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Christmas
Shopper’s Paradise in 9
Day Cruise Holiday Enjoy
the magic of the holiday season on this cruise through the stunning beauty of
Germany and Austria’s white winter wonderland where so many Christmas
traditions began. Cruise along the Danube’s enchanting scenery to visit
historic towns and riverside villages and revel in the holiday spirit in this
land full of festive celebration. The crisp winter air is filled with the sweet
smells of Lebkuchen (a type of gingerbread), Stollen (a rich sweet bread) and Glühwein
(hot mulled wine) and virtually every town boasts special seasonal markets
filled with high-quality handicrafts and unique specialty items. Bring good
walking shoes and room to take things home; it’s truly a shopper’s delight! Day
1 U.S.A. to Nuremberg:
Fly to Nuremberg. Day
2 Nuremberg: A
Viking River Cruises representative will arrange for transfer to your deluxe
ship. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the city at your leisure. Dine
aboard; moor overnight. Day
3 Nuremberg & Riedenburg:
After breakfast, view half-timbered houses and charming gothic buildings on a
guided tour through the historic walled city of Nuremberg. Then, visit
Nuremberg’s world-famous Christmas market (“Christkindlesmarkt”).
Walk the aisles of this oldest and most beautiful of all the Christmas
markets, known for its wonderful handcrafted toys and ornaments. Nuremberg’s
reputation as the leader in the German toy market is nowhere more evident than
in the rows of stalls featuring wooden and stuffed toys of outstanding quality.
Shop to your heart’s delight, then return to your ship for lunch and sail
through the Main-Danube Canal. This
afternoon, take a break from shopping and learn more about this engineering
marvel during a lecture detailing its history and challenges of construction.
Tonight, enjoy the Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. Arrive after dinner in
Riedenburg and moor overnight, giving you time to do some late-evening
exploration on your own. Day
5 Passau: Cruise
during breakfast past the Danube’s scenic landscapes. Arrive mid-morning in
Passau, an ancient fairytale Bavarian city at the meeting point of the Danube,
Ilz and Inn Rivers. Disembark for a tour of the Dome, famous as the home of
Europe’s largest pipe organ. Following lunch aboard, join a walking tour of
Passau taking you through the city’s cobblestone streets and graceful arcades
to the Christmas market, where you shop for charming gifts, taste traditional
baked goods and listen to groups of carolers. Dine onboard and enjoy an evening
performance of traditional Bavarian folkloric entertainment. Moor overnight. Day
6 Salzburg & Linz:
After breakfast, join a motorcoach tour to Salzburg of Sound of Music fame.
On your walking tour through cobblestone streets, see the stately Residenz,
St. Peter’s Abbey and the city’s many gothic and romanesque architectural
treasures. After lunch in a local restaurant, stroll Salzburg’s
Christmas market with its scores of stalls set up like little log cabins with
each booth a specialized mini-boutique. Return
to the ship in Linz for dinner and an evening wine tasting.
Moor overnight.
Day
7 Melk & Dürnstein: Arrive
in Melk in the early morning for an escorted tour to the stunning 900-year-old
baroque Benedictine abbey situated high on a cliff above the Danube. Return to
the ship, relax and enjoy the delightful scenery as you cruise the enchanting
Wachau Valley. In the afternoon, stop in Dürnstein for a guided walking tour
and taste the wines from this world-famous wine-producing region. Rejoin the
ship for the Captain’s Dinner and
a waltz lesson. Continue on to Austria’s beautiful capital of Vienna for an
overnight mooring.
Day
8 Vienna: Your
half-day guided city tour explores this famous cosmopolitan city. Amongst the
green parks and bustling boulevards, see Hofburg Palace, St. Stephen’s
Cathedral and Burg Theater. Following lunch aboard, visit Vienna’s celebrated
Christmas market, and the remainder of your day is free for individual
sightseeing or shopping. After dinner, enjoy evening free to sample Vienna’s
nightlife. Moor overnight.
Day
9 Vienna to U.S.A.:
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight home. (This
itinerary is also available in the reverse direction.) Your
River Cruise Includes:
Note:
Schedule and activities are subject to change. |
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