7 Nights on the AmaViola Ship

Date TBD
Price starting at $4,736 per person (2 night pre in Prague and cruise)
(based on double occupancy)
We invite you to celebrate the magic of the holiday season with us on our Christmastime cruise. Embark upon your cruise in Nuremberg, stopping to visit some of the charming towns where many beloved Christmas traditions originated. Wander the stalls of Europe’s most traditional and enchanting Christmas Markets, shopping for handcrafted toys and gifts, sipping hot mulled wine and inhaling the fragrance of gingerbread and roasted chestnuts. Experience colorful local traditions in such picturesque locales as Regensburg, Salzburg and Vienna before concluding your cruise in Budapest, which offers its own festive take on the holiday.

Detailed Itinerary:

cruise map

Day 1 EMBARKATION – NUREMBERG, GERMANY
Board your cruise in Nuremberg. Tonight, gather on board your ship for a Welcome Dinner. The ship will moor overnight in Nuremberg. (D)
Day 2 NUREMBERG – CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches, 900-year-old city ramparts, the house of artist Albrecht Dürer, Imperial Castle, and the Justice Palace courtroom where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. Following your tour, you will have free time to visit the city’s fabled Christmas Market and enjoy some hot mulled Glühwein – the souvenir mug is yours to keep! (B,L,D)
Day 3 REGENSBURG
Arrive in Regensburg after breakfast and enjoy a guided walking tour of this exquisitely preserved medieval city. Marvel at the beautiful churches, the homes of wealthy families, and one of Germany’s oldest bridges across the Danube. Your tour ends with a visit to a Christmas Market, with its festive stalls adorned with fir branches. This evening, you will enjoy a visit to the exclusive “royal” markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, a very traditional handicraft Christmas Market where you can watch craftsmen at work. (B,L,D)
Day 4 PASSAU
After breakfast, you have three choices for how to spend the day. The first is a walking tour of picturesque Passau, a fairytale city founded more than 2,000 years ago, known for its fortifications and town squares like Rathaus, Domplatz, Residenzplatz, as well as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ. Afterwards, take some time to explore the town’s Christmas Market. Guests looking for a more active morning may instead join a guided bike tour from Passau to Erlau. Your third option is a full-day excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” You will have time to visit Salzburg’s beautiful Christmas Market, renowned for local handicrafts and one-of-a-kind holiday presents, as well as a stop at the Christmas Market in Linz on the way back to the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 5 MELK, AUSTRIA – VIENNA
Today’s guided walking tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest Baroque monasteries. You will see the famous library that inspired novelist Umberto Eco to write The Name of the Rose. You may also opt for a guided bike tour along the scenic Danube instead. During lunch, the ship cruises through the romantic Wachau Valley en route to Vienna, the “City of Music,” arriving this evening. You will have the chance to visit both the Maria Theresienplatz and Rathaus Christkindlmarkt markets tonight. The ship moors overnight in Vienna. (B,L,D)
Day 6 VIENNA
This morning, you will have a chance to savor the Baroque elegance of Romantic Vienna through your choice of one of two different excursions. The first option is a panoramic tour of Vienna that guides you past the majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors, Parliament, Town Hall and Vienna University. Afterwards, you will visit Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben and the world famous Spanish Riding School. The second option is a walking tour of Vienna’s hidden treasures that takes you to secret places and sights like Ankeruhr, a whimsical Art Nouveau clock. Afterwards, spend some time enjoying the Christmas Market and holiday festivities at the Town Hall. Later, you can visit the Schönbrunn and Karlsplatz Christmas Markets, or join a guided bike ride to Klosterneuburg Monastery. The ship departs late this evening for Hungary. (B,L,D)
Day 7 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Your morning excursion includes sightseeing in the cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. You will see famed Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church and spectacular views of the Danube. Afterwards, take some time to explore the twinkling Christmas Market in the main square. After dinner, the ship will sail a special Illuminations Cruise past the city’s glittering riverfront. The ship moors overnight in Budapest. (B,L,D)
Day 8 BUDAPEST – DISEMBARKATION
Your cruise comes to an end as you prepare for your homeward flight. (B)

Included Features:

  • 7 nights deluxe cruise accommodation in an outside stateroomAmaViola_LobbyElevator
  • Most with French balconies or revolutionary Twin Balconies
  • Life enriching tours and excursions daily
  • Entertainment on demand in all staterooms featuring free high-speed Internet access, hit Hollywood movies, extensive music library and English language TV stations
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access on board
  • Terry bathrobes and white-on-white plush bedding
  • Fine dining with all meals included during your cruise
  • Multiple dining venues on select vessels
  • Free-flowing red & white wines from Europe’s great wine regions, beer & soft drinks with every lunch and dinner on board
  • Bottled water in every stateroom replenished dailyAmaViola_MainDiningRoom
  • Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner & Captain’s Gala Dinner
  • Special highlights including lectures, cooking demonstration, on board music performances and piano music
  • Bicycles to explore on your own & guided bicycle tours
  • Services of professional Cruise Manager
  • All English language on board in a non-smoking environment (smoking permitted only on the Sun Deck)
  • Transfers between hotel and ship are included with the purchase of cruise and land package; airport transfers are included with the purchase of airfare from AmaWaterways
  • All local taxes

The Ship:

This 158-passenger AmaViola features the most advanced design of any river cruise vessel currently in operation. Our exclusive Twin Balconies are available in most staterooms, which measure a spacious 210-235 sq. feet, with four suites measuring 350 sq. feet. Passengers will enjoy gourmet dining with free-flowing fine wines at multiple on board dining venues; a heated sun deck swimming pool; fitness center and spa; complimentary ship-wide Wi-Fi and in-room Internet and entertainment on demand; and a fleet of bicycles carried on board for passengers to enjoy on their own or on guided bike tours.

Contact us to Reserve Your Spot on this Magical Christmas Markets River Cruise!