Explore the Holidays in Europe
The Gift of the Christmas Season, Along the Rivers
The Christmas season unfolds differently along the breadth of Europe’s rivers. AmaWaterways offers three distinct ways to step into the season, each shaped by tradition, place and shared moments that bring the holidays to life.
From the moment you step aboard your AmaWaterways ship during Europe’s holiday season, the world seems to slow and glow. Evergreen garlands frame the ship’s inviting spaces, lights shimmer softly against polished wood and the familiar smile of St. Nicholas sets the tone for the journey ahead.
Taste of Christmas cruises reveal local holiday traditions in villages and regions that celebrate the season in their own way. As you explore each destination, you’ll encounter regional customs on shore, paired with a classic joyful atmosphere on board.
Christmas Markets cruises immerse you in Europe at its most festive, when historic city squares and charming towns come alive with the sounds, sights and smells of the season. Wander the market in cities and towns like Vienna, Colmar and Nuremberg, then return the comfort of your ship as the river carries you to the next iconic market.
For those wishing to celebrate the year-end holidays on board, Christmas & New Year’s Celebration cruises are centered on togetherness as you toast over special meals and moments with your Ama family.
We invite you to join us for a Christmas season journey and discover why a cruise with AmaWaterways is a tradition worth embracing year after year.
Savor regional wines during dinner
Spend Christmas Day with Your AmaFamily
The most meaningful gift of the season is time spent together. On Christmas Day, share new experiences on shore and come together on board for a special holiday dinner, thoughtfully prepared to mark the occasion and celebrate the joy of being with those who matter most.
Join our New Year’s Celebration
Resolve to welcome the new year your way. Celebrate on board with our New Year’s Eve Dinner and Gala, or venture on shore to join local festivities as cities come alive for the midnight countdown.
Christmas & New Year’s Celebration
Select departures span both Christmas Day and the midnight chime of New Year’s Eve. Embark on a journey filled with shared moments and lasting memories, where the warmth of Christmas Day meets the festive energy of New Year’s aboard one unforgettable cruise.
Featured Christmas + New Year’s Celebration Departures
Legendary Danube (Christmas & New Year’s Celebration Cruise)
Enchanting Rhine
(Christmas & New Year’s Celebration Cruise)
Enchanting Rhine
(Christmas & New Year’s Celebration Cruise)
Captivating Rhine (Christmas & New Year’s Celebration Cruise)
Essence of Burgundy & Provence (Christmas & New Year’s Celebration Cruise)
Taste of Bordeaux (Christmas & New Year’s Celebration Cruise)
Colors of Provence (Christmas & New Year’s Celebration Cruise)
AmaReina Dec 23, 2026 Nuremberg
AmaCerto Dec 23, 2026 Basel
AmaSiena Dec 24, 2026 Basel
AmaPrima Dec 23, 2026 Amsterdam Basel
AmaCello Dec 24, 2026 Dijon Arles
AmaDolce Dec 24, 2026 Bordeaux Bordeaux
AmaKristina Dec 24, 2026 Arles Lyon
Local entertainers in The Lark Lounge
our New Year’s Eve Gala
Itinerary
Celebrate Christmas Day
A Taste of Christmas
Joyeux Noël in France
Taste of Bordeaux (Taste of Christmas)
7 night cruise roundtrip from Bordeaux, France
Throughout France, the season comes alive as vin chaud simmers in town squares, cathedral bells echo at dusk and boulangeries beckon with aromas of spice and butter. In Bordeaux, the Christmas Market radiates warmth, with over 100 wooden chalets offering local delicacies like hearty brioche and handcrafted gifts. Further along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, history, flavor and the spirit of the season blend effortlessly as you explore Saint‑Émilion’s historic streets with a local guide, wander the 17th‑century Blaye Citadel and celebrate regional wines at an exclusive local festival.
More Taste of Christmas Itineraries in France
Colors of Provence (Taste of Christmas)
7 night cruise from Lyon to Arles, France (or reverse)
Essence of Burgundy & Provence (Taste of Christmas)
7 night cruise from Dijon to Arles, France (or reverse)
• Guided tour to Lyon’s old town, including its Christmas Market
• Beaujolais or Chalonnaise wine tasting at a local vineyard.
• Van Gogh–inspired walk through Arles, exploring the streets and cafés central to his artistic legacy
• Truffle farm visit revealing the traditions behind France’s most sought‑after culinary delicacy
Each Taste of Christmas journey is shaped by the sights, sounds and flavors that define the regions along the rivers. On shore, seasonal celebrations, including one to two Christmas Markets, invite you to experience local traditions in quieter destinations and before the height of the season. On board, elegant décor and classic Christmas activities like caroling and gingerbread decorating set a festive tone. Together, these moments create a thoughtful balance of familiar celebration and authentic holiday encounters.
