Day 1: Nuremberg 
Arrive at the Nuremberg airport where you will be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2: Nuremberg 
Featured Excursion: Nuremberg city tour and Christmas Market

Discover Nuremberg, a quintessential Medieval German city, on your panoramic city tour. Your tour takes you past the mighty ancient walls with 80 towers that enclose the historic city center. You will stop at Medieval Kaiserburg Castle, and then walk through the lively old quarter with its well-preserved traditional half-timbered houses. You will visit Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, Germany’s oldest and best-known Christmas Market with over 200 stalls filled with signature toys and tasty seasonal treats. While at the market, you will certainly want to sample the lebkuchen (gingerbread), since Nuremberg is the “Gingerbread Capital of the World.” (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Day 3: Cruising the Main-Danube Canal, Regensburg 
Spend a leisurely day onboard your floating hotel as you cruise along the remarkable 106-mile-long Main-Danube Canal to the Danube River. This canal is a marvel of modern engineering and was completed in 1992 to allow travel from the North Sea all the way to the Black Sea. It stretches from Bamberg on the Main River all the way to Kelheim on the Danube River, and includes 16 locks that rise to a height of 1,330 feet, making it the highest point of any commercial waterway in Europe. Arrive in Regensburg in time for midnight mass in one of the many historic churches in the Medieval town center—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BB, L, D)

Day 4: Regensburg 
Featured Excursions: Choice of Regensburg walking tour of Old Town OR Jewish Regensburg walking tour

An unspoiled gem and your first port of call on the Danube, Regensburg is a friendly town with quaint cobblestone streets, Medieval alleys, and ancient Roman ruins. Goethe thought the region was “so beautifully situated; [it] had to attract a town.” And attract a town it did, not just because of its beautiful location but also because ambitious and farseeing locals built a bridge over the Danube here back in the 12th century. Thanks to Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), Regensburg became an international trading hub and, for a time, the capital of Bavaria. In the morning, you can attend Christmas mass in one of Regensburg’s lovely churches; during the afternoon, you will be taken on a walking tour of this unspoiled gem of a city. Starting at the Cathedral of St. Peter, you will walk past the Gothic Town Hall, the 12th-century Stone Bridge, and Old Town. If you prefer, you can visit sites associated with the oldest Jewish community in southern Germany, which dates to the Middle Ages, as well as grim reminders of 20th-century persecution. Invigorated by the stroll through this winter wonderland, return to the ship for a warm and festive Christmas meal, complete with all the holiday trimmings. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Deggendorf (Theresienthal) 
Featured Excursion: Exclusive Bavarian Forest horse-drawn carriage ride with Theresienthal visit

Want to know what it feels like to step into a Christmas card illustration? This afternoon you’ll find out as you climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage and take a brisk ride through the wonderland that is the Bavarian Forest in December. The largest nature preserve in Europe, the forest is home to lynxes, river otters, and other rare species. It is also home to a long tradition of glass-making, and glass beads, windowpanes, and drinking glasses from the region were highly prized at princes’ courts across Europe for many years. The famous ruby-red Bohemian lead-crystal glass, decorated by master engravers, is made in some of these artists’ workshops. Experience the art of glass-making firsthand with a visit to the world-renowned glass manufacturer Theresienthal, which produced glassware for the rulers of Europe for centuries. Marvel at the amazing collection exhibited in the museum there. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Passau 
Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour

Enjoy a peaceful morning cruising to the beautiful city of Passau. Situated at the confluence of three rivers, Passau was an important center of trade during the Medieval period. On your walking tour, you will see the treasures of Old Town, including Italian Baroque buildings erected after the big fire of 1662 and the city’s ornate cathedral. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Linz (Salzburg) 
Featured Excursion: Full-day Salzburg tour

On your guided tour through Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage-designated Old Town, view such gems as the 17th-century cathedral and the house where Mozart was born, as well as the Mirabellgarten. You’ll also have time to visit some of the many lovely shops in the area. (BB, D)

