Looking for the ultimate Christmas experience? Then you should definitely visit German Christmas markets! After all, the Germans invented them! The large cities offer countless impressive Christmas markets, but those at the smaller villages have the most charm. The German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley are some real gems to visit to get that holiday cheer in a magical fairytale-like setting! Imagine picturesque villages with half-timbered houses, cobbled streets and medieval squares nestled beside the winding Moselle River.
To thoroughly immerse myself into the holiday spirit, I decided to go on a five-day Moselle Advent Magic River Cruise! I am a true Christmas lover and the idea to be on a boat fully adorned with Christmas decorations and lights, sailing from one Christmas market to the other, just made my heart smile! Here is everything you need to know about my experience on the luxurious MS VIVA ONE river cruise ship of VIVA Cruises and the most charming German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley!
I was invited as a guest, however my opinion is as always my own.
Most Enchanting German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley: a luxury river cruise with VIVA Cruises
Table of Content
- Most Enchanting German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley: a luxury river cruise with VIVA Cruises
- Practical tips to visit the German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley with VIVA Cruises
- Pin this post
The MS VIVA ONE cruise ship, a floating Christmas party
Checking in the cruise cabin
I boarded the MS VIVA ONE in Koblenz, where the Moselle River flows into the Rhine. This newly built river cruise ship of VIVA Cruises houses 88 outside cabins spread over 3 decks. Up to 176 passengers can enjoy the Christmas festivities on board. The lobby was adorned with Christmas trees and the banisters were beautifully decorated with garlands. So, I immediately felt the Christmas vibes!
After checking in at the reception, one of the crew members led me to my room at the Diamond Deck on the third floor. I stayed in a French Balcony stateroom of 17m², which is quite spacious for a cruise cabin, with floor-to-ceiling sliding windows. My cabin came fully equipped with a comfortable double bed, a flat-screen TV, a desk, a lounge chair and a side table. Instead of classic dark hardwood furnishings, the interior is trendy and light. The cabin looked like a room from a boutique hotel. The bathroom contained a shower and toilet and Rituals beauty products! There was more closet space than I have experienced in some hotel rooms. The drinks in the minibar are included.
Santa’s Sparkling Surprise at the Panorama Lounge
The Panorama Lounge is also situated on the third floor. The floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding the bar are making sure you don’t have to miss any of the views while sailing on the Moselle River. Christmas trees and giant Christmas table decorations guarantee the magical advent spirit. You could say this large lounge area with bar is the beating heart of the MS VIVA ONE. Most people spend their time here in the comfortable lounge chairs, enjoying a drink, reading a book or playing a board game. I also loved spending my time here watching the terraced vineyards and half-timbered houses pass by.
Every day the resident musician, Miroslav, plays live piano and guitar and he even deejays in the evening! I was not always a big fan of the music choice though. A little too much of German Schlager. Which other passengers seemed to like though, because they knew all the words to the songs. Which was quite funny and added to the ambiance. Miroslav knew his Motown classics though!
The Panorama Lounge is also the place where all activities are organized such as the welcome aboard cocktail reception, High Tea, the crew show and the presentations about the excursions. All drinks are included in the price. There were even themed drinks like the Santa’s Sparkling Surprise; a mixed aperitivo of a sparkling local wine, a local beer and red berry juice with a Maraschino cherry.
Every meal is a Christmas feast
Riverside Restaurant
All meals are served in the Riverside restaurant on Deck 2, another spacious and light room. None of the tables are placed too close to each other, offering enough privacy for everyone.
A big breakfast buffet is offered every morning with fresh fruit, smoked salmon, bacon, eggs, sausages, beans, vegetables, different breads, cinnamon rolls, … name it, they have it! Every morning the crew caught me making a little scream, when I discovered the Dutch mini pancakes, the American pancakes, the waffles… Each day, there was something new to reveal from beneath those shiny lids! You can also order fried eggs or an omelet from an extra breakfast menu.
Lunch consists of a starter from the buffet and an à la carte soup, main course and dessert. Dinner is a complete 4 course à la carte menu. There is always choice between a meat, fish and vegetarian dish. The portions are never too big, so I never felt like I ate too much when leaving the table.
