European Holiday Market River Cruise

EXPERIENCE EUROPE'S OLD WORLD CHARMS DURING THE MOST MAGICALTIME OF THE YEAR!

 

 

Cruise to some of the most famous and delightful holiday markets in Central Europe. At each market, 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. 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.”

 

 

 

EXPERIENCES

2 countries: Austria, Germany

3 UNESCO World Heritage sites

Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager

Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour

Cultural enrichment, including captivating onboard local entertainment

 

 

 

 

Airfare Additional - Please call for rates

Single Supplement Rates - Please call for rates

 

 

 

 

$520 non-refundable deposit due at time of booking

Recommend Travelex Ultimate trip insurance

Final payment 120 days prior

Suggested Packing

-Comfortable walking shoes

-Hat and Sunscreen

-Cash and Credit Cards (Only those needed)

-Medicine and spare prescriptions

-Extra glasses and/or contacts

-Book, Word Search and/or Crossword Puzzle

-Binoculars

-Seat Cushions and/or Blanket (If attending a parade or show)

-Ear plugs and sleep mask

-Mini-Sewing Kit

-Toiletries and Tissues

-Chargers for devices (Cell phones, Tablets, etc.)

-Extra Memory Cards (Digital Cameras) or Extra Film

 

Activity Level 3

This travel experience is perfect for those who want to see everything their destination has to offer. With the ability to navigate hills and uneven ground (1-2 hours with little difficulty), as well as climb into various modes of transportation, you'll be able to explore every corner of your destination without missing a thing. Plus, with some longer days balanced with free time to recharge or set out on your own adventure, you'll have the perfect harmony of flexibility and exploration.

 

 

Passports and Visas -  Each U.S. citizen must have a valid passport. Expiry date of passports should be at least 6 months after the return date of tour. If you don’t have a passport, call our office and we’ll tell you how to apply for one. Some countries require visas for entry by U.S. citizens. We will send visa applications and instructions if a visa is required for your tour. Holders of non-U.S. passports should contact their nearest consulate and inquire about the necessary passport or visa documentation required for entry into the countries visited.

NOTE: Due to airline security measures, your passport name must match your airline ticket name and your tour reservation name or you may be denied aircraft boarding.

 

Real ID Act - Effective for travel May 3, 2023 forward, the REAL ID Act standards for identification while travelling will be in effect. This means a standard issued driver's license used as a form of identification will no longer be accepted for domestic air travel within the

United States. Instead, a Real ID compliant form of identification must be presented both at the time of booking air travel with Collette and upon checking in at the airport to board any flight. Any fees associated with changing a reservation resulting from a non-compliant identification will be the responsibility of the guest.

 

 

Included Excursions

Day 2 - Nuremberg City Tour with Christmas Market - Beautiful at any time, Nuremberg’s Old Town is especially magical when dressed in all of its holiday splendor. Stroll through the castle gardens and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, then walk through a maze of cobblestone lanes down to the central Market Square. There, spread out before the Church of Our Lady, is the largest Christmas market in Germany. Adding to the fun is an area set aside especially for children, complete with a two-tiered carousel featuring carved reindeer and Santa’s sleigh. As you wander through the market, you will certainly want to indulge in some of the city’s famous gingerbread; after all, Nuremberg is known as the “Gingerbread Capital of the World".

 

Day Three - Regensburg Walk & Christmas Market - Old-town Regensburg sparkles with holiday lights and decorations at this time of year, adding to its enormous charm. As you walk through the cobbled lanes of the UNESCO-designated city center, Regensburg’s 2,000-year history is revealed: The ancient Roman gate still stands, as do the Stone Bridge, the Gothic town hall where the Imperial Diet met for three centuries, the 13th-century fortified patrician houses, and the spectacular Cathedral of St. Peter, whose magnificent 14th-century stained-glass windows alone are worth your walk. We’ll end our tour at the city’s main Christmas Market, where you’ll have the rest of your afternoon at leisure to shop for handcrafted goods and sample regional specialties, such as mulled blueberry wine from the Bavarian Forest, Regensburg sausages on crisp rolls, steamed dampfnudel (dumplings with vanilla sauce), and mulled cider. 

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Nights Out: Thurn & Taxis Christmas Market - After dinner, follow your Cruise Manager o� the ship to find yourself at what may be the most romantic Christmas market in all of Germany: the one laid out in the courtyard of the Thurn and Taxis Castle. A glorious baroque palace enfolds the square, where branch-thatched huts sell handcrafted local wares and Bavarian delicacies. There’s always a bonfire in the area where you can warm up while you sip your mulled wine or nibble a hot pastry.

 

Day Four - Passau Walking Tour with Christmas Market - Join your guide for a stroll through picturesque lanes in the heart of Passau, stopping at the Town Hall to see its magnificent atrium, which boasts several massive works by the famous German painter Ferdinand Wagner and pausing to admire the beautiful rococo stairway of the bishop’s New Residence. After much of the town burned to the ground in 1662 and again in 1680, the reconstruction involved many Italian artists, who gave Passau the baroque and rococo touches you see everywhere. Monumental St. Stephan’s Cathedral, built in glorious baroque style, forms the backdrop for the Passau Christmas Market. You’ll find a lot to enjoy here—from miniature Bavarian houses and blown-glass ornaments to spun-sugar confections—in more than 70 stalls. At times, the Passau Christmas Market also features demonstrations by local craftspeople, such as glassblowers, candle makers, wood carvers, and confectioners, so you can buy your gifts from the people who made them.

