Considering a Christmas Market River cruise? Chances are you’ve heard of Viking River Cruises, known for some of the best river cruising itineraries in Europe. After embarking on their “Christmas on The Rhine” itinerary, I’m going to share everything to expect on a Viking Christmas Market cruise.
This winter, I embarked on Viking Cruise’s signature “Christmas on The Rhine” itinerary to enjoy a full week of yuletide joy and market fun. I had so been looking forward to experiencing this river cruise for a long time. This was not my first time setting sail with Viking Cruises, I had done four other previous river sailings.
So when Viking sent an invite for me to come and experience their Christmas Market itinerary, I could not wait. On this trip, I invited my mom to be my plus one, and it was one of the most magical mother-daughter trips I’ve taken (truly a trip of a lifetime) and set up perfectly for our multi-generational trip.
Having done several river cruises with Viking Cruises prior, I knew exactly what to expect on board their ship. So I wanted to take the time to share a full review of what you can expect if you’re considering booking one of their Christmas Market cruises. And while I was invited to experience this as a guest, this review is my honest opinion on the experience.
I’m going to break down the pros and cons of a Christmas Market River cruise with Viking Cruises, what you can expect on board, and some itinerary highlights. You’ll get a deep understanding of what you can expect to experience alongside real photos of the trip. Read on for the full review!
Short on Time? Here’s My Quick Take on a Viking Cruises Christmas Market Experience:
- The boats are clean and modern, the food is correct (meaning not over-the-top high-end, but really enjoyable), and their service is where they succeed the most.
- A river cruise is a very smart, time-saving way to experience multiple Christmas Markets without having to change accommodations or transfer constantly.
- A river cruise is a great format for multi-generational travel (i.e. several generations traveling together)
- The downside to a river cruise is a set itinerary with limited hours at each destination. However, know that the Viking itineraries are set up for ample time, and you can choose not to do all of the tours to maximize.
Helpful Christmas Market Guides
Planning to visit the Christmas Markets along the Rhine River? Don’t miss my 10-day European Christmas Market itinerary, Strasbourg Christmas Market Guide, Colmar Christmas Market Guide, Cologne Christmas Market Guide, and my guide to the best Christmas Markets in Alsace, France!
Viking Christmas Market Cruises Review
What to Expect on Board Viking Cruises’ River Boats
The Staterooms
Viking’s staterooms are a blend of comfort and Scandinavian design, offering a tranquil retreat. Each cabin is thoughtfully appointed with bespoke furnishings, large panoramic windows, and elegant touches like heated floors and luxurious linens. You can book a cozy standard room or a spacious suite which includes a small veranda with seating. Every day you get turn-down service, fresh linens, a fruit basket refresh, and water sent to the room.
Tip: For those seeking an elevated experience, book a Veranda Suite which has a small veranda with seats and a table.
The Shared Spaces
Viking’s public spaces are concise and very elegant in design. The main public space to enjoy is the lounge which includes the bar for nightly entertainment and the back Aquavit Terrace (enclosed in winter). These spaces are open all day and used at night for entertainment as well.
At the top sun deck, you have an open deck, which includes seating for soaking in the views (not used much in winter) and a walking path. During winter sailings on scenic passages, they’ll pass out blankets for use upstairs.
Other public shared spaces is the small library which has a few indoor seats with books and games to use. Near to it, are two coffee and tea stations, open all day and refreshed frequently with daily treats like cookies and pastries. The overall design is very soothing and feels like a floating hotel.
Dining Onboard
With included food and beer, wine, and soft drinks, dining is a big deal on the ship. You can eat all three meals onboard in their restaurant. The food onboard is best described as correct and good — I wouldn’t say it’s super high-end dining. However, it is still great and enjoyable, and I walked away impressed with the food, as I am always.
Breakfast is a buffet with the ability to order a la carte plates. Lunch is three courses, as is dinner. The lunch and dinner menus change daily, and I love that you can pretty much order anything you want. For dinner, the menu has a local menu in addition to its standard menu, which is always available.
