DANUBE HOLIDAY MARKETS
Overview
Celebrate the season in the birthplace of many beloved holiday traditions.
Budapest has celebrated Christmas for a thousand years, since the reign of St. Stephen, the king who founded Hungary and encouraged the spread of Christianity throughout his realm. As you ramble through the Christmas Market on Vรถrรถsmarty Square, admiring the handmade porcelain, stop to watch asย kรผrtos kalรกcsย (a pastry) is baked on rods over an open fire and then coated with sugar before itโs handed to you.
In Bratislava, where a lively young art scene is revitalizing the compact city core, stalls abound with traditional Slovakian Christmas items such asย medovnรญkyย (spiced ginger cookies) andย ลกรบpolieย (figurines made from corn husks). Experience Uniworldโs exclusive โTaste of Christmasโ program in the heart of Vienna during the day.
Glorious baroque architecture, delightful concerts and ravishing scenery will make this Christmas season unforgettable as you sail through the holidays on the Danube.
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
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Captainโs 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
- 6 days of excursions, including โChoice Is Yoursโ options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- Guided โTaste of Christmasโ program
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
- Use of Nordic walking sticks
- 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the stately S.S. Maria Theresa
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoirยฎ 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
Day 1: Budapest (Embark)
- Arrive at the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International 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.
Note: For Arrival, Departure and Transfer details, please visitย Uniworld.com/transfers. For Port Location details, please visitย Uniworld.com/ports.
Day 2: Budapest
- Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each have their own distinctive character and allure.
- Youโll get a taste of this dynamic capital city with your choice of tours, and visit Budapestโs celebrated Christmas Marketโone of the largest in Europe.
A special Captainโs Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Choose between:
- Budapest City Tour with Christmas Market OR Budapest Walk with Local Treats and Christmas Market
Masterpiece Collection (optional experience):
- Cave Church with Home Hosted Coffee and Cake
Day 3: Cruising The Danube River, Bratislava
- Once hidden from the world behind the โIron Curtain,โ Slovakia retains an air of mystery and intrigue, and its small capital city has an unexpectedly colorful history.
- Youโll learn more about Bratislavaโs past from a local expert and also visit the local Christmas Marketโa relatively new (and thoroughly delightful) tradition for Slovakians.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Featured Excursion:
- Bratislava Walking Tour with Christmas Market
Day 4: 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, as well as something extra specialโVIP access to an extraordinary collection of art.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Featured Excursion:
- “Morning with the Masters” at the Vienna Art History Museum & Christmas
- “Taste of Christmas” Vienna Walking Tour
Masterpiece Collection (optional experience):
- Schรถnbrunn Palace with Christmas Market
Day 5: Krems, Melk
- Enjoy a handful of delightful excursions that inspire the holiday spirit in this beautiful millennium-old town and surrounding valleyโboth of which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Youโll want to find a comfortable seat in the lounge or on the Sun Deck today as your ship cruises through the Wachau Valley. Over the eons, the Danube cut a gorge through the foothills of the Bohemian Mountains, resulting in a 19-mile (30-kilometer) stretch of riverine scenery so beautiful; UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Landscape. Castle ruins dominate hilltops; baroque church towers appear on the riverbanks, marking historic villages and splendid abbeys; and vineyards and apricot orchards cling to the rocky slopes. Some of Austriaโs finest white wines are produced from grapes grown on the dry-stone terraces above the river, where grapes were first planted 2,000 years ago.
Featured Excursion:
- Melk Village Stroll
Choose between:
- Dรผrnstein Village Stroll with Spiced Wine Tasting and Organ Concert in a Monastery OR Krems Town Visit
Day 6: Linz (Salzburg)
- Your ship docks at Linz, a modern yet historic city that extends across the shimmering waters of the Danube.
- From there, youโll head to Mozartโs birthplace of Salzburg, which is nestled in a glorious alpine setting that sparkles like a winter wonderland this time of year.
- Fans of โThe Sound of Musicโ may recognize locations from the Oscar-winning film in the cityโs Old Town, the site of the grand cathedral and absolutely enchanting Christmas Market.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Choose between:
- Full-Day Salzburg Walking Tour with Christmas Market OR Linz Town & Country: Cider Farm Visit and Christmas Markets
Day 7: Passau
- Passau is a crossroads in more ways than oneโthree rivers meet here and three nations nearly do, making for a fascinating cultural mosaic.
- Get to know the town with a guided stroll, then visit the local Christmas Market on the square in front of the cathedral.
- ย Youโll find a lot to enjoy hereโfrom miniature houses and blown-glass ornaments to spun-sugar confectionsโin more than 70 stalls.
A special Captainโs Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Featured Excursion:
- Passau Walking Tour with Christmas Market
Masterpiece Collection (optional experience):
- Bavarian Winter Walk
Day 8: Passau (Disembark)
- Disembark the ship in Passau.
- ย If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer, or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Munich Airport for your flight home.
