Europe’s Christmas markets are a cherished vacation custom that entice guests from across the globe. These charming open-air markets supply a festive ambiance the place customers can discover distinctive items like nutcrackers and handcrafted toys whereas having fun with mulled wine and native treats. For these dreaming of experiencing these beloved markets as they start to open for the vacations and earlier than the regular stream of tourists arrive, AmaWaterways‘ Style of Christmas cruises present an alluring various.
With departures beginning in mid-November, these particular Style of Christmas sailings enable visitors to expertise this magical time of 12 months in Europe as city and metropolis squares start their transformation into Christmas wonderlands. Whereas a few of the smaller markets could not but be open, the bigger markets in standard cities corresponding to Vienna, Budapest and Amsterdam might be kicking off and AmaWaterways visitors will be amongst their first guests.
“We’re excited to ask our visitors to expertise the enchanting ambiance of Europe’s Christmas markets in essentially the most intimate means,” mentioned Kristin Karst, co-founder and govt vice-president at AmaWaterways. “Our Style of Christmas cruises supply a singular alternative to be among the many first guests to those magical markets, permitting vacationers to savor the festive spirit whereas discovering native traditions and culinary delights. From the twinkling lights of Vienna to the charming stalls of Nuremberg, we intention to create unforgettable recollections that remember the enjoyment of the vacation season.”
In 2024, the seven-night Blue Danube Discovery Style of Christmas cruise will depart Budapest on November 16 and name on ports in Austria—together with Vienna—and Germany earlier than ending in Nuremberg. Along with visiting the famed Christmas markets in Vienna and Budapest, visitors can pattern conventional Slovakian specialties with a particular house go to in Bratislava, take within the famed Melk Abbey, or embark on a scenic 18-mile guided bike tour alongside the river.
Three departures of the Rhine Castles and Swiss Alps Style of Christmas crusing have availability in 2024, with embarkations in Basel and Amsterdam on November 18, and a particular wine-focused embarkation in Amsterdam on November 25. This enchanting crusing takes visitors from the shores of Lake Lucerne to the banks of the Rhine Gorge, house to some 40 castles. Christmas markets in Cologne and Amsterdam present loads of alternatives for buying and sampling the native delicacies.
Different Style of Christmas choices for 2024 embrace Gems of Southeast Europe alongside the lesser-known decrease Danube from Hungary to Romania, and Rhine & Moselle Splendors crusing from Luxemburg to Basel, Switzerland.
For individuals who wish to go to Europe whereas the markets are at their peak, AmaWaterways gives an assortment of Christmas Market sailings on the Danube, Rhine, and Rhône rivers in addition to the waterways of Holland and Belgium. Christmas market sailings are inclined to promote out early so vacationers all in favour of crusing throughout these peak time in 2025 ought to guide quickly.
Cruising with AmaWaterways consists of high quality eating in a number of venues, together with The Chef’s Desk specialty restaurant, limitless wine, beer and tender drinks with lunch and dinner, a every day Sip & Sail cocktail hour with wine, beer, spirits and tender drinks, a every day number of small group excursions, together with climbing, biking and particular curiosity excursions, high-quality Wi-Fi, a complimentary Wellness Program in Europe and on the Mekong with a wide range of host-led health lessons, and far more.
For extra data or to order an AmaWaterways river cruise and land package deal, contact your most well-liked Journey Advisor, name 1.800.626.0126 or go to AmaWaterways.com.
About AmaWaterways
Household-owned and operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways gives unparalleled river cruise experiences with 31 custom-designed ships crusing Europe’s main rivers; Southeast Asia’s Mekong River; Africa’s Chobe River; Egypt’s Nile River and Colombia’s Magdalena River (2025). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the corporate is famend for its heat and welcoming crew; revolutionary and sustainable ship design; wellness actions (together with a large alternative of included small group shore excursions that includes biking and climbing choices); and award-winning, regionally sourced delicacies paired with complimentary high quality wine. Fashionable, spacious and tastefully embellished, most AmaWaterways ships welcome a median of simply 150 visitors and have onboard facilities corresponding to a surprising Primary Lounge, specialty Chef’s Desk restaurant, hair and therapeutic massage salons, Solar Deck strolling observe and heated outside swimming swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise trade in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The corporate additionally gives a wide range of themed sailings and model relationships, with sailings geared in the direction of lively vacationers and households, in addition to group and constitution choices.