and fairy-tale villages. The itinerary includes visits to charming cities and villages along the "Blue Danube," highlighting three countries: Hungary, Austria, and Germany.

Passengers will have the chance to savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine, admire the Wachau Valley's beauty, and explore Central European cities. The cruise also includes visits to Christmas markets, where passengers can shop for hand-carved toys and ornaments, sample hot chocolate, spicy glühwein, and aromatic gingerbread.

The Danube Christmas Delights itinerary is perfect for those who want to experience the holiday season in a unique and memorable way. The cruise offers a scenic and relaxing way to explore the old towns and cities of Europe during the festive season.

Planning Your Viking Christmas Market Cruise

Planning a Viking Christmas Market Cruise can be an exciting experience. The winter season is the perfect time to embark on a river cruise to explore the Christmas markets in Europe. However, there are a few things to consider before booking your trip.

Firstly, keep in mind that the winter season can be quite crowded with tourists. Therefore, it's important to book your cruise and accommodations well in advance to avoid any disappointment. Viking offers a range of cruise options to suit different budgets and preferences.

When planning your Viking Christmas Market Cruise, consider the holiday season. The markets are usually open from late November to early January, with the busiest time being the weeks leading up to Christmas. If you prefer a quieter experience, consider booking your cruise in early December or after the New Year.

The Christmas markets in Europe are often held in front of churches and other historic landmarks. Therefore, take some time to explore these beautiful sites during your cruise. Viking offers various shore excursions to visit these landmarks and experience the local culture.

While exploring the markets, don't forget to try the traditional festive drink, glühwein. This hot spiced wine is a must-try during the winter season and is often served in a festive mug that you can take home as a souvenir.

In conclusion, planning a Viking Christmas Market Cruise requires some careful consideration. Book in advance, choose the right time, and explore the beautiful churches and landmarks while enjoying a cup of glühwein. With these tips in mind, you're sure to have a magical experience on your Viking Christmas Market Cruise.

Judith Eve, loves to write riveting articles on crusingtonpost.com. She hails from the sun-kissed regions of South Florida, residing within a stone’s throw of the bustling Fort Lauderdale and Miami cruise ports. As a native Floridian, Judith’s love for the ocean and cruising extends as far back as her memory can recall.

Her lifelong passion for travel has taken her to countless destinations around the globe, but cruising, undeniably, holds a special place in her heart. Judith has embraced the elegance of luxury liners, relished the intimacy of boutique ships, and marveled at the innovation found on the newest megaships. This varied experience makes her a well-rounded and knowledgeable commentator on everything cruise-related.

Balancing her writing career and family life with effortless grace, Judith is happily married, mother to two wonderful children, and a doting grandmother to three grandkids. Much like Judith, her family shares her enthusiasm for the sea, often accompanying her on cruise adventures and enriching her articles with their unique perspectives.

Her work for crusingtonpost.com provides readers with insightful, engaging narratives of her travels, from vivid descriptions of the picturesque locales she visits to in-depth reviews of the cruise lines she travels with. Her writing is not only an exploration of travel and cruising; it is a testament to her zest for life, her commitment to family, and her love for the ocean.

Endearing herself to readers with her warm, personable writing style, Judith has become a trusted voice in the cruising community. She is the go-to source for tips, advice, and comprehensive information on cruising. As a tireless explorer and devoted family woman, Judith Eve embodies the essence of the adventurous spirit, inspiring readers to set sail and create their own sea stories.

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Viking Cruises Paris to Swiss Alps Christmas Market River Cruise.

By: Author Kate O'Malley

Posted on Last updated: December 21, 2021

Home >> Destinations >> Viking Cruises Paris to Swiss Alps Christmas Market River Cruise.

With a reputation as one of the most scenic river cruises in Europe , a Rhine river cruise is the best way to visit Europe’s most enchanting Christmas Markets.

Viking Cruises Paris to the Swiss Alps river cruise itinerary is fabulous any time of year. An itinerary centred around the beauty and culture of the Rhine, incorporating some of Europe’s most beautiful and sophisticated cities and Switzerland’s unparalleled natural beauty. 

While summer, spring and fall are the most popular time to take a European river cruise, winter is a fantastic time of year to cruise the Rhine. 

