Christmas on the Danube

Embark the ship and settle into your stateroom. Visit Regensburg, a well-preserved medieval city on the Danube River and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Old Stone Bridge, built in the 12th century with 16 arches. View St. Peter’s Cathedral, an example of Gothic architecture in Bavaria. In the old town, stop at Neupfarrplatz square, an area that has served as a Jewish quarter, a marketplace, and later a site of Nazi book burnings.

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Regensburg is transformed during the holiday season as its medieval streets are donned with festive cheer. Narrow passageways open to hidden courtyards with stalls laden with handcrafted wares, including dolls, pottery, and silk paintings. The scent of home-baked spiced gingerbread, cinnamon, and glühwein fills the air. The world-famous boys’ choir, the Regensburger Domspatzen, was formed at the city’s cathedral in 975 and travels the globe, performing to admiring audiences internationally.

Included Excursion:
Regensburg Walking Tour & Organ Concert
Soak up the splendor of one of Germany’s hidden gems with this magnificent walking tour of Regensburg.

Historic Regensburg & Jewish Heritage
Discover Regensburg during a walking tour and learn more about the city’s Jewish heritage.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Munich at Christmas
See the sights of one of Germany’s most popular cities and revel in the lively atmosphere of its Christmas market.

Historic Nuremberg and its Christkindlmarket
Visit Nuremberg, a city with an intriguing past, and get into the yuletide spirit at the Christkindmarket.

Bavarian Beer Culture
Sample a selection of Bavaria’s best-loved brews, accompanied by classic biergarten fare.

St. Emmeram Palace & its Romantic Christmas Market
Visit the palace central to the creation of Europe’s 16th-century postal services and its beautiful holiday market.

Centered around the beautiful St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, the romantic market stalls of the Christkindlmarkt are a delight to explore. An array of handmade goods, from tasty treats to ornaments, offer a wealth of opportunity to take home a unique artisan gifts created by local craftsmen. Periodically throughout the festive season, the cathedral hosts yuletide concerts; the sound of choirs singing can be heard as their voices echo through the courtyard and the town’s narrow streets.

​Included Excursion:
Christmas Traditions in Passau
Stroll historic Passau, watch an Advent wreath demonstration and sample a yuletide treat—gingerbread.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Salzburg at Christmas
Spend the day in one of Austria’s most scenic alpine cities, Salzburg, and visit its renowned Christmas market.

Festive Bavarian Beerfest
Participate in a festive celebration in a stunning rural setting as you sample Bavaria’s famous beer.

Sail through a serene tapestry of terraced vineyards, forested slopes, charming towns and castle ruins in Austria’s Wachau Valley, celebrated as perhaps the most scenic stretch of the Danube. Journey 18 miles through this vast UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the river courses through picturesque hillsides. Gaze upon the prolific grapevines and quaint wine-producing villages hugging the shores—the legacy of vintners that stretch as far back as Celtic and Roman times and an echo of the more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days.

A small university town at the eastern end of the Danube’s Wachau Valley, Krems is surrounded by terraced vineyards. In its heyday, during the 12th century, Krems held even more importance than Vienna for its iron, grain, salt and wine trade. As to the latter, the city has played a long and celebrated part in the popularity of the Wachau’s wine culture; the valley’s south slopes in Krems are bathed in sunlight all day and create some of the best Riesling and Veltliner wines in the world. The city’s cobblestone streets, taverns, wine bars and cafés have a timeless appeal.

Renowned as the “City of Waltzes,” Austria’s capital city of Vienna is Europe’s center of classical music. Strauss and Mozart composed many of their finest pieces here. Vienna’s musical history is matched by the elegant, graceful architecture that lines the Ringstrasse. Baroque, neo-Renaissance, Gothic-Romanesque and other splendidly styled structures take the breath away with their grand facades. Vienna has a more intimate side too: inviting footpaths lead through green parks and its famed Viennese cafés sweeten any stay with coffee and the city’s delectable Sachertorte.

