Belgian Holiday Markets

7 nights from £2,399pp departing Saturday 16th Dec 2023

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,...

Itinerary

Map

					Arrive	Depart
	16th16	DecDec	202323	Brussel (Bruxelles), Belgium, embark on the River Empress
Arrive at Brussels Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer, or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.
	17th17	DecDec	202323	Brussel (Bruxelles), Belgium
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, offers a treasure trove of historic architecture, along with a rich culinary tradition—chocolate!—and a vibrant culinary capital. Food lovers will be lured by the divine aromas drifting from the many holiday market stalls, while others will be attracted to the city’s enchanting architecture and elaborate Christmas displays.
	18th18	DecDec	202323	Gent (Ghent), Belgium
Visit one of two national gems: beautiful Bruges, the capital of West Flanders and one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, or fascinating Ghent, the capital city of East Flanders, whose long history does not weigh on its vibrant present. Belgium’s second-largest city, Ghent abounds in medieval architecture, which makes for a particularly magical canvas for the town’s Christmastime decorations.
	19th19	DecDec	202323	Hasselt, Belgium
Today, you’ll explore the trendy-yet-quaint town of Hasselt. A blend of city interest—with plenty of cafés, shopping and the area’s largest Christmas market—and an easygoing, small-town atmosphere, the mostly car-free Hasselt is a charming place to explore on foot. It is also, as you can discover at one of the tasting booths in the market, known as the unofficial capital of Belgium’s famous spirit, Jenever.
	20th20	DecDec	202323	Maastricht, Netherlands
Venture into the Netherlands to visit Maastricht, known as one of the most beautiful and romantic cities of Holland and loved for its convivial lifestyle and historic center, which has long played a strategic role in European politics. Not only will you explore this city’s Christmas market, but you will also have the opportunity to head into Germany to visit the famous Aachen Christmas Market.
	21st21	DecDec	202323	Antwerp, Belgium
Explore Antwerp, Belgium's second city. Known for its diamond cutting industry, fashion and the many great artists that lived in its vicinity, Antwerp is a city focused on art and culture. Discover an eclectic mix of historic and modern in Belgium’s “Second City,” Antwerp, a town where well-preserved medieval buildings are interspersed with artful modern architecture. After your included explorations today, you may find your final Christmas market for this journey centered in Antwerp’s Old Town, lighting up nostalgic facades and the local castle to create the perfect backdrop for this festive event. Please note that Antwerp’s Christmas Market will not be open during the November 25 and December 2 sailings of this itinerary.
	22nd22	DecDec	202323	Antwerp, Belgium
Explore Antwerp, Belgium's second city. Known for its diamond cutting industry, fashion and the many great artists that lived in its vicinity, Antwerp is a city focused on art and culture. You’ll find a penchant for all things high quality in the country’s biggest port city. Diamonds, art, fashion, and more compete for attention here, so you’re sure to find just the thing to make your time in Antwerp memorable.
	23rd23	DecDec	202323	Brussel (Bruxelles), Belgium, disembark the River Empress
Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer, or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Brussels Airport for your flight home.

River Empress

Launch Year

2001

Refit Year

2014

Tonnage

5,000

Capacity

130

Cabins

Accessible

Rhine Deck

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Restaurant

The onboard restaurant offers guests gourmet dinners paired with distinctive wines and craft beers, culinary demonstrations and tastings as well as private onshore wine and beer tastings exclusively for Uniworld guests.

Chefs will serve signature dishes designed to soothe the soul and warm the heart, along with their traveling Lite menu with health-conscious options.

With Early Riser breakfasts, Afternoon Tea, All-day Bistro menu for snacks and Al fresco dining, there is just so much to excite your tastebuds!

From Farm to Ship

Farm-to-table isn’t just a trendy culinary buzzword around here. It’s a governing philosophy and commitment to serving you the very best local dishes created by our master chefs. When in Italy, dinner may consist of Prosciutto di Parma pizza and Osso Buco Milanese, prepared to your liking, with meats and vegetables sourced from just miles away. After a day immersed in Indian culture, your taste buds may do some immersing of their own with Gajar Shorba and Tandoori Chicken Tikka for lunch. Live brilliantly. Dine locally. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

Creative Culinary Options

For those interested in healthier dining options, our Traveling Lite menu features all of the flavor of our traditional menu, but with fewer calories. We also offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, prepared just for you. If you have a specific meal preference, just ask. Our chefs will be happy to accommodate.

We learned from the best

Mrs. Beatrice Tollman’s culinary vision lives on with her many Signature Dishes you can enjoy onboard. Mrs. Tollman’s memoir, A Life in Food, chronicles her gastronomic prowess and joy of being able to share her life’s passion with thousands of guests. You’ll discover many of the recipes Mrs. Tollman published on our menu, including Bea’s Chicken Soup, Sesame Fried Chicken and Honeycomb Ice Cream. If the all-inclusive amenities and luxurious accommodations weren’t enough to put you in a state of comfortable bliss, the homegrown cooking will.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Main Lounge and Bar

The Main Lounge boasts a panoramic view, a full-service bar and a dance floor.

Signature Cocktails

Our cocktails, much like our ships, are one-of-a-kind and inspired by the destinations we visit. Our bartenders are sharing their favorites with you.

Local Wines

Uniworld cruises through some of the world’s most acclaimed wine producing regions in Europe. Our onboard wine menus are expertly curated by our staff of Sommeliers to reflect the local destination. Plus, you can enjoy these local wines as part of your all-inclusive package.

Local Beers

Our onboard beer menus feature unique lagers, ales and stouts from small local breweries, giving you a taste of the world’s finest. The best part? It’s all included.

Premium Spirits

Extra dirty Grey Goose martini with locally harvested olives? It’s all yours. As is everything else you can think of. With our ultra-inclusive amenities you can enjoy unlimited beverages onboard.

Captains Lounge and Library

Complete with full-service bar, the Captains∘ Lounge and Library is the perfect place to unwind with a good book.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Your Holiday Is Safe With Us

Our Fusion packages are all ABTA & ATOL protected ensuring that your booking is safe with us

Offer

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Holiday Summary

	7 nights cruising on the Dutch Waterways
	Return airport transfers
	All alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages included
	Gratuities Included
	Choice of shore excursions in every port
	Exclusive special events
	Speciality restaurants included
	Bikes for passenger use
	In-room mini bar
	Free Wi-Fi included
	Room Service (category dependant)
	Self-service laundry
	Butler Service (category dependant)
	Port Taxes and Fees
	ABTA and ATOL Protection*

Oceanview staterooms from		£2,399pp
CLASSIC	Classic	£2,399pp