We have always been big advocates of shoulder season and off-season travel. We consider, for many destinations, these are the best times to visit Europe . Cruises are no different.

Winter cruises offer unique opportunities – fewer tourist crowds than the summer, and alternative cultural experiences such as the varied Christmas celebrations and traditions. 

Table of Contents

Christmas Market Cruises

The Paris to the Swiss Alps itinerary does not change too much on a winter cruise, give or take some optional excursions. It does, however, allow the opportunity to visit some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Each day a new town or city, each with its own unique Christmas market.

The itinerary also allows plenty of free time to browse the festive markets at leisure, shop for Christmas gifts and trinkets, and soak up the Christmas atmosphere. Of course, there is always plenty of Glühwein and hearty local fare to keep you warm. 

Many of the winter river cruises, or “Christmas Market Cruises” are the same as the rest of the year. As opposed to being a dedicated Christmas market cruise, they simply incorporate the Christmas markets into the existing itinerary.

We see this as a win-win – you get to see all of the best Christmas markets in Europe and experience a fabulous river cruise itinerary.

When it comes to choosing the best Christmas market cruise, you can’t pass up Germany’s Rhine and France’s Alsace regions for some of the most authentic Christmas market experiences in Europe. After all, Christmas markets – “ Weihnachtsmarkt” originated in Germany . 

Are Christmas Cruises More expensive?

Traditionally, Christmas and New Year’s cruises can be more expensive, but this is not always the case with winter river cruises in Europe.

As summer, late spring, and early fall are the peak seasons for river cruising in Europe; it is possible to find some great deals in winter.

December heralds the last sailings for the year (there are no sailings January or February) and despite the appeal of access to so many of Europe’s best Christmas markets, you can find some great cruise deals on winter river cruises in Europe.

We always advise people to look for Viking’s Early Booking Discounts and sign up for their last-minute deals and special offers. There are some amazing discounts available.

Depending on how close to Christmas, ancillary travel such as airfares may be more expensive. In this instance, we would advise looking at a Cruise Fly package taking advantage of Viking’s Air Travel Service. You may get a better flight deal, and of course, it’s more convenient.

Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise

Paris to the Swiss Alps is not the first river cruise we have done, nor our first Viking cruise. We have sailed the length of the Danube from Bucharest to Budapest on the Passage to Eastern Europe Cruise , and on the Danube Waltz Cruise, Budapest to Passau .

We have sailed the Volga on a Russian river cruise from St Petersburg to Moscow  and explored the best of Scandinavia and northern Europe on the Viking Homelands ocean cruise . 

Why Choose Paris to The Swiss Alps for a Winter Christmas Market Cruise?

The Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise interested us for many reasons, especially in winter. It was our first time experiencing a winter river cruise – what better countries than France, Germany and Switzerland to enjoy the best aspects of winter in Europe ?

It was also the perfect itinerary for exploring so many of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

Combined Cruise/Tour Itinerary

This particular cruise itinerary is more of a combined cruise/tour which we had not experienced before. The inclusion of 2 hotel nights at either side of the itinerary and some overland days appealed to us as an alternative to cruising for the entire itinerary. 

River Cruise Packing List : Wondering what to pack for a river cruise in Europe? We’ve got you covered with our Viking River Cruise Packing List and Cruise Packing Tips .

Shore Excursions

As with every Viking river cruise, the shore excursions are carefully curated to give guests the most immersive experience in each destination. Guests can connect with each destination beyond the cultural highlights through private tours and local experiences. 

The itinerary provides an included tour at every destination except Bernkastel and has an impressive selection of optional excursions to choose from at each stop. In many cases, we found the Included Tour option to be the best choice which is an indication of the quality of the shore excursions. 

Best of all, especially on a Christmas cruise where you want to enjoy the markets, there is ample time at each destination to explore on your own even after taking an Included Tour. Ease of access to most of the destinations from the ship also makes independent exploration very easy for guests. There were many opportunities to walk into town centres on our own.

Stay Safe While Visiting Europe’s Christmas Markets : Sadly, tourist attractions like Christmas markets also attract pickpockets. We’ve put together a complete guide on the Best Anti Theft Travel Bags, Gear and Devices to help you keep your gear safe while you enjoy Europe’s best Christmas markets.