If you’re looking to enjoy premium spirits, you probably want to consider adding on the Silver Spirits Package which gives you the ability to order any spirit or wine without extra charge. Otherwise, house beer, wine, and soft drinks are included.
The dining rooms are large and hold space for all guests with one set dining time each night. There are large windows so during lunch you can see out for lovely sailing. Expect shared tables, which is something I think adds to the experience as you’ll get to meet other guests.
Entertainment
Engaging local performers often join the ship during dockings, offering cultural performances that really highlight each docking spot. Viking’s enrichment programs, including expert-led lectures and culinary workshops, offer intellectually stimulating experiences that align with the company’s mission to provide not just travel, but immersion. Some highlights from our time onboard included local performances, talks on destinations, afternoon tea, and more.
Daily Excursions
A big perk of booking with Viking Cruises is that each port of call includes an included tour. It is always a walking tour led by local tour guides in the destination. They range from 1-3 hours, and there are several paced groups to consider. These tours are great if you want to learn more about history. However, if you want to maximize time in each stop, I would consider skipping some as they do take a chunk of your allotted time.
Christmas on the Rhine Itinerary Highlights
(Amsterdam to Basel)
Note: Docking times may vary by ship and itinerary. The times I list below are specific to our boat and itinerary and are shared to give an example of what to expect.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
We embarked on the ship in Amsterdam but had chosen to arrive two nights before the cruise departed. I highly recommend doing this for several reasons, like ample time to explore Amsterdam and getting on timezone before departing. It was lovely to spend two days exploring and not feeling rushed to get to the boat until 4 pm to settle in our stateroom and start the programming around 6 pm.
Dordrecht, the Netherlands
Docking early in the morning in Dordrecht, I decided to join the included walking tour. This is one of the towns I knew there would be no markets, so I wanted to get the historic tour that day. We spent about 2 hours walking, following our guide through town. He was so insightful and gave a lot of insight. After the tour, my mom and I went to a local coffee shop we stopped by and then perused some of the old town before getting back on the ship for lunch and departure.
Cologne, Germany
The big highlight of the entire trip was the day in Cologne. We got in after lunch and had until 10 pm to enjoy the extensive markets across the city. Skipping the walking tour meant getting to visit 5 of the 7 Christmas Markets in Cologne. We stayed out for the entirety of the time, skipped dinner on the boat, and decided to eat at the markets. Cologne was in my top two days of the entire trip!
Koblenz, Germany / Middle Rhine / Rüdesheim
Koblenz was an early start in the morning when exploring the town. We arrived early and decided to join the included walking tour which was lovely to understand more of Koblenz’s history. The markets didn’t open until 11 or so, so by the time the market opened, we had about an hour or so to peruse (quite small, about a dozen or so stalls at the main one).
After Koblenz, the main highlight of cruising down the Rhine River is the Middle Rhine section. It’s part of the Rhine River dotted with castles, which can be seen from the boat almost every five minutes for several hours. It is absolutely scenic, and while onboard the Longship, the cruise director gives history and points it out. I’ve done this section before, and it is one of my favorite days onboard.
When we finished cruising the Middle Rhine, we arrived around dinner time in Rüdesheim. You had the choice of going into town or booking additional tours at an extra cost. That night we booked the Eberbach Monastery Wine Tasting & Dinner tour (at extra cost). It was a magical evening at a historic monastery, where I got to try local Riesling wine and enjoyed dinner. It meant we missed time in Rüdesheim’s Christmas Market but it was worth it.
Mannheim, Germany / Speyer, Germany
Mannheim began early with a shuttle into town. With all honesty, this was my least favorite town and market of the trip. In hindsight, I would have arranged a drive to take us to Heidelberg only 30 minutes away. We returned at lunchtime and set sail for our next stop.
Speyer was our evening stop and truly one of the best markets we visited on the trip. It felt very local, quaint, and compact on its main street looking to the cathedral. You could walk into the town from the boat which was lovely to have a full evening out at the markets.
