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CHRISTMAS MARKETS ON THE DANUBE BUDAPEST – VILSHOFEN, GERMANY

from $3,699$2,960

DATES: 2024 – AmaMagna: Nov 24, Dec 1*, 8, 15*  AmaBella: Dec 2, 9*  AmaSonata: Dec 21

DURATION: 8 DAYS/7NIGHTS

EMBARK:  Budapest, Hungary

DISEMBARK:  Vilshofen, Germany

*Reverse Itinerary

SHIPS: AMA BELLA, AMA MAGNA, AMA SONATA

FROM: $2,960* + Port Charges

*After 20% savings on Select 2024 dates

 

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All about the CHRISTMAS MARKETS ON THE DANUBE BUDAPEST – VILSHOFEN, GERMANY.
Experience timeless holiday traditions and elegant pageantry in four countries—Hungary, Austria and Germany. Let iconic capital cities — Budapest and Vienna — decked in holiday finery with glittering Christmas trees illuminated by thousands of lights, bells pealing from cathedral towers and children dressed as angels singing Christmas carols, dazzle you. Wander the stalls of Europe’s most traditional and enchanting Christmas Markets, including Nuremberg, Regensburg and Salzburg, shopping for handcrafted toys and gifts, sipping hot mulled wine and inhaling the fragrance of gingerbread and roasted chestnuts. Cherish all the glory and magic of the season in grand European style as you cruise along the Danube during this festive time of the year.
COUNTRIES: AUSTRIA, GERMANY, HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA
RIVERS: DANUBE

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The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

On our cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and Special Interest Tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.

SPACIOUS STATEROOMS

  • 7 nights luxury accommodation in an outside stateroom (most with twin balconies)
  • Computer for internet access
  • Entertainment-On-Demand in all staterooms featuring free high-speed internet access, movies, a music library and English language TV stations
  • Mini-fridge, desk and sitting area
  • Bottled water replenished daily

AN ARRAY OF AMENITIES

  • Wellness Program with a dedicated Wellness Host leading various exercise classes as well as discussions on healthy eating and relaxation techniques, both on board and on shore.
  • Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise Manager during both cruise and land programs
  • Internet and Wi-Fi access
  • Sun deck pool with swim-up bar and walking track
  • Fitness room, massage services and hair salon
  • Main Lounge with panoramic views and bar
  • Daily entertainment including cultural performances

AWARD-WINNING DINING

  • All on board dining in a variety of venues
  • Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
  • The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant
  • Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
  • La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience
  • Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
  • Sip & Sail Daily Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
  • Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge

A WORLD OF EXPLORATION

  • Immersive tours in every destination
  • Gentle, regular, active and late-riser tour options
  • Bike tours and hikes
  • Special Interest Tours
  • Knowledgeable guides
  • Personal headset for easy exploration

 

Whats not included in this tour.Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
  • Beverages other than those mentioned
  • Gratuities to crew and Cruise Director – Suggested 15 Euros per guest, per day
  • Airfare
  • Items of personal nature, gift shop purchases
  • Pre and post cruise extensions and hotels
  • Travel Insurance
  • Port Charges

  1. Day 1 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

    NOTE: Itinerary operates as described here, or in reverse direction from Vilshofen to Budapest.

    EMBARKATION – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

    Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. This evening, meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. Tonight, the ship will sail a special Illuminations Cruise past the capital’s glittering riverfront. (D)

  2. Day 2 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

    Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castle quarter in Castle Hill and Heroes’ Square, Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour begins with a visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. Afterwards, you’ll visit Vorosmarty Square, the oldest, richest and the most spectacular of all the Christmas markets in Budapest. As an alternative, you can hike to Castle Hill, walking along Fishermen’s Bastion and take in all the iconic sites of Budapest with an active exploration. (B,L,D)

  3. Day 3 BRATISLAVA- VIENNA

    Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. You’ll also have an opportunity to visit Bratislava’s charming Christmas Market. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. Tonight, explore Vienna’s splendid Rathaus (Town Hall) Christmas Market. (B,L,D)

     

  4. Day 4 VIENNA, AUSTRIA

    The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems just waiting to be discovered. Join a tour showcasing its regal splendors, such as the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs, before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center. If you prefer a more active adventure, then join a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, visit the market at Schönbrunn Palace with a giant sparkling Christmas tree. Cap the day off with “Vienna by Night” Christmas markets at the beautifully decorated Maria Theresaplatz Christmas market, set amongst the world-renowned sights of Vienna’s majestic Ringstrasse, and at the illuminated Rathaus, Vienna’s largest Christmas market. (B,L,D)

  5. Day 5 WEISSENKIRCHEN – WACHAU VALLEY - MELK, AUSTRIA

    After reaching Weissenkirchen, you’ll have a choice of excursions. Join a walking tour in Dürnstein and then a visit to a local boutique where you’ll enjoy a tasting of special apricot treats. Prefer more active adventures? Join a guided bike tour from Weissenkirchen to Melk. For those not biking to Melk, you’ll sail through the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley to Melk. Once in Melk, you’ll visit its magnificent Benedictine Abbey. (B,L,D)

     

