My friends are trying to talk me into a short Rhine River cruise from Cologne to Strasbourg at the beginning of Dec for the Christmas markets.
What would it be like on the Rhine in Dec?
I can see walking around the markets but on a boat?

Anyone, anyone?

A couple of years ago I did a 7 day cruise on the Main/Rhine actually over Christmas and loved it. Earlier in the month would probably be better because the markets shut early on the 24th and are closed on the 25th. I enjoyed the whole thing -- was cold but mostly dry (no guarantees of that of course). My puffer coat, knit cap, gloves, and warm socks and I was plenty comfortable on all the excursions, which were mostly walking tours, sometimes on a bus first

The open onboard decks have heaters and blankets so even sitting out in the cold on a moving boat it was comfortable. I'd do it again in a heart beat. (If the weather was gawd awful maybe it wouldn't have been so much fun but with all the hot drinks , sausages and 'stuff' -- and I had a great time.

Just out of curiosity who is the cruise with? I have never done a long Rhine cruise, just the sort of day things where you are exposed to the weather out on deck with everyone else (Koblenz to Mainz or similar), and that was in December. The weather on that day was quite tolerable and it was quite OK. I also later lived near the Rhine (Wiesbaden) and once visited Rüdesheim and surrounds (Eltville) with some houseguests of ours one Christmas. It was so cold I could barely stand still and had to duck indoors for hot chocolate. Of course if you are hoping to see anything of nature (such as the rose gardens in Eltville) there's no question of this but townscapes are quite OK. I would think if you were able to sit inside the boat and peer out through the windows enjoying a glass of something nice, that would be a good experience. But of course if you can do the cruise during Advent you will get all those lovely markets and they are made for keeping you warm (Glühwein, amaretto hot chocolate, hot sugared almonds, Kartoffelpuffer, sausages ...). Yes, it will be cold but if the weather is with you it could be very enjoyable.

Lavandula

Hi TPAYT,

I am considering doing a river cruise over Christmas 2022, so I can see the dream.

However, just a word of warning -- I live south of Munich, and a few months ago there was talk of canceling the markets again this year. In fact, based on that info, my nephew postponed his trip from Christmas 2021 to Feb 2022 hoping to see a winter wonderland. I haven't heard anything else since then, and the vaccine program is going well. But with the Corona variants... who can tell?

So do consider what the cruise might be like if there were no markets (in December, Germany has no flowers, no snow, and likely no sun). Be prepared for the worst.

Have fun as you plan!

s

My experience, boat ties up at 12 noon, sits there until 6am in morning, I rise at 8, eat breakfast in glassed in restaurant. I wash up and return to restaurant for coffee and fizz until 12 noon. Repeat.

Deck nah.

I read where some of the river cruises are not letting you off unless you stay in the bubble group. Check that out first.

Thanks for the comments. Taking it off the possibilities. With no real travel for a year and a half I’m
considering anything, haha!