Danube River Christmas Markets Cruise

Day by Day Itinerary
 

Every day brings fresh delights and new places to visit on our Danube River Christmas Markets Cruise.

You'll travel through beautiful scenery and visit lovely towns in Hungary, Austria and Germany, with an optional excursion to the Czech Republic at the end of the cruise.

Day 1 (Sunday 6 December - or sooner) :  Leave the US

You can either make your own arrangements to travel to Nuremberg, or else take advantage of the air addon to the cruise fare (see below for costs/details).

You should leave the US today or earlier, so as to arrive in Nuremberg on Sunday (or sooner) in time for the start of the Christmas Markets Danube River Cruise.

Note - if you've chosen the pre-tour extension to Munich, you'll leave the US on Friday 7 December or sooner - see the next day or two

Optional Pre-Tour visit to Munich - Monday and maybe Sunday, 7 and 6 December

If you've decided to enjoy the pre-tour time in Munich, you should plan to arrive in Munich on Sunday 6 December at the latest.

If you arrive on Saturday or earlier, you can spend Sunday touring around Munich or elsewhere in Bavaria.  A visit to a saltmine can be a fascinating experience, and there is plenty of beautiful history in Bavaria not far from Munich to enjoy.

And don't forget the lovely Christmas markets in Munich itself!

Sunday evening we offer an optional dinner at one of the best of Munich's renowned beer hall type restaurants.

On Monday we'll have an all day tour and transfer to take us first down to see one of Mad King Ludwig's castles, a lovely church (Wieskirche, and a Bavarian village, and then we'll travel on up to Nuremberg and join our boat in time for the pre-dinner Welcome Cocktail function and dinner.

Day 2 (Monday 7 December)  :  Board our cruise boat, the Amalyra, in Nuremberg

If Amadeus Waterways is providing your transfer, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the pier to embark your river cruise ship.

The crew will be preparing the cabins for arriving passengers, and you are given access to your cabin as soon as it becomes available, generally by 4pm.

You can spend your time relaxing in the ship’s lounge or doing some exploring on your own in the historic city of Nuremberg.

If you've taken advantage of our pre-cruise Munich and Mad King Ludwig option, we'll arrive at the ship by coach in the late afternoon.

Included meals - Dinner

Day 3 (Tuesday 8 December) :  Nuremberg, across the Continental Divide, to Riedenburg

Included Nuremberg Tour & Christmas Market :  After breakfast, we'll enjoy a panoramic tour of this medieval city surrounded by 13th-century walls.

Today Nuremberg evokes the notorious post-World War II war crimes trials, but throughout its history, the city was known for its handcrafts, particularly toys and fancy metalwork. You’ll see where the post-WW2 war trials were held and the grounds where Nazi rallies were held, as well as the imposing Imperial Castle.

After the city tour, we visit the city’s renowned Christmas Market. With a 400-year history, Nuremberg’s Christkindelsmarkt (Christ Child Market) is one of Germany’s largest and most famous.

Amidst beautiful holiday decorations, you’ll stroll past stall after stall offering everything from ceramics and porcelain to Christmas decorations and toys. Sample mouthwatering local delicacies from hot mulled wine and marzipan to Nuremberg’s famous bratwurst and gingerbread.

Start (or continue) collecting the souvenir Glühwein mugs - each year has a special new mug issued.

Nuremberg Leisure Time :  After the tour, you have free time to do some shopping or explore on your own.  Perhaps you’ll visit the Germanic Museum, containing the largest collection of Germanic art and culture from pre-history to the present.  You return to the ship in time for an included lunch, and then sail along the modern engineering marvel that is the Main-Danube canal, crossing the Continental Divide and then reaching Riedenburg for a brief evening stop.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 (Wednesday 9 December) :  Regensburg

The ship docks in Regensburg after breakfast.

Included Regensburg Tour, Christmas Market & Leisure Time :  After breakfast, disembark for a walking tour of the town, one of Germany’s largest and (since it suffered virtually no damage in World War II) best-preserved medieval cities. See the gleaming spires of Gothic St. Peter’s church with its stained glass, the Old Town Hall and the 12th century Stone Bridge, which is Germany’s oldest bridge. After the tour, you’ll enjoy a visit to the town’s Old Corn Market, which is the location of Regensburg’s venerable Christmas Market.

You might also wish to go to the very lovely Thurn und Taxis Palace for the craft market there.  Traditional handicrafts are made in front of you, and wonderful meats (including wild boar) are spit-roasted in the food stalls.

You have time to stroll through the stalls and do shopping at your own pace.

This evening we'll enjoy a Bavarian folklore performance on board.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 (Thursday 10 December) :  Passau (Salzburg) Linz

Travel Insider Bonus :  Free Tour to Salzburg -  After breakfast, we disembark for a coach excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of the great composer Mozart and one of Europe’s major music centers.