Shore Excursion Tips

We have included tips on the excursions for each destination where we think it may help you decide which tours to book for your cruise. 

Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise Itinerary

As with all Viking river cruises, the itinerary packs in some very impressive and memorable destinations into the 12-day cruise tour.

Covering four countries, visiting two of Europe’s most famous and sophisticated cities – Paris and Zurich, and discovering some of the most enchanting cities and towns along the Rhine. 

This particular cruise is also a standout for the scenery along the way. Whether cruising down the Rhine or touring through  the Swiss Alps , the landscape will leave you spellbound. The scenic sailing through the Middle Rhine was a highlight of the cruise. 

While we started the cruise tour from Paris, you can also start the cruise from Zurich finishing in Paris depending on sailing dates. 

The itinerary covers four countries over 12 days.

Paris France

• Reims France

Trier Germany

Bernkastel germany, cochem germany.

• Koblenz Germany (with scenic sailing through the Middle Rhine to Mainz)

Mainz Germany

• Speyer Germany (with an optional tour to Heidelberg & Martin Luther Worms)

Strasbourg France

• Basel Switzerland (with optional “highlight of the Alps” tour to Alpine villages including Interlaken)

Zurich Switzerland

Paris to swiss alps river cruise map.

Note the overland sections via motorcoach – Paris to Trier via Luxembourg to meet the ship and Basel to Zurich. 

The Destinations

Paris Excursions Paris Highlights (4hrs) – Included The Palace of Versailles (4hrs) – Optional Montmartre Hill Tour (3.5hrs) – Optional Paris Cabaret with Dinner at the Paradis Latin (4hrs) – Optional

As Paris is the starting (or finishing) point of the cruise, it will depend on your travel arrangements as to how long you have in the magnificent City Of Light. Undoubtedly, as it is a two-night stay in Paris, you will have at least one full day, if not, one and a half – two days. 

If it is your first time visiting Paris, you may wish to arrive (or leave) a few days either side as there is so much to see and enjoy in the French Capital. Viking does offer a pre and post-cruise option for this if you don’t wish to organise it yourself.  

Our arrival in Paris coincided with the start of the worst strikes France has experienced in years with public transport shut down, and many attractions closed. However, in Paris, there is still so much to enjoy, and the city is very walkable, so it barely impacted our stay. 

Despite the strikes, the scheduled cruise excursions still went ahead as Viking use private buses and tour companies. Only the Palace of Versailles tour was cancelled due to strike closure.

Christmas also brings a unique atmosphere to Paris. Seek out the Christmas markets dotted around the city, window shop under the festive lights, or cosy up in a Parisienne cafe with a hot bowl of Soupe à l’Oignon  and a glass of French red for a typical Parisian experience.

Strikes or no strikes, winter is a surprisingly lovely time to be in Paris. 

If it is your first time visiting Paris, we highly recommend taking the welcome walk if your travel arrangements allow as well as the included Panoramic Paris Highlights tour on the second morning.

These tours are a very handy way to quickly get your bearings in the city. You can also see many of the highlights in a short time from the comfort of a coach.

If you have never seen a cabaret show in Paris, the Paris Cabaret and Dinner is one of the most memorable evenings you will have in Paris – highly recommended. 

While Paris is a very walkable city, it would be advisable to make yourself familiar with the metro system to maximise your time. A welcome walk on arrival covers this in Paris

 Luxembourg /Reims France 

Luxembourg/Reims Excursions Reims Cathedral Tour (or in our case, Luxembourg City Tour and Luxembourg Notre Dame Cathedral Visit (1hr) – Included Luxembourg American Cemetery (1hr) – Included

Making up one part of the “tour” aspect of the cruise, Paris to Luxembourg and then onto Trier to meet the ship is by coach. It is a very long travel day considering the two stops are only short. Expect to leave Paris at around 7.30 am and arrive at the boat after 5.00 pm. On a clear day, however, the bus does pass through some very scenic countryside. 

The itinerary shows a stop at Reims in France for lunch and to visit the Reims Cathedral. We’re not sure why, but our schedule did not include this stop. Perhaps to suit the season, or due to delays in leaving Paris because of the strikes. 

