This past week in Europe travel saw strong interest in Christmas Market cruises, as Tauck, Emerald Waterways and CroisiEurope announced new or expanded offerings for this holiday season. Here's the latest on what's on offer.
Tauck Boosts Capacity of Christmas River Cruises
Tauck reports it will continue to increase its presence in European river cruising later this year, when it boosts the capacity of its Christmas market cruises along the Danube and Rhine rivers.
Tauck said the move is the latest in an eventful year for Tauck’s river cruising efforts, following the launch of the company’s two new Inspiration Class ships (the ms Inspire and ms Savor, christened in April and June respectively) and the addition of four new river cruise itineraries. For the coming holiday season Tauck will boost its Christmas market river cruise departures by 67 percent and increase the number of ships sailing on its two Christmas-themed itineraries from three to four. The new ms Inspire and ms Savor will both make their Christmas market cruise debuts, joining the ms Treasures and the ms Swiss Jewel.
Emerald Waterways Offers Christmas Markets Holiday Cruise
Emerald Waterways invites guests to celebrate the holiday season with its 15-day Christmas Markets of Europe cruise. The sailing, which visits more than 25 of Europe’s Christmas markets, departs from Amsterdam on Nov. 29 and concludes on Dec. 13 in Budapest. Prices range from $3,960 to $7,705 per person, double. Emerald Waterways also offers travelers a chance to experience the Christmas Markets on shorter sailings with two, eight-day itineraries: Amsterdam to Nuremberg, departing Nov. 29, and Nuremberg to Budapest, departing Dec. 6. Prices for the eight-day sailings range from $2,080 to $3,955.
Held during the four weeks of Advent, Europe's Christmas markets allow Emerald guests to shop for gifts, and stops include Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt, which is held in front of the city’s “rathaus” (town hall), and Nuremburg’s Christmas market, which dates to 1628.
CroisiEurope Details Its 2014 Christmas and New Year’s Cruises
CroisiEurope is offering its 2014 Christmas Cruises, including the Christmas Markets and New Year’s Cruises. Ranging from three to six days, these holiday cruises include optional excursions to Europe’s Christmas markets, local Christmas Eve masses and guided city tours. Prices for these holiday cruises start at $495 per person and vary depending on length, destination and cabin booked.
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