Winter on the Danube 2010

Day 1: Nuremberg
Welcome to Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your ship.* After boarding, you have free time to explore the city on your own—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented. (D)

Day 2: Nuremberg & Main-Danube Canal
Take a morning tour of historical sites of Nuremberg, ending at the Main Market Square in the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. Here you encounter the first of our Christmas markets.

Lunch is served aboard; you are free to return to the Christmas market or visit some of Nuremberg’s many other attractions before we depart late this afternoon. Dinner is served aboard as we begin sailing through the locks that comprise the Main-Danube Canal. The canal, an engineering marvel stretching 106 miles from Bamberg on the Main River to Kelheim on the Danube, enables river travel from the North Sea to the Black Sea. Cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Regensburg
Enjoy scenic cruising through the morning, docking just after lunch. Meet your guide dockside for a walking tour through the scenic town of Regensburg, considered one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. See one of the largest groupings of 13th- and 14th-century church spires, towers and patrician houses north of the Alps. You also encounter the 12th-century Old Stone Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral and a number of idyllic courtyards. We finish our walk at Regensburg’s lively Christmas market, where you can while away the afternoon, or take in other Regensburg attractions if you prefer—perhaps visiting the Alte Wurstküche, Germany’s oldest restaurant.

Rejoin your ship for dinner; take an evening stroll if you like, as we will depart late in the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Passau
Arrive early morning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. Your guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through the Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. You also tour the Passau Glass Museum, which displays the most extensive collection of Bohemian glass objets d’art in the world—in styles from Baroque to modern. We end our tour at the Passauer Christkindlmarkt, counting down the Advent at the foot of the magnificent baroque St. Stephan’s Cathedral.

Lunch and dinner are served aboard; you are free to come and go as you please for the remainder of the day and evening, as we remain docked overnight. Explore the town or do some more shopping at the Christmas Market. Be sure to try some delicious Glühwein, Bratwurst and Lebkuchen! (B, L, D)

Day 5: Linz
Sail along the Danube this morning to Linz and disembark after lunch for a city tour. Linz also has a Christmas Market, laid out in the main square; it is beautifully lit and features a motif of angels everywhere. Linz also offers perhaps the most charming Christmas market of all: a fairy-tale Christmas setting for children in the Volksgarten (public garden).

Dine aboard, but return to the city to see the magnificent “Foam of the Danube” light show that transforms the streets and Nibelungen Bridge. Remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Melk & Dürnstein
Take in the magnificent Wachau Valley scenery as you sail through the morning, arriving at Melk after lunch. Join a guided tour through the ornate interior of a baroque gem of architecture—the Benedictine abbey at Melk. See its elaborate frescoes and admire the library’s extensive collection of medieval manuscripts; enjoy the garden courtyard and the terrace views. Rejoin your ship and enjoy the brief journey to Dürnstein over dinner. This evening you have the opportunity to taste some of the area’s local wines. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Vienna
After breakfast, begin your half-day city tour. See some of Vienna’s gracious architecture, then ride along the beautiful Ringstrasse with sights including the Opera House, Stadtpark and Hofburg Theater. You then see St. Stephan’s Cathedral. After lunch aboard, the afternoon is yours to further explore this city on your own. Shop along the Kärtnerstrasse or take an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, home of Maria Theresa and summer residence of the Habsburgs. Dinner is served aboard. This evening there is an optional concert of music by Mozart and Strauss. Midnight mass services are available for those who wish to attend. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Vienna
Today, celebrate Christmas in Vienna, Austria. After a holiday breakfast, take a leisurely ride to the famous Vienna Woods, a tree-lined area of the lower Alpine slopes that inspired Johann Strauss to write his cheerful, lilting masterpiece, “Tales From the Vienna Woods.” Lunch is served aboard. This afternoon you can see some of the sights of Vienna, decked out for the holidays, or attend church services. We depart just before dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Budapest
Arrive in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, just after breakfast. Take a panoramic city tour through the more modern “Pest” side of the city—Journey along Andrássy Avenue and see the 19th- and 20th-century mansions, National Opera House, Parliament Building and Chain Bridge. Stop in Heroes’ Square to learn more about Hungarian history, then cross the Danube to Buda’s Castle District. Walk up the hill to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church; enjoy brilliant views of the city below. Return to your ship for lunch and the rest of the day is yours to explore both sides of the city. A farewell dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Budapest
After breakfast, disembark and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your time in Budapest for 2 nights, so you can explore the city in greater depth. (B)

NOTE: Because this itinerary travels during Christmas, there may be sites and stores that close during the holiday period.

This charming 10-day journey takes you from Nuremberg to Budapest along the celebrated Danube River—during the holiday season. Tour cities and towns in Germany and Austria, visiting Christmas markets as you sail. Celebrate Christmas Eve in Vienna, and on Christmas Day take a magical ride to the famous Vienna Woods. Then, continue to Budapest where you see both sides of Hungary’s gracious capital, so beautiful in winter. An unforgettable journey through the area where so many Christmas traditions began.

• Daily Shore Excursions 
• 8 included guided tours
• All meals: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 9 dinners
• Port Charges

Cruise: A standard outside cabin onboard the Viking Danube

• Pre-Extension: Prague
  3-night pre-extension - $699 per person
  
  Begin your journey by discovering the Czech Republic’s vibrant capital, the “City of a Hundred Spires.” Three nights at the Hilton Prague (or similar), daily breakfast, panoramic city tour and the services of a Viking host are all included. 
• Post-Extension: Budapest
  2-night post-extension - $349 per person
  
  Extend your time in Hungary’s legendary capital city; discover its gracious atmosphere and delightful cuisine. Two nights at the Hilton Budapest (or similar), daily breakfasts and hotel/ship transfer are included along with the services of a Viking host.

• Cabin upgrades are available.
• *Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more details.

* 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.