Luxury cruise ship sailing to port on sunrise

Additional Christmas Market and Douro River Sailings Now Available

 

Hollywood, FL – In response to increased demand from travelers looking to explore the rivers of Europe, Emerald Cruises has added four additional 2023 sailing dates to three of its most popular river cruise itineraries.

Two new dates have been added to Emerald Cruises’ Christmas cruise season, which takes guests to the charming Christmas markets and sparkling streets of European cities such as Budapest, Vienna and Cologne. The popular Douro River cruise season has also been extended, with two new dates inviting guests to enjoy the sights and tastes of Portugal into the autumn and the holiday seasons.

 

Christmas Markets and Yuletide Cheer

Visiting Christmas Markets is an ideal way to spend time experiencing the festive season in the heart of Europe, and two additional sailings have been added to the 2023 calendar to help guests explore: the eight-day Christmas Markets on the Rhine departing on December 16, 2023 and the eight-day Christmas Markets on the Danube departing on November 24, 2023.

The eight-day Christmas Markets on the Rhine Cruise between Basel and Amsterdam calls on some of Germany’s favorite markets in Cologne, Koblenz and Strasbourg in addition to Amsterdam, where guests can sip glühwein, sample traditional holiday treats and shop to their hearts content. Fares for the December 16, 2023 sailing start from $3,395 per person based on double occupancy.

The eight-day Christmas Markets on the Danube is a festive twist on Emerald Cruises’ classic itinerary. Visits to the Christmas markets in Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia  and Regensburg, Germany offer guests the chance to experience the holidays across four different countries. Fares for the November 24, 2023 sailing start from $3,395 per person based on double occupancy.

 

Secrets of the Douro

Sailing roundtrip from Porto, the eight-day Secrets of the Douro itinerary is a must for river cruise lovers. The enchanting Douro valley lined with vineyards makes for incredible scenery while the included excursions such as a visit to an 18th century vineyard estate in beautiful Quinta do Tedo, a canoeing excursion in Régua, a guided tour of Salamanca and dinner at Quinta da Pacheca wine estate. Two new sailings have been added for the Secrets of the Douro, extending the season further into autumn to show off the valley in all its golden glory. Departing November 18 and 25, 2023, fares start at $3,695 per person based on double occupancy onboard Emerald Radiance.

Emerald Cruises offers a diverse lineup of river and yacht cruises on three continents. Emerald Azzurra, the line’s first ocean-going vessel which debuted in March 2022, is a 100-guest, luxury yacht sailing the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Red Seas, and new for the 2023/2024 season, the Caribbean & Central America. In November 2022, Emerald Azzurra was named Best New Luxury Ship in Cruise Critic’s 2022 Editors’ Picks Awards. Emerald Sakara will be the brand’s second luxury yacht and launches in 2023. On the rivers, Emerald Cruises sails eight branded Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong. The brand offers innovatively designed ships, outstanding service and a focus on active shore excursions and onboard wellness offerings through their signature EmeraldACTIVE program. Emerald Cruises is part of Scenic Group, which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Mayflower Cruises & Tours and Evergreen Tours in Australia.

Emerald Cruises can be found on Twitter at @emerald_cruises, on Facebook as EmeraldCruisesGlobal and on Instagram as @EmeraldCruises.global.

Additional information can be found by contacting your local travel advisor; on Emerald Cruises’ website, www.emeraldcruises.com; or by calling the consumer/travel agent reservations line at 844-428-8389. Digital brochure downloads are available on the website.