Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship, moored near the city center. Start exploring Budapest’s unique Christmas markets on your own before meeting your fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. Tonight, the ship sails a special Illuminations Cruise along Budapest’s illuminated riverfront, then returns to moor overnight.

This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour including 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. Transfer to Esztergon where you will rejoin the ship. The ship sails to Vienna this afternoon.

Start your day with a city 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. Arrive at Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben and the world famous Spanish Riding School. Afterwards, spend time enjoying the Christmas Markets and holiday festivities at Schönbrunn and Karlsplatz. This evening you will have the chance to visit the Schwedenplatz, Maria-Theresian-Platz and Rathausplatz Christmas Markets tonight. The ship heads towards Melk late tonight.

This morning, cruise through the narrow Strudengau en route to the incredibly scenic Wachau Valley. Your guided tour today takes you to Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries, with a medieval library that inspired Umberto Eco’s novel The Name of the Rose. Rejoin the ship around lunchtime and continue cruising towards 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, Rathaus, Domplatz and Residenzplatz town squares, 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. Alternatively, guests looking for a more active morning may join a guided bike tour from Passau to Erlau. You may also opt for 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 at Hellbrunn Palace, renowned for local handicrafts and one-of-a-kind holiday presents.

Arrive in Regensburg 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. You may also opt instead to join a guided bike tour through the spectacular scenery of the Altmuhl Valley. Enjoy views of Walhalla, a landmark honoring distinguished Germans throughout history. 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

This morning your ship enters the Main-Danube Canal, a marvel of modern engineering that traverses the Franconian Alps via 16 locks. In the afternoon enjoy a tour of historic Nuremberg with its fabulous Gothic churches, elegant patrician houses, the Imperial Castle, and 900-year-old city ramparts. Afterwards, visit the world’s largest Christmas Market, with over 100 red and white canvas-topped booths offering an assortment of unique toys, tinsel angels, dolls, gingerbread and other treats, and an endless variety of other seasonal goodies. Alternatively, savor traditional flavors on a Franconian Specialties tasting as you sample the famous Nuremburger Bratwurst, Rotbier and Lebkuchen. The ship overnights in Nuremberg.

This morning, disembark your cruise in Nuremberg.