The 13 Best Christmas Cruises for 2025: Sail Into the Season in Style
TL;DR – The Sparkle in a Snow Globe
Swap stress for sparkle this Christmas with luxury cruises that take you from snowy villages to sun-drenched beaches.
From Antarctica to Austria, every voyage delivers cultural flair, gourmet dining, and one-of-a-kind holiday experiences.
And yes — our Emerald River Cruises Christmas Markets voyage on the Danube (Dec 15–22, 2025) is every bit as magical as it sounds.
The Joy of a Christmas at Sea
Some people decorate trees. Others decorate itineraries. For those ready to ditch the chores and make Christmas an adventure, cruising offers the perfect solution. Imagine waking up on Christmas morning not to wrapping paper chaos, but to cathedral bells echoing across Vienna or the scent of roasted chestnuts drifting through the air.
Whether it’s sipping mulled wine in Strasbourg or snorkelling in St Lucia, the holiday season at sea brings together the best of both worlds: world-class service and world-class scenery. The beauty of it all? No planning, no cooking, no cleanup — just pure joy and exploration.
Best for Festive Market Magic
Danube Christmas Markets Cruise – Emerald River Cruises
Duration: 7 nights / 8 days
Dates: December 15–22, 2025
View full itinerary
If the idea of Christmas lights reflecting off the Danube makes your heart skip a beat, this is your trip. Over seven nights, Emerald River Cruises takes you through Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and a string of charming market towns that smell of cinnamon, cloves, and history.
Each city glows differently: Vienna sparkles with imperial grandeur, Budapest hums with riverfront charm, and Bratislava brings small-town intimacy. The highlight? Wandering through the candlelit markets with a mug of glühwein in hand while a choir sings in the background. It’s the kind of old-world enchantment that turns even the most cynical traveler into a believer.
Best for a White Christmas Done Right
Southern Rhine Christmas – A-Rosa Clea
The Rhine transforms into a snow-globe come December, with fairytale towns like Rüdesheim and Koblenz draped in garlands and frost. Strasbourg’s half-timbered houses make a picture-perfect backdrop for the season’s oldest Christmas market in Europe.
Onboard, the A-Rosa Clea keeps it cozy and convivial. Expect German-inspired holiday feasts, carols in the lounge, and riverside views that make you forget what “cold” even means. It’s the perfect blend of warmth, winter, and wanderlust.
Best for Summer Sunshine & Sand Angels
Australia & New Zealand – Norwegian Spirit
Dreaming of a barbecue instead of a snowstorm? Christmas Down Under flips the script. From Sydney’s dazzling harbour to New Zealand’s mist-covered fjords, this 14-night voyage brings endless sunshine, adventure, and a totally different kind of holiday cheer.
Spend Christmas Day in Melbourne, where tree-lined boulevards twinkle and locals toast with rosé instead of cocoa. Between port calls, enjoy world-class dining, live music, and the kind of laid-back Aussie energy that makes every day feel like a party.
Best for Ancient Wonders Without the Crowds
Ancient Mediterranean Treasures – Viking Neptune
If you’re more into marble columns than mistletoe, the Eastern Mediterranean delivers history with a festive twist. Visiting Ephesus, Rhodes, and Athens in December means cooler weather, fewer crowds, and a front-row seat to civilizations past.
Viking Neptune is designed for the “thinking traveler,” where cultural enrichment comes standard — from onboard historians to a Scandinavian spa complete with a snow grotto. Christmas Day among ancient ruins? Now that’s a memory.
Best for Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure
Antarctica & South Georgia Expedition – HX Fram
For travelers who think “white Christmas” should mean icebergs and penguins, this 22-night expedition is the ultimate bucket-list experience. South Georgia’s colonies of king penguins look straight out of a David Attenborough special, while Antarctica itself redefines awe.
Days are long, wildlife is everywhere, and the silence of snow-covered wilderness feels sacred. The Fram keeps things intimate and surprisingly luxurious — think gourmet meals, expert talks, and a toast to Shackleton’s spirit on Christmas Day.
