8 Christmas Cruises in Germany Worth Travelling For

1.Rhine River Winter Cruise with Festive Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 676 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $28Our pick

Spend 90 minutes on a warm panorama boat cruising past Cologne Cathedral, Groß St. Martin, and the crane houses of Rheinau Harbour. Live festive music creates a cheerful, relaxed mood, while hot wine punch, hot chocolate, coffee, snacks, and other drinks are available to buy. Open-air upper-deck views are best for photos, but the indoor seating keeps you warm.

“Very pleasant gentle ride on the Rhine with a singer and table service for drinks. Lovely way to spend a morning away from the hustle and bustle of the markets.”

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2.From Rüdesheim: 2-hour Christmas Boat Tour on the Rhine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 44 reviews · from $22Best value

Board at Pier 12 in Rüdesheim for a two-hour Christmas cruise with heated seating, Rhine castles, seasonal tales, and a festive program. Saturday sailings feature Christmas stories and medieval traditions. Sunday sailings bring St. Nicholas, balloon art, songs, and stories. Food and drinks cost extra, and the boat returns to the pier.

“Very nice with the narrator. Service also very good.”

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3.Koblenz: Christmas Boat Tour with Mulled Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 35 reviews · from $23

You’ll spend one hour on a round-trip boat cruise from Koblenz, with Christmas music and one glass of mulled wine included. From the open-air deck, you’ll see Deutsches Eck, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the Moselle mouth, and Stolzenfels Castle. German and English assistance is available, and food and extra drinks can be bought onboard.

“We celebrated my mother's birthday with a large group of people. Everything was excellent, the atmosphere was pleasant, there were no crowds, and you could sit outside or go inside to warm up. We give it a 10 out of 10. Thank you to the organizers.”

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4.Hamburg: New Years Eve Harbour Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 26 reviews · from $78

Meet at Landungsbrücken Bridge 10 around 22:15 for a two-hour New Year’s Eve cruise through Hamburg Harbour. A German-speaking guide accompanies the ride, and you receive one glass of Prosecco. Expect illuminated city views, fireworks from shore, cheering crowds, ship horns, hot and cold drinks for purchase, and no fireworks allowed on board.

“There wasn't really anything to be had for the money. It was more of an up-and-down ride... What a pity.”

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5.From Bonn: Christmassy Advent Cruise on the Rhine

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 19 reviews · from $22

Spend 90 minutes on the festively decorated Petersberg ship, cruising from Bonn along the Rhine with views of the federal city and Siebengebirge. The German-speaking host keeps things simple, while the onboard galley offers snacks. It is a calm, family-friendly way to add a little Christmas atmosphere to a Bonn visit.

“A very nice tour, I can only recommend it. It's a really nice experience with children. The service was excellent. The ordered food arrived within minutes. The service was excellent. The view was amazing, and the ship was fantastic.”

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6.Christmas Lunch – festive river cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 3 hours · from $71

Spend Christmas Day or Boxing Day aboard a decorated Weiße Flotte ship, cruising from Dresden’s Old Town to Pillnitz Castle and back. You’ll receive a seasonal three-course meal, listen to atmospheric German music, and see Dresden from the Elbe. The experience lasts three hours and is hosted in German.

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7.Winter Spree Cruise with Mulled Wine and Christmas Stollen

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 15 reviews · 1h 30m · from $37

Spend 90 minutes on Berlin’s Spree, passing the Reichstag, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, Central Station, and Nikolai Quarter. The boat has central heating, blankets for the outside deck, and seating in the salon, wheelhouse, upper deck, or VIP lounge. Mulled wine and Christmas stollen may be purchased onboard, but are not included in the standard ticket.

“De kunde ha berättat vad vi åkte förbi, vad vi såg. Pyntat båten med ljusslingor och ev spelat lite julmusik”

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8.Christmas cruise on the Spree with drag queen Audrey.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 2h 30m · from $46Top rated

Spend 150 minutes aboard the MS Audrey with drag queen Audrey Naline, cruising Berlin’s Spree through Old and New Berlin, Westhafen, and Charlottenburg. Expect German-language comedy, singalongs, games, Christmas decorations, city views, and an optional €9 meal. This is a lively evening show for adults and children over 10.

“Im festlich geschmückten Salon der MS Audrey verbrachten wir , liebevoll umsorgt , eine fachkundig begleitete gute alte , wunderschöne Dampferfahrt 😃 Audrey , ließ die Zeit mit Unterhaltung, kleinen Spielen und Witz , der nie unter die Gürtellinie ging , wie im Fluge vergehen Danke für diesen schönen Abend”

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