Winter river cruising has been an expanding market in recent years. Firstly, there is the allure of visiting Christmas markets, and secondly, with more temperate winters due to climate change, some travellers are avoiding the scorching summer months when low water levels might affect itineraries. We went sailing on the Emerald Destiny recently to see for ourselves the attraction of winter river cruising.
The ship
The ship was launched in 2017, but one suspects renovations are ongoing during the off-season, so the décor never feels dated. The décor and furnishings have a clean and modern feel with statement art pieces and mirrored walls that add to the spacious feel of the ship. The 443-foot vessel has four floors and a very decent staff-to-guest ratio with 47 crew members to a maximum of 182 guests.
Most of the cabins are situated around the centre of the ship, whilst the public spaces are all in the outlying parts. The standout design feature is the convertible heated infinity pool with a retractable roof, which is turned into a cinema room in the evenings, where you can enjoy classic Christmas films under the twinkling starlight. The sun deck will be the least used part of winter cruising, however, it does offer ample lounge chairs as well as a walking track, a putting green and a gaming area. If you are looking for tranquillity to admire the scenic surroundings of the Rhine, this is the place to be.
Taking time out to explore the ship when you first board is a must, as you will discover numerous hidden gems along the way. Despite the limitations in space when compared with an ocean cruise ship, they’ve managed to accommodate a fitness centre with free weights and exercise machines. They also have a spa treatment room as well as a hair salon for those looking to be pampered. It’s also important to note that there is a lift on board the ship for guests with mobility issues.
Cabin
The old adage “there are no bad staterooms on a river cruise” holds true in the case of Emerald Destiny as all standard staterooms have panoramic picture windows. Apart from the main curtain to offer privacy, they also have an inner screen to ward off any insects. The décor is sleek and modern, offering a timeless elegance that works well with a broad demographic.
The rooms are well-equipped with flat-panel televisions, comfy bathroom robes and slippers, a well-stocked mini-fridge and an oversized bed. Additional touches like offering sturdy non-collapsible umbrellas in each room are much appreciated given the penchant for rain in December in Europe. Bathrooms are stocked with ESPA amenities and refilled daily by your room attendant along with the bottled water. They also supply complimentary water bottles for you to take out on your daily excursions.
Food and drink
One of the highlights of the Emerald Destiny is their culinary offering, in particular their focus on local cuisines. The hearty German cuisine served up, such as käsespätzle, is the perfect comfort food to serve up after a day of Christmas market shopping. Excursions are organised, so you can always be back on board for the main meal times. They offer a buffet for breakfast, a mixture of buffet and a la carte during lunchtime and a more formal sit-down meal in the evenings.
One of the key benefits of river cruising with Emerald is their well-trained staff. After the first day or two, they will remember your drink preferences and your dietary requirements. They have live cooking stations during buffet times and the chef will more than likely remember how you like your omelettes to be cooked.
Their drinks packages are very decently priced. At €28.50 per person per day, you can enjoy the platinum package, which covers most items, bar bottles of wine that are above €25 and Champagne. The dress code is more on the relaxed end of smart casual. Even on the Captain’s farewell dinner, most people would be wearing a shirt rather than a jacket and tie, whilst dining on their chateaubriand.
Activities
There are activities starting at dawn with morning exercise with your wellbeing coach, to a classical violin concert post-dinner in the lounge. The evening entertainment tends to be interactive such as a music quiz or geared towards local culture. The latter included a surprisingly engaging bell-ringing performance that included well-known local Christmas carols.
For those who enjoy a more active cruise experience, they have onboard bicycles for individual shore excursions. This is on top of the morning exercise class, the swimming pool, the gym and the aforementioned walking track.
Excursions during the cruise
It is the daily excursions that make river cruising so special. There is a daily briefing from the cruise director about the following day’s itinerary and what to look out for. Whilst most of the Christmas market cruise was along the German part of the Rhine, the itinerary also included Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands. You will see the classic currywurst and käsespätzle at most Christmas markets, however, in France, the street food is ever so slightly more refined.
The itinerary had the perfect balance of metropolitan stops, such as Amsterdam and Strasbourg, but also more hidden gems like Cochem and Heidelberg. Both have enchanting castles that make the Rhine one of the most romantic cruising routes in Europe. Mark Twain famously fell in love with Heidelberg castle and wrote “abandoned, dethroned, battered by storms, but royal still, and beautiful”.
All daily excursions are included with your Emerald Cruises booking. This includes enhanced experiences such as our visit to the Ravenna Gorge Christmas market. We were offered complimentary glühwein at most of the Christmas markets we visited. Occasionally, they will offer an alternative paid excursion, such as our trip to Cochem.
Factbox
Prices for Emerald Cruises’ eight-day Christmas Markets on the Rhine start at £2,195 per person, including flights, transfers, meals, drinks and excursions, based on a 14th December 2025 sailing from Basel to Amsterdam.
For more information on Emerald Cruises visit emeraldcruises.co.uk
Photography (excluding image of Heidelberg) courtesy of Emerald Cruises.
