Trafalgar has announced that its Christmas market river cruise itineraries are now available for booking for 2026 and 2027, sailing the Rhine and Danube rivers.

“Trafalgar’s Christmas market river cruises invite travelers to rediscover what the holiday season is truly about: celebrating time with loved ones and creating new, unforgettable memories,” said Damien O’Connor, vice president of River Cruise at Trafalgar.

“For travel advisors, these holiday river cruises offer a unique, immersive holiday experience that combines the festive magic of Europe’s Christmas markets with Trafalgar’s signature hospitality and meaningful connections,” added O’Connor.

The company said that the eight-day Rhine Christmas Markets and the eight-day Danube Christmas Markets sailings will both make their inaugural holiday voyages on November 25, 2026.

Each trip will be guided by Trafalgar’s Experience Directors and Local Specialists:

“Eight-day Rhine Christmas Markets”

Sailing onboard the 128-passenger Trafalgar Verity, travelers will cruise on a festive journey along the Rhine from Basel to Düsseldorf with Christmas market stops in historic cities, including Basel, Strasbourg, Cologne and beyond.

In Rüdesheim, guests are invited to enjoy a signature ‘Be My Guest’ experience, savoring local wine and artisanal food at the Breuer family’s traditional weingasthaus.

Following the inaugural holiday sailing, the Trafalgar Verity will sail the Rhine from Basel to Düsseldorf on:

• December 9, 2026, December 1, 2027, and December 15, 2027, and
• From Düsseldorf to Basel on December 2, 2026, December 16, 2026, November 24, 2027, and December 8, 2027.

 

Rates start at $3,299 per person, based on double occupancy.

“Eight-day Danube Christmas Markets”

The voyage transports travelers along the Danube from Budapest to Passau aboard the 128-passenger Trafalgar Reverie, with Christmas market stops in Budapest, Vienna, Passau and more.

Guests will unravel Bratislava’s Cold War history with first-hand accounts from a Local Specialist as a signature MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience.

This is in addition to savoring innovative craft brews as they learn about the process with head brewers Tomáš and Mário at DOCK7, one of Bratislava’s most coveted microbreweries, as a ‘Be My Guest’ experience.

The Danube Christmas Markets sailing will travel from Budapest to:

• Passau on December 9, 2026, and December 1, 2027, and December 15, 2027, and
• from Passau to Budapest on December 2, 2026, December 16, 2026, November 24, 2027, and December 8, 2027.

 

Rates start at $2,999 per person, based on double occupancy.