15 Christmas Cruises Worth Flying For

1.Cologne: Rhine River Winter Cruise with Festive Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 676 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $28Our pick

Spend 90 minutes on Cologne’s Rhine aboard a warm panorama boat with live festive music, table service, and views of Cologne Cathedral, Groß St. Martin, and the three crane houses at Rheinau Harbour. Drinks and snacks cost extra. The open upper deck is best for photos, while the lower deck offers warmth and music.

“This was a great way to spend an afternoon! The live singer was very good and the atmosphere was brilliant! Highly recommend the cruise at Christmas time, it definitely gets you in the spirit! Also, for people afraid of boats or water, it was very smooth and hardly felt you were moving. There was a great selection of food and drink too. 5 stars!”

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2.Wroclaw: Ticket for Old Town Christmas Cruise by Heated Ship

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 201 reviews · 45 min · from $20

Take a 45-minute Christmas cruise along the Oder River aboard a heated 12-passenger boat near Wrocław’s Old Town. Expect holiday lights, carols, decorated bridges, an onboard toilet, and mulled wine available for purchase. An audioguide is accessed by QR code, but no human guide or headphones are provided.

“Audioguida scaricabile tramite QR Code ma, per quanto riguarda l'italiano abbastanza pessima, praticamente inutile (alcune parti non tradotte, erano in spagnolo). Forse conviene prendere le imbarcazioni più grande che offrono la guida almeno in inglese.”

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4.Paris: Bastille Day Special Evening Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 83 reviews · 2 hours · from $224

Board at Port de Solférino near the Musée d’Orsay for a two-hour Bastille Day dinner cruise. You’ll enjoy a three-course French meal, Champagne, wine, water, and coffee while passing the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and glowing bridges. The evening ends with a view of the national-day fireworks.

“Qu’il y ait plus de softs raffinés pour les personnes allergiques à l’alcool Pour le foie gras, heureusement un serveur m’a déniché une part halal (la sienne) et pourtant j’avais prévenu à la réservation”

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6.Madeira: New Years Eve Fireworks Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 58 reviews

Join Catamaran Seaborn at Funchal Marina at 11:00 PM for a 90-minute New Year cruise. You’ll pass Madeira’s Christmas lights, return to the bay for the midnight fireworks, and toast with champagne and Madeira wine. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, and warm clothing is essential.

“Absolutely brilliant, great crew. Lovely atmosphere everyone was out to have a good time.”

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7.New York City Christmas Holiday Statue and Skyline Cocoa Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85Top rated

Settle into a decorated classic yacht for a 90-minute Christmas cruise from Chelsea Piers. You get one complimentary drink, indoor seating, narration, and views of Lower Manhattan, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the waterfront. Hot cocoa, wine, beer, champagne, soda, cookies, and light snacks are available for purchase.

“Enjoyed the atmosphere and the holiday vibes and feeling. Recommend the trip to families especially. Informative and have wonderful pictures to keep as a memory”

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8.Reykjavik: New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 54 reviews · 2 hours · from $182

Leave Reykjavik’s Old Harbor at 11 pm aboard a comfortable Special Tours boat. Cruise into Faxaflói Bay, watch fireworks erupt across the city, and raise a glass of champagne at midnight. You can watch from the indoor saloon or open deck. Warm overalls and a bar are included, with return around 12:30 am.

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9.Budapest: New Year’s Eve Party Cruise with Food & Live Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 52 reviews · 6 hours · from $341

Board the Gróf Széchenyi at Akadémia 2 for a six-hour New Year’s Eve cruise with a five-course dinner, unlimited listed drinks, Rajkó Ensemble folk music and dance, a midnight buffet, and a DJ party. You will pass Budapest’s lit bridges, Parliament, and Buda landmarks, with an English-speaking host and three menu choices.

“Repas n’est pas raffiné! Cher pour rien!!!! Pas beaucoup d’ambiance.”

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10.Festive London Christmas Day River Thames Lunch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 47 reviews · 3h 15m · from $235

Board at Westminster Pier for a 195-minute Christmas Day cruise past Westminster, the London Eye, South Bank, and St. Paul's Cathedral. You get a welcome glass of sparkling wine, a three-course roast turkey lunch or vegetarian alternative, tea or coffee, festive music, and access to a heated saloon and open-air upper deck. A smart casual dress code applies.

“A fabulous way to spend Christmas. Great vegetarian option. Loved the space between parties on the table to allow for a more intimate setting. Staff were friendly, hospitable and nothing was an issue. Entertainment was great to set the mood.”

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11.New Years Eve Sydney Harbour Cruise 2026-2027

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews · from $1,219

Spend New Year’s Eve aboard the Sydney Sundancer, a small yacht limited to 50 people. Depart King Street Wharf at 5 pm for a long evening of seafood, Bollinger Champagne, wine, beer, Opera House views, the Harbour of Light parade, and Sydney’s midnight fireworks. John may position the boat for a front-row view.

“From the Sydney Sundancer yacht you have the best view of the fireworks at the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The fireworks were great.Auto-translated”

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12.From Rüdesheim: 2-hour Christmas Boat Tour on the Rhine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 44 reviews · from $22

Set out from Pier 12 in Rüdesheim for a two-hour Christmas cruise on a heated Rhine boat. See castles and landmarks, hear seasonal tales and Rhineland myths, and enjoy a Saturday story program or Sunday visit from St. Nicholas. Food and drinks are available for purchase on board.

“Very nice with the narrator. Service also very good.”

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13.London: Christmas Day Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 42 reviews · 1 hour · from $43

Spend Christmas Day aboard a heated City Cruises boat from Westminster Millennium Pier. The one-hour circular route passes Big Ben, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. Expect live crew commentary, recorded commentary in several languages, an open upper deck, and a licensed bar serving festive drinks and snacks.

“Contrairement à ce qui est marqué, il n’y a pas de traduction en plusieurs langues, dommage pour ceux qui ne sont pas encore a l’aise avec l’anglais Cependant, superbe croisière au départ du Palais de Westminster jusqu’à Tower Bridge, je recommande car ça permet de commencer la journée tranquillement et en ce temps frais, le bateau es chauffé”

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14.NYC: New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner Fireworks Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 37 reviews · from $552

Spend New Year’s Eve on a climate-controlled City Cruises boat with a reserved table, chef-prepared buffet, open bar, live DJ, and sparkling wine toast for adults 21 and older. You’ll view the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and other landmarks from the Hudson and East Rivers, with fireworks weather permitting.

“The decoration and the atmosphere were amazing. Everyone was super friendly, the food was good. The music could have included more new songs, unfortunately only oldies were played, which meant that the dance floor was getting a little emptier. But overall it was a great experience, although it could have gone on a little longer, 3 hours went by way too quickly.”

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15.Istanbul: New Year’s Eve Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Party 2027

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 36 reviews · 5 hours · from $331

Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2027 on a five-hour Istanbul cruise between Europe and Asia. Travel See Life LTD provides hotel pickup and return, dinner, unlimited alcoholic and soft drinks, Turkish dance shows, a DJ, and midnight champagne. An English-speaking host or greeter is provided. Fireworks may be limited by official restrictions.

“Everything was well organized. Having a hotel pick-up and drop-off service was great. Finding a taxi wasn't a problem on this crowded night. The dance shows were very entertaining. The main courses and appetizers were adequate. Also, having unlimited drinks at the open bar was a nice bonus.”

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