Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and head to your Star-Ship to get settled. After that, the rest of the day is yours to wander around this 700-year-old Dutch capital at your own pace. The city's Golden Age heritage is all around you, so take some time to walk the streets and get a feel for the place.
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam at leisure
- Day 2
Amsterdam
This morning you'll take a glass-top canal boat cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage canal system. The city's dressed up in holiday decorations, and you'll pass snow-covered streets while taking in the festive atmosphere. There's hot chocolate to warm up with as you float through this special winter version of Amsterdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Glass-top canal boat cruise through UNESCO World Heritage canal system
Optional Activities
- Visit Amsterdam Christmas markets
- Purchase oliebollen and appelbeignets from traditional market stalls
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal System 
- Day 3
Cologne
The ship cruises to Cologne, where you'll do a walking tour centered around the UNESCO World Heritage Cathedral. Under the Gothic structure, there's a Christmas market with over a hundred half-timbered stalls selling ornaments, handcrafted goods, lebkuchen, and mulled wine. It's a good day to grab lunch and browse between activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne
- Visit to Cologne Christmas market
- Lecture on Christmas traditions in Europe
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 4
Rüdesheim
You'll head into the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim. Start at Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, then check out the Christmas Market of Nations with over a hundred stalls representing different countries. The famous Rüdesheim coffee is worth trying before you head back to the ship for an evening performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
- On-board performance
Optional Activities
- Explore Christmas Market of Nations
- Sample Rüdesheim coffee with Asbach Uralt brandy
Landmarks Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Rhine Gorge - Day 5
Miltenberg
Miltenberg is a small town backed against the Odenwald forest, and you'll take a guided tour through its Christmas-decorated streets. There's a boutique market with local arts and crafts to see. After wandering around, you'll visit Bronnbach Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery sitting in the Tauber Valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Visit to Bronnbach Abbey
Optional Activities
- Visit one of Germany's oldest pubs
- Sample apple streusel kuchen
Landmarks Bronnbach Abbey - Day 6
Würzburg
Today features a guided tour of Würzburg, including the UNESCO World Heritage Residence, a Baroque palace with snow-covered gardens. Later, you'll walk through the Christmas market in the Old Town with over 100 wooden stalls. Mulled wine and seasonal treats are everywhere if you get hungry or need warming up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Würzburg
- Visit to Würzburg Residence (UNESCO World Heritage)
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense)
Landmarks Würzburg Residence - Day 7
Bamberg
Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage town with four different Christmas markets spread around its half-timbered buildings. A guide will show you the main highlights of the town, and you'll see some of the best Baroque nativity scenes in Germany. After that, try the local beer from one of nine breweries using traditional Franconian methods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Optional Activities
- Sample Bamberg's famous beer
- View Baroque nativity scenes
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town - Day 8
Nuremberg
You'll take a guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg covering its architecture and history, including the city's wartime past. By afternoon, you'll have free time to walk through the Christmas market in the city centre. It's a good chance to grab something to eat and explore at your own speed.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg
Optional Activities
- Explore Nuremberg Christmas market
Landmarks Nuremberg Old Town - Day 9
Regensburg
The ship cruises along the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, crossing several aqueducts along the way. In Regensburg, a local guide takes you through the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town. You'll see the Thurn and Taxis Palace Christmas market with illuminated stalls, and later there's a traditional Bavarian band performance on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
- Visit to Christmas market at Thurn and Taxis Palace
- Traditional Bavarian band performance on board
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Thurn and Taxis Palace - Day 10
Passau
You'll arrive in Passau, where three major European rivers meet below the castle. In the afternoon, take a walking tour through the old narrow alleys, pass by the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress, and end at St. Stephen's Cathedral. The Christkindlmarkt near the cathedral has warm mulled wine and fresh baked goods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Passau
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov (extra expense)
Landmarks Oberhaus Fortress St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 11
Melk
The ship takes you to the small village of Melk. You'll tour the Benedictine Melk Abbey, an ancient Baroque monastery with a historic library. The setting alongside the river is quite nice, and the monastery's architecture is the main focus of this part of the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Melk Abbey
Landmarks Melk Abbey - Day 12
Vienna
Vienna is where you'll spend time exploring a city tied to famous musicians, composers, and Sigmund Freud. A guided tour includes a drive along the Ringstrasse with its ornate buildings. You'll have free time to wander through Christmas markets, grab hot chocolate, and try local baked goods on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
Landmarks Ringstrasse - Day 13
Bratislava
Now you're in Bratislava, a capital with Gothic architecture and diverse cultures. A walking tour takes you through streets with neo-Renaissance theatres and the opulent Episcopal Summer Palace. You'll have coffee and cake with a local Slovakian family, then check out the Christmas markets with handcrafted ornaments and treats.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a local Slovakian family
Optional Activities
- Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
Landmarks Bratislava Old Town - Day 14
Budapest
Budapest shows you the contrast between Buda and Pest on either side of the Danube. You'll cross the iconic Chain Bridge during a guided coach tour covering historic sites and the city's unique culture and food scene. Later, there's free time for Christmas markets, and the evening wraps up with a traditional Hungarian dinner and folklore show on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Hungarian farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
- Traditional Hungarian farewell dinner
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense)
- Jewish heritage tour (extra expense)
Landmarks Chain Bridge 
- Day 15
Departure
After breakfast, you'll leave your Star-Ship and transfer to the airport. You're heading home with memories of holiday markets, crisp winter mornings, and this Danube cruise through Central Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
