BOOKING OPEN
Christmas Markets — MSC Preziosa
Sun 5 December 2027 · 7 nights · From Southampton
From £357pp, based on a family of four. Cruise only, no flights needed.
7
Nights
4
Ports
2
Sea Days
4
Countries
Four Christmas market cities in a week, all from Southampton with no flights. Le Havre for Paris or Rouen, Bruges from Zeebrugge, Rotterdam for Amsterdam, then a full day in Hamburg, home to some of Germany's best-loved Christmas markets. Two sea days to rest in between, and back the following Sunday morning.
Destination
Christmas markets: France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany
Current price
From £357pp, based on four sharing. Family of four from £1,428
Dates
5–12 December 2027
Cruise line
MSC Cruises
Cruise ship
MSC Preziosa
Minimum age
6 months
Itinerary
What’s a group sailing?
Group sailings are a simple way for home ed families to see several countries in one trip, without a huge cost or a big commitment, and to do it alongside other families who live the way you do. The kids get proper time with friends and more freedom than they’d get almost anywhere else. The parents get adult company and some time to themselves.
We keep them deliberately loose, so they suit every kind of home ed family. There’s no tour leader and no timetable to follow: the ship does the entertaining, and we do the bringing together. Leaving out paid guides keeps the price down, so more families can come. The point is the people you meet and what everyone learns along the way, as much as the places.
Who this suits
Families who want a Christmas trip without flying: drive to Southampton, walk on, and you're in France the next morning. It's in term time, a couple of weeks before the school holidays, so the markets are busy but not at their peak.
Hamburg is the big day, 07:00 to 20:00, so you can see the markets by day and again when they're lit up after dark. Bruges is small, flat and easy on foot with younger children, and its market sits in the main square.
Paris is a long day from Le Havre, around two and a half hours each way, so it suits older children. Rouen and Honfleur are closer, with markets of their own. The two sea days, after Rotterdam and on the way home, give everyone time to warm up and the children time in the kids' clubs.
Cabins and prices
Prices are for the whole cabin, including taxes. Pick the card that matches your group.
Interior
Ocean View
Balcony
2 guests
Interior · £1,188
Ocean view · £1,368
Balcony · £1,568
3 guests
Interior · £1,307
Ocean view · £1,497
Balcony · £1,697
4 guests
Interior · £1,426
Ocean view · £1,626
Balcony · £1,866
5+ guests
Family cabins and connecting cabins
Ask us for a quote →
Deposit £100 per person to book. Final balance due 12th September 2027.
(Prices correct on 29th October 2026 and subject to availability. We’ll confirm the exact price when you enquire)
What’s included
Ticked items are in the price. Crossed items you pay for separately, only if you want them.
Included
Your cabin for 7 nights
Main restaurants and buffet
Water, tea and coffee
Gratuities
Shows and entertainment
Pools, waterslide & aqua park
Kids' clubs, 6 months to 17
Gym & sports court
Not included
Speciality restaurants
Alcohol and soft drinks
Wi-Fi
Spa and paid activities
Shore excursions
..
..
..
On board MSC Preziosa
A big, modern ship with plenty for every age, whether it's a sea day or the evening after a port.
Gym & sports court
Infinity pool at the back
Vertigo waterslide
Doremi Castle aqua park
Kids' clubs, 6 months to 17
Platinum Theatre shows
Live music and nightclub
Sports court and jogging track
Gym
Aurea Spa (£)
4D cinema and F1 simulator (£)
Bowling and arcade (£)
Kids clubs
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions people ask before they join the group
Do we travel as a group, and is someone in charge?
Same ship, same dates, dining linked, a WhatsApp group. Beyond that you do what you like. There's no leader and no schedule to follow, the ship already has the staff, kids' clubs and entertainment, so we don't need to add a guide and charge you for it.
Is it more expensive than booking direct?
No. Same price. The cruise line pays us a commission, so you pay exactly what you'd pay them. Nothing is added to the price by us ever.
Can we book direct and still join the group?
No. To be in the linked dining, the WhatsApp group and the kid roster, the booking has to come through us. It costs you nothing extra; it's how the group holds together.
What ages are the children, and will ours get on with them?
Every sailing page shows the ages of the children already booked, so you can see the mix before you commit. Nobody can promise friendships, but a ship has a hundred places for kids to find each other, and the WhatsApp group means they usually know names before they board.
Can we spread the cost?
Yes. Pay in full, or pay a deposit now and the balance by the cruise line's deadline. Sarah will tell you the dates before anything is charged.
Is our money safe?
Bookings are made through Wake Enterprises Limited, trading as ITC, a member of the Protected Trust Services scheme. Your money sits in a protected trust account and isn't released until you're home.
Do the kids do any schoolwork?
Up to you. Some families bring a bit; most treat the ports and the ship as the lesson. Nothing is organised by us and nothing is required.
How do we book?
Send an enquiry from the sailing page. Sarah emails your quote, then when happy you can make a deposit or pay in full which secures your cabin and we handle everything with the cruise line.
What will it cost on top of the fare?
Check the Not included list on each sailing. Usually it's drinks beyond water, tea and coffee, Wi-Fi, speciality restaurants, excursions and travel to the port.
Do you organise excursions?
No paid guides, which keeps the price down. Families often plan port days together, and you're free to book through the cruise line, use local operators or explore on your own.
Will we get seasick?
Big ships are very stable and most people feel little or nothing. If you're prone to it, a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck moves least, and it's worth packing remedies.
Can the ship cater for allergies and dietary needs?
Yes. Tell us on the enquiry form and we'll pass the details to the cruise line before you sail.
Do we need passports?
Yes, everyone needs a valid passport, including babies and children. Check the entry rules for each country on GOV.UK before you travel.
Ask about this sailing
No commitment. Sarah will come back with a quote for the cabins you name, at the same price as booking direct.
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© 2026 Worldschooling UK · Bookings made through The Independent Travel Consultants, part of Wake Enterprises Limited