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Take a ride on the ferris wheel or take a stroll through the Christmas Market

Christmas Markets on the Danube

Example 10 Day Cruise aboard MS Amaviola
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Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with a festive journey that kicks off in Prague. After boarding your ship in Nuremberg, cruise through the charming region where so many of today’s most beloved Christmas traditions originated. Experience a number of enchanting Christmas markets in places such as Regensburg, Salzburg, and Vienna, each with its own local flavor and traditions. Conclude your holiday cruise in Budapest.
Christmas Market in PragueFrauenkirche church in NurembergLights brighten the evening at this bustling Christmas MarketPanoramic view of Budapest cityscapeTake a ride on the ferris wheel or take a stroll through the Christmas Market
Highlights
  • Stop at some of Europe's most beloved Christmas markets
  • Admire Germany's churches, homes, and bridges along the Danube
  • Tour Budapest's most famous buildings and markets
  • Sightsee in Passau, home to Europe's largest pipe organ
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Prague, Czech Republic

Arrive in Prague and check-in to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore this beautiful and historic city.

Day 2: Prague, Czech Republic

  • 1 Breakfast
Spend the morning sightseeing in one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. See Rudolfinum, the National Museum, Wenceslas Square and the Hundertwasser Dancing House. Next, visit the 1,000 year-old Prague Castle and St. Vitus before walking over the romantic Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square, where you can find the capital’s famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church and the statue of Jan Husek. Then enjoy free time to shop at Prague’s renowned Christmas Market with its tempting assortment of handicrafts, toys and local delicacies.

Day 3: Prague, Czech Republic | Nuremberg, Germany | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
Depart Prague after breakfast and drive through the pastoral countryside to Nuremberg. Visit the world’s largest Christmas Market, with over 100 red and white canvas-topped stalls offering unique seasonal delights. Tonight, gather on board your ship for a Welcome Dinner. The ship moors in Nuremberg overnight.

Day 4: Nuremberg, Germany | Continental Divide

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches, 900-year-old city ramparts, the house of artist Albrecht Dürer, Imperial Castle, and the Justice Palace courtroom where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. Following your tour, have free time to visit the city’s fabled Christmas Market and enjoy some hot mulled Glühwein – the souvenir mug is yours to keep!

Day 5: Regensburg, Germany

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive in Regensburg after breakfast and enjoy a guided walking tour of the beautiful churches, the homes of wealthy families, and one of Germany’s oldest bridges across the Danube. Your tour ends with a visit to the Old Kornmarkt Christmas Market, with its festive stalls adorned with fir branches. If you’d like to explore on your own in lieu of our city tour, perhaps you can enjoy visiting the “royal” markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, a very traditional handicraft Christmas Market.

Day 6: Passau, Germany

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, you have three choices for how to spend the day. The first is a walking tour of picturesque Passau, a fairytale city founded more than 2,000 years ago, known for its fortifications and town squares like Rathaus, Domplatz, Residenzplatz, as well as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ. Afterwards, take some time to explore the town’s Christmas Market. Guests looking for a more active morning may instead join a guided bike tour from Passau to Erlau. Your third option is a full-day excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” Enjoy some time to visit Salzburg’s beautiful Christmas Market, renowned for local handicrafts and one-of-a-kind holiday presents, as well as a stop at the Christmas Market in Linz on the way back to the ship.

Day 7: Melk | Vienna, Austria

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today’s guided walking tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest Baroque monasteries. See the famous library that inspired novelist Umberto Eco to write The Name of the Rose. You may also opt for a guided bike tour along the scenic Danube instead. During lunch, the ship cruises through the romantic Wachau Valley en route to Vienna,the “City of Music,” arriving this evening. Tonight have the chance to visit both the Maria Theresienplatz and Rathaus Christkindlmarkt markets. The ship moors overnight in Vienna.

Day 8: Vienna, Austria

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning, savor the Baroque elegance of Romantic Vienna through your choice of one of two different excursions. The first option is a panoramic tour of Vienna that guides you past the majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors, Parliament, Town Hall and Vienna University. Afterwards, visit Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben and the world famous Spanish Riding School. The second option is a walking tour of Vienna’s hidden treasures that takes you to secret places and sights like Ankeruhr, a whimsical Art Nouveau clock. Afterwards, spend some time enjoying the Christmas Market and holiday festivities at the Town Hall. Later, you can visit the Schönbrunn and Karlsplatz Christmas Markets, or join a guided bike ride to Klosterneuburg Monastery. The ship departs late this evening for Hungary.

Day 9: Budapest, Hungary

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your morning excursion includes sightseeing in the cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. Observe famed Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church and spectacular views of the Danube. Afterwards, take some time to explore the twinkling Christmas Market in the main square. After dinner, enjoy a special Illuminations Cruise past the city’s glittering riverfront. The ship moors overnight in Budapest.

Day 10: Budapest, Hungary | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Your cruise comes to an end as you prepare for your homeward flight.

Ship/Hotel

MS Amaviola

The grand entrance
Read a good book by the fire

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$3,679
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Cat.E
Piano Deck Fixed Windows, 160 sq. ft.
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Cat.D
Piano Deck Fixed Windows, 160 sq. ft.
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Cat.CB
Violin Deck French Balcony, 170 sq. ft.
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Cat.CA
Violin & Cello Deck French Balcony, 170 sq. ft.
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Cat.BB
Cello Deck French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 210 sq. ft.
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Cat.BA
Violin Deck French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 210 sq. ft.
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Cat.AB
Cello Deck French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 235 sq. ft.
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Cat.AA
Violin Deck French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 235 sq. ft.
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Suite
Violin Deck French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 350 sq. ft.

Notes

Single supplement is 50%, except for Suites which are 100%.
Included
  • 9 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 9 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Onboard Entertainment 
  • Bottled water replenished daily
  • Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise Manager during both cruise and land programs
  • Beverages: Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
  • Beverages: Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
  • Personal headset for excursions. 
  • Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Gala Dinner
  • Knowledgeable guides
  • Internet and Wi-Fi access
  • Sip & Sail Daily Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • Laundry 
  • Port Fees

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