Christmas Markets, really?

Just got back from a Rhine River cruise on Viking. Ship was spotless, service excellent and food was some of the best we have ever had. What’s wrong? It was advertised (and priced) as a Christmas Market cruise. BUT, we were given very little time to actually see the markets.

Started in Amsterdam, no markets. Went to Cologne, markets were closed for a “silent” holiday. When we actually got to a market on day 3 it was in a small town. Cute and pleasing, but quite small.

Even when we got to a town with a market, our ship was as often far away from the markets and there was limited transportation into town. What ever happened to the “walk off the ship into town”? The time allowed for exploring towns (and shopping) was very limited. In the lovely town of Colmar we were given only one hour to walk around after our paid excursion was over.

Many other passengers also complained about the lack of access to markets. This was the primary selling point of these cruises. Why else would someone want to cruise when it is cold and wet?

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To be honest... you were way to early!

Traditionally the Christmas Markets did not open until Friday prior to the First of Advent (which was this Friday, Dec 1st for this year). So the historic market in Nuremberg did not open until Friday.

My favorite market here in Munich didn´t open until Friday. But there were others which opened early - the first one on Nov 23rd. Why, because this year the Forth of Advent is on Christmas Eve and therefore it´s only 3 weeks (of business) if you open Dec 1st. At least two of those which opened early were closed on Nov 26th. That last Sunday before the First of Advent is a Lutheran holiday remembering the dead.

The main market here in Munich therefore opened on Monday Nov 27th.

Yes, over the last few years there´s a trend to open early to make more money... and some markets even don´t end on Christmas Eve but on New Years Eve or Day.

So if you want to book a Christmas Market cruise make sure you book during the Advent season!

steamboats

ccookdo,

Thank you for your comments. Sadly, as steamboats has pointed out, you were too early for the real Christmas market season. Something Viking should perhaps have had a look at as this year is a little exceptional in its time frame. Some people have comment on the lack of time at the markets in the last two years ( I mean posted here on cruisecritic in the last two years) and it is something of a caveat for future cruisers, for sure. If you feel you have been mislead by Viking by advertising this as a Christmas market trip do put it to them through their customer service. But it is always good to do one's own research before one leaves in addition to what the cruise company offers. I hope you are not put off river cruising for the future and enjoyed the scenery. The overall experience on the ship has been very good, as you have written.

As regards walking into town from the ship, that has only been possible at most ports rather than all for many years, and some towns have got so full that it is just not possible to accommodate them all close to the town centre, especially the 135m boats. Again, we have had quite a few posts of disappointed cruisers in the last two years about this. The situation will not improve any time soon.

The Danube in December has some great markets, too, you might like to look into this, perhaps with another river cruise company, as well.

Enjoy this magical time of year. :)

notamermaid

In Düsseldorf, the markets opened on November 23rd, but it looks like the Cologne ones didn't open until November 27th.

I never could understand why the Christmas Markets don't open by "Black Friday." ;)

If the first Sunday in Advent is the Sunday after US Thanksgiving, they do.

All the markets were open, we just were not give sufficient time to enjoy them.

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Nuremberg definitely didn´t open until Friday, Dec 1st. I saw the opening ceremony on TV.

I know that the markets on the Rhine river do open earlier than the traditional date. Did that last year.

steamboats

If spending time in Markets (or doing XYZ on your cruise) is a priority, then it's really up to you as a consumer to carefully read the itinerary for timing, and if you want to skip the included/paid excursion to go to the Christmas Market, that's your prerogative ;-) As for walking into town from the boat dock, no, absolutely not always possible (and that's one thing that can't even be known in advance because docking locations can & do change at the last minute.....) I'm sorry you didn't get what you expected from your cruise, but you have a better idea what to look for next time if/when you plan again.....

When we went on Christmas Market cruises we usually begin early ( spent 3 days in Munich and trained to Passau to start cruise) and ( Budapest 3 days before the Danube going up to Nuremburg) then another time spent time in Vienna before starting in Nuremburg. Since we enjoy spending lots of time at the markets we like going early on our own and then take the train to where the cruise starts.

We did the Rhine Christmas Market route on Viking 2 years ago this week. It seemed like we had lots of time at the markets in Cologne, Koblenz, Basel, Rudesheim. I also enjoyed a peaceful hour or 2 on a Sunday at a tiny local Christmas market in Briesach. Our main complaint was we felt like we didn’t have enough time on the ship. (Different strokes for different folks). Because after the included tour we seemed to spend all our time at the markets!! Poor self control I guess 😏. We were worn out by the end of the week. Haha.

We have since learned on river cruises to pick and choose what we want to do. If the markets are your first priority skip a tour or 2, we found docking sites walkable or at least an easy hop on public transport. The ship staff were always happy to give us great directions on using public transportation.