The Festive Season

A wonderful way to enjoy Christmas with all its trimmings is to sail in November and December for a Christmas Markets river cruise and you can be back home for Christmas Day, or if you have always dreamed of a White Christmas, depart a little later to spend Christmas and New Year cruising through Europe.   River cruising has been the number one item for holidays for the last three years.   People are in fact, booking for 2016 to make sure they get the itinerary they want.  Coming from Europe, I love to go back at this time of year since they celebrate the holiday season in a different way than America, and even though it can be cold, it is so much fun to experience the markets in the little medieval towns along the Rhine or Danube rivers.  

It’s a great time to travel.  Enjoy fairytale land of snow covered villages, regional festivities, and brightly lit Christmas trees.   The busy tourist months have ended, there is a greater connection to the people of the towns and villages and you will be able to enjoy all the sightseeing (which is free) without the crowds.  You can stroll through six Christmas markets in Cologne, Germany, and a visit to its cathedral is a must. It’s very organized; you can jump on a little trolly bus which takes you from market to market so you don’t miss anything.   The one in Nuremberg is the most famous, dating back to 1628, and they all have gingerbread, roasted sausages, beer and hot chocolate, along with a breathtaking display of handmade Christmas ornaments and see works by master glassblowers and other artisans.  I love the music, the National dress, mixing with the locals doing their Christmas shopping, and trying all the different foods for that particular town.

There are several excellent river cruise companies who sail from Amsterdam to other picturesque towns and villages on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers to Budapest.    Every stop has something different to explore.   They have walking tours at different levels of pace, depending on how energetic you are.  This is a casual trip, walking shoes, and sweaters.  Only 100 passengers on board and all the cabins are the same size, except for the few suites.    If you are traveling on your own, certain sailings have no single supplement which is a very important feature.   Many of the ships have bikes on board so you can ride along the river on a guided tour. 

Last December, my husband and I went from Basel, Switzerland to Cologne, Germany, going through a dozen small towns and three countries all in a week.   We stayed a couple of extra days in Cologne which was fun.   No matter which itinerary you choose, always go in the day before the cruise sails to make sure you get there on time.      

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel  at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.