DAY 1: Depart home gateway city to Budapest
DAY 2: Budapest
Arrive at Budapest Ferihegy International Airport where you’ll be transferred to the ship. (D)
DAY 3: Budapest
Featured Excursion: Budapest city tour and Christmas Market
Irresistible Optional Tour: Jewish Budapest
Explore Budapest, an enchanting city often referred to as the “Queen of the Danube.” Made up of two parts—Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands—the city is divided by the Danube. It’s an architectural dream, which you’ll discover on your city tour. You’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Castle Hill district, you’ll see dramatic vistas from the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion, and you’ll cross the famous Chain Bridge, an early 19th-century bridge that was the first to connect Buda with Pest. And in the center of it all is the Christmas Market, where you’ll get to shop for traditional Hungarian wares and delightful treats like apricot brandy and cinnamon-spiced gingerbread. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)
DAY 4: Bratislava
Featured Excursion: Bratislava city tour and Christmas Market
The heart and soul of Slovakia, Bratislava is full of surprises, many of which you’ll discover on your city tour. While Bratislava’s very first Christmas Market was only established in 1993, the Slovakians have quickly embraced the holiday traditions of their Austrian and Hungarian neighbors with stalls filled with folk handicrafts from the region. (BB, L, D)
DAY 5: Vienna
Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour with Christmas Market, and Mozart and Strauss concert
Irresistible Optional Tour: Schönbrunn Palace and Christmas Markets
This regal city becomes even more dazzling during the holidays. It’s a treasure trove of secular and sacred gems, many of which you will see during your panoramic city tour of Vienna. You’ll travel the stately Ringstrasse and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married in 1782. Afterward, you’ll walk with your tour guides to two Christmas Markets. Austria’s most famous Christmas Market, with over 140 wooden huts, is set in front of City Hall. Macaroons with nutmeg and rum balls are treats you won’t want to miss. You’ll also visit a smaller but no less charming Christmas Market at Freyung Square, which has taken place every winter since 1772. Later in the evening, you’ll celebrate the spirit of Mozart’s musical genius in one of Vienna’s well-known concert halls. (BB, L, D)
DAY 6: Krems, cruising the scenic Wachau Valley
Featured Excursion: Benedictine Göttweig Abbey with organ recital
You’ll visit the beautiful Göttweig Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has a spectacular location on a prominent hill on the eastern edge of the world famous Wachau Valley. While at the abbey, you’ll be treated to a special organ recital. After lunch, depart Krems and enjoy a scenic cruise through the heart of the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley with its abruptly rising hills, nestling Baroque villages, and ancient monuments. (BB, L, D) Note: Organ concert may take place in different location if the Göttweig Abbey visit falls on a Catholic holiday.
DAY 7: Linz (Salzburg)
Featured Excursion: Full-day Salzburg with walking tour
Become acquainted with magical Salzburg on your walking tour of the Old Town and its magnificent cathedral, which was inspired by St. Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican. In the afternoon, visit Salzburg’s Christmas Market, located at the foot of the Hohensalzburg Fortress and around the venerable cathedral. (BB, D)
DAY 8: Passau
Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour, Christmas Market, and gingerbread-making and floral-decorating demonstrations
Your guided walk starts in the Medieval section of Passau and takes you past St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the New Residence,and Town Hall, to the confluence of the three rivers that converge in Passau. At Passau’s Christmas Market, set against the glorious backdrop of St. Stephan’s Cathedral, you’ll find unique crafts including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. And as an added treat, you’ll see both a gingerbread-making and a floral-decorating demonstration. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
DAY 9: Depart Passau
Disembark the ship in Passau and transfer to the airport in Munich for your flight home, or extend your stay in the beautiful city of Munich.
Four countries—Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany—await your arrival for one unique, festive party after another. From the large Christmas Markets of Vienna to the more intimate Christmas Markets of Bratislava, Passau, and Salzburg—each combines timeless traditions with elegant pageantry.
- 7-night cruise in an outside stateroom on the elegantly appointed Grand River Beatrice
- Classical European cuisine with a twist of contemporary elegance
- Complimentary wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and specialty coffees available
- 7 shore excursions fully hosted by English-speaking guides
- Bicycle rentals
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
- Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Dinners
- Enriching onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
- An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive all English-speaking crew
- All transfers
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The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability.
Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your
deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Whenever air-inclusive prices are displayed, these prices do
not include government taxes and fees, which are additional. Air prices are subject to increase and are
guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Air-inclusive prices include air from a major
U.S. gateway; air from other U.S. airports is available at an additional cost. Sorry, we are unable to
offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to
arrange their own transportation to the origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of
the package, at the price quoted.
. All rights reserved. CST 2072920-50