Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has announced its lineup of Christmas market voyages in Europe. Travelers can set sail on a 15-day “Christmas & New Years” voyage, besides eight- to 18-day Christmas market cruises on the Danube and the Rhine earlier in the season. Guests will have ample time in ports to visit and shop the stalls that sell gift items such as handcrafted wooden nutcrackers and toys, glass Christmas ornaments and local knick-knacks.
The 15-day “Christmas & New Years” itinerary sails from Amsterdam to Budapest (December 19) along the Rhine, Danube and Main-Danube Canal, where the bulk of the oldest and most traditional Christmas markets are set. Whether it is Nuremberg’s market dating to 1628; the fairy-tale feel of the 420-year-old Salzburg Cathedral Square Christmas market; or Cologne’s array of puppet theaters, toy stalls and fairytales, and the largest Christmas tree in Rhineland, guests are allowed lots of time to enjoy the holiday festivities at each stop along the way. Delicacies such as stollen (a bread-like fruitcake covered in icing), gluhwein (mulled wine served hot in souvenir mugs), homemade gingerbread and candied almonds offer a taste of traditional European holiday goodies. Guests an also attend a traditional Christmas Mass in Würzburg and New Year’s in Budapest.
Scenic’s 11-day “Danube Christmas Markets with Prague” opens the doors to a range of festive markets in several cities and towns. The three days in Prague offer sightseeing galore: the Astronomical Clock, the 14th-century Charles Bridge, the ninth-century Prague Castle, as well as dozens of museums. For shoppers, the city is a feast, from the main Christmas markets at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square to the many smaller ones dotted throughout the city. The eight-day cruise, that is also offered as a standalone, showcases Budapest, with a city guided tour or “Jewish Heritage” tour; and Vienna, where guests are treated to a “Scenic Enrich” exclusive event—a private evening concert at Palais Liechtenstein, the 300-year-old residence of the princely family of Vienna. All in addition to the numerous Christmas markets along the way.
The 12-day “Rhine Christmas Markets with Switzerland” allows guests to wander among the 100 glittering, cottage-style stands in Koblenz, enjoy live music and streets of festive huts in Baden-Baden where thousands of shimmering Christmas lights are framed by the mountains of the Black Forest, and visit Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik, one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe. A “Scenic Enrich” event, exclusive to the company, takes guests to a cheese-making experience at the Restaurant Le Chalet in Switzerland’s French city of Chateau d’Œx, which comes on the heels of a panoramic train journey. Other activities include heading to Vevey to visit the Chaplin World Museum; and the opportunity to shop at the Christmas markets in Lucerne.
Tip: Booking any of these sailings early can save up to $1,500 per couple and, if the booking is paid in full within 72 hours, guests can choose between free or reduced airfare, a free land extension, or up to $2,000 per couple in additional savings.
For more information, call (844) 788-7985 or visit www.scenicusa.com.
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