Day 8: Dürnstein 
Featured Excursions: Dürnstein village stroll with exclusive mulled wine tasting and exclusive cocktail reception at Artstetten Castle with Princess Anita von Hohenberg

Explore charming Dürnstein with your Cruise Manager in the morning and enjoy an exclusive mulled wine tasting. Later in the day, you are invited to an exclusive cocktail reception at Artstetten Castle with Princess Anita von Hohenberg, a descendant of the royal Habsburgs. (BB, L, D)

Day 9: Vienna 
Featured Excursions: Vienna city tour

Vienna is a treasure trove of gems, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral—the most beloved architectural wonder in all of Vienna—and the stately Ringstrasse, the broad thoroughfare surrounded by the many imperial buildings that give Vienna its wedding cake appearance. After your panoramic tour, visit the Baroque State Hall of the Austrian National Library, said to be the most beautiful library room in the world. (BB, L, D)

Day 10: Vienna 
Featured Excursions: Schönbrunn Palace and exclusive New Year’s gala dinner and dance at a Viennese Palace

During the morning, you’ll visit stunning Habsburg Schönbrunn Palace. This summer Habsburg residence was merely a work in progress until the reign of the 23-year-old Empress Maria Theresa began in 1740. Under her guidance, the former hunting lodge was transformed into a stunning palace rivaling Versailles, and it became Austria’s political and social center. Now it delights the eye with its ornate architecture, extravagant gardens, and glorious 18th- and 19th-century interiors. Later in the evening, celebrate New Year’s Eve in grand style in a Viennese palace. You will delight in a festive dinner along with a private concert, and then dance to famous Strauss waltzes. (BB, L, D)

Day 11: Vienna, cruising the Danube River 
Take advantage of your ship’s luxuries as you spend a full day cruising the enchanting Danube. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 12: Budapest 
Featured Excursion: Budapest city tour

Your panoramic city tour features such sights as the 19th-century Chain Bridge, the Great Synagogue, the Hungarian National Museum, the Hungarian State Opera House, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the stunning Parliament Building. Visit the UNESCO Castle Hill district, St. Matthias Church, and the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion. (BB, L, D)

Day 13: Depart Budapest
Disembark the ship and transfer to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport for your flight home. (CB/BB)

Have an unforgettable holiday season. Celebrate Christmas in Regensburg, one of the loveliest Medieval towns in Europe, where you will have time to attend Christmas Mass in one of Regensburg’s magnificent churches, followed by a grand celebration onboard your ship. Learn how the tradition of glassblowing has remained basically unchanged since the glassblower’s pipe was invented some 2,000 years ago, and take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Bavarian Forest.

We have arranged for a private cocktail reception for you at Artstetten Castle with Princess Anita von Hohenberg, a descendant of the royal Habsburgs. You will also welcome the New Year at an exclusive gala dinner and dance in a Viennese palace. While here, you will be treated to a festive dinner and a private concert, at which you can even waltz to the famous tunes of Strauss and Mozart—all in the elegant ambience of this historic salon.

Three captivating countries—Germany, Austria, and Hungary—plus one enchanting river, the Danube, will provide the perfect backdrop for celebrating the holidays in grand style.

• 12-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the classy River Empress
• All transfers on arrival and departure days 
• All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
• 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners
• Captain’s Welcome Gala and Farewell Dinners
• Complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner onboard; bottled water replenished daily in your stateroom; and 24-hour specialty coffee and tea station
• Explore 3 countries
• 12 excursions, including 1 “Choice Is Yours” options, fully hosted by English-speaking local expert
• 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Captivating onboard local entertainment
• Signature Lecture: “Heaven on Earth: The Worldly Pleasures of Baroque Art and Architecture”

Cruising: Cabin onboard the River Empress

• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Note: Christmas Markets are generally open from the beginning of Advent until December 23.
• Prices exclude additional port charges of $140 and are per person, cruise-only based on double occupancy.
• A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

For Uniworld Boutique River Cruises terms and conditions, please click here.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines.