Christmas on the Danube

Day 1 - Passau

Join your tour group on the ship ready for our Christmas cruise. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and dinner on board this evening. We remain moored here overnight.

Day 2 - Passau - Linz

After breakfast, get to know Passau on a sightseeing walk. This beautiful city sits at the confluence of three rivers (the Danube, Ilz and Inn) and features a medley of Italianate baroque and Gothic architecture. Later, we set sail for Linz, where you can end the day with a stroll through the Christmas market. Why not pick up a handcrafted bauble to decorate your tree next year - a lovely reminder of your Christmas cruise.

Day 3 - Christmas Eve - Emmersdorf (Melk) - Dürnstein

This morning, we arrive in the wine-growing town of Melk, ready to explore its huge baroque abbey. This cultural treasure was a fortified Roman post and then a magnificent castle before it was given to the Benedictines in 1089. Before we set sail for Dürnstein this afternoon, we’ll enjoy a glühwein party, warming up with glasses of deliciously spiced mulled wine - it's always a wonderful highlight of our Christmas holiday cruises. This evening, we enjoy a Christmas celebration on board with the opportunity to attend Christmas Mass in Dürnstein.

Day 4 - Christmas Day - Vienna

Merry Christmas! We arrive in Vienna this morning, a fantastic city to spend the big day in. A sightseeing tour takes us along the Ringstrasse, into the Schwarzenbergplatz, passing Karlskirche and Vienna’s stunning opera house. Vienna is a cultural powerhouse - international treasures include the Vienna Boys’ Choir and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, while former residents include Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn.

Day 5 - Boxing Day - Bratislava

A guided tour will reveal some of the Slovakian capital’s highlights this morning. Enjoy the breathtaking views from Bratislava’s 13th-century castle, which span over countryside where Austria, Hungary and Slovakia meet. We’ll cast off from Bratislava during lunch, which is followed by a relaxed afternoon cruising upstream through Austria. There’ll be a captain’s gala dinner this evening, where you’ll enjoy good food, quality wine and great company.

Day 6 - Linz

We’ll have another chance to explore Linz today, a former European Capital of Culture. A walking tour will take you around the cobbled streets of Linz’s historic heart, with a guide to explain the city’s layered history. There’ll be free time afterwards - maybe see the crib of the cathedral, famed for being one of the largest and most beautiful in the world, and try some delicious Linzer torte. After dinner, our ship continues upstream towards Germany.

Day 7 - - Munich

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.