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Christmas Market Square at night

Enchanting Christmas & New Year's

Passau to Budapest - Example 11 Day Cruise aboard S.S. Maria Theresa
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An 11-day festive extravaganza celebrating two holidays in grand and unforgettable style. Ring out the old year and ring in the new with art, wine and song as you cruise through four nations aboard S.S Maria Theresa during this enchanting season. Cruise the mighty Danube, visiting classic capitals like Budapest and Vienna. Spend Christmas Eve in Passau, then ring in the New Year in elegant style with a gala dinner and ballroom dance in Budapest. Commemorate a splendid musical heritage as you lift your voice and sing “Silent Night” in Oberndorf, where the beloved Christmas carol was composed. Sip a cocktail with a princess in the seven-towered Artstetten Castle. Discover the seasonal delicacies of Slovakia in Bratislava. Festive celebrations are plentiful during this cruise—what better way to create perfect holiday memories.
 
Visit charming PassauVienna Christmas MarketMelk Abbey, Lower AustriaSunset over PassauEnjoy a cozy Christmas market with loved onesChristmas Market Square at night
Highlights
  • Enjoy a private Artstetten Castle reception with a Habsburg royal family
  • Spend Christmas in Austrian towns famous for music, Salzburg and Oberndorf
  • Discover the seasonal delicacies of Slovakia
  • Be entertained by a Private Mozart and Strauss concert
  • Warm up with spiced wine tasting and organ concert in a monastery
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: Passau | Embark

Arrive at Munich Airport. Be greeted by a representative and transferred to the ship docked in Passau.

Day 2: Passau

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Old-town Passau is built on a spit of land that looks almost like a ship with its narrow prow jutting into the water, a fitting shape for a city that has been an important center of river trade since it was founded by the ancient Romans. Today a local expert shows you the highlights of this delightful and accessible town located at the confluence of three rivers— the Danube, Inn and Ilz.

Enjoy a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner prepared for you this evening.

Day 3: Linz (Salzburg and Oberndorf)

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your ship docks in Linz today. From there, you’ll travel to the alpine cities of Salzburg and Oberndorf for a delightful full-day excursion. Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg, is nestled in a glorious alpine setting that sparkles like a winter wonderland. Fans of “The Sound of Music” may recognize locations from the Oscar-winning film in the city’s Old Town, the site of a grand cathedral and a wonderful Christmas Market. You’ll also visit the nearby town of Oberndorf, where the world’s most beloved Christmas carol was composed and performed for the first time.

Day 4: Grein

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your diary entry for today will say “Cocktails with the princess at the castle.” Raise a glass with a bona fide member of Austrian royalty at her 13th-century home, Artstetten Castle, and hear some intriguing tales about her Habsburg ancestors. Also on the agenda—a walk through charming Grein and a peek inside Austria’s oldest theater.

Day 5: Melk | Wachau Valley | Dürnstein

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Melk Abbey has an unexpectedly opulent library filled not only with rare and precious books but also secret doors and optical illusions. After your visit, cruise the Wachau Valley to the tiny village of Dürnstein, where you can browse the shops selling apricot schnapps, hike up to the ruins of a castle, taste mulled wine and attend an organ concert at a local church. Your river adventure today takes you through one of the most beautiful regions in Austria, bookended by two picturesque and historic towns, Melk and Dürnstein.

Day 6-7: Vienna

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Renowned for its art and architecture, its classical music, its decadent pastries and its lengthy list of famous former residents, the refined city of Vienna is a cultural treasure trove. Experience the city with your choice of tours, followed by an evening concert of Mozart and Strauss, performed at a 12th-century monastery.

A day of free time to explore Vienna at your leisure awaits. Maybe the Viennese love for music, food, drink and stunning architecture will compel you to visit one of the many pubs, coffeehouses, wine taverns, art museums and sprawling palaces.

Day 8: Bratislava

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Once hidden from the world behind the “Iron Curtain,” Slovakia retains an air of mystery and intrigue, and its small capital city has an unexpectedly colorful history. You’ll learn more about Bratislava’s past from a local expert, then have free time to check out the whimsical street art and sample delicious delicacies found only in Slovakia.

Day 9-10: Budapest

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each have their own distinctive character and allure. Get a taste of this dynamic capital city with your choice of tours. The highlight of the day comes after darkness falls, with a glorious exclusive New Year’s Eve gala dinner and dancing.

Start off the New Year on a high note with an excursion to a village of talented artisans and craftspeople who live and create beautiful things together. The village is also home to two museums you’re welcome to visit—one devoted to lovely ceramics and the other to the art of marzipan.

Enjoy a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner prepared for you this evening.

Day 11: Budapest | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
After disembarking the ship, be transferred to the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport for your flight home.

Ship/Hotel

S.S. Maria Theresa

Fine Dining aboard S.S. Maria Theresa
S.S. Maria Theresa Lobby
S.S. Maria Theresa Lounge

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$5,999
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
S.S. Maria Theresa Classic Cabin
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Classic
Magnificent appointed riverview stateroom (162 sq ft - 15 sq m) located on the Bavarian Deck. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hair dryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers.
S.S. Maria Theresa French Balcony
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French Balcony
Sumptuous appointed riverview stateroom (194 sq ft - 18 sq m) located on the Schönbrunn Deck with a French balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hair dryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers.
S.S. Maria Theresa Deluxe Balcony
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Deluxe Balcony
Luxuriant appointed riverview stateroom(194 sq ft - 18 sq m) located on the Hofburg Deck with an open-air balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hair dryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen and bottled water. Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers.
S.S. Maria Theresa Suite
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Suite
Lavishly appointed riverview suite (305 sq ft - 28.3 sq m) located on the Hofburg Deck with an open-air balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hair dryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen and bottled water.
S.S. Maria Theresa Grand Suite
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Grand Suite
Luxurious appointed riverview grand suite (410 sq ft - 38 sq m) with a French balcony. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, built-in closet, safe, hair dryer, individual thermostat, flat TV screen and bottled water.The Grand Suite offers extra benefits, including a separate spacious living room, bathroom with a separate rain shower and tub, and secluded toilet and bidet area.

Notes

Please Note: Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.

- All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
- Single Supplement applies for single accommodation. Solo occupancy pricing is dependent on cabin type, contact us for details.
Included
  • 10 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 10 Dinners
  • 10 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Bilingual English-speaking guide
  • Unlimited Wifi
  • All gratuities, shipboard and shoreside 
  • Bicycles & Hiking Sticks equipment if needed
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
  • Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks, and mineral water
  • Guided “Do as the Locals Do” and “Let's Go” programs
  • State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
  • Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Port Fees
  • Passport or Visa fees

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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
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