Thanksgiving week Christmas Market cruises

We have sailed the Danube and Rhine during Christmarket season (Thanksgiving week) before. This year it seems as though a lot of the Christmas markets are opening later. At least three cities (Prague, Reagansberg, Nuremberg) if not more will not have the markets open. What excursions will they replace the markets with? If this happened to you, what did you do in the smaller cities? Any ideas as to why several markets are shortening their seasons?

Thanks in advance.

It depends on the dates that the US Thanksgiving (hence when US Americans travel to Europe) and the European Sunday of the Dead (church holiday) fall on. Thanksgiving is one day earlier this year than last year. You need to see if that combines less favorably with Sunday of the Dead this year. Traditionally, festivities for Advent could only start on the Monday after Sunday of the Dead but in recent years trade and with it the Christmas markets have tried to cash in on the popularity and the markets have opened before that day. In Germany at least Sunday of the Dead is a church holiday on which trade including Christmas markets and some public events are strictly forbidden. It is a day of mourning. So some authorities might give permission for a few days of earlier Christmas market trading and close on Sunday of the Dead or start after that day. That could change from year to year.

As regards excursions and things to do I am sure a bit of Christmas shopping will be possible in the shops, trade is gearing towards Christmas in November whether Chrismas markets are open or not, and past cruisers will be happy to help you out with suggestions.

notamermaid