Last December, my family and I sailed into the port of Bruges and right into a Dickens novel… Horse-drawn carriages clopping by, twinkling holiday lights, and festive old-world trimmings in one of Europe’s most picturesque towns.
We’d arrived on the MSC Euribia to indulge in the festive Wintergloed Christmas Market, where we found everything Belgium is famous for: exquisite lace, fragrant waffles, and rich chocolate. Sipping ice-cold, tangy ale, we watched vendors shaving melting layers of raclette cheese onto hot baguettes.
Bruges was our third port of call on a seven-day cruise across Northern Europe in search of yuletide flavors… and holiday shopping. Lots and lots of shopping.
Departing from Southampton UK, our itinerary would also include Hamburg, Germany; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Le Havre, France.
In Southampton, along the path to the medieval town gates, booths were set up like a traditional German Christmas market. In one of the city’s lovely green spaces, Southampton Common, we enjoyed a fireside meal in the half-timbered Cowherds Pub.
In Hamburg two days later, we were met with carolers making merry tunes, offerings of glühwein (hot wine), and lanes of ornaments in Rathausmarkt square. After a cozy meal of sausage wursts and spaetzle (egg noodles) at the Bavarian Franziskaner Restaurant, we strolled the waterfront market stalls as squeals of children enjoying festival rides filled the air.
The modern port of Rotterdam was unfavorably cold and wet, but Vessel 11 restaurant, a masterfully restored old English boat, welcomed us in. The floating red ship featured an iron staircase leading down to a nightclub with an iconic lighthouse jutting above it. We indulged in hot tea and eggs benedict, along with Dutch treats like bitterballen, similar to Spanish croquettes.
At the famous Rotterdam Markthal (market hall), we sampled stroopwafel liqueur, browsed the best stinky cheeses, and people watched. The indoor scene was lively, with wreaths hanging from the ceiling and a 15-foot tree at the grand entry. With the cold wet weather outside, it was a Dutch paradise inside.
The port of Le Havre was the final stop. We snacked on Nutella-filled crepes, browsed shelves of Bûche de Noel (the French Yule Log), and stocked up on more gifts.
We dressed for formal dinners each night on the cruise, enjoyed wine tasting events, and pampered ourselves with spa days. It was a wonderful way to be with family for the holidays and experience four magical European Christmas traditions in a short amount of time. Our seven-day cruise cost less than $2,000 for three people, plus airfare and trains. Go here for booking details.
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