Magnificent Europe (Christmas Cruise)

15 days
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3.7/5 Great
39 reviews  
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Cancellation Policy
River Cruise
A “Magnificent” European journey through five fascinating countries! Begin in Budapest and travel through the Main-Danube Canal as you traverse Europe's Continental Divide. Discover the culture and traditions of grand capitals, the perfectly preserved medieval towns and Europe's loveliest countryside. Your cruise ends among the legendary canals and colorful s...
From$5,599
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Overview

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

Highlights

    • Visit Medieval Gothic Cathedral at Cologne
    • Explore Regensburg
    • Discover Nuremberg
    • Explore Würzburg
    • Visit the Residenz Palace and gardens
    • Visit multiple Christmas Markets on the scenic river route from Budapest to Amsterdam

What's this trip about?

    A “Magnificent” European journey through five fascinating countries! Begin in Budapest and travel through the Main-Danube Canal as you traverse Europe's Continental Divide. Discover the culture and traditions of grand capitals, the perfectly preserved medieval towns and Europe's loveliest countryside. Your cruise ends among the legendary canals and colorful surroundings of Amsterdam.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range36 to 64 years
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityBudapest
End CityAmsterdam

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise
  • Festivals & Special Events

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Hungary

Attractions

  • Amsterdam
  • Bamberg
  • Bavaria
  • Koblenz
  • Munich
  • Nuremberg
  • Vienna
  • Wachau

Activities

  • Culture
  • Festivals & Special Events
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature
  • River cruise
  • Wine Tasting

Trip includes

    • 14 nights deluxe cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom
    • Most staterooms offer 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)
    • Airport transfers are included with the purchase of airfare from AmaWaterways
    • All local taxes

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Itinerary

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 ...

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 Cathedr...

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...

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, elegan...

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. ...

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 wel...

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 lur...

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.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,599
Price per day$373
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with AMA Waterways.

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.

AMA Waterways Reviews & Ratings

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Other AMA Waterways Reviews

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Karen Schoppe Rublee

Dec 2020

Provided byAMA Waterways

I’ve sailed with AmaWaterways 4 times

I’ve sailed with AmaWaterways 4 times. They are the best!...

R

Roberta Millert

Oct 2020

Provided byAMA Waterways

Cancel for any reason

AMA’s “Cancel for any reason” insurance is bogus. It should be called rebook for any reason.

A

Aime Hoffman

Sep 2020

Provided byAMA Waterways

Refund my deposit for the Danube River Cruise

Refund my deposit for the Danube River Cruise. You canceled through 11/17 and our trip was the following week. You know darn well that trip will not happen. You’r...

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Tour Operator

AMA Waterways

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AmaWaterways operates the finest fleet and provides all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. With an innovative product and rapidly-growing fleet of custom-designed ships, the line enjoys a reputation as the leader in river cruising.

AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy. All Three brought tremendous experience, knowledge and dedication to the venture. Rudi was one of river cruising’s pioneers, having introduced the modern-day river cruise concept to the market. Kristin brought with her vast sales and customer service experience. And Jimmy Murphy is the founder and former owner of Brendan Vacations. Their combined expertise and passion for the river cruise business results in a river cruise vacation experience that will exceed expectations. With more than 20 different itineraries to choose from, the river cruise vacation of a lifetime awaits with AmaWaterways!

At AmaWaterways, we love what we do — providing our guests with the best travel experiences possible. In fact, “Ama” is derived from the Latin word for “love.” It is a concept that permeates every aspect of our river cruises, from the design of our ships to the development of our itineraries to the high levels of service we deliver to our guests. It is a philosophy that drives our attention to detail, constant innovation and culture of always making our guests our top priority. It is the reason our guests all have a story about why it was the best cruise they’ve ever taken.

What they’re known for
All-inclusive luxury river cruises in Europe and Asia that offer a high level of service and attention to detail.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International Flights
    • Passport and Visa Charges
    • Personal Expenses
Ship & cabin information
AmaSonata
The AmaSonata is a sister ship to the AmaCerto and features the most advanced design of any river cruise vessel currently in operation. Our exclusive Twin Balconies are available in most staterooms, which measure a spacious 210-235 sq. feet, with four suites measuring 300 sq. feet. Passengers will enjoy gourmet dining with free-flowing fine wines at multiple onboard dining venues; a heated sun deck swimming pool with a ‘swim-up’ bar; fitness center and spa; complimentary ship-wide Wi-Fi and in-room Internet and entertainment on demand; and a fleet of bicycles carried onboard for passengers to enjoy on their own or on guided bike tours.
Built: 2014 Built in: Netherlands Length: 443 ft. Width: 38 ft. Crew: 51 Staterooms: 82 Suites: 3 Registry: Switzerland Home port: Basel
 
Cancellation policy

In the unfortunate event a participant must cancel travel, notice to AmaWaterways must be via email to Res@AmaWaterways.com, which must include a return receipt and read notation, or other writing stating clearly and correctly each guest’s name, ship name, start and end date of the cruise and a brief statement of the reason for cancellation. Other forms of notice are not sufficient. The effective date of the cancellation is the date we receive the written cancellation notice. Name changes, a substitution of a participant or a reduction in the number of guests in a stateroom are treated as a cancellation in that all applicable cancellation charges apply. Cancellation charges for bookings within charter and part-charter agreements are as per the charter contract. All other cancellation charges are per-person, based on the cancellation date, as follows:

More than 121 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: $200 (Europe & Asia) $1,200 (Africa)
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty

120-90 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: $400 (Europe & Asia) $2,400 (Africa)
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty

89-60 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 35% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 35% of all charges

59-30 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 50% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 50% of all charges

29-7 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 80% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 80% of all charges

6-0 days prior to departure

  • Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 100% of cruise and land price
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
  • Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
  • Other Charges (except insurance): 100% of all charges
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 .
Meals Included

14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches and 14 Dinners

Age Requirements
36 to 64 years
Additional Information
Trip ID
traveltalktours-MagEurAma

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