River Cruising

Christmas Markets Along the Danube

Days
8
From (per Person)
£3,190
Journey Type
River Cruising
Time of Year
Nov - Dec
Cities & Landmarks
Nürnberg, Vienna, Regensburg, Salzburg, Melk, Passau
Christmas Market, Salzburg, Austria

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Overview

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

 

Visits to Christmas Markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Passau, Regensburg & Nürnberg

 

Tauck Value Includes

 

Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors & Tauck Cruise Director

 

Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at £1,306

 

Locally guided walking tours of market cities and towns

 

Visit to Baroque Melk Abbey in Austria

 

Tour of Thurn und Taxis Palace and visit to its private Christmas Market

 

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Activity

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Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.

Pace

2
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Moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motor coach travel.

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Exclusively inclusive river cruising

This Danube river cruise from Nürnberg to Vienna aboard ms Savor or ms Joy offers a new approach to discovering the magic of the Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria… a 700-year holiday tradition!

Enjoy Tauck's signature sightseeing and exclusive events... gain insights from the personal experiences of your local guides as they recall the Christmas Markets of their childhoods... and celebrate the holidays with special yuletide events on the ship and off! Aboard your riverboat, decorated in holiday style, you can sample glühwein and other seasonal goodies. Attend a festive European Christmas dinner with all the fixings… and a performance by alumni of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir! Explore the Baroque architecture of 900-year-old Melk Abbey... have lunch at the Palais Pallavicini in Vienna, and take a tour of the Thurn und Taxis family's Palace of St. Emmeram in Regensburg, with a visit to its private Christmas Market – and more! Read Less

The Holiday Markets of Nürnberg

The festive holiday markets of Nürnberg

The most celebrated Christmas Market in Germany occupies Nürnberg's main market square opposite the Church of Our Lady; over the years, touches like its golden-haired Christmas Angel and the Bavarian "Plum People" you'll see in its stalls have made it one of the most famous in Europe. And by the time the holiday season is over, more than two million people will have stopped by to shop for hand-made toys and ornaments, Christmas candles, gingerbread, and – of course – glühwein.

Experiencing Europe's Christmas Markets

Treasure the magic of Europe's Christmas Markets along the Danube

In every stop on your Christmas Markets cruise along the Danube, you'll enjoy all the magic of your destination's holiday markets, each of which has taken on a distinctive character of its own over the centuries. You'll discover those local traditions… like the hot mulled wine known as glühwein, served in collectible mugs unique to each market… that have caught on to become an indispensable part of the holiday celebration. Experience some special holiday magic on an exclusive visit to the Thurn und Taxis family's Palace of St. Emmeram in Regensburg. Tour this lavish Baroque family home – converted from a monastery in the 18th century – and browse its private Christmas Market.

We really loved how Tauck thought of everything on the cruise, from our arrival at the airport until we headed home, there were no worries.

Tauck Traveler Review

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Deck Plans

Welcome Aboard

Sun Deck

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Diamond Deck

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Category 5

Category 7

(Note: All Category 7 cabins are three-guest capacity suites with a pull-out couch)

Ruby Deck

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Category 2

Category 4

Category 5

Category 6

Emerald Deck

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Category 1

Category 3

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Sun Deck

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Diamond Deck

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Category 5

Category 7

(Note: All Category 7 cabins are three-guest capacity suites with a pull-out couch)

Ruby Deck

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Category 2

Category 4

Category 5

Category 6

Emerald Deck

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Category 1

Category 3

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Your Journey

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About Booking This Tour

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Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Germany and Austria. You are not required to obtain a visa for the short duration of this cruise.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Germany and of Austria to determine what travel documentation is required.

International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to us prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to us as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied. Once you board the riverboat, your passport will be held by the purser until you disembark.

Please Note: Longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

You will be issued a keycard, which you must scan upon embarking the ship in each port. This security measure also ensures that only Tauck guests are permitted onboard.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your cabin while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents or cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

 

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

Deposit & Booking Information

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is £650.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

  • Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
  • Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
  • Traveler's Address(es)
  • Traveler's Phone Number(s)
  • Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
  • Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
  • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
  • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to Tauck 60 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Protect Your Travel Investment

Customer Protection: Our UK-based agents comply with the bonding requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority and provide full financial protection for the package holidays that we sell in the UK. For flight-based holidays, this is through the Air Travel Organiser's Licence (details of which are available from the UK-based agent with whom you book). When you buy a package holiday that doesn't include a flight, protection of your monies paid to our UK-based agent will be provided by way of a bond.

Travel Requirements For This Tour

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Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.


Checked Luggage ― General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much stricter in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage ― General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or large items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small and is designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece and to carry only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Your riverboat is registered in Basel, Switzerland. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and inform us at time of booking.

VACCINATIONS

If you are a resident of the U.S., no other vaccinations are currently required for travel to Germany or Austria. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Info Center at 800-232-4636/800-CDC-INFO (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Germany and Austria to determine what additional vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

MOBILITY

While a cruise on the Danube is very relaxing and the pace leisurely, to enjoy all the cruise has to offer, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. There is a moderate to significant amount of walking during our excursions, often along cobblestone streets, and at many sites there are multiple stairs or steps. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do is at your discretion.

The riverboat has four decks: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, and Sun. The elevator connects the Diamond, Ruby, and Emerald decks; there is no elevator to the Sundeck. There is no chair lift between any of the decks.

Because you will be cruising on a river and not on the open sea, you are never far from land and, therefore, there is no doctor on board. In case of emergency we can easily dock the boat and call for an ambulance or medical assistance.

PLEASE NOTE: We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate service animals on any river cruise for medical and legal reasons.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

SMOKING

On board the riverboat, smoking is permitted in a limited area of the Sun deck. Smoking (including e-Cigarettes) is not permitted in any cabin, the restaurant, the lounge or any other interior space.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

Weather

The climate in December in Germany and Austria is seasonably cold. The average high and low temperatures are 38/28 °F (3/-2 °C). The amount of precipitation is approximately 1.25 in (31.75 mm).

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.


What To Pack

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with New Headings who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site.

Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A coat and sweater for the sun deck and touring is also recommended. Pack comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in, as many of the sites visited were built centuries ago and have uneven surfaces, some steep inclines and many steps. For the captain's welcome and farewell dinners, you may wish to dress more formally, but it is not required.

Bathrobes, slippers and hairdryers are provided in each cabin on board the riverboat.

The riverboat provides limited valet laundry services but no dry cleaning. Valet laundry service is available on the riverboat for a fee. Ironing facilities are available by request to the front desk. Category 7 cabins feature their own irons and ironing boards.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

We recommend you pack the following items for your cruise on the Danube:

  • Flat, rubber-soled walking shoes for onboard
  • Sturdy but comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in for onshore
  • Short and long-sleeved cotton shirts
  • Slacks and jeans
  • Medium-weight socks
  • Medium-weight sweater
  • Winter coat
  • Raincoat and rain hat
  • Optional - Sport jacket and tie for men
  • Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
  • Lightweight gloves
  • Collapsible umbrella
  • Sun protection
  • Camera, lenses, batteries and chargers
  • Reusable zipper lock bags or other waterproof bags
  • Daypack for camera equipment
  • Travel clock with alarm/ cell phone with alarm functions (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
  • Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your cabin while traveling

The Tauck Experience

Tauck's River Cruise Guide

Danube River Facts

First Timer's Guide

Why Take A Tauck River Cruise

Choosing The Best European River Cruise For You

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Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

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