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Enjoy a carriage ride at the Christmas Market

Iconic Christmas Markets - Cruise Only

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard MS Amaverde
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Sparkling lights, the festive sounds of children dressed as angels singing carols, enticing smells of hot-mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and sweet treats of every kind, and timeless wonders on this 8-day cruise are a feast for all your senses. Budapest’s Vörösmarty Square, where all products sold in the market are guaranteed to be traditionally handmade; Vienna, with its impressive Christmas markets that seem to appear around every corner majestically; Nuremberg’s festive Christkindlesmarkt, the largest and oldest Christmas market in Germany; Regensburg’s Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Castle, considered one of Bavaria’s most beautiful and romantic; and Prague, with its renowned Christmas Market in the Old Town square;—along with many others throughout your journey aboard MS Amaverde—are yours to explore.
 
ViennaHungaryWander the colorful stalls of Christmas markets in GermanyTake a ride on the ferris wheel or take a stroll through the Christmas MarketNurembergEnjoy a carriage ride at the Christmas Market
Highlights
  • Visit Vörösmarty Square, the oldest of all the Christmas Markets in Budapest
  • Discover the magnificent Benedictine Abbey, which now houses a museum
  • Join a tour of Regensburg, showcasing the city’s architectural highlights
  • Enjoy Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world’s largest Markets
Activities
Places Visited
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: Embark | Budapest, Hungary

Board the ship in Budapest for your Iconic Christmas Markets cruise. 

Day 2: Budapest

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castle quarter 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 the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. Afterward, visit Vörösmarty Square, the oldest and the most spectacular of all the Christmas Markets in Budapest. 

Day 3: Vienna, Austria

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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. Afterward, visit the Rathaus (Town Hall) Christmas Market. If you prefer a more active adventure, then join a guided bike ride to Klosterneuburg Abbey. During the afternoon, visit the Schönbrunn Palace with a giant sparkling Christmas tree. This market presents a glittering and stellar Christmas experience. Cap the day off with “Vienna by Night” Christmas Markets at the beautifully decorated Maria Theresaplatz Christmas Market, set amongst the world-renowned sights of Vienna’s majestic Ringstrasse, and at the illuminated Rathaus, Vienna’s largest Christmas Market. 

Day 4: Melk

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
High on a rocky outcrop lies the Melk Abbey, one of Europe’s most revered Baroque monasteries. Visit this magnificent Benedictine Abbey, which now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. Alternatively, go on a guided bike ride around Melk. 

Day 5: Passau, Germany

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s. Go in search of Bavarian-style crafts at the Christmas Market. Alternatively, you can travel through the serene Austrian Alps to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart. Your full-day excursion in Salzburg includes 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. For the active adventurer, join a guided bike tour along the Danube.

Day 6: Regensburg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Before visiting the Old Town Christmas Market, join a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the OldTown Hall and the Porta Praetoria. As an alternate option, sample some of Bavaria’s specialties—beer, sausage, and pretzels. Or bike to the base of Walhalla, where the Parthenon inspires a neoclassical white marble temple in Athens. Later in the day, you’ll be treated to one of Bavaria's most beautiful and romantic Christmas Markets at Thurn and Taxis, where you can watch artisans make their unique arts and crafts. 

Day 7: Nuremberg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy a scenic morning cruise as the ship crosses the Continental Divide via the Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg. Join a city tour of WWII highlights and then walk through Nuremberg’s cobblestone streets to the Imperial Castle and 900-year-old city ramparts. Alternatively, you can taste your way through the city with a Franconian specialties tour, which introduces you to bratwurst, rotbier (red beer), and lebkuchen(gingerbread). Later, you can visit Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world’s largest and most famous Christmas Markets. 

Day 8: Nuremberg | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Disembark the ship and bid farewell to Nuremberg as you prepare for your flight home. 

Ship/Hotel

MS Amaverde

AmaVerde

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$3,699

Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
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Category E
Piano Deck, fixed window. Private facilities, 170 sq ft
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Category D
Piano Deck, fixed window. Private facilities, 170 sq ft
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Category C
Cello Deck, French Balcony. Private facilities, 170 sq ft
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Category BB
Cello Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony. Private facilities, 210 sq ft
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Category BA
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony. Private facilities, 210 sq ft
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Category AB
Cello Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony. Private facilities, 235 sq ft
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Category AA
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony. Private facilities, 235 sq ft
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Suite
Violin Deck, French Balcony & Outside Balcony. Private facilities, 350 sq ft
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Onboard Entertainment 
  • Bottled water replenished daily
  • Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise Manager during both cruise and land programs
  • Beverages: Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
  • Beverages: Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
  • Personal headset for excursions. 
  • Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Gala Dinner
  • Knowledgeable guides
  • Internet and Wi-Fi access
  • Sip & Sail Daily Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • Laundry 
  • Port 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.
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