IT’S nearly time to get on board for the festive season – with a Christmas markets cruise.

Need to stock up on presents? Fancy some yuletide treats?

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Or how about admiring some of the best seasonal lights in Europe?

Sophie Swietochowski brings you some crusies that will invite you to do all of that and more . . . 

BEST FOR FESTIVE VARIETY – COLOGNE

COLOGNE in Germany, with its majestic cathedral, pictured, has long been a top European destination to visit for Christmas markets.

And there is more than one of these in the city.

But one of the best is Heinzel’s Winter Fairytale, which has its own ice rink, and is one treat that revellers setting sail on Emerald Cruises’ Rhine voyage should definitely add to their bucket list.

Emerald’s eight-day river cruise begins in wintry Basel in north-west Switzerland before passing by Strasbourg, where passengers can take a guided tour, then it continues via several German cities including Koblenz.

The itinerary ends in Amsterdam where shops will soon be filled with festive local treats such as speculaas – spicy cinnamon biscuits also called windmill cookies.

The Christmas Markets on the Rhine cruise costs from £1,699pp, including flights on December 14, and transfers, wifi and excursions.

See emeraldcruises.co.uk.

BEST FOR SOLO TRAVEL – NUREMBERG

UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruises have £1,000 off a host of festive cruises – many charging no solo supplement.

Single travellers can join an eight-day German cruise through so-called Christmas Country, along the River Main from Nuremberg to Frankfurt.

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Highlights, aboard the River Princess ship, include a tour of Nuremberg and a visit to the city’s Christmas market – the largest and grandest in Germany, famed for its gingerbread.

Explore medieval city of Bamberg’s nativity trail, linking churches, museums and more.

The itinerary also includes a walking tour of medieval town Rothenburg, with its timber-framed houses, cobbled streets and tiny squares, plus visits to Würzburg, Wertheim and Frankfurt.

From £2,199pp for eight-day tour, no solo supplement, departures on December 8, 22 and 23.

See uniworld.com or call 0808 168 9110.

BEST FOR CAROLS – BRUGES

WHICH yuletide tune instantly reminds you of Christmas?

If it’s The Snowman: Walking In The Air, book a spot on this four-night Cunard voyage.

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Welsh singer Aled Jones will be on board to amp up the festive factor, with talks about The Snowman and live performances of carols such as Silent Night and O Holy Night.

The no-fly cruise on board the Queen Victoria, which can carry more than 2,000 passengers, departs from Southampton in early December, sailing straight to Bruges in Belgium.

This is the place to stock up on chocs, as the Belgians are known for producing the world’s best.

The ship then sails to Cherbourg in Normandy, home to a Christmas where treats include French favourite vin chaud (mulled wine).

The Cherbourg and Zeebrugge cruise costs from £669pp, in a Britannia Balcony room, departing on December 1.

See cunard.com.

BEST FOR CULTURE VULTURES – VIENNA

A DANUBE river cruise takes in merry markets crammed with traditional grub such as Austrian grammelknödel (a steaming potato dumpling), as well as celebrating all things Mozart.

The three-night adventure begins in the German city of Passau, after which you’ll cross the border into Austria, ticking off the historic town of Melk, home to an 11th Century abbey where Benedictine monks still live.

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Next stop is Bratislava, Slovakia’s pedestrianised capital filled with cosy cafes, before moving on to Vienna – a highlight on the itinerary where passengers can visit Mozart’s home or listen to music in the famous Opera House.

The three-night Christmas Spirit on the Danube cruise on board the Riverside Mozart costs from £1,108pp, departing on December 5.

See riverside-cruises.com/en or call (0)333 305 0607.

BEST FOR LIGHTS – AMSTERDAM

The Dutch city of Rotterdam takes Christmas very seriously, lighting up the streets in a spectacle of colour.

It’s also the first stop on the Ambassador line’s ship Ambience, which departs from Essex port of London Tilbury.

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Once you’ve sailed down the River Nieuwe Maas and ticked off Rott-erdam, Ambience will head for Honfleur in northern France.

Here, passengers can explore the Christmas markets in the town hall square, with stalls selling everything from stocking fillers to freshly baked treats.

The final stop is Amsterdam, where canalside trees will be festooned with lights.

