Christmas on the Danube featuring a 6-Night Danube River Cruise

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 though some of Europe’s most renowned Christmas markets. Your holiday tour begins with an overnight flight to Germany.

Start in a historic Bavarian town along the banks of the Main River. Enjoy time to unwind and soak in the charms of Franconia. Meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner and toast to your upcoming adventure.

Join a local guide on a leisurely paced walking tour of Würzburg, an ancient wine town. Your journey takes you to Rothenburg, a town of medieval walls, fairy-tale houses, and Christmas markets. Continue on to Nuremberg to board your ship. Your home for the next six nights, this vessel has modern amenities such as the newest technology, panoramic deck café, panorama salon and bar, exceptional service, and delicious cuisine and wine with every dinner. This evening, enjoy a special dinner onboard.

After walking along the pier to your coach, join a local expert on a panoramic tour that will give you a taste of the city. Then, 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 Nuremberg’s famous Lebkuchen (gingerbread). Spend the afternoon cruising across the continental divide and through the Main-Danube Canal to 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 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.

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.

Cruise to the quaint town of Emmersdorf. Relax and take in the scenery before visiting the cobblestone streets of Dürnstein 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 Glühwein party before continuing through the Wachau Valley, dotted with castles and hillside houses. As the day draws to a close, say hello to Vienna, Austria's capital city.

It is time to step off the ship and explore. After walking along the pier to reach your coach, join a local expert and explore 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 Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs’ summer retreat that shines a little differently in the magical winter months. Celebrate the end of your trip at the Captain's Gala Dinner, followed by a special Christmas concert performed by the ship’s orchestra.

Disembark after breakfast and say goodbye to the iconic Danube.