  6. Day 6 LINZ, AUSTRIA

    Linz is known for being the city of Christmas crèches and its ever-popular Linzer torte. While here, you have a choice of three excursions. The first is a full-day visit to Salzburg where you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the UNESCO-designated Old Town, its magnificent cathedral and its Christmas Markets, including the Hellbrunn Palace, where its inner courtyard is turned into a romantic backdrop for one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets in Austria. Alternatively, you can choose a morning walking tour through Linz’s old city center and by the Mozart House, where he composed the Linz Symphony in only three days, as well as visit Linz’s Christmas Markets. Or you can go on a guided bike tour through Linz and along the city’s famed “Culture Mile” and the Danube. During the afternoon, you can join a half-day excursion to Salzburg or visit the charming mountain town, Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. (B,L,D)

     

  7. Day 7 PASSAU, GERMANY

    During the season of Advent, beautiful Passau dresses in her Bavarian holiday splendor, which you will discover on your walking tour through the city and at its Christmas Market at St. Stephen’s Square—also home to its magnificent cathedral. Go in search of unique crafts, including Bavarian-style houses and glass ornaments. If you prefer a more active adventure, join a guided bike ride along the Danube. Later, sail for Vilshofen, where you’ll be treated to an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration. (B,L,D)

  8. Day 8 VILSHOFEN, GERMANY

    This morning, disembark your ship in Vilshofen. (B)

AmaBella, AmaLea, AmaSonata, AmaMagna

AMA BELLA

The AmaBella is a stunning river ship, unique in her own right. A classic design palette of black and white in the Main Lounge allows your conversations to provide the color. The intimate marbled bar is an inviting place to grab a cocktail and the Sun Deck putting green, featured only on select AmaWaterways ships, lures both regular golfers and newcomers alike. Most staterooms feature our signature twin balconies so you can enjoy the views however you wish, as well as Entertainment-On-Demand and marble bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads. Suites feature added enhancements, including a larger sitting area and an expansive bathroom complete with a bathtub and separate shower. You’ll also find a massage and hair salon on board, as well as a fitness room, specialty coffee station and gift shop. Mealtimes are a feast for the senses in the Main Restaurant and at The Chef’s Table.

TECHNICAL DATA

  • Built: 2010
  • Built in: Switzerland
  • Length: 443 feet
  • Width: 38 feet
  • Crew: 51
  • Staterooms: 80
  • Passengers: 160
  • Registry: Switzerland
  • Home port: Basel

DECK PLAN

 

AMA LEA

Designed with vibrant pops of color that call to mind the autumn harvest in European vineyards, and appointed with our signature twin balconies in most staterooms, the AmaLea is a sleek river ship created with luxury yachts in mind. A host of comforts and conveniences fill her decks, including a massage and hair salon, gift shop and specialty coffee station. The relaxing Sun Deck features a heated pool as well as a swim-up bar, while the vibrant Main Lounge provides an exhilarating stage for nightly performances. Enjoy an evening dining experience like no other at The Chef’s Table, where rustic wooden floors, contemporary lighting and a glass-enclosed kitchen combine to form the stunning backdrop for your gastronomic entertainment. And with a walking track on the Sun Deck, a fitness room and a fleet of onboard bicycles, you’ll have everything needed to stay active and healthy while sailing Europe’s great rivers.

TECHNICAL DATA

  • Built: 2018
  • Built in: Netherlands
  • Length: 443 feet
  • Width: 38 feet
  • Crew: 51
  • Staterooms: 78
  • Passengers: 156
  • Registry: Switzerland

DECK PLAN

 

Ama Sonata

Introduced in 2014, the AmaSonata sings her melodious tune down Europe’s great rivers. Most accommodations have twin balconies, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish, along with amenities like Entertainment-On-Demand, high-speed Internet access and English-language TV stations. A soft color palette in each stateroom calms the mind for relaxation, but when you’re ready to get active, head to the fitness center or up to the Sun Deck to the heated pool. Crisp white tablecloths and napkins grace the tables in the subdued Main Dining Room, while The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant highlights its 5-star multi-course cuisine with gold-hued tones and a twinkling overhead centerpiece. With a stunning Main Lounge, tranquil library, Sun Deck walking track, massage and hair salon, and gift shop, you’ll never find a dull moment—and will sing AmaSonata’s praises while sailing on board.

TECHNICAL DATA

  • Built: 2014
  • Built in: Netherlands
  • Length: 443 feet
  • Width: 38 feet
  • Crew: 51
  • Staterooms: 81
  • Passengers: 162
  • Registry: Switzerland
  • Home port: Basel

 

AMA MAGNA

As imagined by AmaWaterways’ Co-Founder, Co-Owner and President Rudi Schreiner, the “Godfather of River Cruising,” the AmaMagna is twice the width of traditional European river ships and offers more personal space, more unique dining venues and more leisure opportunities, redefining the river cruise experience! Most accommodations are spacious suites measuring 355 to 710 sq. ft. with full balconies. In addition to the Main Restaurant and The Chef’s Table, AmaMagna introduces two enticing new dining venues: Jimmy’s, a family-style restaurant named for AmaWaterways’ late Co-Owner Jimmy Murphy, and the Al Fresco Restaurant, with retractable windows and outdoor seating. Both a sun-deck pool and whirlpool invite guests to refresh and enjoy the views. AmaMagna’s Zen Wellness Studio is an expansive space with a fitness center, two massage rooms and a refreshing juice bar.

TECHNICAL DATA

  • Built: 2019
  • Built in: Netherlands
  • Length: 443 feet
  • Width: 72 feet
  • Crew: 70
  • Staterooms: 98
  • Passengers: 196
  • Registry: Switzerland