Christmas Markets

Tour members from across Canada fly to Vienna. 

Our festive journey begins as we touch down in Vienna, a city renowned for its imperial grandeur and vibrant coffee house culture. We are warmly greeted by our airport host and transferred to the pier to drop off our luggage. Before checking in, we seize the opportunity to step out into the crisp air to explore the city independently. Once our cabins are ready in the afternoon, we settle aboard our Amadeus ship. The evening brings us together in the Panorama Bar for a Welcome Cocktail with the Cruise Director, followed by a celebratory Welcome Dinner. We remain docked in Vienna overnight, surrounded by the twinkling lights of the holiday season. 

AMADEUS Queen (6 nights)

This morning, our panoramic drive takes us along the magnificent Ringstrasse, a circular boulevard built to replace the old city walls and lined with architectural masterpieces. We admire the State Opera House, the Parliament, the Burgtheater, and the imposing City Hall, which serves as a stunning backdrop for the city’s most famous "Christkindlmarkt." Then, we embark on a guided walking tour through the historic centre. We wander past the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the winter residence of the Habsburgs, and stroll along the elegant Kohlmarkt before arriving at the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its distinctive tiled roof. Before returning to our ship, there is time to walk through the pedestrian zone at our own pace. The afternoon is ours to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the traditional Christmas markets independently.  

We awake this morning in the stunning Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region where steep terraced vineyards meet the winding Danube. Our destination is the imposing Melk Abbey, a golden-hued Baroque masterpiece that has stood as a spiritual centre for over 900 years. On a guided tour of this Benedictine treasure, we marvel at the Marble Hall and the famed library, home to thousands of medieval manuscripts and exquisite frescoes by Paul Troger. Upon returning to the ship, we celebrate the season with a warming mug of traditional glühwein. As we cast off for Passau, the rest of the day offers a perfect opportunity to relax on board, taking in the serene beauty of the winter countryside drifting past our windows. 

Passau, situated at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers is known as the "City of Three Rivers." We set out on a guided walk through the romantic Old Town, admiring historic Baroque architecture and winding streets that have earned the city the nickname "Little Venice." The afternoon invites us to wander the atmospheric Passau Christmas market or perhaps climb to the Veste Oberhaus fortress for a bird’s-eye view of the three rivers meeting below.   

We arrive in Regensburg, a medieval gem so well-preserved it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our morning begins with a guided walking tour through its medieval streets. We admire architectural treasures including the Old Town Hall, the 12th-century Stone Bridge, and St. Peter's Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The afternoon is ours to explore independently, perhaps to linger in the charming Christmas markets or taste the famous local sausages. Tonight, we dress in our finest for the Captain's Gala Dinner.  

Following lunch, we dock in the Bavarian town of Roth and make our way to Nuremberg. Our panoramic tour takes us past the Palace of Justice, the site of the momentous Nuremberg Trials, before we enter the walled Old Town. Carefully reconstructed after the Second World War, the city centre retains its historic charm with guarded towers and stone alleyways. We begin our walking tour at the foot of the Imperial Castle, winding our way down to the main square. Here, we step into the heart of the holiday season at the world-renowned Christmas market. Enjoy free time to explore the market and taste the authentic, flourless Nuremberg Lebkuchen before returning to our ship.

After breakfast, we bid our ship farewell and travel to Karlovy Vary, widely known as Carlsbad. We enjoy free time to discover this Bohemian spa town before continuing to Prague. 

Grand Hotel Bohemia Prague (2 nights)   

We discover why Prague is called the "City of a Hundred Spires" on a morning sightseeing tour of its UNESCO-listed historic centre. Our journey takes us to the grounds of the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle. Here, we admire the Gothic exterior of St. Vitus Cathedral before strolling across the iconic Charles Bridge. Arriving in the Old Town Square, we find ourselves in the heart of the city. The afternoon is ours to explore on our own, perhaps visiting Wenceslas Square or warming up in a traditional café. This evening, we gather for a lively Folklore Dinner Show to celebrate Czech culture through music, dance, and food. 

Our journey comes to an end as we transfer to the airport to catch our flights bound for Canada.