Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll be met at the airport and transferred to your river ship in Amsterdam. After settling into your suite, there's a welcome reception where you can meet other travelers and the cruise director. Dinner features fresh locally sourced oysters with regional sparkling wine, then the evening is yours to wander around the city on your own.
- Meals
- Dinner (Fresh locally sourced oysters with regional sparkling wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (APT Ostara)
Included Activities
- Welcome reception with fellow travellers and cruise director
- Fresh locally sourced oysters with regional sparkling wine
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam city at own pace
- Day 2
Amsterdam to Utrecht to Germany
Pick your activity for the day in Amsterdam. You can take a glass-top boat through the World Heritage-listed canals to see the unique architecture, or head to a local cheese store to try regional varieties like Edam and Gouda. After lunch, you'll rejoin the ship in Utrecht and cruise toward Germany in the afternoon.
Optional Activities
- Glass-Top Boat Canal Cruise - peaceful cruise through Amsterdam's iconic World Heritage-listed canals admiring unique architecture
- Cheese Tasting - visit a local cheese store for a tasting of regional cheeses including Edam and Gouda
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals - Day 3
Andernach
The morning is spent cruising through Germany where you can use the ship's spa or work out in the gym. Later, you'll disembark in Andernach for a signature experience at Namedy Castle, where Princess Heide von Hohenzollern welcomes guests into her home near the Rhine River. You'll walk through the castle and gardens, then attend a cocktail party with a pianist.
Included Activities
- Signature Experience - Namedy Castle tour and gardens with Princess Heide von Hohenzollern
- Cocktail party at Namedy Castle with pianist
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment on board ship
- Onboard gym facilities
Landmarks Namedy Castle - Day 4
Rüdesheim
You'll cruise through the Rhine's most scenic stretch, passing crumbling ruins on rocky cliffs and vineyards on rolling hills. In Rüdesheim, choose between a gondola ride over vineyards to the Niederwald Monument, a tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, or a wine tasting at a historic cellar. By evening, there's time to check out the Christmas market and pick up souvenirs.
Optional Activities
- Gondola Ride - glide over the vineyards of the Rhine Valley with stunning vistas to the Niederwald Monument commemorating German unification in 1871
- Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - tour of eccentric museum featuring automated musical instruments from throughout history
- Visit a Historic Wine Cellar - tasting of Rhine Valley wines to discover why this is one of Germany's most well-known wine regions
- Explore Christmas market and browse souvenirs
Landmarks Niederwald Monument Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - Day 5
Miltenberg
After a relaxing cruise on the Main River, you'll arrive in Miltenberg, a town that escaped World War II damage and feels like stepping back in time. Either take a guided walking tour of preserved buildings and lively squares with a liqueur tasting at one of Franconia's oldest wine cellars, or travel to a local monastery to meet a Franciscan friar, sample homemade sausages and cheese, and explore the gardens.
Optional Activities
- Guided Walking Tour and Liqueur Tasting - explore Miltenberg's remarkably preserved buildings and lively squares, then visit one of Franconia's oldest wine cellars for local liqueur tasting
- Local Monastery Visit - meet a Franciscan friar to learn about monastery life, sample homemade sausages, cheese and bread, then explore the gardens and vineyard
Landmarks Miltenberg 
- Day 6
Würzburg
You have several options to structure your day. Visit the Würzburg Residence, an 18th-century palace with intricate tapestries and ceiling frescoes, then browse the Christmas market at Marienkapelle Chapel. Or head to the walled medieval town of Rothenburg to walk cobblestone streets and visit Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village. Another choice takes you to a famous whisky distillery in Franconia's wine region where you'll meet the makers and enjoy tastings.
Optional Activities
- Visit the Würzburg Residence - tour 18th-century palace with intricate tapestries, gilded stucco work and Tiepolo ceiling frescoes, then visit Christmas Market at Marienkapelle Chapel
- Explore Rothenburg - wander the walled medieval town's narrow cobblestone streets and colorful houses, visit Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village with world's largest German Christmas decoration selection
- Tastes of Franconia - guided tour of Volkacher Mainschleife wine region and famous Franconian whisky distillery, meet whisky and winemaker, tasting of finest creations paired with fresh local bakery bread
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg ob der Tauber Marienkapelle Chapel - Day 7
Bamberg
Your ship docks in Bamberg, a World Heritage-listed city that survived World War II largely intact. A guide leads you through the Old Town to see historic churches and buildings, including the town hall on the Regnitz River. After the tour, you'll return to the ship and cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Bamberg Old Town including historic churches and buildings
- Town hall on the Regnitz River viewing
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town Bamberg Town Hall 
- Day 8
Christmas Day
On Christmas Day in Nuremberg, you'll disembark for a tour covering the city's medieval history, including 900-year-old ramparts, the Imperial Castle, and the main market square with its 14th-century Gothic church. That evening, a traditional Christmas feast awaits on board. The ship continues cruising the Main-Danube Canal, an engineering feat that took 32 years to build.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Christmas feast on board ship with all the trimmings)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval history including 900-year-old ramparts, Imperial Castle, main market square and 14th-century Gothic church
- Traditional Christmas feast on board ship
Landmarks Nuremberg Imperial Castle Nuremberg Market Square Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) 
- Day 9
Regensburg
You'll explore Regensburg's World Heritage city centre, which dates back to Roman times and was Bavaria's first capital. A guide takes you through the atmospheric streets, and the tour finishes at Regensburg's historic sausage kitchen, one of the oldest working restaurants in the world, where you'll have a tasting.
