Belgian Holiday Markets (2024) on S.S. Victoria
There’s no more magical way to enjoy the holiday season than with a visit to a Christmas market. And on an all-inclusive, luxury river cruise, you can wander the stalls of many such markets in one trip, encountering the delights of each city’s unique rendition along the way. The holiday season in Belgium is something truly special. Not only will each city have its own quintessential Christmas setup, with rows of stalls offering handcrafted gifts and delicious wintertime treats, but they’ll also surround these markets with enchanting festivals, ice skating rinks, elaborate light displays, Ferris wheels and more characterize the holiday season in towns across Belgium. 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, and you’ll get to experience it all during Belgium’s most festive time of the year. Visit Christmas towns unlike any other in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands-such as Brussels, Bruges and Aachen, where the markets are often named amongst the best in Europe. Discover why as you 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.
- Festivals and Events
Uniworld—the world’s best and most awarded luxury river cruise line—offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia and Peru. Our fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 120 guests, one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality and the highest degree of all-inclusive benefits on the rivers.
The Highest Standards in Luxury River Cruising
In 2004, Uniworld was acquired by The Travel Corporation (TTC), a highly successful international travel group founded by Stanley Tollman. TTC has 40 top brands, including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki, as well as Red Carnation Hotels, a renowned collection of four- and five-star luxury properties.
Combining the tour planning and hotel management expertise of TTC’s sister companies with Uniworld’s decades of superior nautical experience has created an entirely new category of luxury river cruising. Together, we’ve made major investments in our ships, crew, and staff, with an eye towards providing guests with all the elements of an unforgettable experience: Outstanding Service; The Most All-Inclusive Amenities; One-of-a-Kind Ships; Carefully Curated Experiences; Culinary Excellence; Wellness and a Commitment to Sustainability.
The Boutique Experience, Onboard & Onshore
The guiding visionary behind our boutique philosophy is Beatrice “Bea” Tollman, founder of Red Carnation Hotels. Bea was named Hotelier of the Year at the European Hospitality Awards in 2012 and was inducted into The British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame in 2019.
Bea and her creative team amplify the definition of boutique luxury with every new and updated ship. Our river cruises allow guests to travel from one exciting destination to the next aboard a stylish floating hotel with chic lounges, panoramic restaurants, sumptuous cuisine, exquisite antiques, original art and luxurious riverview staterooms and suites. Meticulous attention to detail is readily apparent on every company-designed ship, including Uniworld’s 10 stunning Super Ships—the S.S. Antoinette, S.S. Beatrice, and S.S. Maria Theresa in Central Europe; the S.S. Catherine, S.S. Joie de Vivre and S.S. Bon Voyage in France; the S.S. La Venezia in Italy; the S.S. São Gabriel in Portugal; the S.S. Sphinx in Egypt and the Mekong Jewel in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Gracious and Attentive Service
Uniworld takes pride in its long-lasting relationships with guests, for whom there is “No request too large, no detail too small.” Uniworld employs a dedicated crew, professionally trained to the highest standards of service, so guests never have to worry about being well taken care of during their journeys.
8181122
|
Itinerary
Day | Destination | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | Brussels (Embark) | ||
2 | Ghent | ||
3 | Antwerp | ||
4 | Hasselt | ||
5 | Maastricht | ||
6 | Antwerp | ||
7 | Brussels | ||
8 | Brussels (Disembark) |