Brussels Christmas Markets Mini Cruise Review on DFDS' King Seaways

The Brussels Christmas Markets mini cruise was a great choice for festive sightseeing in the heart of Europe.

Ice rink in Brussels

I loved my short break to Brussels to see the Christmas Markets.

As it was my first time to Belgium I was not sure what to expect but I was blown away by the experience.

The city is easy to navigate, and is full of great shops, restaurants, museums, and it even boasts a handful of family attractions.

The Christmas Markets were first class, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from luxurious Belgian chocolates and waffles, to Christmas gifts and souvenirs.

The Markets offered a festive charm, and I could not help but feel Christmasy as I walked from stall to stall. A huge ice rink and big wheel dominated the Winter Wonderland (Plaisirs D'Hiver) in Place Saint Catherine. A mesmerising and captivating nightly light show entertained large crowds at the famous Grand Place.

Brussels Christmas Markets
Brussels Christmas Markets at Place Saint Catherine

Brussels is a sprawling city and a mere couple of days is not long enough to take it all in. This Christmas Markets mini cruise was the perfect opportunity to see its highlights without the hassle of organising transport and hotels.

I encountered rough seas on the outbound sailing, but that did not take the shine off the trip. After all, I was just as likely to have a smooth, calm sailing as a rocky one. The return sailing was gentle and allowed me more of an opportunity to explore the many entertainment options available on the ship.

Overall this was a very memorable holiday and something I would happily do again.

It is possible to see much more of Brussels than just the Christmas Markets on this type of holiday although you will need to plan your trip carefully beforehand. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, then you enjoy browsing the festive markets and meandering the streets that encompass Grand Place.

Brussels is an all-rounder destination with something for everyone of all ages, irrespective of whether you are travelling alone, as a couple, as a family or as a group of friends, in search of authentic Christmas cheer.

  • Ferry comfort
  • Ferry entertainment
  • Ferry food and drink
  • Transfers
  • Brussels
4.4

Summary

The Brussels Christmas Markets mini break was a great way to see Belgium and its expansive Christmas Markets with the minimum of fuss. There's plenty of time on this mini break to see the main tourist sights in the city as well as the Christmas Markets.

Read more in this series

  1. Getting to Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal
  2. King Seaways Review
  3. King Seaways Cabins
  4. Food & Drink on King Seaways
  5. Entertainment on King Seaways
  6. Guide to Ijmuiden, Amsterdam
  7. Novotel Centre Tour Noire Brussels Review
  8. Top Things To Do, See, And Eat In Brussels
  9. Brussels Christmas Markets and Light Show
  10. Brussels Christmas Markets Mini Cruise Review on DFDS' King Seaways (you are here)
(Photo credit(s) to David Fiske)
Disclosure: DFDS kindly supplied a half board mini cruise to Brussels, including overseas transfers and a hotel. I paid for travel to and from the Port of Tyne, UK hotel, car parking, incidentals onboard, and meals and incidentals overseas. The opinions in this article are my own.

Written by David Fiske

David first found his sea legs on a cruise around the Caribbean in 2009. Since then he's looked for any excuse to get back on the water which led him onto creating Mini Cruise Reviews as a way to showcase short min breaks that sail from the UK (on ferries or cruise ships).

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