River cruises at Christmas offer a truly magical experience. Christmas is the perfect time to get away from it all and relax amidst stunning scenery, whether that be snowy scenes along Europe's famous waterways or winter sun in the Far East.
Popular European destinations to enjoy a Christmas river cruise include:
Danube – Sail through Germany, Austria and into Hungary
Rhine – Cruise from Cologne to Basel, calling at traditional German towns and cities
Seine – Spend a romantic Christmas in Paris
Many Christmas river cruises in Europe sail along more than one river, giving you the chance to enjoy the wonderfully festive atmosphere of many countries including France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
Popular worldwide river cruise destinations at Christmas include:
Mekong – Explore Vietnam and Cambodia on a two-week cruise
Nile – Lose yourself in the wonders of ancient Egypt
Whether you want to immerse yourself in the festive culture of Europe with visits to Christmas markets and traditional Christmas fayre, or escape Christmas altogether with a faraway winter escape, you’ll find just the Christmas river cruise for you with River Voyages.
Choose from seven-night river cruises, to voyages lasting two weeks or more. If you’d like to get away for both Christmas and New Year, that’s possible too. And what better way to bring in the New Year than by viewing a midnight firework display from the top deck of your river boat.
With Christmas being a popular time for families and friends to travel, Christmas river cruises tend to get booked up quickly. As dates and itineraries are limited, it's best for you to book your sailing of choice as soon as possible to secure your place on-board - particularly if you're sailing with a group!
Christmas river cruises always sell out fast, so ensure you book soon to secure your stateroom for your 2025 or 2026 Christmas river cruise. If you're looking to book a river cruise for the festive season, call our Cruise Concierge team for expert advice and a chance to secure your place on-board your cruise of choice.
See Christmas Markets River Cruises See New Year River Cruises See Festive River Cruises
6 Nights
Sailing Date : 22 Dec 2025
Danube
6 Nights
Sailing Date : 22 Dec 2025
Danube
10 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Danube
Save up to 40% on 2025 sailings
THE MOST ALL-INCLUSIVE AMENITIES finely tailored to your tastes.
Inspired by their destinations, each ship in the fleet has a uniquely beautiful design
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Douro
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Rhine
10 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Dutch Waterways
Save up to 40% on 2025 sailings
THE MOST ALL-INCLUSIVE AMENITIES finely tailored to your tastes.
Inspired by their destinations, each ship in the fleet has a uniquely beautiful design
14 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Nile
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Nile
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Nile
14 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Nile
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 23 Dec 2025
Rhine
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Danube
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Rhine
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Rhine
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
12 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Mekong
11 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Nile
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
14 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Mekong
11 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Nile
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Amazon
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 24 Dec 2025
Danube
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 25 Dec 2025
Garonne
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 25 Dec 2025
Rhone, Saone
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 25 Dec 2025
Rhine
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
11 Nights
Sailing Date : 25 Dec 2025
Nile
7 Nights
Sailing Date : 25 Dec 2025
Dutch Waterways
Award-Winning Included Dining Experiences
Fly for FREE in 2025 & 2026 plus Save up to £1000 per couple
River cruises at Christmas offer a truly magical experience. Christmas is the perfect time to get away from it all and relax amidst stunning scenery, whether that be snowy scenes along Europe's famous waterways or winter sun in the Far East.
