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Enjoy a carriage ride at the Christmas Market

Christmas Markets on the Danube

Example 10 Day Cruise aboard MS Amasonata
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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 and Vienna, each with its own local flavor and traditions. Conclude your holiday cruise in Budapest.
Dortmund Christmas marketChristmas Market at night.Take a ride on the ferris wheel or take a stroll through the Christmas MarketLights brighten the evening at this bustling Christmas MarketEnjoy a carriage ride at the Christmas Market
Highlights
  • Explore Prague, Czech Republic, and mix with the locals
  • Enjoy some of Europe's most beloved Christmas markets
  • Admire Germany's churches, homes, and bridges along the Danube
  • Visit Vienna's landmarks and tour the Schonbrunn Palace
  • Tour Budapest's most famous buildings and markets
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

  • 1 Breakfast
Spend the morning sightseeing in one of Europe’s most attractive cities. Visit the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, then cross the Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square. The remainder of your morning is free to shop at Prague’s renowned Christmas Market; mix with the locals at Wenceslas Square; or relax at a coffeehouse. This afternoon, you may take an optional tour to Terezin, the infamous Nazi WWII concentration camp. Tonight, you can choose to attend an optional “Folklore Dinner Show.”

Day 3: Prague | Nuremberg | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 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 | Continental Divide

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy a guided morning tour of historic Nuremberg. Following your tour, you have free time to visit the city’s fabled Christmas Market and enjoy some hot mulled Glühwein – the souvenir mug is yours to keep! After lunch, continue on to the Continental Divide at Hilpoltstein – the river’s highest point at 1,332 feet above sea level – before descending through stair-step locks.

Day 5: Regensburg

  • 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 a 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

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
You have two choices for how to spend the day. The first is a walking tour of picturesque Passau, known for its fortifications and St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ. Afterwards, take some time to explore the town’s Christmas Market. Or take an optional full-day excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” You have time to visit Salzburg’s beautiful Christmas Market, renowned for local handicrafts and one-of-a-kind holiday presents. If you prefer to stay on board, enjoy a scenic cruise from Passau to Linz. After arriving this evening, feel free to take a walk through this delightful town or browse the charming Christmas Market. The ship departs around midnight and cruises overnight.

Day 7: Weissenkirchen, Austria |/ Vienna

  • 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. During lunch, the ship cruises through the romantic Wachau Valley en route to Vienna, arriving this evening. Tonight, you may head into town to explore on your own or opt for an Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors overnight in Vienna.

Day 8: Vienna

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start your morning with a driving tour of Vienna. See the majestic Opera House, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, followed by a walking tour of the city center. Afterwards, spend some time enjoying the Christmas Market and holiday festivities at the Town Hall. This afternoon, you can join an optional tour to Schonbrunn Palace, which has its own remarkable Christmas Market, or take a stroll along the Kärntnerstrasse and stop to sample Vienna’s famous pastries. The ship departs around dinnertime for Hungary.

Day 9: Budapest, Hungary

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning, cruise past the beautiful towns nestled along the Danube Bend en route to Budapest. Your Budapest sightseeing tour takes you to Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace, and St. Stephen’s Basilica. You have the rest of the day to explore the Christmas Market in the main square. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner, followed by a special “Illuminations Cruise” past Budapest’s glittering riverfront. The ship moors overnight in Budapest.

Day 10: Disembark | Depart Budapest

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

Ship/Hotel

MS Amasonata

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$3,319
Amasonata E cabin
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Cat. E
Piano Deck. Fixed Windows, 160 sq. ft.
Amasonata D cabin
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Cat. D
Piano Deck. Fixed Windows, 160 sq. ft.
Amasonata C
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Cat. C
Violin & Cello Deck. French Balcony, 170 sq. ft.
Amasonata BB cabin
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Cat. BB
Cello Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 210 sq. ft
Amasonata BA cabin
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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
Amasonata AA cabin
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Cat. AA
Violin Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 235 sq. ft.
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Cat. AA+
Violin Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 250 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, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners

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The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
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