Every meal resembled a Christmas feast. The dishes always looked very refined, and they tasted like heaven! I always took the fish. But because the food was so good, I dared to order the Black Angus Beef on the last evening (I normally don’t like meat). It did not disappoint! It melted away on my tongue and it made me wonder why I dislike red meat so much. Because this beef was simply delicious!
Viva’s Bistro
If you are looking for a different, more casual atmosphere, you can make a reservation at the complimentary Viva’s Bistro for lunch or dinner. It is a smaller restaurant with a different menu, which has an outdoor terrace (used during the warmer months). The meals are as delicious as at the Riverside Restaurant!
Wellness on the MS VIVA ONE
Those who like to spoil themselves, can go to the wellness area on the lower deck. There is a spa offering an infrared sauna room, steam bath and a beauty salon. The spa is included in the price, but you need to make a reservation. If you would like to book a massage, you need to pay an additional fee. But it is definitely worth it! You can also work on your fitness in the gym room (for free). On Deck 4, the top deck, you can enjoy the small jacuzzi and sun loungers.
A sustainable Christmas Cruise
I always disliked cruises, because they are so bad for the environment. But the MS VIVA ONE is the complete opposite! The ship’s energy is generated by 68 solar cells, and they focus on low energy consumption. All guests receive reusable drinking bottles, which they can refill at two water stations in the lobby. The ship is designed with a special hull form to reduce fuel use and has a fuel-saving autopilot to ease navigation. Clean synthetic GTL diesel is used to power the main and auxiliary engines.
A super relaxed way to visit the German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley
The MS VIVA ONE is extremely silent, and it barely moves since it sails on a river. You do not have to think about anything while traveling, besides being back on time on the boat. It is a very relaxed way of traveling. The MS VIVA ONE was always stationed near the town’s city center, so you never had to walk too far to visit the Christmas markets. You could even return for lunch on the boat!
In between the Christmas markets you get fantastic views on the way and all the drinks you want. You can get a massage or read a book. You never have to think about where or what to eat, because everything will be prepared for you on the boat, and you get a five-star service! If you want to spoil yourself and immerge yourself with some cozy Christmas vibes to visit the German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley, I would definitely recommend this way of traveling!
You can still book the Moselle Advent Magic River Cruise with VIVA Cruises for departure on 14/12, 18/12 and 26/12!
Curious what the itinerary looked like?
German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley
Koblenz, a typical traditional German Christmas market
I boarded the ship around 15:00, so I still had a few hours to explore the Christmas market of Koblenz. This humble town is mostly known for being the place where the Rhine and Moselle River meet. The Christmas market of Koblenz covers several market squares with its rustic wooden stands. First, I encountered the one at the Jesuitenplatz. This is a small square with a carousel and a few wooden stalls selling Christmas decorations and gifts. There is also a big chalet-like stand offering all sorts of “regionale kaltweine” like Koblenzer Winter Rosé and even Eierpunsch. Since it was Friday afternoon, people were just starting to arrive for their after-work drinks.
Walking through the arch on the southside of the square I discovered a charming little square called Willi-Hörter-Platz. It felt like I stepped into a different Christmas world! The square is surrounded by an elegant baroque chic bar decorated with golden angels and lights. These gave the entire square a soft golden glow. This bar called Schaengelbar, named after the Schängel fountain on the square, offers delicious Chardonnay glühwein (red and white!) in big but elegant wine glasses. It was my favorite part of the Christmas market in Koblenz!
The Münzplatz is a bigger square with more stalls selling greasy German foods like bratwurst, glühwein and beer. I loved the giant “windmill bar” Die Mühlenschänke with its lights and decorated with Santa Clauses. It was fun to walk around the square and checking what every stand was selling. And then it was time to return back to the boat, which was leaving at 18:00 direction Bernkastel-Kues! There is another square, Am Plan, with a lot of stalls, but I did not get the chance to check this one out.
Bernkastel-Kues, a Christmas market in a fairytale-like setting
The next day the MS VIVA ONE docked in Bernkastel-Kues around 10:00. It only took a 500 m walk to the city center. Arriving at the Markt I was in awe! Did I just step through some kind of portal which teleported me into a fairytale? This place looks like a scene plucked from a Christmas card! Traditional sturdy pointed timber-framed style houses surround this quaint, little square. The biggest one of them, the Adler pharmacy, is transformed into a huge Advent calendar! From 1 to 24 December a window opens each evening, while a small Christmas performance takes place.
