The colourful Christmas markets of Germany and France, with their twinkling lights, handmade crafts, wooden toys and traditional treats like mulled wine, chestnuts and gingerbread feature in two festive-flavoured cruises this December, now available through Australian boutique cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller .
The week-long, pre-Christmas journeys are aboard the classic British liner, Balmoral, operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, represented exclusively in Australia by Cruise Traveller. Increasingly popular with Australians, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offers traditional seafaring heritage and the timeless pleasures of sea travel aboard spacious ships brimming with charm and character and small enough to access smaller ports.
The two yuletide market cruises, each six nights long, depart Southampton, England, on December 10 and 16, 2026.
On the first cruise on December 10, 2026, the elegant, 1350-guest Balmoral will stay overnight in both Rouen in France and Antwerp in Belgium, allowing guests to soak in the festive ambience by day and night. To reach the pretty, medieval village of Rouen, with its colourful timber-framed houses, Balmoral will sail along the beautiful Seine River – only possible on smaller ships like Balmoral. And in enchanting Antwerp, guests can explore the Christmas markets offering local treats including apple brandy and Belgian waffles.
On the second cruise on December 16, 2026, Balmoral will this time head to Hamburg, Germany for an overnight stay. Home to one of Europe’s most renowned Christmas Markets, Hamburg’s town square comes alive at this time of year with charming wooden huts twinkling with lights, offering everything from handmade crafts and ornaments to wooden toys. Warm up with a steaming mug of glühwein and sample traditional specialities like lebkuchen, bratwurst and roasted chestnuts.
The cruise also includes the picturesque harbour town of Honfleur, with its cobbled streets and quaint houses.
The six-night cruise on December 10, 2026, and the six-night cruise on December 16, 2026, are both available from £999 per person (approx. A$1908 pp).
Fares include onboard gratuities and selected drinks with lunch and dinner.