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Bavarian Forest Adventure, Glass Paradise & Schnapps Tasting - Enter the Bavarian Forest, Germany’s first and largest national park, to discover an abundant wilderness covered in diverse flora and fauna. This area is home to several unique craft traditions, and you’ll have your choice of which ones you’d like to discover today. Enjoy a tasting of local schnapps. In Germany, schnapps refers to any hard liquor, and each is distinguished by the ingredients it is distilled from. The word means “snap,” since schnapps is generally “snapped” back in the style of a shot. From there, you’ll move on to a glass workshop and see how the local style of glassware is crafted.

 

Day Five (Choice) - Linz Walking Tour with Cider Farm Visit & Christmas Market - Enjoy a stroll through the city’s Old Town and marvel at the sights, including Old Market Square, the Plague Column, and the historic Landhaus—a lightly-colored, Renaissance-style government building. The former monastery was transformed into a meeting place for Austrian politicians but still holds on to its 16th century roots. Embark on a short ride to the Austrian countryside to an authentic family-owned-and-operated “Mostheuriger” farm. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by the owner and the farm’s many critters. They’ll tell you the story of their family, farm, and products, and you’ll indulge in a tasting of the region’s most popular drink, cider, and “Brettljause,” a spread of local delicacies. Then, you’ll enjoy a scenic ride through the countryside en route back to the ship.

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Linz Walking Tour with Christmas Market - The seductive scents of seasonal treats—gingerbread and Linzer torte, cakes and cookies—waft through the air, and the stalls are full of local craft items at Linz’s two delightful Christmas markets, which are connected by the main shopping thoroughfare and a spectacular light show. Begin at the Main Square, where the stalls are decorated with motifs of Linz landmarks, and follow the illuminations to the Volksgarten, where you’ll find, literally, a fairytale Christmas— large, animated displays of fairytale scenes will entrance the child in you. Also, you'll stop for something sweet at Café Jindrak, home of the famous Linzer Torte.

 

Day Six - Dürnstein Village Stroll with Spiced Wine Tasting and Organ Concert in a Monastery - Considering its diminutive size, the village of Dürnstein o�ers much to explore. The famous blue baroque tower of the abbey church is doubtless its best-known landmark, but the ruined castle above the town provides its most romantic tale. There Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned until he was found by his faithful bard, Blondel, and ransom could be raised—or so the legend goes. Walk with the Cruise Manager through the Kremser Gate, which dates to the 15th century, and past 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century houses; it’s an up-close look at over 300 years of local architectural styles. The inhabitants of this region have grown apricots and grapes for many centuries, and they have happily turned both into delectable beverages through the years. Taste a local spin on mulled wine—spiced with Wachau Valley saffron—after your walk, then sit back and enjoy an organ concert inside a rococo Augustine monastery.

 

Day Seven  (Choice) - Belvedere Visit with Christmas Market - The Belvedere is a Baroque palatial complex commissioned during an immensely productive Habsburg building spree. Originally the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the complex was acquired by Empress Maria Theresa after his death and turned into an exhibition venue for imperial art collections. In this way, The Belvedere became one of the first public museums in the world. Following your tour here, you'll have time to explore on your own and visit Vienna's most famous Christmas Market, situated in front of City Hall, where more than 140 wooden stalls will entice you with every sort of delicacy.

OR

“Taste of Christmas” Vienna Walking Tour - A drive along Vienna’s Prater Street and Ring Street provides you with a glimpse of the magnificent buildings that showcased the Habsburgs’ grandeur, ending at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Stroll with your guide along the Graben, the elegant artery of downtown Vienna, and Kohlmarkt, which is lined with chic shops (don’t miss the dazzling display of holiday confectionary art in the windows of Café Demel, which once supplied Empress Sissi with candied violets), on your way to several delightful Christmas markets. The Am Hof Advent Market features contemporary crafts, ranging from jewelry to knitwear; just a few steps further along, on Freyung Square, is the oldest and most traditional of the city’s markets. Handsome palaces border the triangular square, which is filled with delightful stalls selling Nativity scenes, glass ornaments and handicrafts. Breathe in the aromas of such seasonal treats as roasted chestnuts, hot spiced wine, and vanilla crescents, Austria’s most famous Christmas cookie. How can you resist? Luckily, this is the moment and the place to sample these and other holiday specialties! The afternoon is yours. Spend as long as you like at any of the city’s Christmas markets. Of course, there are many other sights to see. Over 100 museums beckon you to delve into their depths. You might wish to visit the Albertina Museum: It houses an incredible collection of graphic arts, including one million old-master prints and an impressive group of works by 19th-and 20th-century painters, ranging from Renoir to Rothko. You could tour the Belvedere, where Klimt’s famous The Kiss is on display. Alternatively, you can encounter Viennese co�eehouse culture at one of the dozens of traditional cafés in Vienna’s Old City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

European Holiday Markets 2027 Flyer