Sailing the Christmas Markets

We sailed along the Rhine in December for 5 nights visiting ports of call all with different Christmas markets to wander around.

We embarked in Cologne with its beautiful cathedral towering above various traditional Christmas markets. They go all out in Cologne with stalls selling lots of different things to buy, taste and drink. With bars set up in log cabins and ice rings for skating and playing games on.

Once on board we checked into our cabin, we went for a French balcony cabin which gives you an opening full floor to ceiling window. If budget allows always go for a balcony on a cruise (ocean or river). River cruise ships are much smaller than ocean liners as they sail on the rivers right in to the centre of cities so that you just step off and are usually just a few steps from the town. They are much smaller than ocean liners as well making it a much more intimate trip.

Very low key entertainment on board in the evenings so use it watch the world float by!

We sailed from Cologne down the Rhine towards Rudesheim, what a pretty town to wake up in so into Christmas, with stalls, music and such a great atmosphere. We also visited Koblenz, Mainz and Speyer.

Due to high water levels we could not get into Strasbourg so visited Frankfurt instead as sometimes last minute changes are needed!

Sailing the Rhine past castles, pretty villages and towns was so relaxing.

I really recommend you give river cruising a try