Best for Caribbean Winter Sun
Windward Islands – Royal Clipper
Trade your scarf for a swimsuit on this tall-ship adventure through the Caribbean. Powered by wind and elegance, the Royal Clipper anchors in small bays and secret coves, far from the megaship crowds.
Wake up to turquoise seas, hop ashore to hike rainforest trails, then return for a rum punch under the sails. On Christmas Day, it’s all white sand and steel drums — the kind of holiday where flip-flops are formalwear.
Best for Cultural Immersion
Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam – Seabourn Encore
Forget the tinsel — think temples, street food, and warm seas. Seabourn’s ultra-luxury Encore glides from Bangkok to Hong Kong, serving champagne and caviar on the beach at Thailand’s Ko Kood Island for Christmas Day.
Between port calls, explore floating markets, ancient ruins, and lantern-lit towns. It’s a voyage that swaps excess for elegance, giving travelers a way to celebrate the season through culture, cuisine, and connection.
Best for History Buffs
Christmas on the Moldau & Elbe – Elbe Princesse
Set sail from Prague through the storybook heart of Central Europe. Along the way: Dresden’s Baroque revival, Wittenberg’s Reformation roots, and Berlin’s festive buzz. This cruise proves that Christmas history isn’t confined to Dickensian London — it’s alive and thriving along the Elbe.
Aboard the Elbe Princesse, it’s all cozy fires, fine French wines, and holiday storytelling. Outside, frost kisses the riverbanks; inside, mulled wine keeps you toasty.
Best for Stargazers and Polar Light Seekers
Norwegian Fjords Winter Voyage
Northern Norway’s skies erupt in green fire each December. A winter-cruise through Tromsø and Alta gives you front-row seats to the aurora borealis, paired with dog-sledding, reindeer farms, and crisp Arctic air.
Luxury liners now offer glass-roofed lounges for northern-light viewing — a hot toddy in hand, blanket over your lap, the universe dancing above. It’s festive magic, no filters required.
Best for Food Lovers
Christmas in Provence & Burgundy – Uniworld S.S. Catherine
French Christmas markets? Divine. Add Provençal wines, Lyon’s gastronomy, and riverside dining curated by Michelin-level chefs, and you’ve got a feast for all senses.
Uniworld’s elegant S.S. Catherine feels like a floating chateau — velvet lounges, gilded mirrors, and seasonal menus that would make even Père Noël jealous.
Best for Romance on the Water
Danube Delights – Scenic Amber
Imagine a misty Christmas morning in Vienna, snowflakes falling outside as a string quartet plays softly in the lounge. Couples stroll hand in hand through storybook towns like Dürnstein and Melk, then return to candlelit dinners and cozy staterooms.
If there’s a time and place to fall in love with both your partner and the world, it’s here.
Best for Bucket-List Cruisers
Galápagos Christmas Adventure – HX M.S. Santa Cruz II
This one’s for the true explorers. Cruise among giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and volcanic landscapes. The ship’s daily Zodiac excursions mean you’ll see more in a week than most people in a lifetime.
Add a champagne toast on Christmas morning surrounded by rare wildlife, and you’ve got bragging rights that last well into the new year.
Best for Travelers Who Want It All
World Rivers Holiday Collection
Some luxury lines now offer extended “Rivers of the World” holiday voyages — multi-week adventures spanning several continents. Think: the Nile, the Rhine, the Mekong, and the Amazon, all in one epic itinerary.
For those who see the world as their playground, this kind of journey redefines what a “holiday” can be.
Your Holiday, Upgraded
There’s no wrong way to do Christmas — but there is a better one. Whether you’re sipping champagne under the Southern Cross or gliding past candlelit cathedrals on the Danube, a festive cruise swaps chaos for calm and transforms December into an adventure.
For travelers who crave comfort, culture, and connection, these voyages deliver it all — no wrapping required.
Ready to unwrap your next holiday escape?
Book with us and make this season one for the storybooks.
