| Christmas
On the Danube
Experience
an old world holiday season with other KCUR listeners
on a six night cruise along the beautiful Danube.
December
7 - 15, 2006
9 days
**This
tour is now closed.
Absorb
the atmospheric days of the Christmas holiday on the first-class
cruise vessel MS
Amadeus Princess.Visit sleepy villages and romantic towns and
cities permeated with Christmas aromas and magic auras. Stroll through
the wintry Christmas markets, enjoy glasses of Glühwein, and
inhale the seasonal scents of punch, spicy gingerbread, roasted
almonds and much else.
Tour Highlights:
Vienna's Palaces and Opera House
Unpack once for the Amadeus Princess Cruise
Christmas Markets of Rothenburg, Nurenburg, Regensburg,
Passau and Vienna
Wachau Valley and the Melk Abbey
Captain's Gala Dinner and Orchestra
Day
to Day Itinerary:
Day
1: Overnight Flight
Day 2: Vienna, Austria - Board Cruise Ship
Our tour begins in Vienna, Austria's beautiful capital city. There
will be  time
to relax and get to know your fellow Near & Far with KCUR travelers.
Unpack just once for a relaxing 6-nights aboard the MS
Amadeus Princess. This brand new ship offers the newest technology,
81 spacious cabins with large windows, panoramic deck, terrace cafe',
salon and bar, fitness center, excellent cuisine and outstanding
service. After our welcome dinner, you will visit Vienna's
most famous Christmas Market, located near the town hall. (D)
Day
3: Vienna
Today, a local expert will join us to for an architectural tour
of the lavish Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, the majestic
Ringstrasse and the awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon
is at leisure to explore
Vienna, stroll along the Kartnerstrasse or sample some Viennese
pastries in their famous coffeehouses. If you wish, you may join
an optional excursion to the fanciful Schoenbrunn Palace. Tonight,
we celebrate with a wonderful dinner followed by enchanting Viennese
music. (B, L, D)
Day
4: Vienna - Krems - Wachau Valley
We spend the morning cruising through the romantic
Wachau Valley, dotted with magnificent castles and small riverside
towns. Explore the ancient town of Krems or join an optional excursion
to the 900 year old Benedictine
Melk Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries.
(B, L, D)
Day
5: Passau, Germany
After an early morning cruise past scenic valleys, we arrive at
Passau,
situated at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Enjoy
a walking tour of this 2,000 year old fairytale city, exploring
the ornate baroque architecture, the quaint cobblestone streets,
cathedral and charming Christmas Market. After dinner, we enjoy
another musical concert in the ship's panorama lounge. (B, L, D)
Day
6: Regensburg
Today we explore the magnificient
Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities
with nearly 1,400 historic buildings. On the guided walking tour
we visit the old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria, gates to an ancient
Roman fort built in 179 A.D. From a 12th century medieval bridge,
we will have spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside.
Later, we take a stroll through the old town to Regenburg's charming
Christmas Market where we may drink hot Glühwein, sample tasty
lebkuchen and marzipan and marvel at the festive lights and decorations.
Here, we can also browse and shop at the wooden huts that sell ornaments,
wooden toys and other local handicrafts. (B, L, D)
Day
7: Nuremburg
Our cruise continues across the continental divide to Roth, where
a short transfer will bring us into picturesque Nuremberg.
A local expert will provide an interesting city tour of historic
Nuremberg featuring the old town, the 900 year old ramparts that
surround the city, the Imperial Castle and The Justice Palace where
the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. Tonight we celebrate the last
evening of our cruise with wonderful food, music and entertainment
at the Captain's Gala Dinner. (B, L, D)
Day
8: Nuremberg - Disembark Ship- Rothenburg - Wurzburg
After disembarking the ship, we proceed to Rothenburg,
one of the most well-preserved medieval walled towns in all of Germany.
Enjoy free time to explore the town's many hidden treasures and
its charming Christmas Market. Late afternoon, we arrive in Wurzburg
where we join a local guide on a walking tour. This ancient Franconian
wine town is rich in historic sights, including the magnificient
18th century residence of the prince-bishops which boasts the largest
ceiling fresco in the world, and the ornate Alte Mainbrucke, the
oldest bridge on the River Main. (B, D)
Day
9: Wurzburg - Frankfurt - Tour ends
After breakfast, we transfer to Frankfurt
for our journey home.
*Download a printable
pdf of the tour brochure and reservation form here.
|
