European Christmas Markets River Cruise

December 1, 2026 for 13 nights, hosted by Bill & Nancy C.

Experience the magic of Europe’s Christmas Markets on a festive cruise along the Rhine River, complete with pre- and post-cruise stays in Amsterdam and Switzerland. From sipping steamy glühwein in front of Cologne’s Gothic cathedral to wandering the picturesque markets of Strasbourg and Lucerne, this holiday cruise will capture the heart and spirit of the season. Traveling from Amsterdam to Basel on the AmaWaterway’s AmaSiena.

Your hosts, longtime Outlanders Bill & Nancy Crosbie.

Holiday Markets

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam

  • Activity: Hotel Check-in
  • Details: Arrive in Amsterdam and settle into your hotel. Spend the evening exploring the city or relaxing.

Day 2: Amsterdam Walking Tour

  • Activity: Walking Tour of Amsterdam
  • Details: Discover Amsterdam’s iconic canals, bridges, and historic architecture on a guided walking tour. (B)

Day 3: Zaanse Schans & Embarkation on the AmaSiena

  • Activity: Visit Zaanse Schans & Embark Cruise
  • Details: Visit Zaanse Schans to explore 17th- and 18th-century Dutch village life with windmills and authentic homes. Embark your cruise ship in the afternoon. (B, D)

Day 4: Canal Cruise & Scenic Departure from Amsterdam

  • Activities: Amsterdam Canal Cruise and Scenic Departure
  • Details: Explore the canals by boat before setting sail out of Amsterdam. In Utrecht, choose between a walking tour or a beer tasting tour. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Cologne or Düsseldorf Christmas Markets

  • Activities: Scenic Cruising & Christmas Market Tour
  • Details: Choose between a walking tour and Christmas Markets in Cologne or Düsseldorf, or enjoy a bike tour of Düsseldorf. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim

  • Activities: Scenic Cruising through the Rhine Gorge & Christmas Markets in Rüdesheim
  • Details: Admire the castles of the Rhine Gorge. In Rüdesheim, choose between wine tasting, a gondola ride, a guided hike, or a bike tour before visiting the Christmas Markets. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Heidelberg or Speyer Christmas Markets

  • Activities: Christmas Markets & City Tours
  • Details: Explore Heidelberg’s Christmas Markets and castle, take a hike on the Philosopher’s Path, or visit the medieval town of Speyer. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Strasbourg Christmas Markets

  • Activities: Strasbourg City Tour & Christmas Markets
  • Details: Visit France’s oldest Christmas Market. Walk through the Grand Île district or take a bike tour of Strasbourg, or visit the markets in Baden-Baden. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Breisach & Colmar Christmas Markets

  • Activities: Visit Colmar or Explore Breisach
  • Details: Visit the charming French town of Colmar and its Christmas Markets or bike through Breisach’s wine country. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Basel Highlights Tour & Transfer to Lake Lucerne

  • Activities: Basel City Tour & Transfer to Lake Lucerne
  • Details: Disembark in Basel, enjoy a highlights tour, and transfer to Lake Lucerne for hotel check-in. (B)

Day 11: Lake Lucerne Walking Tour & Christmas Markets

  • Activities: Lake Lucerne Walking Tour & Christmas Markets
  • Details: Discover Lucerne’s beauty on a walking tour, including the Chapel Bridge and the holiday markets. (B)

Day 12: Lake Lucerne Cruise & Mount Rigi

  • Activities: Lake Cruise & Mount Rigi Excursion, Transfer to Zurich
  • Details: Take a scenic lake cruise and ascend Mount Rigi by cable car for breathtaking views. Later, transfer to Zurich and check into your hotel. (B)

Day 13: Zurich City Tour & Christmas Markets

  • Activities: Zurich City Tour & Christmas Markets
  • Details: Explore Zurich’s Old Town and visit Europe’s largest indoor Christmas Market in the main railway station. Enjoy the festive atmosphere of the city. (B)

Day 14: Return Flight Home

  • Activity: Departure from Zurich
  • Details: After breakfast, depart Zurich for your return flight home. (B)

AmaWaterways and the AmaSiena

AmaSienaOverview

Sister ship to the award-winning AmaLea and AmaKristina, the elegant 156 passenger AmaSiena brought with her a sense of joy when she was christened in 2021. Vivid shades of red create an air of confidence throughout the Main Restaurant while bold floral patterns are sprinkled throughout the ship, from her spacious twin-balcony staterooms to her Main Lounge, with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering exceptional views of the castles along the Rhine River and the iconic windmills and pastures of Holland and Belgium. Her airy Sun Deck offers a walking track, pool with swim-up bar and ever-changing views of the scenery – even as you participate in a complimentary fitness class. And her Chef’s Table specialty restaurant offers a subtle elegance that allows each dish of its exquisite regionally inspired tasting menu to shine. Discover all of these delights and more on board AmaSiena.

Pricing

Choose a stateroom category to determine the cost. Please review the deckplan below and the associated room types by color code match.

Click on each category for a larger picture:

CategoryDescriptionDeckPer Person
Cruise & Land
EFixed Window 160sq’Piano$7,359
DFixed Window 160sq’Piano$7,658
CBFrench Balcony 155 sq’Violin$8,458
BBFrench/Outside Balcony-210 sq.’Cello$9,458
ABFrench/Outside Balcony-235 sq.’Cello$9,858
AAFrench/Outside Balcony-235 sq.’Violin$10,058
SuiteFrench/Outside Balcony-300/350 sq.’Violin$11,358
Pricing Includes the 7 nights river cruise plus 6 nights by land and port fees, is per person, based on double occupancy and availability.

Book this month and get a discount of $250 per person!

Supplier Tour Operator: Amawaterways

How to Sign Up

The deposit is $400 per person to secure your spot!

Prices are Per Person, estimated and subject to change prior to deposit, based on availability and double-occupancy. Optional insurance is available and will be quoted for you. Prices and fares are non-refundable so you will need the insurance to cancel. It is not cancel-for-any-reason insurance so it will need to be for a covered reason.

Call for limited Solo Traveler Pricing if available. Please note that until deposited, pricing is subject to change and based on availability.

Want to go? Simply complete this Secure Payment Form to authorize nonrefundable Payment in Full (as shown above). For the name of the trip put “Christmas Markets 2026″. Unless we already have it, please complete this Secure Passport Form for each passenger. Questions simply call us 843-279-0310 or email office@mgatravel.com .

Gallery from our past Christmas Market Cruises

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