Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest by 2 pm and head straight to the ship for a 5 pm departure. If your flight gets in early, there's time to walk around the Royal Palace grounds and soak up the Christmas atmosphere before boarding. Dinner happens on board as you start cruising toward Vienna.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Royal Palace grounds and take photographs
- Experience Budapest's Christmas traditions before boarding
Landmarks Royal Palace 
- Day 2
Bratislava - Vienna
You'll spend the day on the water sailing the Danube, watching the landscape shift between Hungary and Slovakia. As you move along the river, you'll see Bratislava's distinctive red rooftops come into view. The boat has Austrian cookies available if you want a snack while you're relaxing on deck. By evening you'll arrive in Vienna, and there's an optional Royal Waltz Concert if you're interested in hearing classical music in an elegant setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing
Optional Activities
- Royal Waltz Concert
Landmarks Danube River Bratislava - Day 3
Vienna
This morning includes a guided tour of Vienna's big imperial sites like the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. After that, you've got the afternoon free to either walk through the Christkindlesmarkt or sit at a traditional Viennese café. There's an optional trip to Schönbrunn Palace if you want to see the Habsburg summer home. Entertainment happens on board before you sail toward Krems.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Vienna's gilded landmarks including Imperial Palace complex, Vienna Opera House, and St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Browse Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market
- Relax in a Viennese café
- Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace
Landmarks Imperial Palace Vienna Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Schönbrunn Palace - Day 4
Krems to Melk
A guided walk through Krems shows you the town's character and history. By lunch, the ship heads through the Wachau Valley to Melk, where a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey is next. You'll see frescoed ceilings, statues, the library, and an ornate pipe organ. That evening, you sail toward Passau.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walk through Krems
- Guided Tour of Melk's Benedictine Abbey including frescoed ceilings, statues, library, and ornate pipe organ
Landmarks Melk Benedictine Abbey Wachau Valley 
- Day 5
Passau
Start with a guided walk through Passau, known as the 'City of Three Rivers,' and learn about its history. Free time comes next for browsing the Christkindlesmarkt near St. Stephen's Cathedral. There's also a full-day optional trip to Salzburg if you want to see Mozart's birthplace and experience Austrian Christmas celebrations. Back to the ship in Passau, then sailing toward Regensburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Passau
Optional Activities
- Browse Passau's Christkindlesmarkt
- Full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau - Day 6
Regensburg
A guided walk takes you to see the Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria, the ancient fortress gate built in 179 AD. After that, you'll have time at Regensburg's Christmas markets sampling hot mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, and bratwurst. Entertainment happens on board after dinner before sailing to Nuremberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Regensburg featuring Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria
Optional Activities
- Browse Regensburg's Christmas markets
Landmarks Altes Rathaus Porta Pretoria - Day 7
Nuremberg
The morning starts with a Christmas traditions lecture on the ship. Then you choose between a guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, or a tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds. Free time at the Christmas Markets lets you sample Bavarian specialties like bratwurst, gingerbread, and mulled wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
- Guided Sightseeing of Nuremberg (choice of): Medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle OR Guided Tour of historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds
Optional Activities
- Browse Nuremberg Christmas Markets
Landmarks Kaiserburg Castle Nuremberg Gothic Cathedral - Day 8
Nuremberg - Munich
This morning you'll get a guided tour through Munich starting with Nymphenburg Palace, the former home of Bavarian royalty. From there you'll head to Marienplatz to see both the Old Town Hall and the New Town Hall, which showcase different architectural periods. After exploring the highlights of the city, you'll travel back to Nuremberg for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Munich
- Nymphenburg Palace visit
- Old and New Town Halls of Marienplatz visit
Landmarks Nymphenburg Palace Marienplatz Old Town Hall, Munich New Town Hall, Munich - Day 9
Nuremberg
This is your day to explore Nuremberg at your own pace. Walk through the festively lit streets, shop for last-minute Christmas gifts, or ask the Cruise Director for suggestions. Entertainment on board this evening, then the ship heads toward Bamberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Nuremberg's festively lit streets
- Browse shops for Christmas gifts
- Day 10
Bamberg
A guided tour shows you Bamberg, the medieval town connected to Germany's Roman Empire dynasties. You'll wander through dozens of nativity scenes, from tiny ones to life-size displays. Free time at the Christmas markets means trying traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale. A Christmas traditions lecture happens on board while sailing toward Würzburg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg with nativity scenes
- Christmas Traditions Lecture on board
Optional Activities
- Browse Bamberg's Christmas markets and sample traditional German dumplings, sausage, and Bavarian ale
Landmarks Bamberg - Day 11
Würzburg
The guided tour covers Würzburg, called the 'Pearl of the Romantic Road,' with stops at the Old Main Bridge, the fortress, and the baroque Bishop's Residence. There's an optional visit to Rothenburg and the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum with its huge collection of traditional Christmas decorations. Free time at Würzburg's Christmas markets comes before entertainment on board and sailing toward Miltenberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Würzburg featuring Old Main Bridge, fortress, and baroque Bishop's Residence
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Rothenburg and Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum
- Browse Würzburg's Christmas markets
Landmarks Bishop's Residence, Würzburg - Day 12
Miltenberg
A guided tour of Miltenberg shows off its medieval half-timber homes and Germany's oldest inn. While the ship sails toward Frankfurt, there's a German cookie baking demonstration on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Miltenberg featuring medieval half-timber homes and Germany's oldest inn
- German Cookie Baking Demonstration on board
Landmarks Miltenberg - Day 13
Frankfurt - Rüdesheim - Speyer
You'll start your day at the Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim, where you can see how intricate musical instruments work. After that, you'll have time to wander through the local wine country and try some of the region's wines if you'd like. Later in the evening, you'll board a boat heading toward Speyer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mechanical Music Museum tour in Rüdesheim
Landmarks Mechanical Music Museum Rüdesheim - Day 14
Speyer to Heidelberg
You can either take a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat, the world's largest wine barrel, with time at Heidelberg's Christmas markets, or relax on the ship in the morning and explore Speyer's Christmas markets with seasonal treats and handiwork. Entertainment on board this evening before sailing to Strasbourg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour including Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat (world's largest wine barrel)
Optional Activities
- Visit local German Christmas markets in Heidelberg
- Explore Speyer's Christmas markets
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle - Day 15
Strasbourg
City sightseeing shows you Strasbourg's Gothic cathedral with stained glass and ancient murals, the famous astronomical clock, and La Petite France District. An optional guided excursion takes you to a French wine-country village in Alsace if you want. Wander the French winter markets to experience the lights, music, and Christmas atmosphere before sailing to Breisach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City Sightseeing including Gothic cathedral with stained glass and ancient murals, astronomical clock, and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine-country village
- Browse Strasbourg's French winter markets
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France District - Day 16
Freiburg to Basel
You choose between a guided tour of Freiburg's medieval center with the Black Forest nearby and its vineyards, or a guided tour into the Black Forest to experience local traditions and Christmas mood. In the afternoon, there's an optional visit to Colmar with its half-timbered medieval and renaissance buildings. Then the ship sails to Basel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour (choice of): Freiburg's medieval city center, Black Forest, vineyards and gardens of Upper Rhine Valley OR Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village
Landmarks Black Forest Colmar - Day 17
Basel to Departure
Your cruise wraps up with breakfast in Basel this morning, then you'll prepare for your departure from Switzerland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
