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.
Highlights
Enjoy some of Europe's most beloved Christmas markets
Explore Germany's churches, homes, and bridges along the Danube
Visit Vienna's landmarks and tour the Schonbrunn Palace
Experience Budapest's most famous buildings and markets
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 8: Disembark | Budapest
1 Breakfast
Your cruise comes to an end as you prepare for your homeward flight
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.
$2,799
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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. C
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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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%.
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.