Five Ways to Sail this Christmas!

We here at Cruise Traveller are proud to be offering Australians five different ways to celebrate the festive season in style on a European river cruise this December, with each cruise package also offering a free, three-night hotel stay for bookings made with Cruise Traveller before September 30, 2025.  

The five festive river journeys are with leading brand, AmaWaterways, on the Rhone River in France, Douro River in Portugal and Rhine River through Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands, with the packages starting from December 23 to 28, 2025, enabling Australians to experience the unique magic, enchanting traditions and colourful festivities  of a European Christmas and New Year.

Each of Cruise Traveller’s special, all-inclusive cruise and stay packages is 10-nights long, including a seven-night cruise on one of AmaWaterways’ 31 deluxe, custom-designed  river ships and three free nights in a hotel before/after the cruise.

Highlighted by Cruise Traveller is a 10-night package – ‘Silent Nights and River Lights’ , starting in romantic Basel in Switzerland on December 28, 2025, with a free, one-night stay before guests embark next day on a seven-night cruise along the majestic Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam aboard the 162-guest river ship, AmaVenita.

The journey through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands, under the cosy cloak of winter, features fairytale castles, magical markets, age-old vineyards, spectacular gorges, charming villages and the quaint canals and windmills of The Netherlands, with towns along the way still festooned in Christmas lights and decorations. Guests will be able to celebrate the New Year aboard the river ship as they cruise down the mighty Rhine.      

Guests disembark the river cruise in Amsterdam on January 5, 2026, and check into a hotel for a free, two-night stay before making their own way home.

“The winter festive period in Europe is a special time filled with enchantment and what more beautiful way to experience the season than aboard a romantic river cruise taking you from one magical place to the next,” said Cruise Traveller Managing Director, Joe O’Sullivan. “Our special, all-inclusive  packages with AmaWaterways offer free hotel stays too, adding more value and time to relax and explore over Christmas and New Year.”

* This 10-night ‘Silent Nights and River Lights’ package beginning December 28, 2025, is available from A$5495 per person, twin-share, in a river-view stateroom, including a total of three free hotel nights, immersive tours ashore, hikes and bike tours, specialty dining, onboard beverages with lunch and dinner daily, sparkling wine with breakfast daily, complimentary cocktail hour each day and onboard gratuities.   

The free accommodation offer applies to bookings made with Cruise Traveller by September 30, 2025.