Viking Rivers Christmas Markets Cruise
"Danube Christmas Delights"
December 14 - 22, 2024
I'm such a big fan of the European Christmas Markets, and as a So Florida resident, getting away to the snow and cold during the holiday season is just a very special vibe for me. I'm sorry that my wife Kim will not be along on this Viking adventure (she'll be along for NEXT year's Christmas Markets cruise!) but I am delighted that my niece Khloe will join me for her second Viking adventure as we sail from Budapest to Passau along the Danube river in mid-December!
In December 2015, Kim and I were on this same itinerary - going the reverse direction - when it still went by the name it carries the rest of the year, "The Danube Waltz." We REALLY enjoyed that trip and I'm sure this one will be as "magical." Check out the 2018 highlights in this 12 min. highlight video
Day 0-1: December 14 - 15 - Travel to Budapest
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Riverside beauty and a vibrant cultural scene blend together in Budapest to form one of Europe’s most rewarding cities. Hungary’s enchanting capital straddles the banks of the Danube, with traditional hillside Buda on one side and modern Pest on the other. By day, astounding art nouveau buildings, stalwart castles and glittering palaces set the stage for awe-inspiring strolls and long soaks in thermal spas. By night, a nostalgic glow settles in as the city’s lights dance on Danube waters, the Chain Bridge uniting it all as a dramatic centerpiece.
Settle into French Balcony Stateroom #204
Day 2: December 16 - Budapest
The Christmas season adds another layer of beauty to the already romantic charms of Budapest. Nestled in the heart of Pest lies Vörösmarty Square, home to the city’s largest yuletide market. The enticing aroma of national specialties permeates the air as vendors display traditional and contemporary handicrafts. At the cozy St. Stephen’s Basilica market, mulled wine keeps revelers warm as nightly light shows illuminate the church’s facade. Across the Danube in Buda, Old-World allure mingles with festivities in Fő Square, where seasonal events and an outdoor ice rink entertai
Day 3: December 17 - Bratislava
The aroma of mulled wine and Slovakian delicacies mixes with the sound of Christmas carols to turn Bratislava’s historic Old Town into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. The medieval Bratislava Castle overlooks light-festooned streets that give the city a fairytale glow. Vendors in Hlavné Námestíe Square display authentic artisanal handicrafts, and a specially decorated Christmas tram adds to the holiday atmosphere as it transports visitors to the different fairs spread out around the city.
Day 4: December 18 - Vienna
The yuletide season transforms Vienna’s beautiful squares into delightful Christmas markets. Festive lights illuminate the Old Town. The Schönbrunn market, set in front of the baroque Hapsburg summer palace, and Freyung market, nestled in the city center, are the perfect destinations for unique handmade decorations. Seasonal music and choral singing provide a merry ambience to holiday festivities in Am Hof Square, while the market at Belvedere Square mixes excellent shopping opportunities with views of the stately palace and adjacent lake to create a fairytale atmosphere.
Day 5: December 19 - Krems
A small university town at the eastern end of the Danube’s Wachau Valley, Krems is surrounded by terraced vineyards. In its heyday, during the 12th century, Krems held even more importance than Vienna for its iron, grain, salt and wine trade. As to the latter, the city has played a long and celebrated part in the popularity of the Wachau’s wine culture; the valley’s south slopes in Krems are bathed in sunlight all day and create some of the best Riesling and Veltliner wines in the world. The city’s cobblestone streets, taverns, wine bars and coffeehouses have a timeless appeal.
Day 5: December 18 - Scenic Sailing of Wauchu Valley
Sail through a serene tapestry of terraced vineyards, forested slopes, charming towns and castle ruins in Austria’s Wachau Valley, celebrated as perhaps the most scenic stretch of the Danube. Journey 18 miles through this vast UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the river courses through picturesque hillsides. Gaze upon the prolific grapevines and quaint wine-producing villages hugging the shores—the legacy of vintners that stretch as far back as Celtic and Roman times and an echo of the more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days.
Day 6: December 20 - Linz
Explore the medieval gem, Český Krumlov, and immerse yourself in the yuletide atmosphere. Meet your guide and step into the Bohemia of old during a guided stroll. At the town’s highest point, see Český Krumlov Castle and admire its Renaissance style, the stone arches of the Cloak Bridge, and the Upper and Little Castles. Walk over the Bear Moat, where bears have been kept since 1707, and pass the Castle Gate, pharmacy and monastery. Back in the town center, view the Renaissance Town Hall, House of the Prelate and Gothic Church of St. Vitus. Savor a delicious lunch of traditional festive fare at a local restaurant and enjoy free time to explore at your leisure, perhaps visiting the Christmas market, to browse for traditional crafts and handmade gifts for you to take home.
Day 7: December 21 - Passau
Centered around the beautiful St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, the romantic market stalls of the Christkindlmarkt are a delight to explore. An array of handmade goods, from tasty treats to ornaments, offer a wealth of opportunity to take home a unique artisan gifts created by local craftsmen. Periodically throughout the festive season, the cathedral hosts yuletide concerts; the sound of choirs singing can be heard as their voices echo through the courtyard and the town’s narrow streets.
Day 8: December 22 - Passau / Travel Home
After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home.