Instead, we had a quick truck stop lunch and continued to Luxembourg City for a quick guided city tour and visit to the Luxembourg Notre Dame Cathedral. We felt seeing Luxembourg city, albeit briefly was possibly more enjoyable than visiting Reims.

Before departing Luxembourg to Trier, a stop at the Luxembourg American Cemetery allows guests time to pay homage to the thousands of Americans who lost their lives during the World War II Battle of the Bulge. 

Trier Excursions Trier Highlights (4hrs) – Included

The oldest city in Germany, the centre of the Moselle Valley and the birthplace of Karl Marx, Trier was once an important Roman outpost rivalling Rome in influence and size.

In the historical centre, remnants of the mighty Roman city are everywhere such as the 20,000 seat Roman amphitheatre and the UNESCO listed Porta Nigra. Yet, the medieval town that seems to sprawl from the magnificent Trier Cathedral has a vibrant and modern feel. 

Trier is also our first introduction to Germany’s traditional Christmas markets. As mentioned, Christmas markets originated in Germany, so what better introduction than in Germany’s oldest city. 

We only had half a day in Trier, which was plenty of time. Transfer to and from the ship in Trier is via bus (the ship moves while you are in Trier) so you must join the tour to visit the city. 

The Trier visit starts with an included guided walking tour in the morning, finishing in time for the opening of the Trier Christmas markets in the main square.

With around 2 hours of free time, you can explore the historical centre of Trier with ample time to retrace any of the highlights pointed out on the walking tour. Explore the Christmas markets, or enjoy a leisurely coffee in any one of Trier’s quaint coffee houses. 

Bernkastel Excursions Walking Tour and Bernkastel-Kues Wine Tasting (2hrs) – Optional

An afternoon cruise down the Moselle lands us late afternoon in the charming town of Bernkastel. Bernkastel is actually one half of a twin town with Kues across the river.

The two towns were united by a bridge in 1874 and unified in 1905. Bernkastel-Kues is known as the “Pearl of the Moselle” and a world-renown premier winemaking region.  

There is only an Optional Excursion in Bernkastel, a short walking tour followed by a wine tasting. For those not wanting to take part in the Optional Tour, the boat docks in the centre, so you have easy access to the historic town centre. 

We opted for the Optional Tour. A short walking tour through the charming medieval town. The narrow cobblestone streets, brightly coloured timber houses and of course, a Christmas market in the market square. 

The highlight of this tour was the wine tasting: a fun and informative session sampling around five wines from the region. We have been to many wine tastings but found this one particularly engaging. 

In our instance, we would have gladly missed the free tasting the following morning based on:

A: We had already done a similar tasting at the Optional Tour the night before and,

B: We found it difficult to enjoy or appreciate any wine at 9.00 am.

If you are on the Zurich – Paris itinerary, this should be reversed. The wine tasting in the included tour will be in the afternoon in Cochem and the Optional Tour the following day in the morning in Bernkastel.

Cochem Excursions Cochem, Reichsburg & the Moselle Valley (4.5hrs) – Included

One of the Moselle’s prettiest villages, Cochem is characterised by the impossibly steep vineyards that surround it and the 1000-year-old Reichsburg Castle on the hill above the town.

With nearly a full day in Cochem (early morning to mid-afternoon), there is plenty of time to enjoy the included tour and explorer further on your own. The ship docks in the town centre, so it is possible to come and go as you please. There is a small Christmas market in the main square on the riverfront. 

The Included Excursion includes a guided walking tour of the town, but the highlight is a private visit to the Reichsburg Castle, also known as Cochem Castle. Our first introduction to the famous fairytale castles of the Moselle and Rhine.

The tour of Reichsburg Castle offers invaluable insight into the history of the region and sets the scene for the castles you will see on the scenic cruising down the Middle Rhine. The views from the castle over the Moselle and the village of Cochem are worth the visit alone. 

Koblenz Germany 

Koblenz Excursions Historic Koblenz (2hrs) – Included

A morning in Koblenz starts from the “German Corner” the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle. From here, for a short guided walking tour from the ship to the centre of Old Town.

The cities Roman, Napoleonic and Medieval influences are the basis for the Included Walking Tour.

