Cruise line profile · ★ Top Pick
The thinking person's river cruise.
About the line
Viking revolutionized European river cruising with its fleet of identical, award-winning Longships. The Christmas-market season is one of their signatures: a daily excursion is included at every port, beer and wine flow free at lunch and dinner, and the Aquavit Terrace turns into a cozy winter lounge. The itinerary is packed but unhurried, with a resident historian and an included excursion in every stop.
Best for
First-timers, couples, and culture lovers who want a polished, predictable, inclusive experience.
Inclusions
A quick read on the standard Christmas-sailing package. Partial inclusions are marked with a half-circle.
Drinks
PartialBeer & wine at lunch/dinner
Excursions
PartialSome excursions included
Flights
Flights extra
Gratuities
Gratuities extra
Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Bikes
Bikes carried, free to use
The fleet
Viking Longships (Rolf, Eir, Freya, Odin, etc.)
Viking Aegir
Viking Lif
Christmas itineraries
Named itineraries this line runs for the Christmas-market season. Nights and rivers as published.
Rhine Getaway
Rhine River
Danube Waltz
Danube River
Portraits of Southern France
Rhône River
Itineraries we feature
Real, published itineraries — shown as examples. Live availability via a planning expert.
Viking's signature Rhine Christmas sailing threads the 40-mile Middle Rhine gorge, with an included excursion at every port. The Longship's Aquavit Terrace turns into a winter lounge, and a resident historian gives daily talks. This is the most-booked Christmas-market sailing in the world.
Example pricing
from $2,499
per person · example
Viking's Danube Waltz is the classic Nuremberg-to-Budapest Christmas run, with three capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest) and a Wachau Valley transit. The Budapest arrival at night, with the Parliament lit up, is one of the great river-cruise moments.
Example pricing
from $2,599
per person · example
Viking's Southern France Christmas sailing explores the Rhône and Saône between Lyon and Avignon, timed for the Lyon Fête des Lumières (Dec 8). The markets here are gastronomic — truffle stalls, foie gras, and Côtes du Rhône vin chaud — and the December weather is milder than the German rivers.
Example pricing
from $2,899
per person · example
Keep exploring
See how the rest of the field compares.
The heart of the river.
AMA Waterways is a family-run line known for generosity: a complimentary Sip & Sail cocktail hour before dinner every night, premium wine and beer throughout the day, and a chef's table restaurant included at no extra charge. Their Christmas sailings lean into the festive — gingerbread decorating, Glühwein tastings, and a special holiday menu. The AmaMagna on the Danube is nearly double the width of a standard river ship, with more lounge and dining space.
from $2,799
per person · example
Luxury, redefined on the river.
Riverside took over the former Crystal river ships and re-launched them as a genuinely all-inclusive luxury product. Nearly every excursion is included, drinks flow all day, gratuities are covered, and the service ratio is among the highest on the rivers. Christmas sailings feel intimate and refined — fewer passengers, more space, and a butler-style cabin service on the top suites.
Request pricing
per person · example
All-inclusive, done right.
Tauck brings its land-tour pedigree to the rivers with a genuinely all-inclusive model: all excursions, all drinks, all gratuities, and a Tauck Director on every departure. Ships are among the newest and lowest-density on the rivers, with a scarcity of suites relative to standard cabins. Christmas sailings emphasize behind-the-scenes access — private evening market visits, exclusive concerts in Vienna.
Request pricing
per person · example
See the world differently.
Avalon's signature is the Suite Ship: cabins with floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic windows that slide open to turn your whole stateroom into a balcony. They pioneered the 'choose your excursion' model — classic, active, and discovery options at most ports. Christmas sailings often bundle a hotel night in Prague or Budapest, which adds value.
from $2,399
per person · example