Compare Christmas Markets Along the Danube - Westbound 2017 by Tauck vs Imperial Europe by Trafalgar

Day 1 Arrive Vienna / Embark Riverboat

Vienna - Images of St. Nicholas - with his devilish nemesis, Krampus - Advent wreaths, twinkling lights, roasting chestnuts, sausages and kartoffelpuffer (potato cakes), hot glühwein and fruity punsch... all signs of Christmastime in Vienna! Many Christkindlmarkts big and small grace Austria's capital at yuletide; magic's in the air at the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz in front of the city hall, Vienna's oldest and largest Christmas Market... live music, tastefully lit trees, holiday arts and crafts, tempting treats and smiling faces are everywhere. And at opulent Schönbrunn Palace, you'll tour rooms that the Habsburgs once lived in, and browse through lovely hand-blown glass ornaments, red Viennese hearts, Victorian-style sweets and other treasures in the palace's own, equally impressive Christmas Market... guaranteed to warm your heart. Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Vienna, Austria. A transfer is included from Vienna International Airport to ms Savor or ms Joy. Guests enjoying a pre-stay in Vienna will receive a transfer from Tauck's hotel to the riverboat. Welcome to old Vienna... bright with decorations and buzzing with holiday spirit; exploring on your own at the city's largest yuletide market, you may feel like you've stepped into a snow globe as you're surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights! Return to the riverboat for the captain's welcome reception followed by dinner early this evening... then followed by a visit to Vienna's Christmas Markets, illuminated at night.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria

Day 2 Vienna for the holidays

"Imperial" Vienna, which you'll explore on a sightseeing tour along the Ringstrasse this morning, seems even grander with Christmas decorations everywhere you look. Get a glimpse of what "happy Habsburg family holidays" might have been like on a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, and take in the palace's own Christmas Market. Enjoy a Christmas lunch at the Palais Pallavicini, a private Baroque palace dating back to the 18th century. Then spend an afternoon at leisure to sample more of Vienna's holiday cheer and Christmas Markets; complimentary shuttles run back and forth between the city and the riverboat. Tonight, your riverboat sets off on its 7-night Danube cruise, bound first for Melk; after dinner, you're invited to help trim the ship's Christmas tree and enjoy some seasonal treats. Cruising to the Christmas Markets along the Danube offers a completely different experience than similar cruises in Spring, Summer and Autumn!

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria

Day 3 Melk Abbey at Christmastime

Melk - Perched high on a rocky bluff overlooking the Danube and the town of Melk, Stift Melk (Melk Abbey) has shone as a beacon of culture and learning since its founding nearly a millennium ago. Its 18th-century Baroque complex is home to a magnificent church adorned with gold statues and frescoes, a stunning library containing medieval manuscripts, and its own Christmas legend - about a miraculous visit from the Virgin Mary and the Christ child, and a young novice whose juggling so entertained the infant that he clapped for joy. This morning, visit Melk Abbey high atop its bluff overlooking the Danube, where this bastion of culture has stood for nearly a millennium - and its 18th-century Baroque church, monastery and library take on a special quality during the holiday season. Learn about traditional holiday treats like stollen or glühwein as the riverboat continues cruising the Danube from Melk this afternoon, arriving this evening in Linz. After dinner, enjoy an onboard classical music performance by Donau Klang.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

PORTOFCALL : Melk, Linz, Austria

Day 4 Tis' the season in Salzburg & Linz

Salzburg / Linz - The angelic voices of choirs singing carols on Cathedral Square... the pealing bells of old Salzburger Dom, overlooking neat rows of lit-up booths fragrant with the aroma of roasted almonds and hot mulled wine... ornate Baroque domes, towers and rooftops tipped with snow in the heart of Old Town... the clatter of horse-drawn carriages over cobblestoned streets... sweet candy apples and marzipan... the warm laughter of families having the time of their lives... and music everywhere, in the city that gave us Mozart. The Christmas Markets of Salzburg, a true feast for the senses... and Linz's Christkindlmarkt, the curving roofs of its stalls symbolizing the waves of the Danube. Wake up in Linz, Austria, for a full-day excursion to Mozart's magical hometown of Salzburg, with its Baroque town center dressed in its holiday best. After exploring the Christkindlmarkt in this charming city, have lunch at Stiftskeller St. Peter, one of Europe's oldest restaurants, located on the premises of historic St. Peter's Abbey. Following some free time, return to Linz for a different Christmas Market experience... and, as you've learned, each town's market has something all its own to offer. Or, if you prefer, spend the entire day in Linz, enjoying its Christmas Market, exploring as you please, or alternatively just relaxing aboard the riverboat in anticipation of a busy day tomorrow at the first German Christmas Markets you'll visit.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

