I went on a Christmas market cruise – but not on...

A Christmas market cruise on the Med requires a DIY strategy

The very first thing to notice is that, in contrast to my Viking river cruise, the place shore excursions to festive markets had been included as free excursions within the cruise fare, Windstar’s shoreside program would not characteristic Christmas markets. This implies our Christmas market cruise on the Mediterranean was a do-it-yourself enterprise.

Thankfully, not one of the markets had been too tough to achieve on foot or by public transport (with the assistance of Google Maps). In Rome, our precruise lodge was a simple 10-minute stroll from the Christmas market on Piazza Navona. In Livorno, a free shuttle bus from the ship to the city heart dropped us a five-minute stroll away from the market.

In Genoa and Good, the markets had been lower than a half-hour on foot from the place we docked; it was simple to observe the flat curve of the waterfront towards the vacation lights. Each walks additionally allowed us to take in a few of the most important sights in every metropolis, corresponding to Good’s pastel-pretty previous city, Vieux Good.

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Our ship stayed in a single day in Good, so we had been additionally capable of tick off Monaco’s Christmas market. The bus from the port of Good to Monaco is without doubt one of the Mediterranean’s most scenic public transport routes and a vacationer attraction in its personal proper, so we fortunately paid the 1.70 euro ($1.76) fare every for the 45-minute trip. Most conveniently of all, Barcelona’s market was arrange simply outdoors the cruise terminal the place Star Legend docked.

Mediterranean Christmas markets have a unique vibe

The three Italian cities we visited first — and notably Rome — had a particular vacation buzz. They had been fantastically dressed for the season; the streets glittered with festive lights, and elaborate decorations adorned store fronts.

In comparison with the fairytale medieval market squares full of picket chalets within the cities alongside the Danube, I discovered the Italian Christmas markets lacked the coziness and environment of their river counterparts. They’d fewer stalls, fewer folks and a much less charming setting basically.

The markets in Livorno and Genoa had been so small that we visited all of the stalls in beneath quarter-hour. We could not discover an inviting spot to linger with a glass of mulled wine or — and this shocked me — stalls with contemporary meals.

Within the river cities, notably Passau in Germany and Bratislava in Slovakia, freshly cooked meals was an enormous a part of the Christmas market expertise. In every single place, folks had been having fun with native dishes corresponding to bratwurst sausages, loksa (potato truffles with fillings) and cinnamon-dusted chimney truffles.

Surprisingly, the Italian markets centered much less on seasonal eats. Other than roasted chestnuts, I discovered little in the way in which of savory fare. They do promote conventional sweets — corresponding to ciambelle (big donuts) in Rome and chocolate fudge in Genoa — but it surely was removed from the array of Christmas market meals I discovered on my river cruise.

Additional into the crusing, the Christmas markets we visited in Monaco and Good had been extra just like these I visited on the Danube — with the added benefit of heat winter sunshine. Distributors served Champagne and oysters alongside aromatic vats of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts on open fires. In addition to the heavy plates of tartiflette and bratwurst sausages, stalls bought native meals specialties corresponding to socca (a chickpea pancake) in Good and barbajuan (a fried ravioli) in Monaco.

To not be outdone, Barcelona’s big seasonal Port Vell honest was additionally nice enjoyable, with loud music, flowing sangria, huge forged iron pans of simmering paella and candy churros dipped in Nutella for dessert.

My youngsters’s enjoyment of driving the enormous Ferris wheel in Monaco made me notice one thing else: Christmas markets in river cities are centered on meals and presents, with the occasional ice-skating rink, whereas the higher markets we visited within the Mediterranean supplied extra number of actions. After all, they promote seasonal specialties to savor and souvenirs to take residence, however the markets additionally included fairground rides and video games, which my children cherished.

You will discover loads of conventional crafts to convey residence

I got here residence from my Viking river cruise laden with presents to position beneath the Christmas tree. I purchased hand-carved cookie stamps from Budapest, a horseshoe cast from metal in Bratislava Fort’s medieval market and handmade ceramic mugs from Passau for my daughters.

Equally, I picked up some pleasant souvenirs from the Christmas markets we visited on the Mediterranean, corresponding to a doll of La Befana in Rome. The figurine of an previous woman with a sharp nostril wearing rags and clutching a brush manufactured from dried twigs is a basic Italian Christmas character: She is claimed to convey presents to good youngsters on Jan. 5, Epiphany Eve (or, as lore has it, a lump of coal to those that are unhealthy). Her brush can also be believed to brush away any lingering issues of the earlier yr.

I discovered one other pleasant festive custom on the Cote d’Azur, too. Santons — or miniature clay collectible figurines of shepherds and lavender growers that individuals use to create Provencal nativity scenes of their properties — are on sale in each Good and Monaco. In Barcelona, we found the Tio de Nadal, a small ornamental picket log with a smiling face that’s mentioned to poop out Christmas presents.

Ocean vessels supply extra onboard points of interest than river ships

Christmas market river cruises construct market visits into the itinerary, which provides an ease to your go to {that a} do-it-yourself Christmas market cruise on the ocean would not have. That is additionally why Christmas market river cruises are so standard — they usually guide out years prematurely.

Winter Mediterranean cruises are thought of offseason journeys and never as standard as itineraries in hotter months. Which means ships sail much less full or have last-minute availability for spur-of-the-moment vacationers. On Star Legend, the ship was nowhere close to full capability; we sailed with simply 193 passengers on a ship that would carry 312.