Check out festive celebration Sinterklaas, and the Amsterdam Light Festival which features more than 25 specially created works of art.

The five-night sailing costs from £499pp, departing London Tilbury on December 15 and based on two people sharing an inside cabin.

See ambassadorcruiseline.com.

AN English village is often overlooked by a famous seaside resort nearby – and locals want to keep it that way.

Felpham is right next to Bognor Regis.

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But Felpham has its own place in history, being where the poet William Blake lived.

He once called Felpham the “sweetest spot on earth” as well as saying: “Away to sweet Felpham, for heaven is there.”

Despite being a small village, it has a long beach with both sand and shingle.

People have raved about the “lovely” beach, which has a long promenade next to it as well.

One wrote: “Great time just sitting watching the boats, brings back memories of when we used to go crabbing when the kids were a lot smaller.”

Another called it their “favourite local beach”.

The Boat House cafe on the beach is also popular with visitors as well as dog-walkers in the winter months.

But Felpham is lesser-visited and locals might want to keep it that way.

The Felpham website states: “Felpham is a secret we like to keep to ourselves.

“Why would we want to share our beautiful beaches and parks, our great pubs, restaurants, hotels and shops and so much more?”

However, they added: “I guess we have to let others know how lucky we are. Just make sure you don’t spoil it please.”

While there are no celebs who call it home, there are a number of famous faces who have backed the village.

Bill Nighy recently visited to support a local campaign to keep Felpham’s Post Office open.

And Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is a patron of The Blake Cottage Trust, which protects William Blake’s home.

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Despite being a small village, there are a number of pubs, restaurants and hotels to choose from.

There is The George Inn, The Thatched House and The Fox Inn, all within walking distance of each other.

Otherwise the beachfront The Lobster Pot has both sea views and seafood on offer.

And of course, a seaside village is nothing without a fish and chip shops, with the Felpham Chippy highly rated.

You won’t find any major hotel chains in Felpham – unless you head over to Bognor Regis – although there are B&Bs as well as the seafront Beachcroft Hotel, with rooms and beach huts to stay in.

Still want to go to Bognor Regis? Here is the new £15million attraction opening at the town’s Butlin’s.

And one mum has been visiting Butlin’s for 40 years – here’s how she thinks it has changed.

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ASLEF AND RMT members are set to strike over pay at the end of the year after failing to reach an agreement.

Here’s everything you need to know about when the strikes are and what you can expect.

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When are the next train strikes?

There are currently no train strikes planned over the next few months.

This is due to ASLEF reaching a deal with the Rail Delivery Group in September 2024.

When are the next Tube strikes?

There next set of tube strikes are scheduled from November 1 to November 12, 2024.

ASLEF strikes will take place on Thursday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 12.

Union members will also take part in an overtime ban from November 3 to November 16.

ASLEF members going on strike include drivers, instructors, management grades, and members in the engineering section.

The RMT strikes will take place between November 1 and November 8, but not all members will be on strike at the same time.

Is Eurostar affected by train strikes?

Eurostar services will not be affected by the strikes.

However, it is always advisable to double-check your travel plans in case any part of your journey is impacted.

On strike days, always verify that your connecting transport is operational before you set off, and allow extra time for potential disruptions.

This will help ensure a smoother journey despite any ongoing industrial action.

Can I get my money back for strike days?

Yes, you may be able to get a refund for a train ticket if your journey is delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled due to a strike. 

The type of ticket and how you purchased it may affect how you can request a refund.

If passengers have a return ticket they may also be entitled to a fee-free refund if part of the journey is cancelled.

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Season ticket holders who cannot travel can claim 100 per cent compensation for strike dates.

The specific refund policies vary depending on the train operator, so it’s important to check the terms and conditions of your ticket.

What are the strikes about?

The strikes organized by the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) is primarily about pay.

We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay.

Finn Brennan

The union is demanding better wages for its train drivers, who have not received a pay rise since their last agreements expired in 2019.

Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s organiser on London Underground, said: “We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because LU management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.

“Six months after the date that a pay agreement for 2024 should have been implemented, ASLEF’s executive committee has given notice that our members on London Underground will take strike action to achieve a fair deal on pay and working conditions.”