Strasbourg, France
The biggest of the days and one of the best is Strasbourg, France. They gave us from 9 am to 9 pm to experience the city. Many people also even took the train to Colmar, but we stayed in Strasbourg. It is hands down the best Christmas Markets, the decorations are over the top and incredible, and the food is amazing. Having spent over a week in Strasbourg for markets before (see my Strasbourg Christmas Market Guide), I revised favorites.
Breisach, Germany
The final full-day docks at Breisach, which is not really where you want to go or visit (so skip the tour there!). They include a tour over to Freiburg in the Black Forest, one of our favorite German towns we visited during the trip. We took the shuttle over with the guided tour and decided to explore on our own before returning to the boat with the tour. Freiburg was lovely, with lots of restaurants, and shops, and their markets were lively.
Basel, Switzerland
On our final morning, we arrived in Basel, we did not go into the town at all and opted to relax on the boat before catching our flight home from the airport.
Pros and Cons of a Christmas Market River Cruise
Pros
Convenience of Travel
Hands down the perk of booking a river cruise to see Christmas Markets is the simple convenience of it all. The ability to unpack once, and be taken from town to town for a week is the biggest benefit of this experience (and worth the cost). As someone who has city-hopped for markets before, I can say the river cruise makes the whole thing so much easier.
No Planning Needed
If you get overwhelmed with planning, the all-inclusive cruise is a very approachable way to travel. The Viking Cruises team takes care of everything for you. Want to book a taxi? They’ll arrange it. Want to learn more about a city? Join their included walking tour. It’s underappreciated in terms of not having to manage every single detail of a trip.
Great for Generational Travel
One thing I saw on the boat was the large amount of multi-generational groups. Lots of mothers and daughters, grandparents with their kids, and a range of ages. Even with my mother, I find the river cruise is a great middle point for all ages. The average guest is an active 60+ person (some who were even more active than me!). So the boat crowd isn’t necessarily a slow-going one, but you can also if you want to.
Elevated Travel
What I love about the Viking Cruises’ Longships is just how immaculate they are in design and cleanliness. It’s in that mid-luxury market for me in terms of experience, coupled with their Scandinavian design. Overall you feel super comfortable on the boat, and it feels elevated for accommodations and service.
Cons
No Control Over Itinerary
If you are someone who wants to manage every detail and timing for a trip, this is probably not for you. You have no control over what time you get into a city or depart. The set itinerary is the set itinerary. That said, you can optimize your time in each destination the best way you see fit.
All Meals Are Onboard If You Choose
One sticky point for some may be that all included dining is onboard, and not in local restaurants. If you’re someone who wants to avoid coming out of pocket more then you will end up eating all of your included meals on the ship. That said, there are several days during the itinerary where you could choose to eat at a local restaurant (many guests did). So keep this in mind — it can be a pro or a con depending on your preference.
No Gym Onboard
If you’re used to large ocean cruise ships with all the bells and whistles, you may feel disappointed. Consider the Longships like a floating boutique hotel on the river. There is no gym or pool onboard. Truthfully, the days aren’t set up for long amounts of time on the ship so it may not even matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dress Code for Dinners?
I saw a range this time, everywhere from casual jeans and sweaters, to collared shirts for men. I’d personally dress smart casual for evening dinners.
Can I Change Where I Sit Each Meal?
Yes, it is open-seating and communal. Each evening you sit where you want, and can join any table. Every night I sat with pretty much a new group.
Are Beds Shared?
They can be or can be arranged to be individual. You fill this out on your cruise form.
What is the Wi-Fi Like Onboard? Is an Adapter Needed?
Wi-fi was slow-going but adequate to access basic internet needs like email and Google. I wouldn’t count on it for making a Zoom call. And no adapter is needed, the rooms are equipped with several 110-volt plugs.
What is the General Age Group on the Ship?
Somewhere in the mid-60s, I would say to be the average age on the ship. That said, several groups of people in their thirties and forties as well. Do note: No children are allowed, it is an adult-only cruise.
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1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
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Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
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I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
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For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
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I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
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Xx,
Jessica