The town’s charm, however, lies in the pretty riverside scenes and quaint historic centre where you will find the Christmas markets. The Koblenz Christmas markets are dotted around the historic centre in various squares so you can browse as you explore the centre. 

Koblenz also marks the start of one of the most picturesque stretches of the Rhine. 

Middle Rhine Scenic Sailing

Not just one of the most picturesque sections of the Rhine, the Middle Rhine is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise through lush hills where the world’s steepest vineyards cascade down to the river’s edge. Where centuries-old methods are still used on the sheer slopes to cultivate and pick the grapes.

Keep an eye out for the Rhines most splendid castles, and the rock that gave way to the folklore of the siren who led sailors on the river to their demise – the Lorelei Rock .  

The scenic sailing was so enjoyable, it felt like a destination or excursion in its own right. In the winter months, you can still enjoy this sailing from the top deck, providing the weather is fine.

While it was a cold afternoon, the crew provided blankets and steaming hot gluhwein to keep us warm. 

Mainz Excursions Mainz Walking Tour and Gutenberg Museum (2hrs) – Included Historic Mainz & St Stephens Church (2hrs) – Optional

To our minds, Mainz is one of the most interesting cities on this stretch of the Rhine.

In the heart of the Rhine’s wine region, Mainz is the birthplace of Gutenberg and home to the Gutenberg Museum, one of the upper Rhines most beautiful cathedrals dominates the main square and Marc Chagall’s world-famous stained glass windows at St Stephen’s Church are a must-see.    

Mainz also has one of the best Christmas markets we had been to so far on the cruise. With a full day in Mainz (early morning to late evening) there is so much time for the excursions and to explore everything Mainz has to offer. 

The Included Excursion will take you through the historical centre, the Mainz Cathedral and the Gutenberg Museum . The optional tour includes a walking tour of the old town and a visit to St Stephen’s church to see Chagall’s stained glass windows .

We opted for the Included Walking Tour as it includes visits to the Gutenberg Museum and cathedral. We found St Stephens Church on our own in the spare time we had.

St Stephens is an easy 10-minute walk from the cathedral and is well signposted so easy to find. Entry to the church is free, and if you wish, the church offers guided tours. Although, it is best to check in advance to be sure of availability.  

Speyer Germany

Speyer Excursions Speyer Walking Tour (3hrs) – Included Heidelberg & Martin Luther Worms (8.5hrs) – Optional

A full day in Speyer, the ship docks an easy walking distance from the town centre. Speyer’s most prominent landmark is the massive UNESCO Romanesque Imperial  Cathedral in which eight emperors are interred. 

On the Included walking tour; you will visit the exterior of the Speyer Cathedral and learn about its history and architecture (you can visit the interior on your own after the tour).

Visit the Trinity Church, the oldest of the five Protestant churches in Speyer, and the Jewish Courtyard once home to one of the most important Jewish Synagogues and the most important medieval Jewish site in Germany. An interesting fact; Speyer is where the term Protestant originated. 

While not large, Speyer is a charming town worth exploring. The Christmas market is easy to find near the cathedral, and in summer, you may discover artisan and farmers markets on the main thoroughfare.

If you decide to take the Optional Excursion to Heidelberg, you will not have the opportunity to explore Speyer. 

Strasbourg Excursions Strasbourg Highlights (4hrs) – Included Taste the Best of Alsace: Christmas Markets (7 hrs) – Optional Mercedes Benz factory (4hrs) – Optional Alsatian Wine Tasting (4.5hrs) – Optional

Strasbourg is one of the most delightful cities we have visited, especially at Christmas. The Strasbourg stop has quite a lot of excursions on offer. Unless you had a specific interest in Mercedes Benz or were a wine buff, we found the included tour was a fabulous choice for the day, if not the best choice.  

Docking in Kehl Germany we were a mere bridge crossing from Strasbourg France and a short scenic coach tour from Strasbourg Old Town for a guided walking tour. 

The walking tour through the island Old Town gives you a good overview of the highlights of the city including Petit France, the old Tanner’s District, and Cathedral Square. It also includes a visit to the cathedral for a fascinating explanation of the astronomical clock. 

