While some of us are gearing up for the local skiing season or celebrating Christmas in July in pubs and hotels around the country, many cruisers are looking ahead to a festive winter holiday on Europe's waterways. However, cold-weather river cruising has become so popular in recent years that if you haven't already booked for the coming season, you'll probably be looking at the northern winter of 2017.
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Visiting Europe's Christmas markets is the main reason for the surge in demand for winter river cruises – another is that there aren't so many tourists thronging major attractions such as museums, art galleries and famous monuments. For now, anyway.
So, which itinerary should you choose? Most of the Christmas markets are held in towns and villages along the Rhine and the Danube; there are also some on the Main, Seine and in Paris. The most-travelled Amsterdam to Budapest itinerary sails along the Danube, Main and Rhine through five countries – the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary – over about two weeks. There are also shorter cruises – for example, Avalon Waterways' "Christmas in the Heart of Germany" itinerary sails between Frankfurt and Nuremburg over five nights.
Some of the most famous markets are in Cologne, Nuremberg and Regensberg in Germany; Vienna in Austria; Prague in the Czech Republic; Budapest in Hungary; Zurich and Basel in Switzerland; and Strasbourg in Alsace. Ice-skating, concerts and theatrical productions are laid on to complement the eating, drinking and shopping extravaganzas taking place in every medieval square and street.
When to go? Christmas markets usually start up in late November and run until the third week of December, depending on the country (Prague's markets are open from early December until the first days of January). In 2017, Scenic has a cruise that spends Christmas Day in the pretty town of Durnstein in Austria; and if you're quick you can still join APT's wine-themed cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, departing on November 18, 2016.
River cruise lines that offer Christmas Market cruises include APT (aptouring.com.au), Avalon Waterways (avalonwaterways.com.au), Scenic (scenic.com.au), Tauck (tauck.com.au), Uniworld (uniworldcruises.com.au) and Viking (vikingcruises.com.au).
Another option is an ocean cruise that visits cities such as Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Oslo and Bruges for the Christmas markets. UK lines Fred.Olsen, P&O Cruises (pocruises.com) and Saga (travel.saga.co.uk) all operate itineraries in November and December. Fred.Olsen has cruises from Southampton, London and Liverpool that visit festive markets in Dublin and Cork, as well as Europe – see fredolsencruises.com.
MEET THE CREW
NAME Ashok Krishnan, from Chennai, India
POSITION Accommodation Services Manager, P&O Cruises' Pacific Aria
MY JOB I'm in charge of housekeeping on the ship – from passengers' staterooms to public and crew areas, laundry operations and general maintenance. There are 84 of us in the team.
A TYPICAL DAY… starts with a meeting of team leaders at 7.30am. We discuss concerns from the previous night and plan the day's briefs. I walk around the ship checking every area – the laundry alone is a massive operation, processing up to 10 tons of linen daily. There's always admin and I work closely with the hotel director. During my lunch break I listen to music and Skype my wife and family in the Philippines and then I'm on duty until about 9pm.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT When Celebrity Apprentice was filmed on board Pacific Jewel – I judged the presentation of suites!
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORT I love Sydney, even though it's one of the busiest turnovers for our team. The sailaway is spectacular – I have several thousand photos of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
INSIDER TIP Book a balcony cabin – it's worth paying a little more to have your own outside space.
TIP
Long flights can be a nightmare for those who suffer from back problems – and millions of us do. Thermarest's inflatable pillows have been designed to help prevent back discomfort when you're travelling. See gogogear.com.au.
NEWS
Antarctic Festival
A behind-the-scenes tour of the famous Australian Antarctic Division ice-breaker Aurora Australis is among a host of exclusive experiences offered on a new four-day Chimu Adventures package to Hobart during the city's first Antarctic Festival from September 9-12, 2016. As part of the tour, hosted by Chimu founders Greg Carter and Chad Carey, guests will attend the festival's key event – the $300-a-head Mawson's Huts Foundation Dinner in the Hotel Grand Chancellor. "Hobart has long-term historic links to the Antarctic and this trip will be a great inspiration for people who'd like to learn more about what an expedition to the Southern Ocean involves," said Greg. Among other highlights, guests will be able to tour the French polar vessel L'Astrolabe. See chimuadventures.com/tour/hobart-antarctic-festival.
Five-star foodie cruise extravaganza
Australia's newest top-drawer travel company, Latitude 33, has announced a gastronomic tour hosted by world-renowned chef and owner of Sydney's The Bathers' Pavilion, Serge Dansereau. The 26-night fly/cruise/stay package combines a 12-night cruise on Silversea's new flagship, Silver Muse, from Venice to Monte Carlo with a 12-night gourmet adventure from Monte Carlo to Paris. Highlights include dining at Paul Bocuse's three Michelin-starred restaurant L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, near Lyon; visits to classic Champagne houses such as Château d'Estoublon, Louis Roederer and Hotel Möet; and cooking classes and market tours conducted by Serge Dansereau. The all-inclusive tour departs on August 5, 2017, and is limited to 24 guests; it's also possible to take the tour without the cruise. See latitude33.travel.
Caribbean island-hopping
Windstar Cruises recently announced it is expanding its Caribbean sailings, with its boutique ships offering more departures and visiting new ports in Puerto Rico and the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao). Windstar's fleet comprises three motor-sailing vessels – the five-masted, 310-passenger Wind Surf and four-masted, 148-passenger Wind Star and Wind Spirit – and three virtually identical 212-passenger ships that used to belong to Seabourn – Star Pride, Star Legend and Star Breeze. The company has spent millions of dollars in the past few years updating and refitting the ships and all itineraries now include a complimentary "private event" – in the Caribbean, think live music, beach barbecues and exotic cocktails. Windstar is one of a few lines that offer small-ship experiences without the uber-luxury price tag – see windstarcruises.com.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
ECRUISING.TRAVEL is offering great value fly/stay/cruise packages for the inaugural season of Genting Dream, Asia's first premium cruise ship. High-end features include a "ship within a ship" precinct comprising 142 suites, private pool deck and restaurant. Choose from packages ranging from 10 to 18 nights, visiting Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and China; on-board bonuses available for balcony cabins and suites. Phone 1300 106 466, see ecruising.travel.
MORE DEALS
CRUISECO: Experience a classic transatlantic crossing on board the luxuriously refurbished Queen Mary 2 with Cruiseco's new fly/cruise/stay package. The Cunard queen departs New York on September 22, 2017, for a 21-day cruise to Southampton via Canada. Including return flights and accommodation in New York and London, fares start from $9239. Phone 02 9492 8520, see cruising.com.au.
VIKING RIVER CRUISES: Passage to Eastern Europe cruise from Bucharest to Budapest, departing November 8, 2017, visits five countries in 11 days. If you book by August 31, 2016, return airfares cost $499; fares for a Standard Stateroom start from $5549. Phone 1800 131 744, see vikingrivercruises.com.au.
