Europe’s Christmas markets easily make it to most peoples’ travel bucket lists. With their magical atmosphere, hot mugs of mulled wine, charming trinkets and twinkling lights, here’s why a river cruise is the best way to experience Europe’s Christmas markets.
It’s convenient
Convenience is one of the main reasons why people choose a river cruise, no matter the time of year. There’s no need to research and prebook things like accommodation and transport, all of which fill up quickly at this time of year. Your ship becomes your home-away-from home, providing you with a place to unpack once, sleep, eat and drink. Leave it up to Avalon to deal with the details, ensuring you can seamlessly get from A to B without having to worry about parking or public transport.
Travel in style
Sail away in relaxed luxury onboard Avalon Waterways’ fleet of Suite ShipsSM. Each ship has its own modern colour scheme that is woven throughout each area – with a special nod to the festive season at this time of year. With an average of only 150 guests onboard, you’ll never feel crammed or have to wait in line when arriving in a new port. Compared to an ocean cruise, river cruising allows you to dock in the heart of charming towns, often a short walk away from a magical Christkindlmarkt.
The views
Avalon’s ships have been thoughtfully designed to maximise the view, whether you’re in your Panorama SuiteSM, the Club Lounge or even braving the cold on the Sky Deck! It may be too cold to open your Open-Air Balcony in your Panorama Suite, but you can still enjoy the passing scenery from beds that face the view!
Learn about local traditions
With each new port comes a Local Guide, ready to impart their stories and knowledge. Learn about timeless traditions and the culture that is unique to each village, town or city. For example, Strasbourg’s Christmas tree tradition signalling the beginning of the festive season. A towering tree is selected from the nearby Vosges Mountains and set up in Place Kléber. It becomes the heart of the city as this 30-metre-tall tree is decorated with ornaments and lights.
Discover multiple markets in one go
We all know that annual leave is a precious commodity, so to get more bang for your buck, an Avalon river cruise means you can tick off multiple Christmas markets in one holiday! On the Danube River, you can visit Vienna, Melk, Regensburg and Nuremberg in 1 week; or on the Rhine River, discover Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne and Rüdesheim. The hardest part is deciding which cruise to take!
Want to experience this dreamy way of travelling during the festive season? Take a look at the full range of Christmas time river cruises with Avalon Waterways today.
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