If you choose, you can return to the ship for lunch with the option of a return shuttle to Strasbourg at 1.30. We believe opting to stay in town is a better option as it allows much more time to explore the incredibly beautiful city before returning at 4.30 pm.

Also, there are so many charming restaurants in Strasbourg where you can enjoy some delicious Alsatian cuisine. 

Strasbourg, dubbed “The Capital of Christmas” has nine Christmas markets in the historic centre so there is a lot to do and see in Strasbourg at Christmas time.

Comparable to taking the Included Tour in the morning, then, strolling the markets at your own pace, I am not sure how much more value the “Taste the Best of Alsace: Christmas Markets” Optional Tour would be. Other than sampling some local foods around the markets.

Basel Switzerland 

Basel Excursions Basel Highlights (2.5hrs) – Included Highlights of the Alps (10.5hrs) – Optional

Basel, the intersection of three countries is where we farewell the ship and embark on the last “tour” part of the trip.

In Basel, you have a choice of joining the Included walking tour around Basel Old Town followed by a coach transfer to Zurich to your hotel.

The Optional Tour from Basel, we felt, would be the stand out tour of the trip – Highlights of the Alps. A scenic drive through Switzerland’s alpine country to visit the villages of Brienz and Interlaken. The highlight: take the cogwheel train from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg for lunch overlooking some of the world’s most stunning mountain vistas. 

Unfortunately, such is the nature of alpine weather; our tour was somewhat hit and miss. Due to heavy storms, the cogwheel train was not running, so the highlight of the day had to be cancelled.

However, as the weather is so changeable, we still pressed on in the hope the train line might open. Sadly, it did not.

Regardless, we still enjoyed a beautiful day visiting Interlaken and Brienz. Travelling along the magnificent Brünig Pass skirting Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. We were treated to some superb views, and dramatic weather changes. 

We would highly recommend the highlights of the Alps Optional Tour but do bear in mind; the weather will dictate how it plays out, especially in winter. 

Zurich Excursions Zurich Walking Tour and Lake Cruise (4hrs) – Included Lindt Exclusive Chocolate Workshop (3hrs) – Optional

The last stop on the cruise tour, Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich. Again, depending on your travel arrangements and optional tour choices, you may only have one full day in Zurich.

Got More Time in Zurich? Try These 5 Fantastic Day Trips From Zurich

Still, we felt the Included Tour is a fabulous overview of the city, leaving you more than half a day to explore further on your own. (In summer, you would have a lot more time with the extended daylight hours.) 

The Included Tour incorporates a comprehensive walking tour of the Old Town with a cruise of Lake Zurich. Using the Lake Zurich ferry system, the 2hr cruise takes you around the entire route of Lake Zurich.

At the same time, your tour guide provides the commentary of each stop. Keep a lookout for the lakeside Zurich home of a certain famous American singer (Ahem, Tina Turner).

Ideally, on a clear day, the backdrop to the cruise is the  magnificent Swiss Alps . Unfortunately, the storm of the previous day was keeping them enshrouded in cloud. 

The tours finish before lunch, leaving plenty of time to explore the Zurich Christmas markets scattered around the city. Including one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe at the Zurich train station.

We found it interesting to note the difference in Christmas markets compared with those of Germany and France. Switzerland’s Christmas markets , while undeniably Swiss (raclette or fondue anyone?), had a modern flair with a very multicultural offering in the stalls. It was quite refreshing.  

On arrival at the hotel, the Viking staff will do a short welcome walk around the hotel to show you how to navigate the public transport system.

Take the Time to Explore West Quarter in Zurich

We found the area around the hotel in the West Quarter well worth exploring as well. The former industrial area has been reclaimed and repurposed into Zurich’s most vibrant and happening inner-city neighbourhood. Expect to find a hotspot for food, culture, art, and design in West Quarter. 

You Might Also Like: Ride the Famous Golden Pass Line.

A trip on the Golden Pass Line, one of the world’s most scenic rail routes, is a wonderful addition to your Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise itinerary. Read our guide on everything you need to know about the Golden Pass Train Lucerne to Montreux .

Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise Facts

We have always said, a river cruise offers a sampling of destinations you may not have otherwise visited. Giving you a cultural overview of one, or maybe more regions in Europe. As well as the possibility for experiences you may not have found or organised for yourself.

