Compare Christmas-market cruises

Scenic's XNBU itinerary lasts eight days and seven nights, with a Munich transfer to or from Regensburg. The route continues through Passau, the Wachau Valley, Vienna, and Bratislava to Budapest. Standard Suites do not have the Sun Lounge found in balcony-suite categories.

Tauck's eight-day, seven-night Christmas itinerary connects Nuremberg and Vienna through Bavaria and Austria. Budapest and Bratislava are not on this route. Scheduled sightseeing and special Tauck events are part of the experience; consult the daily itinerary for the events on your departure.

Classic Christmas Markets is a seven-night Germany itinerary between Nuremberg and Frankfurt, primarily along the Main. It is not an Amsterdam–Basel Rhine cruise. The daily program includes guided market visits; selected Masterpiece Collection add-ons cost extra.

Uniworld's Danube Holiday Markets links Budapest and Passau in seven nights aboard S.S. Maria Theresa. The program includes Vienna, Bratislava, the Wachau Valley, and a Salzburg excursion. It does not visit Nuremberg; optional Masterpiece Collection experiences are separate from included touring.

Tauck's Christmas Rhine itinerary connects Basel and Düsseldorf in eight days and seven nights aboard ms Inspire. It includes Strasbourg, Rüdesheim, and Cologne rather than Amsterdam. Check the daily schedule and direction for time ashore instead of assuming an overnight market visit.

Riverside's published five-day, four-night itinerary visits Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna aboard Riverside Mozart. The 2026 itinerary lists December 2 and 16 departures, not confirmed cabin availability. Compare the full-board and premium packages carefully: drinks and excursions are not automatically included in every fare.

Avalon's six-night Christmastime on the Danube links Nuremberg and Vienna through Regensburg, Passau, Melk, and the Wachau Valley. The line's Panorama Suites place the bed toward the river view, while Avalon Choice excursions give guests more than one way to explore on selected days.

This seven-night Rhine route connects Amsterdam and Basel through Cologne, the Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim, Mainz or Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and the Black Forest gateway. Most of the remaining space found in October was in Avalon's Panorama Suites, with a smaller number of Deluxe and Royal categories on specific dates.

This five-night Main River trip stays within Germany, visiting a smaller riverside town, Würzburg, Bamberg, and Nuremberg. The October 11 inventory check found one bookable Panorama Suite category on the December 6 departure; the later departure was sold out.

Emerald's current EWXD itinerary is seven nights between Passau and Budapest, with a Munich transfer. It visits Linz, Melk, Dürnstein, Vienna, and Bratislava. Included touring and gratuities are part of the published program; optional experiences and additional drinks can cost extra.