Viking Christmas on the Rhine
7 nights
Viking's Christmas on the Rhine suits first-time cruisers who want flights, an excursion in each port and gratuities folded into one fare, sailing between Amsterdam and Basel over eight days. The trade-off for 2026 is availability, because Viking's UK site showed no bookable 2026 departures on 11 October 2026.
Photo Gerd Fahrenhorst · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Follow the ports in sailing order
| Port | Mooring | Christmas market |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Day 1 is embarkation in Amsterdam. Christmas Village Amsterdam on Museumplein opens on 3 December 2026. | Christmas Village Amsterdam |
| Cologne | Day 3 is a full day in Cologne with a visit to the city's Christmas markets. | Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market |
| Koblenz | Day 4 starts in Koblenz before the ship sails the Middle Rhine to Rudesheim. | Koblenz Christmas Market |
| Strasbourg | Day 6 is spent in Strasbourg. | Strasbourg Christkindelsmarik |
| Basel | Day 8 is disembarkation in Basel, so time at the market depends on your flight. | Basel Christmas Market on Munsterplatz |
Do the same route by train
Most of this route works by rail with a pass or point-to-point tickets: Deutsche Bahn's published fastest Strasbourg to Basel run takes 77 minutes. You trade the overnight sailing past Lorelei Rock for evenings in the market towns themselves.
- Strasbourg to Baselfastest 1 h 15 min, computed from the timetable
The route calls at Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mannheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach before it ends in Basel. Cologne gets a full day, which matters because the city runs several markets and the cathedral market closes on 23 December 2026. Koblenz, Rudesheim and the Middle Rhine gorge share a single day, so the castles go by from the sun deck.
Viking's UK booking page listed no bookable 2026 sailings for this itinerary on 11 October 2026, so the dates here wait for the 2027 programme, which is on sale.
Worth knowing
- Viking says itineraries and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure, so check the final port list in your documents when the river runs low.
Quick answers about Viking Christmas on the Rhine
Can you still book Viking's Christmas on the Rhine for December 2026?
Viking's UK booking page showed no bookable 2026 departures for Christmas on the Rhine on 11 October 2026. The 2027 programme is on sale on the same page.
What does Viking include on its Rhine Christmas market cruise?
Viking's UK fare for Christmas on the Rhine includes return flights from London and selected regional airports, all meals on board, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, one shore excursion in each port, Wi-Fi, port taxes and onboard gratuities.
Which Christmas markets does Viking's Christmas on the Rhine visit?
Viking's Christmas on the Rhine stops at the markets in Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach, with Amsterdam and Basel at either end of the eight-day trip.
Which towns does Viking Christmas on the Rhine stop at?
Viking Christmas on the Rhine sails the Rhine over 7 nights and calls at Amsterdam, Cologne, Koblenz, Strasbourg and Basel, in that order.