PORTOFCALL : Salzburg, Austria

Day 5 Passau's seasonal pleasures

Passau - Navigating the narrow lanes and archways of this Bavarian town on the Danube, Ilz and Inn rivers is a pleasure any time of year - but never more so than now, when one of the finest Germany Christmas Markets transforms Passau's historic Baroque center into a wonderland brimming with bratwurst, lebkuchen, glühwein and good cheer. At the center of it all is St. Stephan's Cathedral, whose massive pipe organ - the largest in Europe - stars in concerts throughout the season. The holiday celebrations of Passau, Germany are spotlighted today on a walking tour of this riverside Bavarian town known for its plentiful churches, exquisite stained glass, famous cathedral organ and well-preserved Baroque architecture... plus time exploring its Christmas Markets, of course! Baking gingerbread... it's one of the best aromas of Christmas! Four generations of the Simon family have perfected the art of making gingerbread, and show you how it's done during a demonstration at Passau's Café Simon. After touring Passau's Weihnachtsmarkt, the afternoon is yours to explore as you please. Join us for a discovery briefing before dinner aboard ship this evening.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

PORTOFCALL : Passau, Germany

Day 6 Unique markets and more in Regensburg

Regensburg - Sausages and song are big in Regensburg, as your visit to its centuries-old Christkindlmarkt on the Neupfarrplatz will attest. Market goers feast on the city's famed sausages, along with steamed dampfnudel dumplings, gingerbread, roast chestnuts and, naturally, glühwein from Bavarian claret, as they admire the work of glassblowers, chandlers and potters. The Thurn und Taxis family's Palace of St. Emmeram is the setting for your tour and visit to its private Christmas Market. During the season, Germany's Christmas Markets glow with holiday cheer as each town celebrates the season - this Christmas Market in Regensburg is one of the most unique. You'll understand why Regensburg calls itself "Europe's best-preserved medieval city" on a walking tour of its Christmas Market, set among centuries-old buildings, and time to explore as you please. A visit to the Thurn und Taxis family's Palace of St. Emmeram invites you to tour the palace, browse its fine private Christmas Market, and interact with artisans displaying their wares; rumor has it that Her Highness Princess Gloria and family often wander through!

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

PORTOFCALL : Regensburg, Germany

Day 7 History & holiday cheer in Nürnberg

Nürnberg - On Nürnberg's main market square opposite the Church of Our Lady sits the most famous Christmas Market in Germany, with its iconic, golden-haired Christmas Angel and charming Zwetchgenmannle ("Plum People") - unique to Bavaria and made from dried plums and other fruits. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, this "Little Town from Wood and Cloth" will have welcomed two million folks from around the globe - including you - delighting them with its authentic ornaments, Bavarian crafts, Christmas candles, lebkuchen and other kinds of cookies, tasty fruit loaves, tangy gingerbread, handmade toys and glühwein! After your riverboat docks, take a shore excursion to historic Nürnberg, where sightseeing choices include medieval Nürnberg with its centuries-old ramparts and defensive walls, the old city and marketplace, and a museum in the home of 16th-century painter Albrecht Dürer dedicated to his work - as well as city sites associated with World War II and its aftermath, including the Zeppelinfeld rally grounds, and the Documentation Center museum. Spend time enjoying Nürnberg's famous Weihnachtsmarkt as you please, then join us back aboard the riverboat in Nürnberg to cap your extraordinary Christmas Market cruise with the Captain's farewell reception followed by dinner tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat

PORTOFCALL : Nürnberg, Germany

Day 8 Journey home

Cruise ends in Nürnberg. Fly home anytime. Transfers are provided from ms Savor or ms Joy to Nürnberg Airport; those guests enjoying a post-stay at in Nürnberg will receive a transfer from Tauck's hotel to the airport. Please allow at least three hours for airport check-in formalities.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Nürnberg, Germany

Day 1: Welcome to Munich

The sophisticated city streets of Munich are your launch pad to an adventure through the capitals of Imperial Europe. Join your fellow travelers and your Travel Director this afternoon on an orientation tour, and spend some free time immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of the Bavarian capital. View the Marienplatz, the center of Munich city life since the 12th century, and its iconic Glockenspiel, before a Welcome Reception to kick-start your journey.

