It is worth comparing the prices and options offered by different online reservation agencies. It is quite common to sell the same cruise at different rates in different markets. Packages aimed at non-European travelers often include more onshore excursions and meals but are priced higher.
When booking cruises on French and other non-German or Dutch boats, double-check the size of beds as beds on some boats may not only be narrow but shorter than standard too.
For any special needs such as small children, major birthdays or anniversaries, and single cabins, it is worth comparing offers as not all booking agents pass savings on. It is also worth checking directly with the cruise company if such savings are offered at all – sometimes only traditional travel agents are able to deal with these requests that can amount to significant savings.
Early-booking discounts are generally available – in some cases the deadline for saving on early reservations can be as late as end October.
Cruises to Christmas markets are often much shorter than riverboat cruises during summer. Cruises can be as short as two-night cruises on the Main-Danube Canal in Germany from Nuremberg to Bamberg but three and four day cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers are more common. Cruise operators such as Amadeus Waterways and Viking River Cruises specializing in overseas markets often have longer cruises with pre- or post-cruise add-on programs in cities such as Paris and Prague.
Be careful of cruises that seem unusually cheap. The standard of accommodation and food may be of a much lower standard than the up-market experience international travelers generally associate with riverboat cruising.
The most popular cruise rivers to see European Christmas markets are the Rhine and Danube rivers. Popular stops are in the larger cities, which have the largest Christmas markets with the longest opening hours such as Cologne, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, and Vienna.
When booking cruises on French and other non-German or Dutch boats, double-check the size of beds as beds on some boats may not only be narrow but shorter than standard too.
For any special needs such as small children, major birthdays or anniversaries, and single cabins, it is worth comparing offers as not all booking agents pass savings on. It is also worth checking directly with the cruise company if such savings are offered at all – sometimes only traditional travel agents are able to deal with these requests that can amount to significant savings.
Early-booking discounts are generally available – in some cases the deadline for saving on early reservations can be as late as end October.
Cruises to Christmas markets are often much shorter than riverboat cruises during summer. Cruises can be as short as two-night cruises on the Main-Danube Canal in Germany from Nuremberg to Bamberg but three and four day cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers are more common. Cruise operators such as Amadeus Waterways and Viking River Cruises specializing in overseas markets often have longer cruises with pre- or post-cruise add-on programs in cities such as Paris and Prague.
Be careful of cruises that seem unusually cheap. The standard of accommodation and food may be of a much lower standard than the up-market experience international travelers generally associate with riverboat cruising.
The most popular cruise rivers to see European Christmas markets are the Rhine and Danube rivers. Popular stops are in the larger cities, which have the largest Christmas markets with the longest opening hours such as Cologne, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, and Vienna.
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