ENCHANTING CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S CRUISE
Overview
A festive extravaganza celebrating two holidays in a truly extraordinary fashion across four countries.
Cruise the mighty Danube, visiting classic capitals like Budapest and Vienna. Spend Christmas Eve in Passau, then ring in the New Year in elegant style in Budapest. Festive celebrations are plentiful during this cruise—what better way to create perfect holiday memories?
Commemorate a splendid musical heritage as you lift your voice and sing “Silent Night” in Oberndorf, where the beloved Christmas carol was composed. Meet the Count of Castle Clam. Spend Christmas Day in Salzburg and enjoy a holiday lunch within the walls of St. Peter’s Abbey. Discover the seasonal delicacies of Slovakia in Bratislava’s picturesque downtown and enjoy the merriment of traditional hospitality in an Austrian wine village. Ring out the old year and ring in the new with art, wine, and song as you cruise through four nations during this enchanting season.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Included/Excluded
- All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners
- Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
- Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
- Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water
- 8 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
- Use of Nordic walking sticks
- 10-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the stately S.S. Maria Theresa
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
- Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
- 4 countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia
- 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- Group Transfers are included on arrival and departure days (please see terms and conditions for transfer guidelines)
- Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
- Captivating onboard local entertainment
- Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture
Day 1: Passau (Embark)
- Arrive at Munich Airport.
- If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer, or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship docked in Passau.
Note: For Arrival, Departure and Transfer details, please visit Uniworld.com/transfers. For Port Location details, please visit Uniworld.com/ports.
Day 2: Passau
- Old-town Passau is built on a spit of land that looks almost like a ship with its narrow prow jutting into the water, a fitting shape for a city that has been an important center of river trade since it was founded by the ancient Romans.
- Today a local expert shows you the highlights of this delightful and accessible town located at the confluence of three rivers— the Danube, Inn, and Ilz.
A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Featured Excursion:
- Passau Walking Tour
Masterpiece Collection (optional experience):
- Bavarian Winter Walk
Day 3: Linz (Salzburg And Oberndorf)
- Your ship docks in Linz today. From there, you’ll travel to the alpine cities of Salzburg and Oberndorf for a delightful full-day excursion.
- Fans of “The Sound of Music” may recognize locations from the Oscar-winning film in the city’s Old Town, the site of a grand cathedral and a wonderful Christmas Market.
- You’ll also visit the nearby town of Oberndorf, where the world’s most beloved Christmas carol was composed and performed for the first time.
Featured Excursion:
- Full-Day Salzburg and Oberndorf
Day 4: Grein
- On today’s agenda—a walk through charming Grein and a peek inside Austria’s oldest theater.
Featured Excursion:
- Grein Walking Tour with Oldest Austrian Theater
- Castle Clam Visit
Day 5: Melk, Cruising The Wachau Valley, Dürnstein
- Melk Abbey has an unexpectedly opulent library filled not only with rare and precious books but also secret doors and optical illusions.
- After your visit, cruise the Wachau Valley to the tiny village of Dürnstein, where you can browse the shops selling apricot schnapps, hike up to the ruins of a castle, taste mulled wine, and attend an organ concert at a local church.
- our river adventure today takes you through one of the most beautiful regions in Austria, bookended by two picturesque and historic towns, Melk and Dürnstein.
Featured Excursion:
- Melk Abbey with Library Visit
- Dürnstein Village Stroll with Spiced Wine Tasting and Organ Concert in a Monastery
Day 6: Vienna
- Renowned for its art and architecture, its classical music, its decadent pastries, and its lengthy list of famous former residents, the refined city of Vienna is a cultural treasure trove.
- Experience the city with your choice of tours, followed by an evening concert of Mozart and Strauss, performed at a 12th-century monastery.
Featured Excursion:
- “Morning with the Masters” at the Vienna Art History Museum
- Private Mozart and Strauss Concert
Choose between:
- Vienna’s Historic Trails and Local Treats OR Vienna – Imperial City Highlights
Day 7: Vienna
- A day of free time to explore Vienna at your leisure awaits.
- Maybe the Viennese love for music, food, drink, and stunning architecture will compel you to visit one of the many pubs, coffeehouses, wine taverns, art museums, and sprawling palaces.
Masterpiece Collection (optional experience):
- Schönbrunn Palace after Hour Visit
- Vienna Culinary Walking Tour
Day 8: Bratislava
- Once hidden from the world behind the “Iron Curtain,” Slovakia retains an air of mystery and intrigue, and its small capital city has an unexpectedly colorful history.
- You’ll learn more about Bratislava’s past from a local expert, then have free time to check out the whimsical street art and sample delicious delicacies found only in Slovakia.
Featured Excursion:
- Bratislava – Small but Precious Walking Tour
Day 9: Budapest
- Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each have their own distinctive character and allure.
- This evening, celebrate the new year with a special dinner, then join us in the lounge after for a festive night of music and dancing.
Featured Excursion:
- Budapest Panoramic Highlights with Franz Liszt Academy Visit
Day 10: Budapest
- Start off the New Year on a high note with an excursion to a village of talented artisans and craftspeople who live and create beautiful things together.
- The village is also home to two museums you’re welcome to visit—one devoted to lovely ceramics and the other to the art of marzipan.
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Featured Excursion:
- Szentendre Artist’ Village
Day 11: Budapest (Disembark)
- Disembark the ship.
- If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer, or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport for your flight home.
