Christmastime on the Danube Christmas Market Cruise with Avalon Waterways
Enter a stunning world of cherished Christmas traditions along the Danube River. Board your Avalon Suite Ship® in Nuremberg, Germany, with its medieval fortifications, gothic churches, and palaces. The Old Town is illuminated with festive lights and decorations and the Christmas market, one of the most famous in the world, has dozens of stalls offering traditional wares, such as Lebkuchen (spiced gingerbread), Glühwein (hot mulled wine), and unique decorations and ornaments. Learn about local Christmas traditions, and cruise to historical Regensburg, the only German city not bombed during WWII. After a guided tour, enjoy a tasting of German beers. Experience Passau’s charming Christmas market set against the breathtaking backdrop of St. Stephen’s Cathedral—a masterpiece of baroque architecture.
Arrive in lovely Melk, Austria, and tour the magnificent 11th century Benedictine Abbey—one of Europe’s largest monasteries. As you cruise through the wintery landscape of the picturesque Wachau Valley, enjoy the view with a tasting of traditional Austrian cookies. This Christmas river cruise ends in Austria’s magical capital of Vienna, home to the sounds of Mozart, Strauss, and the Vienna Boys’ Choir. See the famous sights with a Local Guide, or opt to go on a culinary tour through the Christmas markets to get a taste of all the best flavors Austria offers during this sparkling time of year on the Danube River.
Christmastime on the Danube
December 1 - 7, 2021 Nuremberg | Regensburg | Passau | Melk | Vienna Starting at $2120pp/double occupancy
Experience the breathtaking scenery of Christmastime in Europe! Enjoy a week sailing down the Danube and explore the Christmas Markets of Germany & Austria. These markets are full of locally-made artisanal crafts, culinary specialties from the region and of course unique beverages to keep you warm! Aboard Avalon you will experience delicious meals with locally sourced foods, a-la-cart options for breakfast/lunch/dinner, complimentary sparking wine with breakfast, complimentary wine/beer/soft drinks with lunch and dinner, daily afternoon tea with snacks, Welcome & Farewell Reception, complimentary Wi-Fi, panoramic windows, Sky Deck with whirlpool, Comfort Collection Beds, bathrobes & slippers, individual climate-control and in-room safe, fitness & wellness activities, bikes, canoe/kayak/jogging excursions and much more!
$250 non-refundable deposit due to hold space. Final payment due August 26th. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY(B) = Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Dinner DAY 1 | (D) NUREMBERG, GERMANY (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Germany! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Nuremberg must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Indulge in traditional holiday fare and hot libations to warm your heart and soul. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG
DAY 2 | (B, L, D) NUREMBERG Living Heritage and History Lessons Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR: Join a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich. Spend free time on your own to browse the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg. Sample favorite Bavarian fare—from dozens of bratwurst varieties, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and countless other culinary delights of the Christkindlmarkt. Enjoy live entertainment as you sail. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REGENSBURG
DAY 3 | (B, L, D) REGENSBURG Christmas Magic in Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle. Enjoy a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board while sailing this morning. Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—entrance to the Castra Regina fortress built in 179 AD. Take time to browse Regensburg’s sparkling Christmas markets. Enjoy hot-mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, or bratwurst. Later, indulge in an onboard Beer Tasting to sample regional German brews. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PASSAU
DAY 4 | (B, L, D) PASSAU Saint Stephens, Salzburg, and the Story of Silent Night. Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.” You may like to join a Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg, Austria. See the setting of The Sound of Music, and learn the story behind the beloved Christmas hymn, Silent Night. Spend free time in Passau’s charming Christkindlmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take a brief evening cruise to Linz, and go out for music and dancing or late-night dessert before sailing to Melk. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK
DAY 5 | (B, L, D) MELK, AUSTRIA Striking Frescoes and the Breathtaking Wachau Valley Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings. Enjoy an Austrian Cookie Tasting while sailing through the splendid Wachau Valley to Vienna. Vienna’s Winter Wonderland. This evening, you may choose to attend an Optional Excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
DAY 6 | (B, L, D) VIENNA Royal Collections, and Culinary Confections Take a Guided Tour of Vienna to see the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial family, OR: Join a Guided Culinary Tour of Vienna’s magical Christmas Advent Markets to sample Sachertorte and Apfelstrudel. You may join a Guided Optional Tour of Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg dynasty for 300 years. Spend free time on your own to enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt, or relax by the fire’s glow in a Viennese café this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
DAY 7 | (B) VIENNA (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Deluxe Stateroom with Windows | $2120 per person/double occupancy Panoramic Suite with French Balcony | $2870 per person/double occupancy Royal Suite | $3525 per person/double occupancy *Airfare, insurance, pre/post nights not included in above price.
