Feeling festive on the river with TUI River Cruises

Europe’s popular great-value river cruise line, TUI River Cruises, has three ships sailing between the continent’s favourite Christmas markets this winter.

Offering a selection of 10 itineraries for winter, visiting Germany and France, and a full-board plus mantra (even tips are included), 2023 looks like the year to spend Christmas in the land that inspired so many of our most festive Christmas traditions.

All three of TUI River Cruises’ Europe ships are designed for adults-only, creating a relaxed atmosphere onboard, perfect for a couple’s getaway in the middle of the busy festive season.

A TUI river cruise is the ideal gift for yourself and your loved ones – the gift of time together, of magical memories, a spot of Christmas shopping, and space to unwind at the end of the year.

Festive flavours with TUI Skyla

Departing across a selection of dates in November and December, this five-night round-trip from Mainz (just west of Frankfurt) reaches as far north as Dusseldorf, with further stops in Bonn (the former capital of West Germany), Cologne and Koblenz.

This old-meets-new itinerary takes you to fairy-tale squares with imposing cathedrals and cobbled streets, as well as more modern avant-garde architecture.

Everywhere along the route will be glistening with tinsel and fairy lights and ringing with Christmas cheer.

Christmastime on the Rhine with TUI Maya

The Christmastime on the Rhine itinerary, which includes a visit to Strasbourg, France, as well as four German cities, is available in both November and December. Depart from Mainz onboard TUI Maya on December 17, 2023 and bring Christmas forward for an extra week of festivities.

With a totally different selection of ports from TUI Skyla’s ‘Festive Flavours’ sailing, you could tie the two voyages together to create a two-week escape into the land of Christmas.

Speyer’s Christmas market is something to behold, with scenes that look like they’re lifted directly out of a Christmas film, and Strasbourg – a French city with both French and Bavarian influences – glistens in a warm glow, with the scent of mulled cider wafting through the street.

Mistletoe and Rhine with TUI Isla

Fly to Frankfurt and enjoy five nights onboard TUI Isla, departing December 17, 2023.

Enjoy the final countdown to Christmas surrounded by traditional festive markets in Cologne, Dusseldorf, Koblenz, and Rudesheim.

In Koblenz, take a selfie in front of their building-sized advent calendar – surely one of the largest advent calendars in the world – and tuck into traditional spiced Brenten biscuits with a steaming mug of gluhwein, German mulled wine.

Be onboard for Christmas

Enjoy Christmas on the Rhine, with TUI Skyla departing from Mainz and TUI Isla setting off from Frankfurt. Both Christmas cruises commence on December 22, 2023, with flights, full-board and tips included in the fare.

Sailing along Germany’s most famous river, both itineraries feature visits in Koblenz, Rudesheim, Dusseldorf, Bonn, Cologne, and Boppard (just in a slightly different order).

TUI Skyla will be enjoying Christmas Day in Bonn – the birthplace of Beethoven – while TUI Isla will be docked in Dusseldorf on the big day, and even though most attractions will be closed for the day, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the peace of Christmas Day like a local in these charming waterfront cities.

Sail into the New Year with TUI River Cruises

A New Year’s Eve sailing is one of the most memorable cruises of the year, and journeying along the Rhine is a dreamy itinerary for the fun of the new year.

Showcasing the best of the river’s many charming towns and cities, all three of TUI’s European ships set sail on their new year’s voyages on December 29, 2023 for a seven-night sailing.

Watch local fireworks from the river, and ring in the new year with onboard festivities and special meals and events. Plus, there are still enticing discounts available if you book fast.