If you’re flying into Amsterdam today, your transfer from Schiphol Airport to the ship is included.
There’s free time this afternoon to enjoy the city in all its Christmas splendor.
We’re overnighting here on our river ship, so dress in holiday style and jingle all the way as you explore our first Christmas Markets of the cruise!
Take a canal boat cruise through the elegant grachten, which are lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s Golden Age.
“Go local” with a bike tour through the city’s most beautiful streets.
The Old Town abounds with cafés, shops, and taverns.
Be sure to try a Kölsch pale lager, locally brewed in Cologne for over a hundred years.
Wander through the fabulous and magical Christmas Markets before leaving Cologne.
Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum to see and hear a large collection of self-playing calliopes and music boxes from the 18th to the early 20th centuries.
In the Market Square you’ll find Europe’s largest nativity scene, with life-size figures.
This morning’s guided walk will acquaint you with the town’s delightful Marktplatz (market square), which centers around a Renaissance-era fountain and features striking half-timbered buildings, cobblestone lanes, one of the oldest inns in Germany, Haus zum Riesen (the giant’s house), and the gothic splendor of the Merchant Hall.
After our included tour, we’ll transfer to the stunning medieval glass-blowing town of Wertheim to enjoy free time until our ship arrives.
On your guided sightseeing tour, visit the magnificent baroque Bishop’s Residenz, home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted.
This afternoon you’re free to explore the beautifully decorated streets on your own and visit the Christmas Markets.
You will also have the option, instead, to tour the town of Rothenburg today (extra charge). Rothenburg is famed for its medieval old town. Christmas shops abound in this charming hilltop village.
Your guided walking tour takes in the city’s historic center, including the great 13th-century Romanesque cathedral and the fascinating Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) – built on an island in the middle of the Regnitz River when the bishop refused to give the townspeople land for a town hall.
This time of year, the town is completely decked out for Christmas. You’ll enjoy the many nativity scenes built by local citizens and exhibited throughout the town.
Bamberg’s Christmas Market is known for its candles and decorations. You’ll also find abundant regional delicacies such as gingerbread and nut bread here.
Your guided sightseeing tour will give you the chance to marvel at this thousand-year-old city’s medieval fortifications, gothic churches, and the Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle).
The Old Town is illuminated with festive lights and decorations, and the Christmas Market is one of the most famous in the world. You’ll find dozens of stalls offering traditional wares, including Nuremberg Lebkuchen (spicy gingerbread), baked goods and sweets, Christmas decorations, ornaments, and more.
An optional Gingerbread Cooking Class (extra charge) will also be available today.
Wander through the city’s lanes and alleys to discover the many mansions with high towers. Wealthy families built these towers to emphasize their status and wealth during the Middle Ages, and many still remain today.
Walk across the 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), the oldest of its kind in Germany. Grab a beer and enjoy a snack at the Historische Wurstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen), one of Germany’s oldest restaurants.
Bask in the vibrant holiday atmosphere and take in the remarkable views along the river. During free time, explore on your own and visit the free public Regensburg Christmas Markets or the private one hosted by Thurn and Taxis Palace (7€). The tempting aromas of mulled wine, sweet roasted almonds, sausages, and gingerbread create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Take in the highlights of the “City of Three Rivers” on an included guided walk.
Alternatively, you might like to join a full-day optional excursion (extra charge) to Salzburg to see some of the sites from The Sound of Music, find out how mice caused the composition of the famous “Silent Night” Christmas carol, and learn how the Austrians celebrate Christmas.
Melk Abbey houses an ornate library with over 80,000 printed books and 2,000 manuscripts. Words cannot describe the splendor of the church with its frescoed ceilings, stunning high altar, marble statues, and 210-foot-high cupola. The view from the terrace of the abbey over the Danube and surrounding countryside is breathtaking!
Explore on your own or choose one of the popular optional excursions – if you fancy some exercise, perhaps a biking excursion (weather permitting) fits the bill?
Situated above town are the ruins of the castle where England’s King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike up to the ruins for spectacular views of the town and river in all its Christmas-time glory.
With plenty of time to explore on your own, delight in the shops of the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse, and be sure to take a break and enjoy a piece of decadent Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in one of the classic Viennese coffee houses, historic institutions that helped shape Viennese culture; or perhaps visit one of the many magnificent museums; or browse through the Naschmarkt, Vienna’s main outdoor produce market for over 80 years.
We will be in Vienna through the late evening to give you the opportunity to visit Vienna’s incredible Christmas Market.
Join your Local Guide for a tour of the city, including a guided walk of its fascinating Old Town, where winding cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways twist and turn to reveal the Town Hall, one of the oldest stone buildings in the city.
Also visit gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, coronation church for the Kingdom of Hungary from the 16th to 19th centuries.
And, of course, you’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own.
On your guided tour of the city, see Heroes Square as well as the massive hilltop castle complex with its remarkable Fishermen’s Bastion and 11th-century Matthias Church. Be sure to take note of the city’s eight bridges. which connect ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. You may even want to walk across Chain Bridge, built in 1849 and a symbol of Budapest.
This afternoon, explore this vibrant city at your own pace. Perhaps visit St. Stephen’s Basilica, with marvelous views of the city from its viewing platform, or stroll along Váci utca, the main shopping street.
Enjoy a free day and night to explore Hungary’s exciting capital. Visit one of the many exciting museums, take a walk to see some of the remaining communist statues, shop at the Great Market Hall with its 180 vendor stalls, or wander around the Royal Palace and Buda Castle grounds. Whatever you choose to do on this final day and night of our voyage, this gorgeous city is sure to impress!
If you’re flying out today, your transfer from the ship to Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport is included.
After our cruise has wrapped, we recommend staying a few extra nights in Budapest on your own. Our favorite hotels include the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace (at the foot of the Charles Bridge), Corinthia Hotel Budapest (the inspiration for Wes Anderson’s Oscar-winning Grand Budapest Hotel), and the Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest Klotild Palace (for an entirely unique experience).