New Year's cruise / Christmas cruise after Christmas

[Musicgirlcruiser]

We're considering going on a Christmas cruise (either Basel - Amsterdam or Prague - Amsterdam). Due to schedule issues, we could only go after Christmas. I've just read that most Christmas markets would be closed by then. What would the towns be like? Would even regular shops and restaurants be closed? How about Christmas decors? Still there or taken down? Would we still see some festive atmosphere or would it be like ghost towns?

 

Has anyone celebrated New Year's Eve on board, specially AMA? Can you narrate what activities are done? Any special banquet, etc?

 

Thank you.

[Talisker92]

We did a Holiday river cruise from Budapest to Passau. The Xmas markets closed up Xmas Eve. We were in Linz for New Year's Eve, and it was fantastic!. In Germany and Austria they shoot off fireworks!

They even sell skyrockets in the markets. We stood on the top deck and watched about an hour and a half fireworks show.

[isbclarin]

We took the Uniworld Nuremberg to Budapest Christmas/New Years cruise this year and can highly recommend it. It was fabulous. It started in Nuremberg on Dec 23 and ended in Budpest on Jan 3. We were able to take in the Nuremberg Christmas market before embarking. The decorations were still up most everywhere along the way. We celebrated Christmas eve in Regensburg with an opportunity to attend Christmas Mass in one of the great cathedrals of Europe. We celebrated New Year's in Vienna with an included New Year's gala at one of the palaces. Chamber music was provided throughout the evening as well as short recitals by Vienna opera singers and dancers. We went to the optional New Year's concert at the Hofburg Palace; it wasn't the famous Vienna symphony concert but it was authentic enough. Also the Christmas market at the Schonbrunn palace was still open on New Year's day. Hopefully you would be able to shift your Christmas schedule by a day or so to take the cruise.

[caviargal]

We were aboard Avalon Panorama Prague to Vienna last year, arriving on Christmas Eve in Prague. The markets in Prague were still open and the city was beautiful. Most of the other markets were closed by the time we arrived.

 

A highlight was New Years Eve in Vienna where we were treated to a full 45 minutes of incredible fire works (taking place all over the city and visible in all their glory from our vantage point) that we watched from the top deck while sharing bottles of champagne with new found friends.

 

We love spending the week between Christmas and NY in Europe and this year we will be in Berlin and Dresden for the week.

 

This is generally the last sailing week for river boats, fyi.

[ingo_e]

This seasons last cruises end around January 5th. All christmas markets will close on dec. 24th around noon. However, if you cruise this late, keep in mind that you might get some problems on the river: Ice.

 

Happened two years ago, the RMD canal was frozen over (or at least the locks were blocked due to ice) around December 20th.

[caviargal]

This seasons last cruises end around January 5th. All christmas markets will close on dec. 24th around noon. However, if you cruise this late, keep in mind that you might get some problems on the river: Ice.

 

Happened two years ago, the RMD canal was frozen over (or at least the locks were blocked due to ice) around December 20th.

 

There are some markets open beyond Dec. 24th. Tollwood in Munich, the main market in Prague, a couple in Vienna and several in Berlin come immediately to mind.

[Musicgirlcruiser]

Thank you for all the replies! The ice thing could be a problem. Will consider everything here in our decision.