- Meals
- Lunch (Tasting at Regensburg's historic sausage kitchen)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Regensburg's World Heritage-listed city centre
- Tasting at Regensburg's historic sausage kitchen
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town 
- Day 10
Salzburg
Start by spending time at Salzburg's Christmas market. Later, you'll head to a rustic restaurant on Gaisberg Mountain overlooking the city for a signature experience. A Jagdhornblaser (hunting horn blower) welcomes you, and after a welcome drink with views, you'll have lunch followed by a show featuring music from 'The Sound of Music.'
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at traditional restaurant on Gaisberg Mountain overlooking Salzburg)
Included Activities
- Signature Experience - Gaisberg Mountain Lunch and 'The Sound of Music' Show with Jagdhornblaser welcome, welcome drink, lunch, and show
Optional Activities
- Salzburg Christmas market
Landmarks Gaisberg Mountain 
- Day 11
Wachau Valley
In the morning, you'll visit Melk Abbey with its intricate statues. Then cruise through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, where you can roam the cobblestone lanes on your own. If you prefer, you can join your wellness host for a hike up to the castle ruins instead.
Included Activities
- Visit to Melk Abbey with intricate statues
Optional Activities
- Roam Dürnstein's cobblestone lanes at leisure
- Hike to castle ruins with wellness host
Landmarks Melk Abbey Dürnstein Castle Ruins - Day 12
Vienna
You'll arrive in Vienna and take a city tour covering landmarks along the Ringstrasse and St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. This evening brings a signature experience at Vienna's City Palace with an exclusive cocktail party and a private orchestra recital performing classical masterpieces by Mozart and Strauss, plus an operatic performance.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner before Signature Experience at Vienna's City Palace)
Included Activities
- City tour featuring Ringstrasse landmarks and St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Signature Experience - Vienna's City Palace exclusive cocktail party and private orchestral recital with performances by Mozart and Strauss, plus operatic recital
Optional Activities
- Afternoon leisure exploration of Vienna
Landmarks Ringstrasse St. Stephen's Cathedral City Palace of Liechtenstein 
- Day 13
Vienna to Bratislava
You'll tour inside Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs, discovering the apartments of emperors and wandering the grounds. After that, visit the Christmas market in Parade Court in front of the palace. Later in the day, the ship heads toward Bratislava.
Included Activities
- Tour inside Schonbrunn Palace including apartments of former emperors
- Grounds of Schonbrunn Palace
Optional Activities
- Visit Christmas market in Parade Court at Schonbrunn Palace
Landmarks Schonbrunn Palace - Day 14
New Year's Eve
A guided tour takes you through Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, where 18th-century rococo design sits alongside communist-era architecture. You'll see landmarks like the UFO bridge, the Slovak Radio building, and Hotel Kyjev. Tonight, ring in the New Year with celebrations as you bid farewell to 2026 in style.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bratislava featuring 18th-century rococo and communist era architecture including UFO bridge, Slovak Radio building and Hotel Kyjev
Optional Activities
- New Year's Eve celebrations
Landmarks UFO Bridge Slovak Radio Building - Day 15
Budapest
Choose your activity in Budapest. Either tour historic monuments like Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica with a stop at the Great Market Hall to sample local produce, or take a funicular ride up to Castle Hill for river views and walk to Fisherman's Bastion. The afternoon is yours to explore further. This evening features a farewell gathering with Hungarian folk music, local brandy, artisan meats, and cheeses.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner with Hungarian folk music performance, local brandy, artisan meats and cheeses)
Included Activities
- Farewell performance of Hungarian folk music with local brandy, artisan meats and cheeses
Optional Activities
- City Tour - tour of Budapest historic monuments including Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica, visit Great Market Hall for local produce tasting
- Fisherman's Bastion - funicular ride up to Castle Hill with sweeping river views and walk to Fisherman's Bastion historical monument
- Afternoon leisure exploration of Budapest
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Great Market Hall Fisherman's Bastion Castle Hill - Day 16
Departure
Your European Christmas cruise comes to an end. After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
