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Christmas on the Danube

£2,095.00

Sailing through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley aboard a luxurious 5-star ship. Spending Christmas Day admiring Vienna’s beautiful architecture.

Celebrate Christmas on the Danube as we cruise this iconic river on the luxurious MS Amadeus Cara. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to stroll through Christmas markets in Germany and Austria, sampling delicious treats like glühwein and Linzer torte. There’ll be gala dinners and cocktails, live music and fine wines, and a memorable Christmas Day in Vienna (fingers crossed for a dusting of snow). Whether you’re travelling with family, friends or by yourself, this Christmas cruise promises to be a wonderful way to spend the festive season.

  • 5 excursions & visits
  • 17 meals
  • Leisurely pace
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Your itinerary

Day 1 – Munich – Passau

Our door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Munich. On arrival, we transfer to Passau and embark our ship ready for our Christmas cruise. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and dinner on board this evening. We remain moored here overnight.

MS Amadeus Cara (5-star)

Today includes…

Dinner

Amadeus winter onboard

Day 2 – Passau – Linz

After breakfast, get to know Passau on a sightseeing walk. This beautiful city sits at the confluence of three rivers (the Danube, Ilz and Inn) and features a medley of Italianate baroque and Gothic architecture. Later, we set sail for Linz, where you can end the day with a stroll through the Christmas market. Why not pick up a handcrafted bauble to decorate your tree next year – a lovely reminder of your Christmas cruise.

MS Amadeus Cara (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Walking tour of Passau (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Passau church towers and Christmas market

Day 3 – Christmas Eve – Emmersdorf (Melk) – Dürnstein

This morning, we arrive in the wine-growing town of Melk, ready to explore its huge baroque abbey. This cultural treasure was a fortified Roman post and then a magnificent castle before it was given to the Benedictines in 1089. Before we set sail for Dürnstein this afternoon, we’ll enjoy a glühwein party, warming up with glasses of deliciously spiced mulled wine – it&s always a wonderful highlight of our Christmas holiday cruises. This evening, we enjoy a Christmas celebration on board with the opportunity to attend Christmas Mass in Dürnstein.

MS Amadeus Cara (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Melk Abbey (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Old Town of Melk, Austria

Day 4 – Christmas Day – Vienna

Merry Christmas! We arrive in Vienna this morning, a fantastic city to spend the big day in. A sightseeing tour takes us along the Ringstrasse, into the Schwarzenbergplatz, passing Karlskirche and Vienna’s stunning opera house. Vienna is a cultural powerhouse – international treasures include the Vienna Boys’ Choir and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, while former residents include Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn.

MS Amadeus Cara (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Guided tour of Vienna (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Viennese Christmas market

Day 5 – Boxing Day – Bratislava

A guided tour will reveal some of the Slovakian capital’s highlights this morning. Enjoy the breathtaking views from Bratislava’s 13th-century castle, which span over countryside where Austria, Hungary and Slovakia meet. We’ll cast off from Bratislava during lunch, which is followed by a relaxed afternoon cruising upstream through Austria. There’ll be a captain’s gala dinner this evening, where you’ll enjoy good food, quality wine and great company.

MS Amadeus Cara (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Guided tour of Bratislava (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Christmas market, Bratislava, Slovakia

Day 6 – Linz

We’ll have another chance to explore Linz today, a former European Capital of Culture. A walking tour will take you around the cobbled streets of Linz’s historic heart, with a guide to explain the city’s layered history. There’ll be free time afterwards – maybe see the crib of the cathedral, famed for being one of the largest and most beautiful in the world, and try some delicious Linzer torte. After dinner, our ship continues upstream towards Germany.

MS Amadeus Cara (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Linz walking tour with Linzer torte tasting (afternoon)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Linzer cookies

Day 7 – Passau – Munich – Departure

Our Christmas Danube cruise comes to an end today. We disembark in Passau and transfer to Munich Airport for your return flight. Upon arrival, our vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Today includes…

Breakfast