Day 1 Munich | Nuremberg | Embark
Arrive at Munich Airport and transfer to Nuremberg and board the Emerald Waterways Star-Ship, Emerald Sky. Enjoy sights of the Danube as the cruise begins.
Day 2 Regensburg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning, relax as the ship cruises along the Main-Danube Canal to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Regensburg, a city that miraculously came out of the Second World War more or less intact. Here, visit the 12th-century bridge crossing the Danube and some of the city’s architectural highlights, before walking into the heart of the Thurn und Taxis Palace Christmas market, where rows of quaint wooden stalls are adorned by row-upon-row of twinkling lights.
Day 3 Passau
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The cobblestone streets that weave through Passau make it look as though it has been pulled from a Christmas card, especially when a thin layer of fresh snow blankets the town. Join a walking tour of Passau that will finish underneath the striking green domes of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where a charming Christkindlmarkt full of festive souvenirs and freshly baked goods can be found.
Day 4 Melk | Dürnstein
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today, visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Melk Abbey, a Baroque palace that was gifted to monks almost a millennia ago. This afternoon, enjoy sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley, where Renaissance ruins and ancient castles pepper the surrounding landscape.
Day 5 Vienna
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Welcome to Vienna, where opportunities abound to discover the Baroque cityscape and a generous peppering of imperial palaces during a guided tour of the Ringstrasse and the city centre, both by coach and on foot. After the tour, explore the area at leisure, perhaps venturing into the heart of one of Vienna’s many Christmas markets, each set in open squares across the city.
Day 6 Bratislava
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today, enjoy learning about Slovakian culture while journeying into the heart of Bratislava, a capital where cultures really do sit side-by-side. A sightseeing tour of the city introduces architectural wonders, including the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral and the neo-Renaissance Slovak National Theatre, but the city’s Christmas markets are a true delight, as they showcase handcrafted souvenirs and traditional Christmas treats.
Day 7 Budapest
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Offering a rich abundance of historical whimsy, Budapest is known for its architectural collections and the historic monuments that pepper both sides of the Danube. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is a true delight at Christmas, when the locals take to thermal baths to beat the crisp chill of the season. Today, a guided coach tour will visit Andrássy Avenue and the neo-Renaissance façades of the townhouses that can be found there, as well as a generous scattering of Christmas decorations.
This evening, a traditional Hungarian folklore show is certain to delight, as is a postcard-worthy night-time cruise along the Danube.
Day 8 Budapest | Disembark
After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport.
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