Visit France’s distinctive Christmas Markets
Itinerary / Nights & Route
Bordeaux, France
Throughout Europe
Mid-November through December
Vesela Koleda on the Danube
Gems of Southeast Europe (Taste of Christmas)
7 night cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Giurgiu, Romania (or reverse)
Shaped by enduring local traditions, our cruises along the lower reaches of the Danube River are deeply rooted in place. In Romania, winter celebrations gather across Bucharest’s grand civic squares, where the scent of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked cozonac fills the cold air. In Croatia, riverside Vukovar comes alive with seasonal music and handcrafted ornaments, paired with visits to centuries‑old wine cellars and the renowned Vučedol Museum, offering a glimpse into traditions that predate Christmas itself. And in Belgrade, Serbia, the season reveals itself in warm, convivial moments—from sweeping views at Kalemegdan Fortress to shared stories over traditional fruit brandies, including Šljivovica
Grand
14
7 night cruise from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary
Frohe Weihnachten on the Rhine
Captivating Rhine (Taste of Christmas)
7 night cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland
Along the Rhine, the holiday season feels both timeless and quietly enchanting from Amsterdam to Basel. As you cruise through the UNESCO designated Rhine Gorge, flurries of snow dust vineyard slopes and the more than 40 castle ruins that stand regally atop the hillsides. As Rüdesheim comes into view, you’ll see half timbered houses frame a Christmas Market that is both intimate and joyfully alive. In the Alsace region, the charm deepens in Colmar, where the old town is adorned with ruby red ornaments, verdant garlands and twinkling lights that trace its canals and medieval façades, turning every corner into a living postcard.
Itinerary / Nights & Route
Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles (Taste of Christmas)
7 night cruise from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands
Enchanting Rhine (Taste of Christmas)
7 night cruise from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands
Featured Experiences
• Visit to Heidelberg Castle overlooking Germany’s oldest university town
• Guided exploration of Strasbourg’s historic center
• Time to savor Alsatian cuisine and festive markets at your own pace
• Guided canal cruise through Amsterdam
• Tours through Vienna and Budapest, where grand palaces and city centers are decked for the season
• Full day excursion to Český Krumlov, one of Europe’s largest castle complexes
• Scenic cruising through the UNESCO‑designated Wachau Valley
• A tasting of apricots, desserts and wine in Weissenkirchen
Brasov, Romania
More Itineraries on the Rhine
Fruit brandy tasting, Belgrade, Serbia
More Itineraries on the Danube
Itinerary / Nights & Route
Featured Experiences
Danube (Taste of Christmas)
night cruise from Vilshofen, Germany to Giurgiu, Romania (or reverse)
Romantic Danube (Taste of Christmas)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Enjoy seasonal festivities with friends and family
Immerse Yourself in the Christmas Markets Tradition
Late-November through December 24th
Iconic Christmas Markets
7 night cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Nuremberg, Germany (or reverse)
Journey through seven celebrated Christmas Markets across Hungary, Austria and Germany, where holiday traditions unfold in Europe’s grandest cities. The experience culminates in Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world’s oldest and most revered, where centuries‑old customs, music and atmosphere bring the season’s heritage vividly to life.
More Market highlights on this itinerary: Thurn & Taxis Christmas Markets, Passau Christkindlmarkt, Vienna Rathaus Christmas Market, Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market, St. Stephens Christmas Markets
Christmas Markets on the Rhine
7 night cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland (or reverse)
Discover six Christmas Markets along the storied Rhine, from canal‑lined cities to medieval towns framed by half‑timbered houses. The journey’s centerpiece is Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik, founded in 1570 and considered France’s oldest, where the season’s cheer fills historic squares shaped by centuries of Alsatian tradition.
More Market highlights on this itinerary: Rüdesheim Christmas Market of Nations, Düsseldorf’s Christmas Promenade, Speyer Christmas Market, Baden-Badener Christkindelsmarkt, Colmar Christmas Markets
Magical Christmas Markets of Germany
7 night cruise from to Frankfurt to Nuremberg, Germany (or reverse)
Experience seven Christmas Markets woven through Germany’s historic heartland, where riverside towns reveal the season at a gentler pace. In Frankfurt’s Römerberg, the medieval old town transforms into a festive gathering place beneath illuminated timbered façades, offering a timeless welcome that sets the tone for the journey ahead.
More Market highlights on this itinerary: Mainz Christmas Market, Rüdesheim Christmas Market of Nations, Wertheim Weihnachtsmarkt, Würzburg Christmas Market, Bamberg’s Maximiliansplatz Market
Colmar, Frnace
Festive onboard atmosphere
Ships that illuminate the rivers
Christmas tree decorating
Christmas Market, Prague, Czech Republic
Sweet treats for the whole family
Shop for handcrafted gifts
on select Christmas season departures. Offer ends June 30, 2026.
Terms & Conditions: Rates listed are per person in USD, based on double occupancy in a category E stateroom inclusive of port charges. Valid on new FIT and Group reservations made between May 11-June 30, 2026 on select 2026 sailings. Tour Operators are eligible; terms apply. COMPLIMENTARY ROUNDTRIP ECONOMY AIRFARE, $999 PREMIUM ECONOMY AIRFARE, and $3,299 BUSINESS CLASS AIRFARE promotions are based on round-trip, trans-Atlantic airfare departing from select US gateways (LAX, SFO, SEA, DFW, IAH, ORD, BOS, MIA, FLL, TPA, MCO, ATL, IAD, JFK, EWR). $299 per person add-on rate for other gateways. Offer does not apply to deviations from advertised standard cruise or land packages. Guest(s) must purchase an eligible 7-night cruise. Airfare deposits are required to confirm promotional rates. Must mention promo code to receive offer: FLYFREE (Economy), FLYFREE-PREM, or FLYFREE-BUS (Business Class). To ensure travelers on associated conjunction bookings are on the same itinerary, Custom Air is recommended and available at an additional cost. Ancillary airline charges are not included. Offer is combinable with select promotions unless otherwise stated, is capacity controlled, and subject to availability. AmaWaterways reserves the right to modify, suspend, terminate, or correct errors to this promotion at any time. Restrictions may apply. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the state of California. CST#2065452-20