About the line
About Tauck River Cruising
Tauck's Christmas itineraries combine river cruising with its escorted-tour approach. Scheduled sightseeing, special events, selected onboard drinks, and specified gratuities are included. Its Danube route connects Nuremberg and Vienna; the Rhine trip connects Basel and Düsseldorf. Confirm the exact events, vessel, and departure direction before choosing.
Best for
Travelers who prefer a planned touring program with broad inclusions.
Pros
- Scheduled touring and Tauck events included
- Tauck Directors accompany the trip
- Onboard drinks and specified gratuities included
- Routes focused on Germany and Austria or the Rhine
Cons
- Premium pricing
- A scheduled program may suit independent travelers less
- Events and ships vary by itinerary
Inclusions
What’s included
A quick read on the standard Christmas-sailing package. Partial inclusions are marked with a half-circle.
Drinks
Selected drinks throughout the day
Excursions
Included touring; optional extras may apply
Flights
Flights extra
Gratuities
Included
Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Bikes
Bikes carried, free to use
The fleet
Ships
ms Joy
ms Savor
ms Grace
ms Inspire
Christmas itineraries
Example Christmas sailings
Published itinerary examples, not live cabin availability. Check the departure for current ships and inclusions.
- 7 nights
Christmas Markets Along the Danube
Danube River
- 7 nights
Christmas Markets Along the Rhine
Rhine River
Itineraries we feature
Example cruises on this line
Real, published itineraries — shown as examples. Live availability via a planning expert.
Christmas Markets Along the Danube
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.
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Christmas Markets Along the Rhine
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.
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Keep exploring
Other cruise lines
See how the rest of the field compares.
Viking River Cruises
The thinking person's river cruise.
Viking's European river cruises combine Scandinavian-style interiors with destination-focused touring. Fares include one shore excursion per port, onboard meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, and port taxes. Enrichment lectures and destination performances add context to the journey. Ships and layouts vary by river; compare the actual vessel and cabin rather than assuming every Longship is identical.
Our score
4.6Request pricing
per person · example
AmaWaterways
The heart of the river.
AmaWaterways is a family-owned line known for food-forward dining, several excursion styles, and active choices such as hiking and biking. On European sailings, wine, beer, and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, along with a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour; The Chef's Table is included at no extra charge. Its Christmas-market itineraries combine guided touring with time to explore independently. AmaMagna offers an especially spacious Danube experience, while the wider fleet gives travelers a useful range of ship and cabin styles.
Our score
4.7Request pricing
per person · example
Riverside Luxury Cruises
Luxury, redefined on the river.
Riverside offers several fare packages rather than one universal all-inclusive fare. On Riverside Mozart, full-board options and premium beverage packages can be booked with or without selected excursions. Compare the package and ship alongside the cabin price; some specialty dining and experiences can cost extra.
Our score
4.5Request pricing
per person · example
Avalon Waterways
See the world differently.
Avalon's signature Panorama Suites have wall-to-wall windows that open into the room, with the bed positioned toward the passing view. Avalon Choice offers Classic, Active, and Discovery sightseeing on selected days, while FlexDining removes fixed seating and fixed dinner times. Wine and beer are included with lunch and dinner, soft drinks are available throughout the day, and European Suite Ships include Wi-Fi.
Our score
4.3from $2,947
per person · example