By river
The wine lover's Christmas river — impossibly steep vineyards, fairytale castles, and the most picturesque market towns.
Germany · France · Luxembourg · 339 mi (545 km)
The route
The Moselle is the Rhine's quieter, prettier, wine-soaked cousin. It winds through the world's steepest vineyards and storybook towns like Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, and Trier (Germany's oldest city). Christmas-market sailings on the Moselle are usually combined with the Rhine — a Rhine & Moselle itinerary gives you the grandeur of Cologne and the intimacy of Bernkastel in one trip. The river is narrow and winding, so ships are smaller and the pace is slower.
Cozy and vinicultural — Riesling glühwein, vineyard-backed markets, and candle-lit streets.
Best for
Wine lovers and travelers who prefer smaller, prettier towns over grand capitals.
Best months
December
Market vibe
Cozy and vinicultural — Riesling glühwein, vineyard-backed markets, and candle-lit streets.
The ports
From Cochem to Koblenz — every market town on a typical Moselle Christmas sailing.
Germany
Cochem's Reichsburg Castle towers over a half-timbered Moselle wine town whose Advent market fills the medieval marketplace.
Advent weekends
ExploreGermany
Bernkastel-Kues' medieval Marktplatz, framed by half-timbered houses, hosts a romantic Advent market in the heart of Moselle Riesling country.
Advent weekends
ExploreGermany
Trier, founded by the Romans in 16 BC, hosts a Christmas market on its medieval Hauptmarkt beside a UNESCO Romanesque cathedral.
Late Nov – Dec 23
ExploreGermany
Koblenz sits at the Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle meets the Rhine, with a Christmas market and a cable car to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress.
Late Nov – Dec 23
ExploreExample sailings
0 example itineraries from the lines that run the Moselle. All are real, published routes — pricing is "from" per person and labeled example.
Example sailings coming soon — ask an expert for current Moselle options.
The operators
4 cruise lines run Christmas-market sailings on the Moselle. Viking & AMA Waterways are our Top Picks.
The thinking person's river cruise.
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.
from $2,499
per person · example
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
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
No two ships alike.
Uniworld is the design house of river cruising — every ship is bespoke, from hand-carved Venetian headboards to curated art collections. The product is genuinely all-inclusive: premium spirits, every excursion, gratuities, even a complimentary bike and walking-stick fleet. Christmas sailings are sumptuous — themed dinners, a vegan menu, and Masterpiece Collection optional experiences.
Request pricing
per person · example
Explore more
Netherlands · Germany · France · Switzerland
766 mi (1,233 km)
The classic Christmas-market river — castle-crowned gorges, half-timbered towns, and the densest concentration of markets in Europe.
First-timers who want the iconic, postcard European Christmas experience.
Sailings & marketsGermany · Austria · Slovakia · Hungary
1,777 mi (2,860 km)
The other great Christmas-market river — imperial capitals, Baroque towns, and the most sailings of any river in December.
Travelers who want capital-city grandeur and the most date options.
Sailings & marketsGermany
331 mi (527 km)
The connector between the Rhine and Danube — a quiet, storybook river of half-timbered towns and the Romantic Road.
Travelers on a longer Rhine-to-Danube sailing who want the quiet, authentic Germany.
Sailings & marketsFrance
482 mi (777 km)
Paris to Normandy — French flair, gourmet markets, and a gentler, more chic Christmas feel.
Francophiles, couples, and travelers who prefer a sophisticated, food-led market experience.
Sailings & marketsFrance · Switzerland
505 mi (813 km)
Burgundy to Provence — food, wine, and a warmer festive season under the southern French sun.
Food and wine lovers who prefer milder December weather.
Sailings & marketsPortugal · Spain
557 mi (897 km)
Porto's riverside markets and the port-wine estates — the warmest and least-crowded Christmas river.
Travelers who want a milder climate, smaller crowds, and a distinctly Iberian Christmas.
Sailings & marketsReady when you are
Tell us your dates, your style, and your group — we'll shortlist two or three Moselle sailings matched to you. No fees, ever.