Belgian Holiday Markets (2024)
The holiday season in Belgium is something truly special. Each city throws an enchanting winter festival, which could include anything from market stalls and elaborate light displays to Ferris wheels and ice skating rinks. Bordered by the bigger tourism magnets France, Germany, and the Netherlands, Belgium is a small country bursting with cultural impact and well worthy of being the highlight of any European trip—whether it’s your first time on the continent or your tenth. Chocolates, french fries, specialty spirits, and beers are amongst the many things this stretch of the Earth is known for doing well. You’ll get to experience it all during Belgium’s most festive time of the year, when you can sip vin chaud and the world’s most delicious cups of hot chocolate between bites of warm liege waffles and spiced gingerbread.
Who will enjoy this cruise: This trip is perfect for those who have been to the classic markets of Germany and are looking for something new, for anyone looking to explore a different side of Belgium than most tourists see, or for those excited to lean into a holiday extravaganza for their next winter season.
Please note that some of the winter festivals we visit may not be open during sailings departing on the 25th of November or the 2nd of December.
Other Excursions:
Since cars are completely banned in Ghent’s historic center, it’s a particularly pedestrian-friendly area. Stroll with your guide from the Church of Saint James, with its two Romanesque towers, to the Friday Market square, which, as its name suggests, was the site of a huge market every Friday in the Middle Ages. You’ll pass the magnificent 15th-century Great Butchers’ Hall and the elegant medieval trading houses that line Graslei and Korenlei streets. Your last stop is the Belfort, the great bell tower that rises above the Old Town.
You’ll have time to explore Ghent’s winter festival, complete with well over a hundred Christmas market stalls following your tour. Breathe in the wintry smell of pine that distinguishes this town’s holiday festivities.
Please note: the Christmas market in Ghent will not be available on the November 25 and December 2 departures of this itinerary.
Walk through the UNESCO-designated city center of Bruges with a local guide to see why this lovely city is a popular favorite of visitors to Belgium. The town grew up around a fort built by the first Count of Flanders to defend against Viking invaders. By the 14th century, Bruges had become the center of the international cloth trade. Merchants and traders worldwide came to Bruges for Flemish cloth, and the town’s bounty of beautiful churches and mansions testify to its prosperity. It's even more wonderful in the wintertime, when the crowds of tourists have dwindled and locals decorate the city in festive fashion. Christmas trees, twinkling lights and the sweet scent of holiday treats fill the streets.
Your guide will bring the tour to a close at the wonderful Christmas market of Bruges, which you’ll have some free time to explore before returning to the ship.
A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Other Excursions:
Once named the World Book Capital by UNESCO, Antwerp has a dedicated relationship with literature. The Nottebohm Room of the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library illustrates this well. Walk in to see two open stories of wooden bookshelves, filled to the brim with leather bound volumes. A wrought metal balustrade bisects the two, giving librarians access to the incredible collection of rare items inside. Some particularly exciting members of this collection are accessible to you on the ground floor, including an iconic pair of globes by Dutch cartographer Willem Blaeu.
In the center of Antwerp, you’ll find a whole museum dedicated just to Belgian chocolate. Walk inside to discover the love story that is Belgium’s relationship with the sweet treat, follow the path of the cocoa bean from the farms of Ecuador to the world’s largest cocoa storage port in Antwerp, and of course, you’ll sample a variety chocolates during your time here.
Featured Excursions:
- Hasselt Walking Tour
Make your way around Hasselt with a local guide who knows all the best spots in town. As you go, admire the city's plentiful green spaces, keep your eyes peeled for masterful works of street art, and discover shopping areas filled with major brands and eclectic boutiques alike.
- Liège Christmas Market
Visit the oldest Christmas Market in Belgium, an honored tradition in the French-speaking town of Liège. Approximately 200 wooden chalets invite visitors to shop their wares, sit down for a drink, or savor delicious treats.
Featured Excursion:
- Nights Out: Maastricht Christmas Lights
After dinner, head into town with your Cruise Manager for an evening stroll through Maastricht, when twinkling lights make the city even more charming than it is by daylight. Grab a hot drink to warm your hands as you walk around the "Magical Maastricht" Christmas event, which features a ferris wheel, covered ice skating rink, and dozens of stalls offering a drink or a bite to eat
Other Excursions:
Here’s your chance to experience something utterly unique: the underground Christmas market of Valkenburg. Cozy stalls and twinkling lights line the stone walls of this enchanting cave, where you can shop for classic holiday gifts and treats while escaping the weather. And if you venture outside, you’ll find even more Christmas spirit spreading out from the cave across the entire festively-decked town.
The only German Christmas market we’ll visit on this itinerary, Aachen's market has frequently been named among the best in Europe. The area surrounding the Aachen Cathedral turns into a bustling Christmas village every year, known foremost for its local take on gingerbread. Aachen Printen, as it is known, has many varieties, so make sure to try as much as you can during your time here!
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Featured Excursion:
- Antwerp Walking Tour with Christmas Concert
Meander your way around Antwerp with a local guide, arriving at the St. Paulus Church. Located in Antwerp’s Old Town, St. Paulus is a beautiful Gothic building dating back to the 16th century. A brief tour here will introduce you to the church’s history, followed by a concert of holiday tunes by the Chamber Choir of Flanders.
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Featured Excursion:
- Brussels Christmas Market
As far north as Brussels, night falls early during this time of year—which means we have the good fortune to be able to catch the Christmas market light up for the evening. Our driver will drop you right off at the city center, where your Cruise Manager will walk you to the market to explore on your own. The largest in Belgium, Brussels’ market has over 200 stalls. Perhaps you’d like to enjoy the city’s most famous sweet holiday-style, with a delicious cup of hot chocolate from one of the market’s many vendors.
Other Excursions:
On our way into the city center, we'll take you on a panoramic tour of the major sightseeing spots in Brussels, such as the Royal Residence, Chinese Pavilion and Japanese Pagoda. From there, we'll set out on foot to see the city up close—and taste some iconic Belgian chocolates along the way!
Take in the top sights of Brussels on an engaging walking tour with a local guide, during which you’ll see La Grand-Place and enter the old stock exchange. Here you’ll find the Belgian Beer Museum, where you’ll learn all about one of the country’s most iconic products. This museum isn’t just educational though, it’s also interactive. You’ll sample as you go, getting to know a variety of different Belgian beer varieties to see which suits your tastes best.
Cruise Departure | Double Occupancy Pricing | Ship | ||
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Mon, 25 Nov 2024
(Brussels to Brussels) |
$0.00 |
S.S. Victoria |
Select this date | |
Mon, 02 Dec 2024
(Brussels to Brussels) |
$0.00 |
S.S. Victoria |
Select this date | |
Mon, 09 Dec 2024
(Brussels to Brussels) |
$0.00 |
S.S. Victoria |
Select this date | |
Mon, 16 Dec 2024
(Brussels to Brussels) |
$0.00 |
S.S. Victoria |
Select this date |
- All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
- Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.
- Availability of all stateroom categories cannot be guaranteed.
- Single Supplement applies for single accommodation.
- Itineraries, hotels, and vessels may change, and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water level fluctuations and other uncontrollable factors.
- The order of sightseeing and docking ports are subject to change according to port authority assignments.
- Prices exclude additional port charges of $220 per person
Dining
- All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
- Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
- Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water
Excursions
- 6 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
- Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
Accommodations
- 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the elegant S.S. Victoria
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
- Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
Experiences
- 3 countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany
- 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture
- Group Transfers are included on arrival and departure days (please see terms and conditions for transfer guidelines)
- Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
- Captivating onboard local entertainment