Danube Christmas Markets: Vienna to Nuremberg fly into Vienna

Your festive vacation begins as you land in Austria's capital. A group transfer to our elegant cruise ship is available at a set time, or you can add a private transfer to match your inbound travel plans.

Greeted by our friendly crew and Cruise Director, you can enjoy a welcome drink while taking in the waterside views from the lounge. After settling into your cabin and familiarizing yourself with our ship's facilities, we indulge in our first five-course dinner on board. Overnight ship.

*If you would like to travel by rail, view our Rail & Cruise option here.

• Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we board a coach for a guided tour of the elegant city of Vienna. With our expert guide, we pass the illustrious Ringstrasse boulevard, the world-renowned Opera House and the monumental parliament building.

After lunch on the ship, you can choose between two excursions. The first is a trip to Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the ruling Habsburg family. During the festive season, the forecourt is transformed into a magical Christmas market. Listening as the live band plays festive melodies in front of the beautifully decorated tree, you can wander the stalls selling handmade goods, art and gourmet treats.

Your second option is to return to Vienna, where you can stroll along the scenic boulevards, marvel at the striking St. Stephen's Cathedral or enter one of the numerous museums and galleries that bring the city's history to life. Don't forget to indulge in a slice of famous Sachertorte, a delicious Viennese cake, at one of the city's grand coffeehouses. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today brings a tour of one of the Wachau Valley's most magnificent sights: Melk Abbey. Standing atop of a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, this golden 11th-century complex is a wonder of Baroque architecture. We disembark at Emmersdorf for a guided tour of the abbey's beautiful church, historic library and ornate halls.

Back on the ship, we enjoy lunch while sailing through the picturesque UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley to the riverside village of Dürnstein. Famed for its apricots and fruit-infused liquor, you can wander the charming streets, sample local produce or admire the powder-blue church tower.

Returning to the ship in the evening, we enjoy a gingerbread-making demonstration, before we sit down to dinner. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we board a coach for a tour of Passau, a charming German city whose Old Town is filled with Baroque architecture. In the heart of the city, the Old Town's Cathedral - St. Stephan's, home to the world's largest cathedral organ - rises dramatically overlooking the city. The Old Town, constructed by Italian Baroque masters in the 17th century, is filled with soaring towers, picturesque landscapes, enchanting promenades and winding alleyways.

After lunch on the ship, you have free time to explore the city independently. You might like to visit the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century hilltop fortress and one of the largest surviving castle complexes in Europe.

Returning to our ship in the late afternoon, we begin sailing toward Regensburg, enjoying the ever-changing scenery from the lounge. We indulge in a delightful Christmas-themed afternoon tea of mince pies, stollen, gingerbread, sausages wrapped in bacon, turkey and stuffing sandwiches, with mulled wine. In the evening, we enjoy dinner on the ship as we continue sailing. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today brings one of the highlights of your festive cruise: a visit to Regensburg, a beautifully preserved medieval city home to one of Germany's most enchanting Christmas markets.

Arriving in the morning, we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town before returning in the afternoon for an atmospheric market experience. One of the highlights of our tour is St. Peter's Cathedral, a grand 13th-century building with stunning stained-glass windows in the heart of the Old Town.

After lunch on the ship, we make our way to Regensburg's market. Situated around the beautiful Thurn & Taxis Castle, this lantern-lit market is a feast for the senses. As you stroll among the craft stalls selling homemade goods with the scent of roasted chestnuts in the air, you can relish the feeling of having stepped back in time. After enjoying the enchanting atmosphere, browsing the stalls and tasting local delicacies, we return to the ship for dinner. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Unwind during a free morning as we continue to cruise toward Nuremberg. You might like to put on warm clothes and step out onto the ship's deck to enjoy panoramic views of the riverbanks, stop by the fitness room or book a massage in the wellness center.

In the afternoon, we disembark and set out on a guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg, a former Free Imperial City during the Middle Ages and a center of art and intellect during the Renaissance. Among other landmarks, we see the imperial Kaiserburg castle overlooking the Altstadt marketplace. There's a unique charm to the city, from the quaint traditional figurines lining the market stalls to the striking stone sculptures and murals that vividly depict rich medieval history.

With free time after the tour, you can explore the city's Christmas markets, walking amid twinkling lights, sipping mulled wine and soaking up the seasonal atmosphere before we return to our ship for our final dinner. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Danube brims with festive charm, with picture-perfect squares filled with seasonal aromas surrounded by charming half-timbered buildings. Twinkling lights, handcrafted gifts and the Christmas markets' warming food and drink add to the cheerful atmosphere. From Vienna to Passau, Regensburg and Nuremberg, these historic and idyllic cities have epitomized the joys of the season.

After breakfast, there's an escorted transfer to Frankfurt airport. Traveling first to Passau station by coach, we then board the train to the airport, from where you can begin your journey back home.

• Breakfast