DAY 1 / PRAGUE* 

Arrive in Prague, Czech Republic, and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to start exploring the landmarks and monuments of this cultured European capital.

DAY 2 / PRAGUE 
Your morning sightseeing excursion reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city centre that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll see Rudolfinum, the National Museum, Wenceslas Square and the Hundertwasser Dancing House. Next, visit the thousand-year-old Prague Castle and the Gothic-style St. Vitus Cathedral before walking over the romantic Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square, where you’ll find the capital’s famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, and the statue of Jan Husek. In the afternoon, spend your free time perusing the stalls at Prague’s renowned Christmas Market, with its tempting assortment of handicrafts, toys and local delicacies.

DAY 3 / PRAGUE / NUREMBERG / EMBARKATION 

Set off from Prague after breakfast and drive through the pastoral countryside to Nuremberg. Visit the world’s largest Christmas Market, with over one hundred red and white canvas-topped stalls, each offering handmade crafts, toys, dollhouses, and carved angels, along with freshly baked gingerbread, mulled wine, and other seasonal delights. **Tonight, board the ship and settle into your cabin, then meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner. Mooring overnight in Nuremberg.

DAY 4 / NUREMBERG

In the morning, enjoy a guided tour of this historic city with its impressive Gothic churches, centuries-old city ramparts, the house of artist Albrecht Dürer, Imperial Castle, and the Justice Palace courtroom where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. Following your tour, the afternoon is yours to visit the city’s fabled Christmas Market and sip some hot mulled Glühwein—the souvenir mug is yours to keep!

DAY 5 / REGENSBURG 

Following breakfast, arrive in Regensburg and embark on 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 a Christmas Market, where stalls are festively adorned with fir branches. This evening, visit the exclusive “royal” markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, where you can even watch local artisans make traditional Christmas handicrafts.

DAY 6 / PASSAU 

After breakfast, you have three choices for how to spend the day. The first is a walking tour of picturesque Passau. A fairy-tale city founded more than two millennia ago, Passau is known for its fortifications and town squares, including Rathaus, Domplatz and Residenzplatz, as well as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ. Afterwards, take some time to explore the town’s Christmas Market. Guests seeking something more adventurous may instead join a guided bike tour from Passau to Erlau. Your third option is a full-day excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music. You will have time to visit Salzburg’s beautiful Christmas Market, renowned for local handicrafts and one-of-a-kind holiday presents, as well as a stop at the Christmas Market in Linz on the way back to the ship.

DAY 7 / MELK / VIENNA 

Today’s guided walking tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest Baroque monasteries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, see the famous library that inspired novelist Umberto Eco to write The Name of the Rose. During lunch, the ship cruises through the romantic Wachau Valley en route to Vienna, the “City of Music,” arriving in the evening. You will have the chance to visit both the Maria Theresienplatz and Rathaus Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) tonight. Mooring overnight in Vienna.

DAY 8 / VIENNA 

This morning you will have a panoramic tour of Vienna guiding you past the majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors, Parliament, Town Hall, and Vienna University. Afterwards, you’ll visit Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben, and the world-famous Spanish Riding School.

Afterwards, spend some time enjoying the Christmas Market and partake in holiday festivities at the Town Hall. Later, you can visit the Schönbrunn and Karlsplatz Christmas Markets which are unique unto themselves. The ship departs late this evening for Hungary.

DAY 9 / BUDAPEST 

Your morning excursion includes sightseeing in the cities of Buda, on the west bank of the river, and Pest, on the east bank. You will see the famed Heroes’ Square and UNESCO-listed Castle Hill. Home to Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church, Castle Hill also boasts spectacular views of the Danube.

Afterwards, take some time to explore the twinkling Christmas Market in the main square. Following dinner, you’ll be treated to a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the city’s glittering riverfront. The ship moors overnight in Budapest.

DAY 10 / BUDAPEST / DISEMBARKATION 

Bid farewell to Budapest as you prepare for your journey onward.

*Note: This program is also available in the opposite direction.

** For cruise-only guests, the program begins with embarkation in Nuremberg.

• 2 nights hotel in Prague at the InterContinental or Hilton Old Town (or similar), including daily buffet breakfast
• Transfer from Prague to the ship in Nuremberg
• 7 nights deluxe cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom
• Most with French balconies or revolutionary Twin Balconies
• Life enriching tours and excursions daily
• Entertainment on demand in all staterooms featuring free high-speed Internet access, hit Hollywood movies, extensive music library and English language TV stations
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access on board
• Terry bathrobes and white-on-white plush bedding
• Fine dining with all meals included during your cruise
• Multiple dining venues on select vessels
• Free-flowing red & white wines from Europe’s great wine regions, beer & soft drinks with every lunch and dinner on board
• Bottled water in every stateroom replenished daily
• Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner & Captain’s Gala Dinner
• Special highlights including lectures, cooking demonstration, onboard music performances and piano music
• Bicycles to explore on your own & guided bicycle tours
• Services of professional Cruise Manager
• All English language on board in a non-smoking environment (smoking permitted only on the Sun Deck)
• Transfers between hotel and ship are included with the purchase of cruise and land package; airport transfers are included with the purchase of airfare from AmaWaterways
• All local taxes

Travel Documents / Visas

1. Passport

Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the last date of travel to enter European Union (EU) countries which include all destinations on this itinerary.

Citizens of other countries should consult with their travel agent or our office.