Holiday Inn Westpark

Dinner

Day 2: Journey to Medieval Regensburg and Prague

This morning visit Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an unspoilt medieval gem. Cross the Czech border and head to Prague, your home for the next two nights. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience -  an educational lecture with a local bee expert. You’ll have the evening to spend your way or consider joining an Optional Experience to explore beautiful Prague by night with a Local Specialist.

Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Prague.

Breakfast

Day 3: Discover Colorful Prague

Delve into centuries of history as you join a Local Specialist for a guided sightseeing tour of Prague. View the impressive Gothic architecture of St. Vitus Cathedral in the grounds of the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle, then cross the river on your walking tour to the Old Town Square to see the Astronomical Clock, with its hourly Walk of the Apostles. The afternoon is yours to experience the city on your terms. Savor the delicious flavors of Trdelník in the Old Town Square, pay tribute to the saints that line the Charles Bridge or consider a relaxing lunch cruise on the Vltava.

Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Prague.

Breakfast

Day 4: Onwards to Slovak Bratislava and Budapest

Cross the lush landscapes of Moravia and stop in Bratislava to admire its eclectic Gothic, Baroque and Art Deco architecture. Continue across the Hungarian border before arriving in Budapest, the 'Paris of the East'.

Novotel Danube

Breakfast

Day 5: Explore Riverside Budapest Make Travel Matter Connect with Locals

Admire the iconic and unexpected highlights of Budapest on a guided sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. See the famous Chain Bridge which connects the two ancient settlements that straddle the Danube, and the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district. Here, you can enjoy superb views across the Danube below to the imposing Parliament building. Spend the rest of the day at leisure before joining the Schieszl family for a hearty Hungarian dinner at our Be My Guest experience. Connect With Locals and hear the story of their winery.

Novotel Danube

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Venture to Vienna

A leisurely start to your morning could see you joining an Optional Experience guided tour of the magnificent Parliament Building. Cross the hilly landscapes of Transdanubia stopping in Győr to soak up its baroque atmosphere. Arrive in Vienna for an evening at leisure to indulge in the captivating melodies, art and architecture of a city that was once home to famous composers.

Holiday Inn South

Breakfast

Day 7: See the Sights of Vienna

Explore the imperial splendor of Vienna during your guided sightseeing tour of Vienna with a Local Specialist. Admire Hofburg Palace, the former winter residence of the Habsburg Dynasty, the grand State Opera House and Ringstrasse, a beautiful sweeping boulevard built in the 19th-century to replace the city walls. Then, see the ornate colorful roof of St. Stephen's Cathedral, one of the city's most beloved icons. Maybe, visit the Baroque Schönbrunn Palace with its tranquil gardens or enjoy Vienna's musical talents at one of the performances for which the city is famous.

Holiday Inn South

Breakfast

Day 8: Off to Picturesque Salzburg

The enchanting landscapes of the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley provide a picturesque backdrop for our leisurely drive past vineyards and fortresses en route to Salzburg. We see the impressive Benedictine Melk Abbey perched on a rocky outcrop above the Danube and learn about its royal connections. Arriving in Salzburg, we embark on a leisurely walking tour of its Old Town with a Local Specialist. Dine in your hotel this evening.

Arcotel Castellani.

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Return to Munich

Leave Austria behind, bound for the Bavarian Capital, Munich. This evening, we celebrate an unforgettable journey through some of Europe's most memorable cities during a Farewell Dinner with your travel companions and Travel Director.

Leonardo Royal

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Farewell Munich

For now, it's time to say a fond Auf Wiedersehen to Germany, your fellow travelers and Travel Director at the end of your exhilarating European experience.

Breakfast