BlueSun Cruises

1300 799 758

holidays@bluesuntravel.com

S.S. Elisabeth, 7 Night Belgian Holiday Markets ex Brussels (Brugge), Belgium Return

Cruise S.S. Elisabeth, 7 Night Belgian Holiday Markets ex Brussels (Brugge), Belgium Return
Cruise Line Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Ship S.S. Elisabeth
Destination EU Rivers
Brief Description 7 Night Cruise sailing from Brussels (Brugge), Belgium onboard S.S. Elisabeth
Type of Cruise River
Departure Date 16 Dec 2027
Cruise Description The holiday season in Belgium is something truly special. Each city throws an enchanting winter festival, which could include anything from market stalls and elaborate light displays to Ferris wheels and ice skating rinks. Bordered by the bigger tourism magnets France, Germany, and the Netherlands, Belgium is a small country bursting with cultural impact and well worthy of being the highlight of any European trip—whether it’s your first time on the continent or your tenth. Chocolates, french fries, specialty spirits, and beers are amongst the many things this stretch of the Earth is known for doing well. You’ll get to experience it all during Belgium’s most festive time of the year, when you can sip vin chaud and the world’s most delicious cups of hot chocolate between bites of warm liege waffles and spiced gingerbread.

Who will enjoy this cruise: This trip is perfect for those who have been to the classic markets of Germany and are looking for something new, for anyone looking to explore a different side of Belgium than most tourists see, or for those excited to lean into a holiday extravaganza for their next winter season.

Please note that some of the winter festivals we visit may not be open during the sailing departing on the 2nd of December.

Day 1 - Brussels (Embark)
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.

Day 2 - Ghent
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.
* A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 3 - Antwerp
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.

Day 4 - Hasselt
Today, you’ll explore the trendy-yet-quaint town of Hasselt. A blend of city interest—with plenty of cafés and shopping—and an easygoing, small-town atmosphere, the mostly car-free Hasselt is a charming place to explore on foot.

Day 5 - Maastricht
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.

Day 6 - Antwerp
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 December 2 sailing of this itinerary.
* A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 7 - Brussels
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.

Day 8 - Brussels (Disembark)
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.
Sailing Dates
16 Dec 2027
Pricing
Please enquire for pricing
Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
16 Dec 2027 Brussels (Brugge), Belgium
17 Dec 2027 Ghent, Belgium
18 Dec 2027 Antwerp, Belgium
19 Dec 2027 Hasselt, Belgium
20 Dec 2027 Maastricht, The Netherlands
21 Dec 2027 Antwerp, Belgium
22 Dec 2027 Brussels (Brugge), Belgium
23 Dec 2027 Brussels (Brugge), Belgium
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.

Unless otherwise expressly noted, all materials, including images, illustrations, designs, icons, and photographs appearing anywhere on this website are protected by worldwide copyright laws and treaty provisions. The copyright on such materials is held by the original creator of the materials. None of the materials may be copied, reproduced, displayed, modified, published, uploaded, posted, transmitted or distributed in whole or in part in any form or by any means other than as provided by Cruise Factory and The Small Ship Collective to its clients, or with the prior written permission of Cruise Factory and Cruise Traveller. All rights not expressly granted in these Terms are reserved. Any unauthorised use of the materials appearing on this website may violate copyright, trademark and other applicable laws and could result in criminal or civil penalties.