​Included Excursion:
Göttweig Abbey at Christmas
Experience a Benedictine abbey where monks work and worship during a Privileged Access visit to Göttweig Abbey.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Göttweig Abbey with Apricot Dumpling Demonstration
Enjoy an exclusive visit to historic Göttweig Abbey before learning how to make tasty apricot dumplings.

The yuletide season transforms Vienna’s beautiful squares into delightful Christmas markets. Festive lights illuminate the Old Town. The Schönbrunn market, set in front of the baroque Hapsburg summer palace, and Freyung market, nestled in the city center, are the perfect destinations for unique handmade decorations. Seasonal music and choral singing provide a merry ambience to holiday festivities in Am Hof Square, while the market at Belvedere Square mixes excellent shopping opportunities with views of the stately palace and adjacent lake to create a fairytale atmosphere.

​Included Excursion:
Panoramic Vienna & Christmas Market
Discover the magnificent architectural highlights of Vienna, Austria’s elegant capital, during a festive tour.

Vienna’s Sights Up Close
Travel like a local as you journey by subway and on foot to view the city’s main sights.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Jewels of Vienna’s Ring
Marvel at the elegant architecture along Vienna’s famed Ringstrasse and explore two renowned national attractions.

Festive Schönbrunn Palace
Visit the magnificent home of the Hapsburg Dynasty and immerse yourself in its grand traditional festivities.

Heurigen Dinner
Participate in a high-spirited Heurigen dinner and toast this year’s wine at a local vineyard.

Vienna is considered one of Europe’s greatest cultural hubs. Its art scene has long been established with the Hapsburg’s collection of fine art, now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Today, Vienna’s modern side showcases street art murals that don the side of buildings along the banks of the Danube. Ingrained in local life is the long-embraced tradition of coffeehouses; UNESCO includes Viennese coffeehouse culture on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritages. It is considered one of life’s pleasures to while away an afternoon over an Einspänner coffee and a pastry.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Picturesque Bratislava at Christmas
Get acquainted with the vibrant Slovakian capital and immerse yourself in festive traditions.

Behind the Scenes at the Lipizzaner Stallions
Step backstage at the elegant Spanish Riding School, home to the world-famous Lipizzaner stallions.

Take in the natural beauty of the fabled “Blue Danube” as you pass through the Danube Bend, considered one of the most beautiful sections of the river. Cruising this 40-mile stretch through northern Hungary, you see peaceful farmland and an ancient castle that once served as hunting grounds for royals and visiting dignitaries. As you sail the passage between the Börzsöny and Pilis Ranges, you marvel at the steep hills draped with bucolic forests. And delight in the majestic church domes peering at the waterway from inviting villages and historic cities.

The Christmas season adds another layer of beauty to the already romantic charms of Budapest. Nestled in the heart of Pest lies Vörösmarty Square, home to the city’s largest yuletide market. The enticing aroma of national specialties permeates the air as vendors display traditional and contemporary handicrafts. At the cozy St. Stephen’s Basilica market, mulled wine keeps revelers warm as nightly light shows illuminate the church’s facade. Across the Danube in Buda, Old-World allure mingles with festivities in Fő Square, where seasonal events and an outdoor ice rink entertain.​

​Included Excursion:
Panoramic Budapest
Take in one of Europe’s great cultural capitals and see its iconic sights.

Christmas Market St. Stephen’s Basilica
Delight in the twinkling lights of Budapest during the Christmas season and sample traditional Hungarian treats.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Grand Market: Flavors of Hungary
Browse the countless stalls of Budapest’s Grand Market Hall and taste Hungarian delicacies.

Budapest Thermal Bath
Soak up the restorative powers of Budapest’s thermal baths and join locals in a centuries-old tradition.

Budapest Castle Hill Hike
Explore historic Buda during a city hike to Castle Hill and admire magnificent vistas over the Danube.

Hungarian Folklore Dinner
Delight in a night of delicious cuisine and folklore during an entertaining excursion.

Dohány Street Synagogue & Jewish Budapest
Explore Budapest’s Jewish history and heritage, including the Jewish Quarter and massive synagogue.

Private Excursion: Half-day Budapest
Create your own itinerary and experience the sights of Budapest with the assistance of your own private guide.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of the extensions.