Christmas Markets Along the Danube - Westbound 2025

8 days
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River Cruise
Celebrate the magic of the season along the Danube from Vienna to Nürnberg aboard ms Savor or ms Joy, filled with exclusive Tauck extras, special yuletide events aboard and ashore, and great holiday cheer!
From$3,990
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • This Danube river cruise from Nürnberg to Vienna aboard ms Savoror 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 holiday baking demonstration... a festive European Christmas dinner with all the fixings… and a performance byalumni of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir! Explore the Baroque architecture of 900-year-old Melk Abbey... have lunch at the Palais Pallavicini in Vienna
    • and takea tour of the Thurn und Taxis family's Palace of St. Emmeram in Regensburg
    • with a visit to its private Christmas Market – and more!

What's this trip about?

    Celebrate the magic of the season along the Danube from Vienna to Nürnberg aboard ms Savor or ms Joy, filled with exclusive Tauck extras, special yuletide events aboard and ashore, and great holiday cheer!

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Vienna, Austria
End CityNürnberg

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Salzburg
  • Vienna

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Visits to Christmas Markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Passau, Regensburg & Nürnberg* Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors & Tauck Cruise Director All private Tauck shore excursions – $1,632 Value 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 *Please note: Operating dates for the Christmas Markets could be subject to change; every effort will be made to visit as scheduled.

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Vienna / Embark Riverboat

Vienna
- Images of St. Nicholas – with his devilish nemesis, Krampus – Advent wreaths, twinkling lights, roasting chestnuts, sausages and kartoffelpuffer (potato cakes), hot glühwein and fruity punsch... all signs of Christmastime in Vienna! Many Christkindlmarkts big and small...
 

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Vienna, Austria.
A transfer is included from Vienna International Airport to ms Savor or ms Joy. Guests enjoying a pre-stay in Vienna will receive a transfer from Tauck's hotel to the riverboat. Welcome to old Vienna… bright with decorations and buzzing with holiday spirit; exploring on ...
Day 2 Vienna for the holidays

"Imperial" Vienna, which you'll explore on a sightseeing tour along the Ringstrasse this morning, seems even grander with Christmas decorations everywhere you look. Get a glimpse of what "happy Habsburg family holidays" might have been lik...

Day 3 Melk Abbey at Christmastime

Melk
 - Perched high on a rocky bluff overlooking the Danube and the town of Melk, Stift Melk (Melk Abbey) has shone as a beacon of culture and learning since its founding nearly a millennium ago. Its 18th-century Baroque complex is home to a magnificent church adorned with g...
Day 4 Tis' the season in Salzburg & Linz

Salzburg / Linz
- The angelic voices of choirs singing carols in Salzburg's Cathedral Square... the pealing bells of old Salzburger Dom, overlooking neat rows of lit-up booths fragrant with the aroma of roasted almonds and hot mulled wine... ornate Baroque domes, towers and rooftops tip...
Day 5 Passau's seasonal pleasures

Passau
– Navigating the narrow lanes and archways of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn rivers is a pleasure any time of year – but never more so than now, when one of the finest Germany Christmas Markets transforms Passau's historic Baroque center into a wonderland brimm...
Day 6 Unique markets and more in Regensburg

Regensburg
- Sausages and song are big in Regensburg, as your visit to its centuries-old Christkindlmarkt on the Neupfarrplatz will attest. Market goers feast on the city's famed sausages, along with steamed dampfnudel dumplings, gingerbread, roast chestnuts and, naturally, glühwei...
Day 7 History & holiday cheer in Nürnberg

Nürnberg
- On Nürnberg's main market square opposite the Church of Our Lady sits the most famous Christmas Market in Germany, with its iconic, golden-haired Christmas Angel and charming Zwetchgenmannle ("Plum People") – unique to Bavaria and made from dried plums and other fruits...
Day 8 Journey home

Tour ends: Nürnberg.
Fly home anytime. Transfers are provided from ms Savor or ms Joy to Nürnberg Airport; those guests enjoying a post-stay in Nürnberg will receive a transfer from Tauck's hotel to the airport. Please allow at least three hours for airport check-in formalities. Your river c...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,990
Price per day$499
Last Updated: 11/13/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
30 Nov 2025
08 Dec 2025
$4,190
$4,190
$5,690
07 Dec 2025
15 Dec 2025
$4,190
$4,190
$5,690
14 Dec 2025
22 Dec 2025
$3,990
$3,990
$5,490

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

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May 2024

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Jun 2023

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Nine Tours and Done

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Cougess

Jan 2023

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Skip this cruise - not worth it

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
MS JOY, MS SAVOR
MS JOY Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Joy cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Danube River as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open MS SAVOR Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Savor cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Danube River as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open -
MS JOY MS SAVOR
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-RNY2025

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