Christmas on the Danube
On a boat cruise along the Danube, explore charming Christmas markets and see Europe dressed in its holiday best. Join a local expert and explore historic Vienna. Float through the Wachau Valley dotted with castles and hillside houses. Visit the 900-year-old Benedictine Melk Abbey, one of Europe's largest Baroque monasteries. Enjoy a GlUhwein Party - a German holiday party with mulled wine. Explore Nuremburg, home to one of the oldest and largest Christmas markets in the world. Discover WUrzburg, an ancient Franconian wine town. Relax as you are transported to beloved riverside towns and delve into local holiday traditions.
Call (410) 573-6888 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18874126
- Tour Operator
- Collette
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/31/2024
- Duration
- 9 Days
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Vienna | Welcome the winter season with a timeless trip down the Danube River. Board your cruise and relax as you are transported along beloved cities, where age-old culture is interwoven into seasonal specialties. Peruse handcrafted trinkets, traditional sweets, and infectious holiday cheer as you make your way through some of Europe's most renowned Christmas markets. Your holiday tour begins with an overnight flight to Austria. |
| Day 2 | Vienna | Your tour opens in Vienna, Austria's capital city. Board your ship and unpack once for a relaxing cruise along the Danube. Your home for the next 6 nights, this beautifully appointed vessel has all the modern amenities you could need, such as the newest technology, panoramic deck cafE, panorama salon and bar, exceptional service, and delicious cuisine and wine with every dinner. Celebrate with a welcome dinner on board, followed by a Christmas concert performed by the ship's orchestra. |
| Day 3 | Vienna | It is time to step off the ship and explore. After walking along the pier to reach your coach, join a local expert and see Vienna's architecture, including Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, the Ringstrasse, and the awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral on a panoramic city tour. Then, discover Vienna on foot while walking through the city's charming cobblestone streets. (Use caution, as these cobblestones may become slick with frost.) The afternoon is yours. Perhaps you'll join an optional excursion to SchOnbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' summer retreat, that shines a little differently in the magical winter months and visit Vienna's most famous Christmas market. |
| Day 4 | Vienna | Journey through the Wachau Valley, dotted with castles and hillside houses, as you cruise to the quaint town of Emmersdorf. Relax and take in the scenery before visiting the cobblestone streets of DUrnstein and the 900-year-old Benedictine Melk Abbey. Enjoy some time dedicated to exploring this ancient town. Later, get a taste of local tradition at a GlUhwein party before returning to the ship. |
| Day 5 | Passau | Amid the early morning light, cruise past scenic valleys and charming riverside towns to Passau, situated at the meeting point of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers. This morning, it's your choice! Enjoy a leisurely paced guided walking tour of Passau, the 2,000-year-old fairy-tale city also known as the "City of Three Rivers" and take in its ornate Baroque architecture, the cobblestoned streets, and St. Stephen's Cathedral, home to Europe's largest church organ -OR- spend time at one of the largest preserved castle complexes in Europe, the Veste Oberhaus, perched high above the old town of Passau. |
| Day 6 | Regensburg | With an expert guide, discover Regensburg, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities. See the first stone bridge built over the Danube and the Porta Praetoria - a Roman gate built in A.D. 179. Stroll through Old Town to Regensburg's charming Christmas market spread across the Old Town's streets and squares and marvel at the festive lights and decorations. Browse and shop at the brightly lit wooden huts holding seasonal ornaments, wooden toys, and local handicrafts. Or perhaps you'll join an optional excursion and experience the beauty and magic of the romantic Christmas market at Thurn and Taxis Palace in Regensburg. |
| Day 7 | Nuremberg | Cruise across the continental divide to Roth and make your way to Nuremberg. After walking along the pier to reach coach, join your local expert on a bus tour that will give you the first taste of the city. Continue with a walking tour of Nuremberg that will take you on a stroll through the historic city for more than an hour. See Old Town, the 900-year-old ramparts, and the Imperial Castle. Your city tour concludes at Nuremberg's 17th-century Christmas market, which is Germany's oldest. Wander along the local goods and perhaps you'll shop for handcrafted nutcrackers or treat your taste buds to Nuremburg's famous Lebkuchen (gingerbread). |
| Day 8 | Nuremberg | Disembark your ship in Nuremberg and continue on to Rothenburg, a town of medieval walls, fairy-tale houses, and Christmas markets. Join a local guide in nearby WUrzburg, an ancient wine town. Embark on a leisurely paced walking tour of the city and surrounding sights. This evening, join your fellow passengers for a farewell dinner and toast to the end of your journey along the Danube. |
| Day 9 | Wurzburg | Say goodbye to Germany as your tour draws to a close. |
- Dates/Pricing
- Lodging
- MS Amadeus Cara - Vienna, Netherlands
- Maritim Hotel - Wurzburg, Germany
- Disclaimer
- * NOTE: Tour prices are land only rates based on per person, double occupancy. Some dates may feature various changes in hotels, sightseeing and inclusions. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of booking. Government taxes and fees are additional. Land rates are guaranteed at time of deposit. Certain taxes and fees are to be paid upon exiting the country in local currencies.
Airfare is additional and is available through Collette Vacations.
