Itinerary Details
Day 1 Vienna.
Fly to Vienna where you will be met and transferred to your cruise ship for six nights. (D)
Day 2 Vienna.
Included today: Guided sightseeing.
Once the centre of the mighty Habsburg Empire, this is home to the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace complex with its Vienna Boys Choir and dazzling Lipizzaner stallions; the neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House; and awe-inspiring St. Stephens Cathedralplus, countless other sights youll see on your GUIDED TOUR. We will offer you a special CULINARY TOUR at the Viennese Christmas markets where you can taste all the best flavours that Austria has to offer during Christmas time. Be sure to enjoy a piece of decadent Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in one of the classic coffee houses, historic institutions that helped shape Viennese culture! An optional concert is available tonight. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Krems – Melk
Included today: Guided sightseeing.
This morning, arrive in Krems and enjoy a GUIDED SIGHTSEEING. Then, sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley and arrive in Melk in the early afternoon. The magnificent 11th-century BENEDICTINE ABBEY dominates the town and is one of Europe’s largest monasteries. The abbey houses an ornate library with over 80,000 printed books and 2,000 manuscripts. You’ll be captivated by the splendour of the church with its frescoed ceilings. Later your Cruise Director will introduce you to one of the most popular legends in Europe: ST NICHOLAS LEGEND. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Linz – Passau.
Linz, Austrias third-largest city, straddles the Danube and is an important industrial town and busy river port. Perhaps join the optional full day excursion to Salzburg. This storybook city is a great place to soak up the wonderful Christmas atmosphere and a feast for the eyes with its charming cobbled streets, palaces and churches set beneath the imposing 11th century Hohensalzburg Castle. The excursion takes in the city’s fascinating historic centre, the famed ‘Sound of Music’ sights and the cheerful Christmas markets of Domplatz Cathedral and Residenzplatz. Dominated by a spectacular Christmas tree, the Christmas markets brim with festive treats such as hand-painted tree ornaments, wooden toys, nativity figures, and festive arts and crafts. Indulge in the tasty aroma of traditional gingerbread, toasted almonds, hot roasted chestnuts and warming mulled wine, and revel in the merry sounds of carols, choirs and festive songs. Later rejoin your ship in Passau. Ideally located at the confluence of the Rivers Inn, Ilz, and Danube, Passau is a city of graceful arcades and cobblestone streets. St Stephens Cathedral houses the world’s largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Regensburg.
Included today: Guided sightseeing.
Dating back to the time of the Celts around 500 BC, Regensburg is one of Germanys best preserved medieval cities. The only German city not bombed during WWII, Regensburg has at least 1,300 listed buildings of historic interest. Architectural highlights included on your GUIDED WALK are the 13th-century Old Town Hall and Porta Pretoria, gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Walk across the 12th-century Steinerne Brcke (Stone Bridge), the oldest of its kind in Germany. Grab a beer and enjoy an included SNACK at the Historische Wurstkche (Old Sausage Kitchen), one of Germanys oldest restaurants. The afternoon is free to visit the Regensburg Christmas market, including the ones hosted by Thurn und Taxis Palace.. The tempting aromas of mulled wine, sausage, roasted almonds, and gingerbread create a memorable atmosphere. Before dinner tonight well introduce you to some of Germanys FAMOUS BEERS! (B, L, D)
Day 6 Nuremberg.
Included today: Guided sightseeing or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour
Spend a relaxing morning cruising before reaching Nuremberg. Although 90% of its Old Town suffered extensive damage during WWII, much of it has been restored to the glory it once knew as the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Choose from an included GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR and marvel at the city’s medieval fortifications, gothic churches, and Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle), or join a NUREMBERG RALLY GROUNDS tour. The Old Town is illuminated with festive lights, and the Christmas market is one of the biggest in Germany, featuring 200 stalls selling traditional wares and foods. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Nuremberg – Prague.
After breakfast, disembark your cruise ship and drive across the Czech border to Prague, the ‘Golden City’ . You will then be transferred to the Prague Intercontinental Hotel for two nights. (B)
Day 8 Prague.
Included today: Guided sightseeing.
Arguably Europe’s most beautiful city, 1000-year-old Prague straddles the Vltava River and is an architectural treasure box filled with towers, spires and pinnacles hardly touched by time. Today, marvel at the famous Astronomical Clock, once the envy of all Europe, stroll the magnificent, statue-lined Charles Bridge, and gaze in awe at St Vitus Cathedral and the monumental Hradcany Castle. There’s also time to delve into the narrow streets of the atmospheric Old Town, browsing its shops for hand-cut crystal and art books before exploring the magnificent Christmas Market. Spread out in the huge Old Town square and crowned by a magnificent Christmas tree, this brightly lit circus of wooden huts is fantastic for souvenir shopping. Shop for traditional Czech handicrafts, hand-painted Christmas ornaments and cheerful wooden toys, and perhaps stopping for a cup of ‘svarene vino’, the local hot and sweet mulled wine, and a plate of traditional roast pork. (B)
Day 9 Prague.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)
