Danube Christmas Markets: Vienna to Nuremberg - rail from London

Your festive vacation begins as at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and traveling group, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. From the French capital, we switch to a regional service and travel in First Class to Stuttgart, a charming German city on the Neckar River.

Arriving in the evening, we check in to our central hotel for an overnight stay. Tonight, we eat our first dinner together in the hotel restaurant, and as you enjoy your meal, you can look forward to the seasonal cruise ahead. Overnight Stuttgart.

• Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we board a train to Vienna via Munich, traveling in First Class. In winter, Vienna is an enchanting place to visit, with stately Baroque buildings around every corner and magnificent Gothic churches to explore. As we arrive, you can look forward to tomorrow's tour of the city and to browsing the stalls at Vienna's famous Christmas markets.

From the station, we transfer by motorcoach to our elegant cruise ship, which is decked out in its Christmas finery. We're greeted by our friendly crew and 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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A guided coach tour of the elegant city of Vienna awaits after breakfast. 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 countless 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 and tour the abbey's beautiful church, historic library and ornate halls.

Back on the ship, we enjoy lunch as we sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley to the riverside village of Dürnstein, where you may be tempted to sample the local produce or simply wander the charming streets and admire its powder-blue church tower.

Returning to the ship in the evening, we enjoy a festive afternoon in the lounge with the opportunity to try decorating gingerbread before we sit down to dinner. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we board a coach for a tour of Passau, a picturesque German city whose Old Town is filled with Baroque architecture. In the heart of the city, the Old Town's cathedral - St. Stephen's, home to one of the world's largest cathedral organ sounds - rises dramatically overlooking the city. The Old Town, rebuilt by Italian Baroque masters in the 17th century, is filled with soaring towers, 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 into Germany toward Regensburg, enjoying the ever-changing scenery from the lounge. We indulge in a delightful Christmas-themed afternoon tea of mince pies, stollen, gingerbread, pigs in blankets, 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 the market. Situated around the beautiful Thurn and 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 or enjoy 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 intellectual life 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 through twinkling lights, sipping mulled wine and soaking up the seasonal atmosphere before we return to our ship for dinner. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast today, we transfer to Nuremberg station, from where we travel in First Class to Frankfurt. Arriving in the afternoon, we check in to our hotel before an afternoon at leisure in the city.

With a skyline of towering skyscrapers, Frankfurt is an economic powerhouse, home to most of the country's financial institutions. But in the heart of the Old Town is Römerberg, a charming square lined with historic buildings. During the festive season, this square is home to a lovely Christmas market that stretches from the square to the quayside on the river. Dating back to the 14th century, this market has developed its own recipes for baked marzipan, a delicious festive treat.

You're welcome to explore the market at leisure, enjoying the sights, sounds and scents as the dusk begins to fall. In the evening, we gather at the hotel for our final dinner together. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Danube brims with festive charm, with picture-perfect squares filled with scents of the season 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, Nuremberg and Frankfurt, these historic and idyllic towns have epitomized the joy of the holidays.

After breakfast, we board a high-speed train to Brussels, traveling in First Class. In the Belgian capital, we board the Eurostar to London St Pancras, where your festive vacation concludes and you are free to make your own way home.

• Breakfast