Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and have the day to yourself. Settle into your hotel, grab a coffee at a local café, and start wandering around the city at whatever pace feels right. The Danube's nearby, so you might head down to the riverbank or just explore some of the neighborhoods around where you're staying.
- Day 2
Budapest
A guided tour takes you through Budapest this morning, stopping at Heroes' Square and hitting the main sights. After that, the afternoon is free. You can check out the Chain Bridge, browse the Christmas market, or find a quiet spot at one of the local cafés. Some folks hike up into the hills above the Danube if they're looking for a bit more activity.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided City Sightseeing including Heroes' Square
Optional Activities
- Visit Chain Bridge
- Browse Christmas market
- Explore Budapest's cafés and pubs
- Hike through the hills above the Danube
Landmarks/POIs Heroes' Square Chain Bridge - Day 3
Budapest to Vienna (Danube Cruise)
You've got the whole day before your evening cruise. Grab your camera and head to the Royal Palace grounds for photos, then head to one of the thermal bath spas and spend a few hours there. Later, try lunch at a garden or rooftop restaurant. By evening, you'll board your ship for the overnight sailing to Vienna.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Photograph Royal Palace grounds
- Visit Budapest's thermal bath spas
- Lunch at a garden or rooftop eatery
Landmarks/POIs Royal Palace - Day 4
Danube Cruise to Vienna
Spend the day sailing the Danube as the landscape changes. You'll see the red rooftops of Bratislava, Slovakia come into view along the way. There's an Austrian Cookie Tasting happening on board as you sail toward Vienna. Later that evening, there's an optional waltz concert at an elegant hall if you're interested in going ashore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing
Optional Activities
- Optional Excursion to Royal Waltz Concert in Vienna
Landmarks/POIs Bratislava - Day 5
Vienna to Krems (Danube Cruise)
A guided tour takes you through Vienna's famous sites this morning, including the Imperial Palace, the Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Free time in the afternoon lets you browse the Christkindlesmarkt or relax in a Viennese café. If you want, there's an optional tour to Schönbrunn Palace. Later, you'll head to dinner and live entertainment before an evening cruise to Krems.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Vienna including Imperial Palace complex, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Browse Christkindlesmarkt
- Relax in a Viennese café
- Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace
Landmarks/POIs Vienna Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Imperial Palace Schönbrunn Palace - Day 6
Melk - Passau (Danube Cruise)
You'll take a guided walk through Krems, a small valley town in Austria's wine region that feels like it's been frozen in time. Around lunch, you'll sail through the Wachau Valley toward Melk. There's a guided tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey where you can see the frescoed ceilings, the library, and the ornate organ. Then you'll cruise to Passau for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walk through Krems valley town
- Guided Tour of Melk Benedictine Abbey including frescoed ceilings, statues, library, and pipe organ
Landmarks/POIs Wachau Valley Melk Benedictine Abbey - Day 7
Passau to Regensburg (Danube Cruise)
A guided city walk shows you Passau, where three rivers meet (the Danube, Inn, and Ilz). Afterward, explore the Christkindlesmarkt near St. Stephen's Cathedral or grab something to eat. There's also a full-day optional tour to Salzburg if you want to see Mozart's city and learn about Austrian Christmas traditions. Then you'll return to the ship and cruise to Regensburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Passau
Optional Activities
- Browse Christkindlesmarkt in Passau
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg
Landmarks/POIs St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau Salzburg - Day 8
Regensburg to Nuremberg (Danube Cruise)
A guided walk takes you through Regensburg to see the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria from 179 AD. You'll have free time to walk through the Christmas markets and try hot mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, or bratwurst. After dinner, there's live entertainment on board before you sail to Nuremberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Regensburg including Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria
Optional Activities
- Browse Regensburg Christmas markets
- Sample hot-mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, or bratwurst
Landmarks/POIs Altes Rathaus Porta Pretoria - Day 9
Nuremberg
There's a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board this morning. Then you choose between two tours: either medieval Nuremberg with its castle and cathedral, or the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds. Later, you'll have time to wander through the Christmas Markets where you can sample various bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and other Bavarian specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
Optional Activities
- Guided Sightseeing of Nuremberg with medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle
- Guided Tour of historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds
- Browse Christmas Markets of Nuremberg
- Sample Bavarian fare at Christkindlesmarkt
Landmarks/POIs Kaiserburg Castle Nuremberg Rally Grounds - Day 10
Munich
A guided tour takes you to Munich to see Nymphenburg Palace and the Old and New Town Halls at Marienplatz. You'll return to your ship docking in Nuremberg by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Munich including Nymphenburg Palace, Old Town Hall, and New Town Hall of Marienplatz
Landmarks/POIs Nymphenburg Palace Marienplatz - Day 11
Nuremberg to Bamberg (Danube Cruise)
You've got the day to explore Nuremberg at your own speed. Walk through the lit streets, pick up last-minute Christmas gifts, or check in with your Cruise Director for suggestions. After dinner, there's live entertainment on board before an evening cruise to Bamberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through festively lit streets of Nuremberg
- Shop for last-minute Christmas gifts
- Day 12
Bamberg to Würzburg (Danube Cruise)
A guided tour shows you Bamberg and its medieval history. You'll see dozens of nativity scenes throughout the town, from small ones to full-size displays. Free time lets you enjoy the Christmas markets and try traditional German dumplings, sausage, and a glass of Bavarian ale. Later, there's a Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing to Würzburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board while sailing
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Bamberg's nativity scenes
- Browse Bamberg Christmas markets
- Sample traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale
Landmarks/POIs Bamberg - Day 13
Würzburg to Miltenberg (Danube Cruise)
A guided tour takes you through Würzburg, known as the Pearl of the Romantic Road, highlighting the Old Main Bridge, the fortress, and the baroque Bishop's Residence. There's an optional tour to Rothenburg if you want to visit the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas museum. Free time in the Christmas markets gives you a chance to warm up and eat. Live entertainment follows dinner before an evening cruise to Miltenberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Würzburg including Old Main Bridge, fortress, and baroque Bishop's Residence
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Rothenburg
- Visit Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum
- Browse Würzburg Christmas markets
Landmarks/POIs Rothenburg Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum - Day 14
Miltenberg to Frankfurt (Danube Cruise)
You'll take a guided tour of Miltenberg to see the medieval half-timber homes and Germany's oldest inn. Back on the ship, there's a German Cookie Baking Demonstration while you sail to Frankfurt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Miltenberg including medieval half-timber homes and Germany's oldest inn
- German Cookie Baking Demonstration on board
Landmarks/POIs Miltenberg - Day 15
Frankfurt
Your trip ends this morning. After breakfast, you'll depart Frankfurt. Make sure your flights don't leave before 10 am to give yourself time to get to the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