The Paris to the Swiss Alps cruise immerses you in the Rhine region and gives you a taste of some of the world’s most spectacular cities and experiences. However, to do this cruise in winter offers a rare opportunity, to easily experience not just one, but a good sampling of Europe’s best Christmas markets.

An itinerary we would recommend any time of year for the experiences it offers, and world-class destinations visited. But for those seeking out Europe’s quintessential Christmas experience, this is the ideal Christmas Market river cruise. 

We travelled from Paris – Zurich as guests of Viking Cruises on the Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise.

The 12-day cruise includes 4 countries and 10 guided tours.

Prices start from  $2,899 pp.

We recommend checking  Viking Cruises official site  for promotional deals such as Early Bird Specials or Two for One Air.

We want to thank Viking Cruises for hosting us on the Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise. As always, all opinions are our own. 

• CruiseMapper
• Viking Cruises christmas cruises

Viking Cruises Christmas and New Year

Christmas cruises 2024, 2025, 2026, 2023 new year's eve.

All Viking Cruises Christmas and New Year cruise offers listed here are just itineraries and not cruise deals for sale. Vessels are ordered alphabetically. Comparing all the ships in the Viking Cruises fleet is a most convenient way to select the best for you Holiday voyages as departures (homeports, dates), destinations (regions, visited countries), itineraries (ports of call, arrival dates, port times) and also to compare cruise prices.

CruiseMapper shows cruise prices per person. These are only indicative fares on the ship's lowest category staterooms. All rates are based on double occupancy (twin share) and don't include cruise line or travel agency promotions, group booking rates or any other special offers and discounts.

December holidays are a magical time and Viking River Cruises along Europe’s largest rivers and inland waterways is the perfect way to experience this traditional for the old continent magic. Your itinerary includes picturesque villages, famous castles, charming small towns, and grand cities.

Viking's Xmas experience perfectly combines river cruising with some of the best Christmas Markets in Europe, where you can enjoy themed shopping for handmade arts and crafts, seasonal baked treats, gourmet chocolates, draft beer, mulled wine and grilled sausages.

Market stalls also sell hand-carved wooden toys, theme ornaments, nutcrackers, woolen scarves. Viking’s "Christmas cruise ships" will be also themed properly, featuring onboard decorations and scheduled festivities. The shipboard dining will be "upgraded" with gingerbread cookies, fresh-made by the boat's executive chef. To the standard shipboard entertainment will be added live holiday music performances by a local ensemble.

To search for Christmas and New Year river cruises by departure port, country, and company, you can use the CruiseMapper's Xmas cruise finder . Be sure to select "River" in the "Ship Type" box.

Next tables show all Viking Cruises Christmas New Year itineraries (by ocean ships and riverboats) as departure ports, call ports (dates and arrival/departure times) and regions.

Viking Cruises Makes Waves on Market Debut with 8% Share Price Surge

O n these fancy cruise ships, there aren’t any children running around. The company is clear that it’s targeting older folks with money.

No Casinos spots on these ships, either.

Viking Holdings, the company behind these cruises, wants to attract smart travelers, especially older ones who like adventure. The CEO, Torstein Hagen, says they’re not trying to please everyone because that usually means they won’t do anything well. They’re focused on their target group.

Viking aimed to be worth $10.4 billion when it went public on the New York Stock Exchange. That would make it the third-biggest cruise company, after Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Viking started trading at $26.15 a share, and by the end of the day, it was up more than 8%, closing at $26.10 per share.

Viking increased its IPO because lots of people wanted to buy shares.

Back in 1997, Viking only had four ships. Now they have 92, mostly river-based ships that sail on big rivers like the Seine in France and the Nile in Egypt. Viking stands out because it focuses more on Europe than the Caribbean, unlike bigger cruise lines.

Viking’s IPO comes at a time when more people are booking cruises again. Royal Caribbean even raised its expectations for 2024.

Viking made $4.71 billion in sales in 2023 but still had a net loss for the year. However, investors are interested because Viking makes more money per passenger than other cruise lines.

People want to know what Viking’s plans are for expansion. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, ordered eight new ships recently. Some worry that there are too many cruise ships now, but right now, people are excited about cruising again after the pandemic.

