Christmas on the Danube
Celebrate Christmas on the wonderful Danube, on this festive over-50s river cruise, starting in Germany and stopping at Vienna and Budapest. Enjoy the festive atmosphere on board your ship and explore the key cities of the Danube when the streets will be decorated with twinkling lights and fir trees and the historic squares will play host to traditional Christmas markets as they count down to the big day. See UNESCO-listed Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion during an included sightseeing tour of Budapest, venture to the top of Bratislava’s UFO observation tower on an optional beer tasting excursion and take in the festive decorations and famous sights of Vienna including the Imperial Hofburg complex and State Opera House on an included tour. On Christmas Eve you can attend an optional performance of music by Mozart and the Strauss family in a Viennese palace. You’ll also enjoy an optional tour of Melk Abbey and included walking tour of historic Passau.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Budapest city tour OR culinary walking tour of Budapest
Vienna city tour OR culinary walking tour of Vienna
Walking tour of Passau
FOOD & DRINK
20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK to Budapest
Fly to Budapest and embark Spirit of the Danube.
Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board as you remain moored here overnight.
Day 2 Budapest
Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube.
East meets west in this fascinating city, as can be seen in the variety of shops and restaurants. An included city sightseeing tour will reveal the capital's highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Alternatively, perhaps opt for an included culinary-themed walking tour of the city with strudel making and a visit to the Central Market Hall.
Depart during lunch and cruise overnight to Bratislava.
Day 3 Bratislava
Enjoy the morning exploring Slovakia's capital on an optional tour or independently.
Originally part of Czechoslovakia until 1993, Bratislava’s old town, ‘Staré Mesto’ ,with its historic buildings, provides a stark contrast to the 20th-century buildings, some of which serve as a reminder of its communist past. This afternoon you can head off on an optional beer tasting session at the UFO observation tower, which offers panoramic views across the city.
Your ship remains moored overnight in Bratislava.
Day 4 Bratislava - Vienna
Spend the morning at leisure in Bratislava before sailing at lunchtime to Vienna, arriving this evening and mooring here overnight.
Day 5 Vienna
This morning you’ll enjoy an included sightseeing tour of Vienna, for 600 years the centre of the Habsburg Empire.
Your tour includes a drive around the Ringstrasse, a wide avenue encircling the old city, taking in famous sights such as the Imperial Hofburg complex built by Emperor Franz Josef, and the world-famous State Opera House. Alternatively, to experience the culture and taste the local specialities opt for an included culinary walking tour instead. This afternoon you have the opportunity to visit UNESCO-listed Schönbrunn Palace on an optional excursion.
This evening, following dinner on board, you can celebrate Christmas Eve with an optional excursion to a Viennese palace for a musical performance of work by Mozart and the Strauss family.
Day 6 Melk
Depart Vienna in the early hours and spend a relaxing Christmas Day morning cruising to Melk, where you arrive during lunch.
This afternoon you may like to join an optional tour of the Benedictine Abbey before departing this evening.
Day 7 Passau
Passau, the most easterly city in Bavaria, is known as the ‘Venice of Bavaria’, being set at the confluence of three rivers. It is home to a baroque cathedral containing the largest church organ in the world.
A short included walking tour will reveal the highlights this afternoon, most of which are close to the Danube, before you depart before dinner.
Day 8 Regensburg - UK
Disembark Spirit of the Danube in Regensburg after breakfast and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
