Christmas River Cruise on the Danube Germany Austria Slovakia

Upon arrival, make your own way to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this historic city of culture.

The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, make your own way to the train station to catch your train to Passau. Upon arrival in Passau, board your ship (check-in starts at 4 pm) and enjoy a welcome cocktail and dinner (included). (B,D)

This morning, you may enjoy a walking tour of Passau (optional). During this optional tour of the old quarter, the guide will point out many buildings that bear witness to its historical importance. You can then take a special shore excursion (optional) to Salzburg, the city made famous by Mozart. The old quarter of Salzburg with its world famous Baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps and was adopted by UNESCO in 1997 as a World Cultural Heritage Site. There will also be some time to visit Salzburg's Christmas Market (optional). The ship will meanwhile have continued downstream to Linz, where those on the excursion rejoin it later in the day. The cruise director will also organize a visit to the Christmas Market of Linz (included) before dinner. The vessel will leave Linz later in the evening. (B,L,D)

Early in the morning, the ship docks in the wine-growing town of Melk-Emmersdorf, from which there will be an optional coach excursion through the beautiful Wachau District. The highlights of the trip are a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey at Melk and a Gluehwein (mulled wine) Party. The ship will depart from Melk-Emmersdorf during lunch and arrives in Duernstein in the afternoon. Enjoy a wonderful Christmas Eve Celebration on board the ship, with an opportunity to attend Christmas mass in Duernstein. (B,L,D)

The ship continues its journey overnight and will arrive in Vienna in the morning. A sightseeing tour of Vienna (optional) provides you with an overall impression of the city's most important sights, taking you along the Ringstrasse, into the Schwarzenbergplatz, passing by the Karlskirche, and Vienna's stunning opera house. In the afternoon you can take an excursion to Schoenbrunn Castle (optional). (B,L,D)

Early in the morning, the ship leaves Vienna and arrives in Bratislava during breakfast. A sightseeing tour (optional) will cover the city's major sights, including breathtaking views from Bratislava's 13th-century castle. The vessel will leave Bratislava during lunch, which is followed by a relaxing afternoon cruising upstream again through Austria. This evening there will be a special Captain's Gala Dinner, during which the ship's orchestra will be providing entertainment (included). (B,L,D)

Arrive in Linz, Austria's third largest city and its former cultural capital, in the afternoon. A guided walking tour (optional) will be available. After dinner, the vessel will continue upstream towards Germany. (B,L,D)

This morning, disembark from your cruise ship. Make your own way to the train station to catch your train to Munich. Make your own way to your hotel. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. (B)

Make your own way to the Munich airport for your return flight home. (B)