Even though prices are higher, cruises are still cheaper than hotel vacations, on average. An analyst named Robin Farley thinks cruises are a better deal than hotels right now because hotel rates have gone up more than cruise prices since 2019.

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Viking Goes Public with IPO, $24 Per Share Pricing

• May 1, 2024

Viking will go public on Wednesday and has priced its IPO at $24.00 per share, near the high end of its target range of $21.00 to $25.00 per share, representing a valuation of approximately $11 billion on a fully distributed basis.

Viking’s Chairman and CEO, Torstein Hagen, and the Viking management team will be ringing the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

Viking’s Chairman and CEO, Torstein Hagen said: “Today marks a historic day for Viking and our family of employees, guests, travel advisors and valued partners around the world. We have always done things differently from others in the travel industry. We create experiences for thinking people, and ever since the beginning, our vision has been that travel should be more about the destination and local culture. Now, as one of the world’s leading travel companies, we are capitalizing on significant opportunities ahead to meet increasing demand for culturally enriching experiences and our guest’s desire to explore the world.”

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Viking Shares Climb 9% Following $1.5 Billion Public Debut

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Shares of luxury cruise operator Viking Holdings—the parent company of Viking cruise line—rose as much as 12% in intraday trading Wednesday following the company’s initial public offering, which raised $1.54 billion following the company’s decision to upsize the number of shares offered in its public debut.

The company's stock debuted at $24 per share. (Photo Illustration by Budrul Chukrut/SOPA ... [+] Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Viking Holdings shares began trading at $24 under the ticker “VIK” and jumped as high as $26.78 before dropping to $26.10 by close—up 9% on the day.

Viking’s opening price gave it an $11.3 billion market value, with the cruise operator closing the day with a $1.4 billion market cap.

Viking’s $1.54 billion IPO rivals Amer Sports Inc. as the largest IPO in the U.S. this year, according to Bloomberg , noting Viking’s offering will beat Amer’s $1.57 billion IPO if its underwriters exercise their ability to allow the sale of additional shares.

The IPO also makes Viking the third-largest cruise operator behind Royal Caribbean and Carnival, which both traded down a fraction of a percent Wednesday.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here .

$7,251. That’s Viking’s revenue per passenger, which is significantly higher than other publicly traded cruise lines, according to CNBC .

Key Background

The IPO comes a day after Viking upsized its IPO, offering more than 64 million shares at a public offering price of $24. The decision to do so was made after existing shareholders decided to sell 9 million shares, which were not initially set to be part of the IPO, amid strong demand from mutual fund investors, CNBC reported, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter. Viking reported $4.7 billion in revenue and $1.8 billion in net losses in 2023. However, the cruise line operator may be able to capitalize on an improving outlook for the global cruise market, which was valued at $7.25 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow around 11% by 2028. Viking, a cruise operator geared toward adults with high income, operates 92 vessels and has more than 10,000 employees.

Further Reading

Cruise Industry Continues Strong Growth Post-Covid (Forbes)

Viking shares rise more than 10% after cruise line operator’s market debut (CNBC)

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Christmas on the Main & Moselle

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• 10 Guided Tours
• 4 Countries
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Christmas on the Main & Moselle Map

Sail Iconic Rivers at Christmas

Celebrate the holiday season as you immerse yourself in French, German and Czech traditions. Spend time in chic Paris and sample tasty yuletide dishes. Explore Christmas markets in quaint German towns and enjoy the scent of spiced gingerbread and glühwein as they fill the air amid colorful stalls. Visit castles and cathedrals that are adorned with festive displays. Revel in the merry atmosphere as you sail along Europe’s iconic rivers.

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Viking Inclusive Value

All you need included, with no surprises or hidden fees

To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner

24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water

Port taxes & fees

Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase

Visits to UNESCO Sites

Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances

Your Stateroom Includes:

River-view stateroom

Bottled water replenished daily

110/220 volt outlets

Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows

Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror

Premium Freyja® toiletries

Plush robes & slippers (upon request)

40" or 42" flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more

Telephone, safe, refrigerator

Individual climate control

*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities. Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

From $599 | 2 Nights

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Post: Kraków & Warsaw at Christmas

From $1,299 | 5 Nights

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