Compare Magnificent Europe (Christmas Cruise) by AMA Waterways

Day 1: Arrive In Budapest, Hungary – Embarkation

Meals: Dinner

Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship, moored near the city center. Start exploring Budapest’s unique Christmas markets on your own before meeting your fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. Tonight, the ship sails a special “Illuminations Cruise” along Budapest’s illuminated riverfront, then returns to moor overnight.

Day 2: Budapest

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, enjoy a brief panoramic tour of the city. You will see Buda Castle, the Fisherman's Bastion, the Royal Palace and St. Stephen's Basilica. Rejoin the ship in Esztergom and depart for Vienna.

Day 3: Vienna, Austria

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Start your day with a driving tour of Vienna that includes the Vienna Opera House, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, followed by a walking tour of the historic city center. Afterwards, spend some time enjoying the festive Christmas Markets located around the Town Hall. The ship heads towards Melk late tonight.

Day 4: Melk – Passau, Germany

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, cruise through the narrow Strudengau en route to the incredibly scenic Wachau Valley. Your guided tour today takes you to Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries, with a medieval library that inspired Umberto Eco’s novel The Name of the Rose. Rejoin the ship around lunchtime and continue cruising towards Passau.

Day 5: Passau, Germany

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau. You will have a choice of a walking tour of Passau’s Old Town, past the old city fortifications, Rathaus, Domplatz and Residenzplatz town squares, as well as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or more active guests may join a guided bike tour from Passau to Erlau or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress overlooking Passau.

Day 6: Regensburg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arrive in Regensbur and enjoy a guided walking tour of this exquisitely preserved medieval city. Marvel at the beautiful churches, the homes of wealthy families, and one of Germany’s oldest bridges across the Danube. Your tour ends with a visit to the Old Kornmarkt Christmas Market, with its festive stalls adorned with fir branches. If you’d like to explore on your own in lieu of our city tour, perhaps you will enjoy visiting the “royal” markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, a very traditional handicraft Christmas Market, where you can watch craftsmen at work.

Day 7: Nuremberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning your ship enters the Main-Danube Canal, a marvel of modern engineering that traverses the Franconian Alps via 16 locks. In the afternoon enjoy a tour of historic Nuremberg with its fabulous Gothic churches, elegant patrician houses, the Imperial Castle, and 900-year-old city ramparts. After your tour, visit the world’s largest Christmas Market, with over 100 red and white canvas-topped booths offering an assortment of unique toys, tinsel angels, dolls, gingerbread and other treats, and an endless variety of other seasonal goodies. The ship overnights in Nuremberg.

Day 8: Nuremberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, you will travel by train from Nuremberg to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities. Your guide will offer suggestions on what to see during your free time in town and will take you to lunch in a local restaurant. Back on board the ship tonight, you will meet newly arrived travelers embarking from Prague.

Day 9: Nuremberg – Bamberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy breakfast as we cruise through the engineering marvel known as the Main-Danube Canal, which traverses the Alps via 16 locks. Arrive in Bamberg and enjoy a walking tour of this medieval gem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is free time to sample some of Bamberg’s famous smoked beer before you return to the ship. The ship departs this evening and cruises overnight.

Day 10: Kitzingen – Würzburg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After arriving in Kitzingen, your walking tour includes the city’s famous 13th-century Leaning Tower, the Old Main Bridge, Kitzingen Church, and the Renaissance-style Town Hall. Later, the Aulic Council and Wine Queen will welcome you to Germany’s oldest wine cellar for a tasting of several different wines and an overview of wine production in the region. In the afternoon, you will have a choice of three different excursions. Take a guided tour of Würzburg showing you all of the major sights or visit the Residenz Palace and gardens, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s best examples of Baroque architecture. Rejoin the ship in Würzburg and cruise overnight.

Day 11: Wertheim

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, you will have a walking tour of Wertheim, a town that has retained much of its medieval charm and character. The ship will depart for Miltenberg during lunch, arriving early evening for a brief walking tour along cobblestone streets lined with steeply gabled, half-timbered houses. Later, the ship leaves Bavaria and the Main River behind.

Day 12: Rüdesheim – Koblenz

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Early this morning, you will cruise through the Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the river, passing castle after castle. Don't miss the legendary Lorelei Rock, where legend says sweet songs of local beauties once lured enchanted sailors to their doom. In Rüdesheim, you will board a miniature train that will take you to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants during your free time. Arrive in Koblenz in the evening and enjoy a walking tour through this charming town, lead by your Cruise Manager.

Day 13: Koblenz – Cologne

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We cruise from Koblenz to Cologne today, arriving this afternoon. After lunch on board, enjoy a walking tour of Cologne and visit the spectacular 13th-century Medieval Gothic cathedral. We depart late tonight for Amsterdam.

Day 14: Amsterdam, Holland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy your last morning leisurely cruising to Amsterdam, arriving after lunch. You’ll have a guided canal cruise, a city tour with a photo stop at the Rembrandt Windmill, and free time to explore on your own.

Day 15: Amsterdam – Disembarkation

Meals: Breakfast

Bid farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homebound flight.