Danube Christmas Delights

Board your ship and settle into your stateroom. Explore Budapest, a city divided by the Danube River into Buda and Pest. Buda is known for its hills and historic buildings, while Pest offers flat streets, shops, and cultural sites. You can visit landmarks, walk along the river, or relax in one of the city’s thermal baths. In the evening, see the Parliament building and Chain Bridge lit up along the water.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Budapest by Night
Be captivated by Budapest as you explore the city after dark and raise a toast to its stunning landmarks.

Spend the day exploring Budapest’s Christmas markets. In Pest, visit Vörösmarty Square, where vendors sell local food, crafts, and gifts. Nearby, stop by the market at St. Stephen’s Basilica to enjoy mulled wine and watch the evening light show on the church’s facade. Cross the Danube to Buda and walk through Fő Square, where you can see seasonal displays and watch people skating on the outdoor ice rink.

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

Grand Market: Flavors of Hungary
Browse the countless stalls of Budapest’s Grand Market Hall and taste Hungarian delicacies.

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

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

Gödöllö Royal Palace & Gardens
Visit one of Hungary’s most beloved monuments, built by a count in the 1760s.

The aroma of mulled wine and Slovakian delicacies mixes with the sound of Christmas carols to turn Bratislava’s historic Old Town into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. The medieval Bratislava Castle overlooks light-festooned streets that give the city a fairytale glow. Vendors in Hlavné Námestíe Square display authentic artisanal handicrafts, and a specially decorated Christmas tram adds to the holiday atmosphere as it transports visitors to the different fairs spread out around the city.

​Included Excursion:
Bratislava’s Christmas Market & Organ Concert
Stroll Bratislava’s Old Town and experience the Christmas market with an enchanting organ recital.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Bratislava Beer Tasting & Dinner
Dine at one of Bratislava’s brewery houses and sample a selection of beers.

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

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

Mozart & Strauss Concert
The classical music never stops in Vienna, as you will hear firsthand during this special concert.

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

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 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.

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 stretches as far back as Celtic and Roman times and an echo of the more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days.

​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.

Linz is today’s provincial capital of Upper Austria. The city’s famous Linzer Torte, the jam-filled cake topped with almonds, hails from here and can be found in any number of cafés and the stalls of the city’s Christmas markets. In the Old Town, the baroque architecture of the main square provides a stunning backdrop for its Christmas market as the scent of gingerbread fills the air. At the Volksgarten, a nativity scene provides an atmospheric feature with the sounds of classical music and moving figurines that tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

​Included Excursion:
Historic Linz at Christmas
Immerse yourself in Linz’s festive spirit with a walk to explore its notable past and visit the Christmas market.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Austrian Countryside
Enjoy a sweeping culinary excursion through picturesque landscapes.

Mauthausen Memorial Site
Honor the memory of the victims of World War II during a solemn visit to the Mauthausen Memorial.

Cesky Krumlov at Christmas
Explore the medieval gem, Cesky Krumlov, and immerse yourself in the yuletide atmosphere.

Centered around the beautiful St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, the romantic market stalls of the Christkindlmarkt is a delight to explore. An array of handmade goods, from tasty treats to ornaments, offer a wealth of opportunities to take home 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):
Bavarian Farm & Countryside
Visit the rural reaches of Bavaria and hear local farmers reveal some details of their working lives.

Salzburg at Christmas
Spend the day in one of Austria’s most scenic alpine cities, Salzburg, and visit its renowned Christmas market.

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