This cruise takes you to some of the most famous and delightful holiday markets in Central Europe. At each market, you’ll find wooden stalls displaying traditional crafts that range from quirky little characters made of fruit and dressed in Bavarian costume to beautifully carved and painted Nativity figures. You’ll also find exquisite ornaments and fine contemporary crafts, along with fairytale villages decked in holiday finery.
Sparkling lights illuminate ancient cathedral squares and the sound of children’s laughter mingles with carols. Enjoy Uniworld’s exclusive “Taste of Christmas” program in Vienna, where you’ll see astonishing confectionary decorations in Café Demel’s windows. Celebrate the season in a new way as you meander through old lands, and remember, as the Christkind says, “While this market’s splendor is fleeting, the joy it brings is eternal.”
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Cruise
Tour Type
Cruise Tour
Accommodation
Ship Cabin
Age Range
2-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Vienna, Nuremberg, Wachau Valley
Vienna, Nuremberg, Wachau Valley, Linz, Passau, Regensburg
The shimmering waters of the fabled Danube River flow for thousands of miles through the very heart of Europe, silent witness to centuries of artistic achievement and historical events. This perfectly composed journey provides an immersive cultural tasting menu of four equally beguiling countries—ideal for first-time river cruisers as well as seasoned travelers seeking to experience yet another dimension of these much-loved destinations.
Our locally-based destination experts will take you well beyond the “must-sees” of each region, offering fresh takes on classic sites, insider knowledge of delightful under-the-radar locales, and VIP access to places only a privileged few will ever experience—such as a private early-morning viewing of the acclaimed art collection of the Kunstkammer Vienna.
CruiseDanube river cruise
Tour Type
Cruise Tour
Accommodation
Ship Cabin
Age Range
2-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Budapest, Passau, Linz, Durnstei
Budapest, Passau, Linz, Durnstein, Vienna, Bratislava
Discover the roots of our Christmas traditions as you explore some of Europe’s most charming towns. Browse for unique ornaments in Basel’s Christmas Market. Sip vin chaud as you stroll to Place Kléber to behold the enormous, brilliantly lighted tree of Strasbourg. See how the baroque town hall of Koblenz is transformed into an Advent calendar and find unexpected treasures in the stalls clustered around Cologne’s magnificent cathedral.
Savor tantalizing once-a-year treats with Uniworld’s “Taste of Christmas” program, including gingerbread and warm spiced wine. Revel in brightly painted carousels and handmade ornaments, medieval squares illuminated by twinkling lights, life-sized Nativity figures, and joyful brass choirs. Sail through castle-strewn hillsides and visit charming towns decked in festive finery for a holiday season you will never forget.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Cruise the mighty Danube, visiting classic capitals like Budapest and Vienna. Spend Christmas Eve in Passau, then ring in the New Year in elegant style in Budapest. Festive celebrations are plentiful during this cruise—what better way to create perfect holiday memories?
Commemorate a splendid musical heritage as you lift your voice and sing “Silent Night” in Oberndorf, where the beloved Christmas carol was composed. Meet the Count of Castle Clam. Spend Christmas Day in Salzburg and enjoy a holiday lunch within the walls of St. Peter’s Abbey. Discover the seasonal delicacies of Slovakia in Bratislava’s picturesque downtown and enjoy the merriment of traditional hospitality in an Austrian wine village. Ring out the old year and ring in the new with art, wine, and song as you cruise through four nations during this enchanting season.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
CruiseDanube river cruise
Tour Type
Cruise Tour
Accommodation
Ship Cabin
Age Range
2-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Budapest, Passau, Salzburg, Grei
Budapest, Passau, Salzburg, Grein, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava
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 Vörösmarty Square, admiring the handmade porcelain, stop to watch as kürtos kalács (a pastry) is baked on rods over an open fire and then coated with sugar before it’s 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 as medovníky (spiced ginger cookies) and šúpolie (figurines made from corn husks). Experience Uniworld’s exclusive “Taste of Christmas” 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.
CruiseChristmas markets
Tour Type
Cruise Tour
Accommodation
Ship Cabin
Age Range
2-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Budapest, Passau, Linz, Wachau V
Budapest, Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava, Munich
Embark on a river cruise down the shimmering waters of the fabled Danube River, where our locally-based destination experts will take you well beyond the “must-sees” of each region, offering fresh takes on classic sites, insider knowledge of delightful under-the-radar locales, and VIP access to places only a privileged few will ever experience.
Then begin your ascent into the idyllic wonderland of the Alps via a luxury overnight train, where your days will be filled with unbelievable mountain scenery, picturesque lakes, and unforgettable experiences. Enjoy lunch on Lake Como, sample Swiss fondue in Zürich, head into Slovenia’s Postojna caves on a private visit, and more.
River cruise
Tour Type
Cruise Tour
Accommodation
Ship Cabin, Hotel
Age Range
2-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Venice, Passau, Zurich, Lake Com
Venice, Passau, Zurich, Lake Como, Trieste, Ljubljana, Linz, Durnstein, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Innsbruck
Discover villages with fairytale houses and a friendly, festive atmosphere. Share traditional holiday goodies with the people who made them. Watch as modern children abandon their usual electronics and discover the enchantment of hand-carved wooden toys, as scents of cinnamon and roasting nuts fill the air.
Sail through Christmas country, trying Frankfurt’s famous apple cider and Nuremberg’s gingerbread. Throughout, cozy up to steaming mugs of glühwein (warm spiced wine) and do as the locals do by collecting different mugs from each stall and town you visit. Embrace the holiday spirit in Germany, the land where many Christmas traditions began, and find the magic of the season in the smiles that you meet along the way.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Experience dynamic Budapest and imperial Vienna. Marvel at ravishing scenery as your luxurious ship glides through the Wachau Valley, celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, into Germany and past charming Bavarian villages. Exclusive treasures are plentiful on this delightful journey.
This enchanting voyage provides a variety of ways to enjoy captivating destinations as well as plenty of time to relax onboard as you sail from Budapest to Regensburg.
Jewish Heritage Program (select sailings): Our Jewish Heritage Program is the only one of its kind on the rivers and allows you to dive into Central Europe's enduring Jewish legacy with visits to museums, memorials, synagogues and more. Please note: Tours that fall on Saturdays will not operate due to Shabbat, and some sites may be closed for inside viewing during the High Holidays, Passover, and other significant events.
You’ll sail through Germany, Austria, and Hungary along the shimmering Danube and past incredible sights on this unique itinerary. Explore charming old-world villages and Gothic cathedrals and escape the hurry and hassle of the holidays as you relax onboard a luxurious ship and cruise through the ravishing landscapes of the Danube.
Celebrate Christmas Eve in medieval Regensburg and ring in the New Year in Vienna. Shop the stalls of the Nuremberg Christmas Market, famous for its gingerbread. Wander through locations from The Sound of Music in beautiful Salzburg and then warm up with rum-laced coffee.
The mighty Danube takes you through three nations decked in all their holiday finery at this most delightful time of year.
Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.
Cruise
Tour Type
Cruise Tour
Accommodation
Ship Cabin
Age Range
2-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Budapest, Nuremberg, Vienna, Reg
Budapest, Nuremberg, Vienna, Regensburg, Deggendorf, Passau, Linz, Durnstein