Vikings Top 15 European Cruising Experiences
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Late November and December are a lovely time to experience the holiday spirit through the Christmas Markets set up in Europe. During one such season, I was lucky enough to board a Viking ship on a river cruise that sailed along the Danube River. 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. 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.
Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle
The famous Lebkucken, or a German gingerbread with a glaze, has been baked in Nuremberg for more than 600 years. At the Christmas markets, you can buy Lebkucken with a chocolate, sugar, or strawberry coating. For lovers of the holidays, you really can't find a more immersive way to celebrate. Later that night, I enjoyed a performance showcasing Mozart and Strauss, arranged specifically for guests of the Viking cruise that evening.
Viking River Cruises
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Generally, the Christmas markets open in midmorning, anywhere from 9 to 10 a.m., and close between 8 p.m. Each Christmas market is different, and the things to do besides shopping are also varied. For example, in Vienna, I spotted a gold beaded ornament that I loved, and I bought it for about 10 euros (about $10.86).
Stomp Grapes in Portugal
A Viking Rhine River Cruise in Winter - Cruise Critic
A Viking Rhine River Cruise in Winter.
Posted: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Celebrate the holiday season as you immerse yourself in French, German and Czech traditions. Explore Christmas markets in quaint German towns and enjoy the scent of spiced gingerbread and glühwein as they fill the air amid colorful stalls. Rüdesheimer Weihnachtsmarkt has more than 120 vendor stalls representing the yuletide foods and traditions of 20 different countries.
The other overnight stay, in Paris, allows time to choose between trips to Monet’s Gardens, the Palace of Versailles, an evening cabaret or a city tour to see the city lit up at night. Enjoy this relaxing tradition, revered since the times of the ancient Romans. The most popular baths can be found at Széchenyi, the largest spa complex in Europe, with a daffodil-yellow outdoor section. Mingle with the locals as they relax in these pool-like thermal baths and watch them play chess in the water.
The Vienna Residence Orchestra was there, live, and their singers were of the highest caliber. Maroni is simply chestnuts, for us westerners…roasting on an open fire, as the holiday song goes. 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. Visit the Abbey of St. Wandrille or the MuséoSeine and discover its history and people.
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. Because of the short season for Christmas market river cruises, getting a deal can prove to be a challenge. 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.
Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises: What’s It Really Like?
Your Viking River Cruises ship serves as a cozy home during your Christmas Markets cruise. Expect plenty of seasonal food, fun entertainment and holiday decorations to put in the right mood for the holidays. Plus, you get to travel in comfort, unpack once, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow cruisers and dine and drink on scrumptious regional cuisine and holiday fare. The ships are all decked out with garland and Christmas trees, and the onboard entertainment revolves around music of the season and performers in traditional garb. This site focuses on small-format cruises and ship-within-a-ship concepts on large cruise ships, including special cruise experiences you can enjoy during your next vacation.
The cruise sails between Amsterdam and Basel, with multiple departures each month. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, however, the itinerary focuses on the Christmas markets that Europe is so known for. After a motorcoach transfer from Paris you'll board your Viking Longship in Reims. This is the perfect spot to raise a glass and toast Christmas as it is the "capital" of the Champagne wine-growing region and home to one of France's largest Christmas markets. Berlin hosts more than 60 festive markets and the biggest is in central Potsdamer Platz where there's an open-air skating rink. This cruise also showcases Dresden, known as the "Florence of the Elbe" and Meissen where you'll learn about the city's world-famous porcelain.
And if you're worried about price, definitely sign up to get Viking's special offers sent to you – they're always having great sales. In the past couple of months, I've seen free airfare, 2-for-1 deals, early booking discounts, and more. So if you've always thought river cruising was too expensive for you, have another look. The Rhine Getaway, for example, starts at around $2100 per person for Christmas 2016.
Get fabulously lost in its winding streets lined with whitewashed homes, shops and cafés. From a cliff 400 metres above the ocean, finish your day watching the Cyclades sun setting over the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. Other islands such as Rhodes and Crete offer opportunities to hike among the volcanic splendour, sample wine at hilltop wineries, and discover historic sites. The voyage also includes Kuşadasi, Turkey, for a chance to roam the ruins of Ephesus, dating back to the 10th century BC.
At midnight, locals embrace the everlasting sunset by going to the beach or kayaking under a golden sky. Viking’s 15-day Into the Midnight Sun ocean voyage includes an overnight stay in Bergen and visits to Edinburgh and the Orkney and Shetland islands in Scotland. Berlin is home to one or more Christmas Markets in each of its 12 districts, giving tourists a variety of options to join the holiday festivities.
Tauck is also pricier than its competitors, but it's one of the few options that has a family cruise option. Meanwhile, if international travel sounds like too much to cram into your already packed holiday schedule, Viking also has a Christmas cruise on the Mississippi River. It goes from Memphis, Tennessee, to New Orleans, Louisiana over eight days and includes privileged after-hours access to Graceland while it’s decorated for the holidays.
Viking Announces New River Cruise and Christmas Market Departures - Cruise Industry News
Viking Announces New River Cruise and Christmas Market Departures.
Posted: Mon, 29 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
There's a scenic drive through wintery countryside to medieval Freiburg, on the edge of Germany's Black Forest, for a market visit and festive organ recital. 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. 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. 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. After you find a few river cruises that fit your travel dates, dig into each destination and what it has to offer.
In Austria, Vienna's "December Market" can be considered a forerunner to Christmas markets, dating to 1298. Located at the doorstep of City Hall, revelers flock here to enjoy punch and war, chestnuts and a hist of other delightful Austrian Christmas traditions. The Christmas tree at the Strasbourg market is 98 feet tall and strung with lights over four miles long! Selling hot wine, traditional bredele or biscuits, and decorative white storks signifying local folklore, the Strasbourg Christmas market has more than 300 vendors.
This is one of many treasured activities on Viking’s 15-day Grand European Tour river voyage through four countries, with stops in riverside villages and cities including Cologne, Vienna and Amsterdam. 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. 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.
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