2. Visa

No visa is required for citizens of Canada travelling to any country on the Danube itinerary.

Packing List

A handy checklist of what to bring on your trip can be downloaded here.

Insurance

We very strongly recommend the purchase of appropriate travel insurance for any trip outside of Canada. Information on travel insurance options can be found here.

Smoking

Not permitted anywhere indoors. There are designated areas on the outside decks.

Weather

The weather will vary somewhat depending what part of the Danube you are travelling on.

In the early spring (March-April), the weather will likely be in the 10s but some cooler evenings may be expected. Occasional rain is normal.

In May, June and September, temperatures will typically be in the low 20s during the day and in the high 10s during the night time.

In July and August, temperatures are usually in the mid 20s but could range up to the high 20s or low 30s. Evenings typically in the low 20s.

In November and December the temperatures will typically be in the low 10s during the day and in the 0s (but usually above freezing) during the night.

Arrival / Departure

Upon booking, we will provide detail instructions on how to meet your ship on embarkation day. If you have not made any pre or post tour arrangements with us, you will have to arrange your own transportation to and from the port of embarkation. We are happy to provide advice or to assist in arranging transfers.

The ship will not be ready for check-in before mid-afternoon. If you have luggage that you need to deposit so you can enjoy some free time in port, the purser may be able to accommodate you provided we know in advance.

The cruise will finish in the morning (usually around 9am) on the final day. It is necessary to have settled your onboard account and to have disembarked by this time as instructed by the cruise director on the day before.

Money

The currency in Germany, Slovakia and Austria is the EURO. In Czech Republic, the Czech Crown or Kronor is used (CZK), although many shops will accept Euros. In Hungary the local currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF) and similarly, many shops will accept Euros.

Credit cards are acceptable for larger purchases in retail shops, but often not in restaurants or cafés.

ATM’s accepting most international debit and credit cards can be found in abundance.

Gratuities (Tipping)

Gratuities suggested by the cruise line are:

EUR 3.00 per guest per day for the cruise director

EUR 12.00 per guest per day to be divided amongst the entire crew.

Laundry

Laundry service is available onboard at a nominal additional cost. Unfortunately dry cleaning services are not available.

Excursions

Most of our programs include a full complement of excursions. Some additional excursions may be available on board at an extra cost. Please check with us or consult the purser onboard for additional information.

Excursions will usually involve a lot of walking, often on cobblestone streets. If you have difficulty walking any distance, please let us know in advance and we will advise how best we can accommodate you.

Regrettably, most of our excursions are not suitable for those in a wheelchair.

Activity Level / Strenuousness

Light – At most, participation in the shore excursions requires the ability to walk reasonable distances and some stairs.

Food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your cruise fare so you shouldn’t be too hungry. It is worthwhile to sample the local cuisine, though.

In Prague, depending on the time of year, local kiosks on the main squares will offer delights such as ‘Trdelnik’, a tube-shaped sweet pastry with various fillings. You may also wish to give the Prague Ham a try, which is a very tasty variation of black forest ham. If you do get the chance for a full meal, roast duck, red cabbage and dumplings is probably one of the most typical Czech meals.

In Germany, particularly in Nuremberg, try the ‘Lebkuchen’ (gingerbread) which is absolutely delicious. A fast food favourite in the whole country is the famous ‘Currywurst’ which is a sausage served with a curry mustard sauce.

Austria is of course famous for its pastries, particularly in the coffee shops of Vienna. You can’t not try a ‘Sachertorte’ (chocolate cake with apricot jam). The home of the ‘Wiener Schnitzel’ is also here with the original version being a breaded veal cutlet and the more common version being made with pork.

Hungary is known for its delectable ‘Gulasch’ soup, made usually with beef chunks. ‘Letscho’, a zesty red sauce with sweet peppers is another favourite, often served with shishkebabs and on a bed of rice.

Language

Your shipboard staff all speak English of course, but when you are wandering through the shops in small villages, the local folk may not speak so much English, particularly in the former eastern European states (i.e. Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia etc.) A phrasebook or translation app would come in very handy.

Medical Facilities

There are no medical personnel onboard the ship. However, the purser can contact onshore medical people for emergency and non-emergency situations and rapid evacuation can easily be facilitated in the most urgent cases.

Phone & Internet

There is a phone in each cabin. As is typical, the charges for overseas calls are relatively high.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the main public areas of the ship but not necessarily in all cabins. As internet is provided through a mobile network, bandwidth (speed) will vary depending on the number of concurrent users, the proximity to a cell tower and other factors.

If you would like to have regular data and phone connection, we suggest either arranging an overseas roaming plan with your mobile operator, or pick up a local SIM card if you have an unlocked phone.

Health / Vaccinations

There are no vaccinations required to travel to the EU. As always, we recommend being in good health prior to any long distance travel. Consult your physician with any specific concerns in regard to this program.

Safety & Security

Despite recent events in Europe, these countries are all extremely safe. Particularly the small cities and towns on this voyage, you should have nothing to be concerned about. This being said, being constantly aware of your surroundings and not taking unnecessary valuables with you is always recommended. Leave your passport, extra money and any other belongings you do not need during the day in the safe in your cabin.

You can access current information about the security situation in Europe by referring to the Canadian government travel advisory site at https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/

Suggested Reading

Danube

The Danube

Danubia A personal history of Habsburgs Europe