See the stunning exterior of Schloss Mirabell, featured in the classic film, The Sound of Music. You’ll enjoy a guided walking tour featuring Salzburg Old Town, a gem of baroque architecture that is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the courtyard of baroque St. Peter’s Church, the former home of Mozart, and charming Getreidegasse.

 Getreidegasse is Salzburg’s most famous shopping lane surrounded by high, narrow houses and lined with enticing shops with wrought iron guild signs and secluded courtyards.

Have lunch as it suits you at a local restaurant and then enjoy some free time to explore on your own. You’ll find Christmas Market stalls and decorations in various places around the city, especially in Mirabell Square.

In the late afternoon, we'll drive to Linz, where the ship has sailed to meet us. The ship remains docked here until late, so you can disembark for an evening stroll through the town and markets after dinner if you like.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 (Friday 11 December) :  Melk and on to Vienna

River Cruising & Included Melk Abbey Tour :  We cruise through a beautiful untouched stretch of the Danube called the Strudengau, arriving in Melk.

Disembark for an excursion to the dramatic 900-year-old baroque Melk Abbey, perched on sheer cliffs high above the Danube. Its cherub-filled library boasts 365 windows—one for every day of the year. The interior of the abbey’s church is a kaleidoscope of red, orange and gold—with a magnificent carved pulpit and shimmering ceiling frescoes.

The ship continues cruising through the afternoon, and docks in Vienna late afternoon.

After dinner onboard ship, you may want attend an optional concert, or possibly visit their night markets.

The optional concert is held in one of the city’s palaces, and features compositions by Mozart and Strauss performed by a small Viennese orchestra. Cost of this concert is approximately $80.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 (Saturday 12 December) :  Vienna

Included Vienna Tour :  After breakfast we will set off on a coach and walking tour of one of Europe’s most elegant and romantic cities. Our tour features the remarkable Ringstrasse, lined with imposing palaces and grand residences, encircling the medieval Innere Stadt (Inner City). See the magnificent Hofburg Palace, glorious St. Stephan’s Cathedral with its gleaming spire and the beautiful State Opera House.

Vienna Christmas Market, Leisure Time & Optional Tour :  Return to the ship for lunch.

During the afternoon, make your way to the Rathausplatz, site of Vienna’s main Christmas Market. Begun on a small scale in 1294, it has grown to be Austria’s largest Christmas Market and truly transforms beautiful Vienna into an enchanted holiday wonderland.

During your free time, you may want to take a ride on a traditional horse-drawn fiaker, have some mouthwatering Viennese pastry such as the famous Sacher Torte, or visit the wonderful Art History Museum.

This evening we sail on to Budapest.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 (Sunday 13 December) :  Budapest

Included Budapest Tour :  We cruise through beautiful countryside, arriving into Budapest at lunchtime.

After lunch, our sightseeing tour includes historic Buda Castle, where we have a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. The tour also features 500-year old Matthias Church, St. Stephen’s Basilica, distinctive Fisherman’s Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more in this city, the former co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, redolent with splendid palaces and magnificent buildings.

This evening we enjoy a Gala Farewell Dinner on board.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 (Monday 14 December) :  Cruise ends in Budapest, optional tour on to Prague

After breakfast, disembark and make your way to the airport for your flight home, or extend your vacation any which way you choose.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Note - if you've chosen the tour extension to Prague, your itinerary continues on below

Day 9 (Monday 14 December) :  Optional Side Trip to Prague

We'll be transferred from the ship this morning after breakfast and taken to Prague by luxury motorcoach and with an expert local guide to give interesting commentary on our journey.

We add another country to our travel experiences while traveling through Slovakia (between Hungary and the Czech Republic) and stop in their capital city of Bratislava for an early lunch and, of course, more Christmas Markets.

In Prague, we'll spend two nights in the charming, centrally located and historic Metamorphis hotel.

The balance of the day, after arriving in Prague, is free for you to enjoy, exploring the 'Golden City' as you wish.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 (Tuesday 15 December) :  Prague extension day two

After breakfast, our morning sightseeing tour reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities.

See the thousand year-old Hradcany Castle, the Old Town, the Jewish ghetto and many other major sights. The afternoon is free to wander through the Christmas markets with their tempting assortment of handicrafts, toys, wood carvings, and ornaments.

Mix with the locals at Wenceslaus Square, or enjoy one of the charming cafés or restaurants.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 (Wednesday 16 December) :  Cesky Krumlov (Prague extension day three)

If you're short of time, you can end your Prague extension today after two nights and return home.

But if you can spare one more day, we have a special treat in store for you - a guided coach tour to the beautiful medieval castle town of Cesky Krumlov.

This picturesque town, dating back to the 13th century, has been made a World Heritage site due to its well preserved mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

We also include a stop in Cesky Budvar or Budejovice - the town that made Budweiser beer famous.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 (Thursday 17 December) :  End of Prague extension

After breakfast this morning, your tour comes to an end, unless you've chosen to extend it further with your own arrangements, either in Prague, or anywhere else in Europe as you choose.

Included Meals: Breakfast