As the holiday season draws near, several river cruise lines are expanding their offerings with new Christmas market itineraries for the upcoming year as well as for 2027, in response to soaring demand from travelers.
Avalon Waterways is set to enhance its offerings by introducing seven additional Christmas market departures in 2024, marking a significant 15% increase in capacity. This expansion presents the company’s largest selection of festive voyages, featuring approximately 40 departures across 19 distinct itineraries throughout popular European rivers such as the Danube, Rhine, and Main.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is also making waves by adding Christmas market cruises to its itinerary for 2027 aboard the Transcend Evolve. This expansion will effectively double the company’s offerings in the region, with two primary itineraries to choose from. One option will sail from Budapest to Vienna, providing guests with an exclusive after-hours tour of Melk Abbey and a private visit to Clam Castle in Austria. The second itinerary will travel between Budapest and Passau, featuring visits to the festive markets in Bratislava, a private chamber concert in iconic locations like the Reduta Hall, and an optional excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
Lindblad Expeditions’ CEO Natalya Leahy emphasizes the appeal of these holiday voyages, stating, “They bring together what people are seeking right now: connection, tradition, and shared discovery with the people who matter most.”
Trafalgar is making its debut river cruise season next year and has confirmed plans for Christmas market cruises in both 2026 and 2027. Travelers can choose a Rhine Christmas markets itinerary that will glide between Basel, Switzerland, and Dusseldorf, Germany. This particular route offers an extension option in Lucerne, and highlights include a visit to the historic Christmas market in Strasbourg, France, one of the oldest in Europe, along with stops in Germany’s scenic Black Forest.
Moreover, Trafalgar’s Danube Christmas market sailings will run between Budapest and Passau, with the option for guests to extend their experience through a land tour in Prague. Passengers on this itinerary will have the opportunity to visit Salzburg, the picturesque backdrop for “The Sound of Music,” and engage in meaningful discussions about life behind the Iron Curtain in Bratislava—a part of Trafalgar’s commitment to their Make Travel Matter initiative.
