In this guide
Christmas-market cruises are the most popular river sailings of the year, and they sell out earlier than any other season. Here's how to time your booking.
The booking calendar
- January–March: Early-booking offers (best fares + flight credits) for the following Christmas
- April–June: Standard booking window — good availability across most lines
- July–September: Prime dates (early December) start to sell out
- October–November: Limited availability; late-December dates sometimes still open
When you should book
If you want a specific date (especially early December, the prime market window) on a specific line, book 8–10 months ahead — ideally in the January–March early-booking window when lines release fares and offer the biggest discounts and free-flight perks. By summer, prime dates are often gone.
When you can wait
If you're flexible on dates and line, you can sometimes find last-minute deals in October–November for late-November or post-Christmas (Dec 26–Jan 2) departures. But the prime early-December dates will be long gone.
Tip
January through March is often a useful planning window for the following Christmas because more cabin categories and dates may still be available. Promotions differ by line and do not always combine.
Put this into action
Turn this guide into your sailing
A VPC cruise advisor can apply what you've read to current ships, departures, cabins, and supplier offers without an added planning service fee.