Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. This evening, meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. Tonight, the ship will sail a special Illuminations Cruise past the capital’s glittering river front. 

Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castlequarter in Castle Hill and Heroes’ Square, Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition.Your city tour begins with a visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall. The remainder of this tour takes you to both theBuda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. Afterwards, you’ll visit Vorosmarty Square, the oldest, richestand the most spectacular of all the Christmas markets in Budapest. As an alternative, you can hike to Castle Hill, walking along Fishermen’s Bastion and take in all the iconic sites of Budapest with an active exploration. 

Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you'll discover during your walking tour. You’ll also have an opportunity to visit Bratislava’s charming Christmas Market. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. Tonight, explore Vienna’ssplendid Rathaus (Town Hall) Christmas Market. 

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems just waiting to be discovered. Join a tour showcasing its regal splendors, such as the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs, before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center. If you prefer a more active adventure, then join a guided bike ride along the Danube. During the afternoon, visit the market at Schönbrunn Palace with a giant sparkling Christmas tree. Cap the day off with “Vienna by Night”Christmas Markets at the beautifully decorated MariaTheresaplatz Christmas Market, set amongst the world-renowned sights of Vienna’s majestic Ringstrasse, and at the illuminated Rathaus, Vienna’s largest Christmas Market. 

After reaching Weissenkirchen, you’ll have a choice of excursions. Join a walking tour in Dürnstein and then a visit to a local boutique where you’ll enjoy a tasting of special apricot treats. Prefer more active adventures? Join a guided bike tour from Weissenkirchen toMelk. For those not biking to Melk, you’ll sail through the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley to Melk. Once inMelk, you’ll visit its magnificent Benedictine Abbey. 

Linz is known for being the city of Christmascrèches and its ever-popular Linzer torte. While here, you have a choice of three excursions. The first is a full-day visit to Salzburg where you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the UNESCO-designated Old Town, its magnificent cathedral and its Christmas Markets, including the Hellbrunn Palace, where its inner courtyard is turned into a romantic backdrop for one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets in Austria. Alternatively, you can choose a morning walking tour through Linz’s old city center and by the Mozart House, where he composed the Linz Symphony in only three days, as well as visit Linz’s Christmas Markets. Or you can go on a guided bike tour through Linz and along the city’s famed“Culture Mile” and the Danube. During the afternoon, you can join a half-day excursion to Salzburg. 

During the season of Advent, beautifulPassau dresses in her Bavarian holiday splendor, which youwill discover on your walking tour through the city and atits Christmas Market at St. Stephen’s Square—also hometo its magnificent cathedral. Go in search of unique crafts, including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. Ifyou prefer a more active adventure, join a guided bike ridealong the Danube. Later, sail for Vilshofen, where you’ll betreated to an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration. 

This morning, disembark your ship in Vilshofen.