TUI River Cruises has unveiled a captivating series of winter season voyages on the iconic Danube and Rhine rivers. Starting in November 2025, guests can immerse themselves in the festive spirit with visits to traditional Christmas markets in several European cities. The cruises, ranging from four to seven nights, will be offered on three river ships: TUI Maya, TUI Isla, and TUI Skyla.

A total of 15 cruises are featured onboard these ships, each with a capacity for 155 guests. The seasonal voyages, operating through the 2026 New Year holiday, opened for sale on July 18, 2024.

Europe’s Christmas markets are renowned for their festive atmosphere, featuring local vendors selling unique, handcrafted goods at outdoor stalls. Held in cities and small villages, these markets exude an old-world ambiance, complete with carol singing and cobblestone streets, adding to their charm.

Sample cruises on TUI Maya include the five-night “Yuletide Delights,” calling at Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; and Bratislava, Slovakia. The “Festive Danube Delights” cruise is also five nights and calls in Austria and Slovakia, while the four-night “Austrian Christmas Flavours” visits the Austrian ports of Vienna, Dürnstein, Melk, and Linz.

TUI Isla will operate other four-night sailings offering the festive holiday spirit, including the “Christmas Carols and Castles” cruise. This itinerary features visits to the German cities of Düsseldorf, Cologne, Rüdesheim, and Koblenz. TUI Skyla will sail four-night holiday cruises, such as “Glühwein on the Rhine,” an itinerary that calls at Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Koblenz.

“We’re excited to be launching new winter sailings down the Danube for our winter 2025 program. We’re giving customers the chance to explore even more cities during the festive period for the very first time,” said Katy Berzins, head of river cruises at TUI River Cruises.

Seven-night cruises are offered on both the Danube and the Rhine. TUI Maya will sail “Danube Christmas Treasures,” calling at ports in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, while “A Danube New Year” visits Vienna and Dürnstein, Austria; Budapest and Esztergom, Hungary; and Bratislava.

Sailing the Rhine, TUI Isla will feature the seven-night itinerary “North Rhine Noel,” which will visit Christmas market cities in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Another seven-night sailing, onboard TUI Skyla, is “Festive Fairy Tale,” visiting the German market towns of Cologne, Rüdesheim, Speyer, Kehl (for Strasbourg), Mainz, and Koblenz.

River cruises focusing on the New Year holiday include TUI Isla’s “A New Year Sail Away,” which will include a festive fireworks display in Koblenz, Germany, and TUI Skyla’s “A New Year on the Rhine,” which begins in Cologne and visits other ports in Germany plus the Netherlands.

This winter, embark on a magical journey with TUI River Cruises, and experience the charm of Europe’s Christmas markets and the festive spirit of the holiday season.