Spend an unforgettable Christmas sailing the Danube River on this 11-day Europe cruise and land tour. The Danube has captivated musicians, artists and poets throughout the centuries, and now delights travelers with romantic destinations and historical treasures. Enjoy a land extension in Prague before boarding for a 7-night cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in the enchanting city of Prague and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of your day is yours to explore the city at your leisure.
Day 2: Prague
1 Breakfast
Take a morning sightseeing tour to the historic city center of Prague. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the city before visiting the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle, then walk over Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square. The remainder of the day is yours to explore at your leisure - a special highlight comes in the form of visiting the colorful Christmas Markets - offering tempting array of handicrafts, toys, wood carvings and ornaments. In the evening, enjoy an optional "Folklore Dinner" and learn about Czech music, dance and cultural traditions.
Day 3: Prague
1 Breakfast
Spend the day at your leisure or take an optional excursion to Terezin, an infamous WWII concentration camp which is now a memorial. Or, should you rather, choose an optional excursion to Lobkowicz Palace.
Depart Prague in the morning and stop in Regensburg for a guided walking tour. After lunch on your own, continue to the charming 200-year-old Bavarian town of Vilshofen to embark the AmaBella. Remain in town to celebrate Oktoberfest and enjoy traditional beers, Bavarian folk music, song, and dance. Return to the ship in the evening and set sail.
Spend a free morning exploring Vilshofen's beautiful old town before cruising to Passau. Arrive in the afternoon and take a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture, cobblestoned streets, and St. Stephan’s Cathedral.
Arrive in Linz in the early morning, the second largest city in Austria. Take a walking tour along the Landstrasse to the city’s Main Square to see St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Marian Column, the Landes Theatre and St. Martin’s Church. Return to the ship for brunch.
In the afternoon, pick one of three different excursions. Your first option is a visit to the scenic "Salzkammergut" region, the Austrian Lake District. Your second option is to join an excursion to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov. This is a wonderfully preserved medieval town, nestled in the hills just over the Austrian-Czech border. Your third option is an excursion to Salzburg. Take a walking tour of the historic center which is famous as the setting for the "Sound of Music". Enjoy some free time on your own before returning to the ship.
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau morning en route to Melk. Upon arrival, a guided tour takes you through Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest and most famous monastic sites, home to religious relics and a library filled with medieval manuscripts. Continue cruising the beautiful Wachau Valley to Krems. From Krems, transfer to Dürnstein and enjoy a walking tour of the town’s medieval streets. In the evening, enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery.
Arrive in Vienna. Take a morning city tour of the city to view the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, and the historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Spend the afternoon exploring the city at your leisure, or take an optional excursion to the Schönbrunn Palace. In the evening, enjoy an optional Mozart and Strauss concert in the "Music Capital of the World." The ship moors in Vienna overnight.
Spend the morning afloat as you cruise to Bratislava. Upon arrival, take a walking tour to visit the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace, and Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral.
Arrive in Budapest in the morning and take a sightseeing tour to the historic Buda Castle, offering splendid views of the river and the twin cities of Buda and Pest. Also visit the Fisherman's Bastion, Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica and Heroes’ Square. After dinner, take a special "Illuminations Cruise" past the glittering riverfront of Budapest.
Day 11: Disembark
1 Breakfast
Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking the ship. Transfer to the airport for your independent continued journeys.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
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Category E
Piano Deck, Fixed window, private facilities, 170 sq. ft.
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Category D
Piano Deck, Fixed window, private facilities, 170 sq. ft.
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Category C
Cello Deck, French Balcony, private facilities, 170 sq. ft.
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Category BB
Cello Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 210 sq. ft.
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Category BA
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 210 sq. ft.
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Category AB
Cello Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 235 sq. ft.
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Category AA
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 235 sq. ft.
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Suite
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony, private facilities, 350 sq. ft.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 169 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 169 reviews on
1 day ago
Friendly and professional interactions. Answered my questions and followed up on initial contact.
Tim Elliott
2 days ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
3 days ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
3 days ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
4 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.