In the middle of the Markt stands a massive, decorated fir tree proudly next to the Michaelsbrunnen. This is a beautiful fountain with a column on which the patron saint of Bernkastel is standing; Saint Michael, armed with sword and scales, with a dragon at his feet (Michael is the slayer of the devil, in the shape of a dragon). The square only offers a few small stalls selling Christmas ornaments, jewelry and other Christmas gift ideas.
The Markt is surrounded by the most picturesque, cobbled streets with the cutest shops, all decorated for Christmas. Wooden huts are spread around town selling gingerbread, candy, fried sausages, tarte flambée, crêpes, beer and of course; mulled wine! It is hard not to take a culinary break in Bernkastel-Kues!
Which is also obvious at the Karlsbader Platz, where the Christmas market looked more like a picturesque food festival to me. More stalls offering deep-fried cheese, gingerbread, waffles, pretzels, smoked salmon, bratwurst, Eierpunsch, red and white Moselle glühwein, beer, …
Bernkastel-Kues was my favorite Christmas market experience in the Moselle Valley because there was so much to do. First of all, the town is the most fun to explore with all the cute narrow streets. It truly looks like you are walking around in a scene of a Disney movie. Then you have the live music all around town. I especially loved the trumpet players because they had brought Santa Clause with them (I am not joking!) and they played the most fun Christmas songs.
At 17:30 you can go to the Markt to see the opening of the new window of the Advent calendar. This went a little different than I expected, with two elderly men singing traditional German Christmas songs. When the window opened it took ages for them to find the panel of the new Disney figure. As if they were not prepared or could not find it. But this just made it a very funny experience.
On the way back to the boat I stumbled upon the torchlight swimmers in the Moselle River. Around 100 swimmers accompany Santa Clause on his journey from the Kueser harbour to the Bernkasteler Moselle beach, carrying a torch and a wearing Santa hat. Hilarious! Bernkastel-Kues is definitely one of the best Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley!
Trier, the most romantic Christmas market in the world
A small excursion to learn about Trier’s history
The boat anchored the following morning at Trier. After breakfast, I decided to first do a shore excursion to get to know more about the history of Trier. The Christmas market only opens at 11:00 so I still had plenty of time! At 9:00 I met with the tour guide named Rudolf (I am not joking!), who spoke English with a very strong German accent. At first I had a hard time understanding him, but it grew on me and I started to like it!
Since Trier was founded by the Romans around 16 BC, being Germany’s oldest city, it is home to several well-preserved Roman structures. However, one should not underrate its medieval heritage. Trier has been shaped not only by the Romans but later also by bishops and electors. Many of Trier’s architectural monuments are UNESCO World Heritage.
The bus first took me along the Roman bridge, which is the oldest bridge in Germany, the Barbara baths and the Kaiserthermen. Then it drove up to a viewpoint on the Petrisberg. From there you had a good view of the Amphitheater. I am sure the view during the summertime must be fantastic, when the vines are all green. On a grey gloomy day, it wasn’t that beautiful.
After the bus ride, the tour took me to the Porta Nigra, a Roman city gate that is still standing proudly. Then it continued through the Simeonstraße to the Hauptmarkt and the Domfreihof, where I could already spot the Christmas market (still closed) to visit the Saint Peter’s Cathedral (Trier’s Dom).
Trier’s Dom is Germany’s oldest church and quite impressive with its many towers. To me it looked more like a castle! First we visited the cloister and I loved this part! The garden and the long arched corridors reminded me of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts! The interior of the church was quite modest except for a massive organ hanging on the side of the church.
The last stops were the Aula Palatina and the Electoral Palace. The Aula Palatina was built around 310 by the emperor Constantine as part of a palace complex. It even had a floor and wall heating system! The Electoral Palace is situated right next to it. It is one the finest Rococo palaces in the world and dates from the 17th century. It was the residence of the Trier Electoral Princes until 1794 until dispossession by Napoleon.
Trier, one of the biggest Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley
And then it was time to visit Trier’s Christmas market which is also known for being the most romantic Christmas market in the world! I can totally understand why! The Christmas market is situated on two quaint medieval squares. It is surrounded by the most beautiful pastel colored houses. They are all built during different periods. So you encounter a lot of different architectural styles like Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. Some are decorated with golden details, others have elegant window frames or statues.
