AmaWaterways' pages here were read on 21 October 2026. It's one line describing its own sailings, and other lines differ. The daylight and river figures are our own, from our press and data page.
When do Christmas market cruises sail?
From late November into December, on one line's dates. AmaWaterways' Iconic Christmas Markets cruise lists departures from 25 November to 19 December 2026. The 19 December sailing is 7 nights and listed with a Christmas Day celebration, so it spans Christmas Day. Its 2027 list starts on 24 November.
The line's Christmas markets page says the best-known markets are open at this time of year. So most sailings fall in the weeks before Christmas.
Danube or Rhine for the markets?
Both have Christmas sailings. Choose by the cities you want to see.
- The Danube. The Iconic Christmas Markets cruise is 7 nights between Nuremberg and Budapest. It stops at Regensburg, Passau, Melk and Vienna on the way. The line says every stop was chosen for its markets.
- The Rhine. AmaWaterways' Christmas sailing there runs through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Its Christmas markets page names Basel and Strasbourg among its highlights. It calls Strasbourg's market France's oldest.
New to both rivers? Our first-timer guide has a short section on the Danube and one on the Rhine.
What is a Christmas market cruise like?
Built around the markets. The Danube sailing's day-by-day plan also takes in Melk Abbey and Vienna's Opera House. Musicians come on board for carols, it says.
How short are the days?
Short. In December, Koblenz on the Rhine gets about 8 hours of daylight, by our sums. Passau and Budapest on the Danube get 8.4 to 8.5 hours. In November it's 9.1 to 9.4 hours.
So plan for dark afternoons. Pack for winter, too: our packing page has a December section.
Can low water affect a December cruise?
It can, though less often than in autumn. We counted the raw gauge records from 2000 to 2025. The Rhine at Kaub sat below its low-water mark on 13 November days in 100. In December it was 2.6. The Danube at Hofkirchen was below its mark on 13 November days in 100, and 6.0 in December.
There's no official level at which cruises stop. Our low-water page explains what lines can do, and what to ask.
What does the fare include?
It depends on the line and the fare. On this sailing, AmaWaterways' small print says its fly-cruise fares include:
- return economy flights from Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester
- group transfers between the airport and the ship
- port charges
Flights from some regional UK airports cost extra. Land programmes and gratuities are additional, the small print says. Our page on which river cruise line compares what other lines include.
Do other travellers ask about this?
Yes, and most often in December. 75 of 1,862 river cruise posts were mainly about Christmas markets. They're from groups that are mostly American. One group had a full year of posts. There, 12 of 86 posts in December 2025 were mainly about them. Source: published trip questions and reports we analysed (October 2025 to October 2026).
What should I ask before I book?
- Which markets will be open on my dates?
- Are any of them evening visits?
- Is a market visit included at each stop, or is it free time?
- What happens if the river is low that week?
- Are flights, transfers and tips in the fare?
Get the answers in writing. Then tell our travel team your river and week, using the form below.