Although it is a smaller yacht-style vessel, Star Legend can also be a lot larger than a Viking river ship. It might carry 312 passengers and has six visitor decks, in comparison with Viking’s 190 passengers and 4 decks. Our cabins had been bigger than these on the Viking river ship, with a separate lounge space. Our household of 4 booked two cabins, and we actually appreciated the area because it meant we weren’t all the time on prime of one another.

Windstar has a pleasant manner of arranging adjoining cabins. As a substitute of a door in the course of the room that you would be able to open or shut, the ship places a small vestibule between the hallway and the doorways for every cabin. We might depart each cabin doorways open and shut the primary door onto the hall to create our personal personal area.

The ship supplied extra public areas and facilities on board than the river ship, together with a spa and health heart, swimming pool and theater. Because it was heated, we used the swimming pool day by day. We spent most evenings within the lounge bar, Compass Rose, as all of us cherished the nightly reside music. Nevertheless, we made certain to not miss the carols within the theater on Christmas Eve nor the crew present two nights earlier than we disembarked.

The additional dimension of Star Legend was most noticeable within the meals and beverage choices, with six restaurant and bar areas. In distinction, our Viking riverboats supplied solely a small informal buffet space, a lounge and one restaurant. We needed to be seated at 7 p.m. each night round huge tables with different visitors. On the ocean, we might eat after we needed and with whom. I a lot most popular having this selection.

The Mediterranean is a delight to cruise — even in winter

The normal Christmas market river cruising season begins when the markets open in mid-November and finishes earlier than Christmas.The Christmas markets alongside the Danube shut on varied dates, normally after Christmas day however earlier than the tip of December on the newest.

The markets in Mediterranean cities begin later, in early December, but additionally stay open till Epiphany (Jan. 6). Verify the markets are open throughout your potential sail dates earlier than finalizing your reserving.

For those who want cooler temperatures, fewer crowds and cheaper fares, winter is a brilliant time to cruise the Mediterranean. The identical seven-night Europe’s Winter Riviera itinerary as ours in December 2025 is at present priced at $3,892 with Windstar’s all-inclusive add-on package deal, primarily based on double occupancy. Compared, an identical summertime itinerary on Windstar’s Wind Surf crusing yacht in July begins at $5,692 primarily based on double occupancy and with the all-inclusive add-on package deal.

Nevertheless, you must strategy a winter cruise within the Mediterranean understanding that you haven’t any management over what climate you are going to encounter.

The night time earlier than we boarded in Rome, the climate was so unhealthy on the Italian coast that the ship could not depart Livorno. The Captain instructed us that simply as he was about to place out the decision for buses to shuttle everybody up from Rome within the morning, the winds dropped, and the ship was capable of get underway just a few hours later than deliberate.

Thankfully, we loved seven days of uninterrupted blue skies — the form of good winter situations you’ll order in case you might. The heated Jacuzzi and plunge pool on the highest deck grew to become a part of our morning routine, as did lunch beneath the nice and cozy noon solar on the highest deck at Star Grill. The temperature even tiptoed into the 60s as we sailed out of Good into a day of wonderful Cote d’Azur cruising as we headed towards Barcelona.

The climate was good for shore excursions, corresponding to a wonderful 3.7-mile hike of the hilltop fortifications that when protected Genoa from invasion. As a result of we traveled over the vacation week, we discovered crowds having fun with walks and meals within the solar with household and buddies wherever we went. Barcelona was so busy after we arrived that the quantity of pedestrian site visitors alongside Las Ramblas was a preferred subject of debate with fellow passengers at cocktail hour again on the ship.

The hotter climate means you may must take a unique strategy to packing than you’ll in case you had been on the river. We did not want lengthy underwear, gloves or heat hats. Layering is vital throughout winter within the Mediterranean. You may be in a T-shirt and denims for lunch within the solar, however the minute you step into the shade, you may need to placed on a sweater and heat coat.

The costume code on Star Legend was similar to my river cruise with Viking: relaxed throughout the day and good informal at night time.

Only some cruise traces supply winter Mediterranean sailings

If you need some Christmas market cheer on a winter cruise within the Mediterranean, you may need to contemplate two different cruise traces along with Windstar.

Viking’s fleet of ocean vessels carries fewer than 1,000 folks, and kids beneath 18 should not allowed to sail. The road’s seven-night Iconic Western Mediterranean cruise between Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona calls at Marseille, Villefranche-sur-Mer (for Good and Monaco) and Livorno (gateway to Florence and Tuscany).

MSC Cruises is a good selection for households fascinated about winter sailings to ports with Christmas markets at affordable costs. The big MSC World Europa sails a loop across the Mediterranean year-round, calling at Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, Valetta, Barcelona and Marseille. Different MSC vessels — together with MSC Splendida, MSC Orchestra and MSC Magnifica — additionally cruise the Western Mediterranean in winter.

Backside line

Whereas they are not fairly the storybook markets in twinkling, snow-dusted cities that you simply image if you consider the Rhine and Danube’s Christmas markets, the markets within the Mediterranean are a delight. They’ve the entire festive elements to get you into the vacation temper — particularly given the area’s tendency for wonderful winter solar.

After all, it could be a lot simpler to go to the Mediterranean markets on a shore tour, however in case you’re somebody who’s not afraid of organizing your individual actions, you may discover attending to them a breeze. For those who’ve already loved a Christmas market river cruise and are searching for a unique expertise in Europe over the vacations, an ocean cruise to Christmas markets on the Med presents an identical festive temper and a brand new array of equally pleasant seasonal traditions to uncover.

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