At the Domfreihof the Christmas market is nestled below the majestic towers of Trier’s Dom. A vintage carousel takes children for a spin, making them dream of pony rides in far away fairytale places. The smells of anise, glühwein and crêpes kept teasing my nose. So I could not resist to buy some anise candy.
At the Christmas market in Trier there is no shortage of food and drinks! Both at the Hauptmarkt and the Domfreihof you can relish the fragrant gluhwein drink or indulge in Gebäckkringel (the spiral pastry I also saw in Prague) sprinkled with crystal sugar, almond stollen, bratwurst, gingerbread and tarte-flambée!
At the northside of the Hauptmarkt stands a large Christmas pyramid, which is quite traditional at German Christmas markets. Inside you’ll find the beautiful shop of Käthe Wohlfahrt, where you can buy the most exquisite Christmas ornaments. So make sure to take a look inside! But it is not the only place where you can buy Christmas decorations or gifts! Plenty of the decorated wooden stalls offer handcrafted gifts like ornaments, candles, snow globes, souvenirs, socks or slippers.
Trier is one of the biggest German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley so make sure not to miss this one!
Cochem
Reichsburg
The next morning I woke up to a Winter Wonderland in Cochem! The view of the Reichsburg (Cochem castle) covered in snow and surrounded by fog perched on top of the hill was just magical! So visiting the castle became the main activity of the day! A small shuttle bus took me to the castle via very narrow and winding roads of Cochem’s town center. There, a guide was waiting for our tour group.
She led us for a tour through the many rooms of the castle. The entire castle was decorated for Christmas. My favorite room was the Knights’ Hall. This room had a giant fireplace flanked by a massive Christmas tree. This is what a true Christmas looks like in my romantic mind! Other memorable moments were a huge knight’s armor that used to belong to a knight with a height of 2.38 m (people back then were an average 1.5 m) and the luster female. You needed to stand below her to make a wish, which of course I did (but I am not going to tell you what I wished for). I also loved all the secret doors in the castle!
Cochem village and Christmas market
After visiting the castle I returned to the village. After seeing the previous villages, I have to say I wasn’t too impressed with Cochem. I loved the area around the cemetery and the Marktplatz, which was also decorated for Christmas. But it felt a little dead to me. Maybe it was because of the foggy weather. Maybe because it was a Monday morning. But It did not pass the vibe check. I strolled around its streets, trying to find some cute corners, but I could not help but feel a little disappointed. Maybe I got spoiled by visiting the previous villages! The views of the castle and the village from the Skagerak-Brücke are nice though!
The Christmas market of Cochem is situated next to the Skagerak-Brücke. This weihnachtsmarkt was less decorated and atmospheric than the previous ones. Only about 20 stalls were spread around the Brückenstraße and in front of the tourism office. They offered mostly food and drinks with the usual supply of glühwein and bratwurst. So I did not spend much time here to be honest. I think it is best to visit Cochem in the afternoon or during the summertime.
Practical tips to visit the German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley with VIVA Cruises
- Koblenz is easily reached by train. Take off in Koblenz Stadtmitte or Koblenz Hauptbahnhof. I took the train from Brussels Midi and transfered in Köln-Ehrenfeld.
- The MS VIVA ONE river cruise ship departs at 18:00 from the Peter-Altmeier-Ufer.
- The Moselle Advent Magic River Cruise is a full board formula, meaning everything on board is included except the massages and excursions.
- You can still book the Moselle Advent Magic River Cruise with Viva Cruises for departure on 14/12/22, 18/12/22 and 26/12/22!
- Dutch booking 2022: Moselle Advent Magic River Cruise
- For 2023 there are no dates for a Moselle Advent Magic River Cruise. It could be there will be none, so be fast to book this year! There are Advent cruises on the Rhine with Viva Cruises covering other Christmas markets though!
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So that is it! I hope you enjoyed this “Most Enchanting German Christmas markets in the Moselle Valley: a luxury river cruise” blog post! I really tried to cover everything you need to know. Do not hesitate to leave your comments or questions down below! That way I can add more information if necessary!
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