IT’S nearly time to get on board for the festive season – with a Christmas markets cruise.
Need to stock up on presents? Fancy some yuletide treats?
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Or how about admiring some of the best seasonal lights in Europe?
Sophie Swietochowski brings you some crusies that will invite you to do all of that and more . . .
BEST FOR FESTIVE VARIETY – COLOGNE
COLOGNE in Germany, with its majestic cathedral, pictured, has long been a top European destination to visit for Christmas markets.
And there is more than one of these in the city.
But one of the best is Heinzel’s Winter Fairytale, which has its own ice rink, and is one treat that revellers setting sail on Emerald Cruises’ Rhine voyage should definitely add to their bucket list.
Emerald’s eight-day river cruise begins in wintry Basel in north-west Switzerland before passing by Strasbourg, where passengers can take a guided tour, then it continues via several German cities including Koblenz.
The itinerary ends in Amsterdam where shops will soon be filled with festive local treats such as speculaas – spicy cinnamon biscuits also called windmill cookies.
The Christmas Markets on the Rhine cruise costs from £1,699pp, including flights on December 14, and transfers, wifi and excursions.
See emeraldcruises.co.uk.
BEST FOR SOLO TRAVEL – NUREMBERG
UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruises have £1,000 off a host of festive cruises – many charging no solo supplement.
Single travellers can join an eight-day German cruise through so-called Christmas Country, along the River Main from Nuremberg to Frankfurt.
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Highlights, aboard the River Princess ship, include a tour of Nuremberg and a visit to the city’s Christmas market – the largest and grandest in Germany, famed for its gingerbread.
Explore medieval city of Bamberg’s nativity trail, linking churches, museums and more.
The itinerary also includes a walking tour of medieval town Rothenburg, with its timber-framed houses, cobbled streets and tiny squares, plus visits to Würzburg, Wertheim and Frankfurt.
From £2,199pp for eight-day tour, no solo supplement, departures on December 8, 22 and 23.
See uniworld.com or call 0808 168 9110.
BEST FOR CAROLS – BRUGES
WHICH yuletide tune instantly reminds you of Christmas?
If it’s The Snowman: Walking In The Air, book a spot on this four-night Cunard voyage.
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Welsh singer Aled Jones will be on board to amp up the festive factor, with talks about The Snowman and live performances of carols such as Silent Night and O Holy Night.
The no-fly cruise on board the Queen Victoria, which can carry more than 2,000 passengers, departs from Southampton in early December, sailing straight to Bruges in Belgium.
This is the place to stock up on chocs, as the Belgians are known for producing the world’s best.
The ship then sails to Cherbourg in Normandy, home to a Christmas where treats include French favourite vin chaud (mulled wine).
The Cherbourg and Zeebrugge cruise costs from £669pp, in a Britannia Balcony room, departing on December 1.
See cunard.com.
BEST FOR CULTURE VULTURES – VIENNA
A DANUBE river cruise takes in merry markets crammed with traditional grub such as Austrian grammelknödel (a steaming potato dumpling), as well as celebrating all things Mozart.
The three-night adventure begins in the German city of Passau, after which you’ll cross the border into Austria, ticking off the historic town of Melk, home to an 11th Century abbey where Benedictine monks still live.
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Next stop is Bratislava, Slovakia’s pedestrianised capital filled with cosy cafes, before moving on to Vienna – a highlight on the itinerary where passengers can visit Mozart’s home or listen to music in the famous Opera House.
The three-night Christmas Spirit on the Danube cruise on board the Riverside Mozart costs from £1,108pp, departing on December 5.
See riverside-cruises.com/en or call (0)333 305 0607.
BEST FOR LIGHTS – AMSTERDAM
The Dutch city of Rotterdam takes Christmas very seriously, lighting up the streets in a spectacle of colour.
It’s also the first stop on the Ambassador line’s ship Ambience, which departs from Essex port of London Tilbury.
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Once you’ve sailed down the River Nieuwe Maas and ticked off Rott-erdam, Ambience will head for Honfleur in northern France.
Here, passengers can explore the Christmas markets in the town hall square, with stalls selling everything from stocking fillers to freshly baked treats.
The final stop is Amsterdam, where canalside trees will be festooned with lights.
Check out festive celebration Sinterklaas, and the Amsterdam Light Festival which features more than 25 specially created works of art.
The five-night sailing costs from £499pp, departing London Tilbury on December 15 and based on two people sharing an inside cabin.