8-Nights Cruise the Danube to Europe's Christmas Markets - Small Group Journeys from $8,795

Nuremberg: From history to Bratwurst and ginger bread (6 hours)

Highlights:
 
Meet your experienced and fully licensed driver-guide to discuss your interests for the day before getting started
 
Nuremberg was one of the richest and most important 'free cities' of the Holy German Empire, whose golden age, the German Renaissance, produced such illustrious artists as the painter Albrecht Duerer, the sculptor Veit Stoß and the mastersinger Hans Sachs
 
Explore the old town market place and sample traditional ginger bread at the legendary local bakeries before heading to the beautiful Fountain and Church of our Lady as well as Sebaldus Church.  
 
Stroll the alleys uphill to the Imperial Castle, affording excellent views over historic city center and passing Albrecht Duerer house along the way
 
Depending on interest visit sites such as the Nazi documentation centre at the former rallye grounds or the famous room 600 where the Nazi trials were held after WWII
 
End of tour at Altstadt brewery to enjoy a beer and original Nuremberg sausages before heading back to the ship
 
Tour Duration: 6 hours
Tour can operate: All day
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Transportation by luxury car
• Touring with one of our excellent driver-guides
• All taxes

• Meals
• Optional admissions and museum licensing fees
• Tipping at your discretion

Private walk of romantic Regensburg city center

Highlights:
 
Meet our experienced local team member at your ship and tailor your explorations according to your interests and expectations
 
Walk over the medieval stone bridge from 1135, that the knights of the 2nd and 3rd crusade used to cross the Danube on their way to the Holy Land
 
Visit the historic city center with its famous gothic Cathedral containing numerous 15^th century artifacts
 
Explore the Adler-Pharmacy, founded in 1610 with its exquisite authentic interior and historical vessels
 
See castle Thurn und Taxis still inhabited by the royal Thurn and Taxis family, depending on interest visit the splendid chambers of this princely residence
 
Visit remains of the Roman fortress' walls including the Porta Praetoria and the St. Emmeram's Abbey.
 
Stroll along the charming cobble stone alleys of historic city centre and enjoy a special Regensburg Bratwurst or stop at the oldest café in Germany (founded 1868) continuously serving the most tempting treats before heading back to the ship
 
Tour Duration: 2 hours
Tour can operate: All day
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Light walking tour

Inclusions:

• Touring with one of our excellent local insiders
• All taxes

• Meals
• Optional admissions and museum licensing fees
• Tipping at your discretion

Passau Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Tour to Munich, 8 hours

This full day tour takes you to the Bavarian capital for a Private City Tour of Munich; among others you pass by impressive sights such as the Nymphenburg Palace, the Royal Residence, the Olympia Park and many more.

Highlights:

• Private licensed Munich Guide for your City Tour
• Main sights in Munich: e.g. Olympia Park, BMW building, Old and New Art Gallery (Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek), National Theatre, Royal Residence, Nymphenburg Palace, The Angel of Peace Monument in Schwabing, King’s Square, Victory Gate, English Garden and many more (only outside visits!).

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Passau or Vilshofen
• Transfer in a private minivan with English speaking driver
• Private licensed English speaking guide for the Munich City Tour (other languages available, but on request)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances

Passau Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Tour to Cesky Krumlov, 7 hours

This full day tour takes you just across the border to the Czech Republic,to visit Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO World Heritage Site). From April till October, an inside visit of the Cesky Krumlov Castle is included in this package.

Highlights:

• Private licensed local Guide for your Cesky Krumlov visit
• Cesky Krumlov - medieval city, impressing with its unique atmosphere, including the Minorite Monastery and the Church of St. Vitus.
• From April-October (Tuesday-Sunday): inside visit of the enthroning Cesky Krumlov Castle.

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Passau or Vilshofen
• Transfer in a private minivan with English speaking driver
• Private licensed English speaking guide for the Cesky Krumlov City Tour (other languages available, but on request)
• April-October (Tuesday-Sunday): Entrance fee for Cesky Krumlov Castle

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances, other than stated above

Private explorations in the quaint three river village

Highlights:
 
Meet our experienced local team member at your ship and tailor your city stroll according to your interests and expectations
 
The picturesque city of Passau, known as ‘The City of Three Rivers’, stands at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and the Ilz Rivers in Germany’s far southeast corner near the Austrian border
 
Passau was an ancient Roman colony and a former hub of the salt trade, then later the Holy Roman Empire, largest diocese and a sword-making centre
 
Enjoy a walking tour of the historic city centre with its enchanting, narrow lanes, beautiful riverbank promenades to see the ‘Rathaus’, with its , Baroque festival hall, the New Bishop's Residence before arriving at St. Stephen's Cathedral
 
St. Stephen's is a true masterpiece of Italian Baroque and is most famous for its spectacular organ. With 17,774 pipes and 233 registers it is not to be missed. Schedule permitted enjoy a recital by their master organist
 
End your walk with a stop at our favourite watering hole for a tasting of the famous local Granit gin or enjoy traditional baked goods at ‘Kerscher’ where recipes are handed from generation to generation for over 100 years
 
Tour Duration: 2 hours
Tour can operate: All day
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Light walking tour

Inclusions:

• Touring with one of our excellent local insiders
• All taxes

• Meals
• Optional admissions and museum licensing fees
• Tipping at your discretion

Melk Shore Excursion: Private Half Day Tour Melk and Duernstein, 4 hours

This tour includes a private tour through the Benedictine Abbey of Melk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's most impressive monasteries, followed by an excursion to the picturesque village of Duernstein, where King Richard the Lionheart of England was formerly held prisoner.

Highlights:

• Private Tour through the Benedictine Abbey of Melk
• City Walk in Duernstein, with its impressive blue church and views up to the castle ruins towering Duernstein
• Lovely tour through Wachau valley, with its romantic scenery, vineyards, apricot orchards and ruined castles

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Melk or Duernstein
• Transfer in a private minivan
• Private licensed English speaking guide  (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee and private tour at Melk Abbey

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances, other than stated above

Melk Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Tour Wachau & Wines, 8 hours

This tour includes a private tour through the Benedictine Abbey of Melk, followed by an excursion to the picturesque village of Duernstein, and a visit to the former merchants' town of Krems, crowned by a winery tour and wine tastings.

Highlights:

• Private Tour through the Benedictine Abbey of Melk
• City Walk in Duernstein, with its impressive blue church and views up to the castle ruins towering Duernstein
• Lovely tour through Wachau valley, with its romantic scenery, vineyards, apricot orchards and ruined castles
• Visit of former merchants' town Krems
• Winery Tour and wine tasting at Sandgrube 13 in Krems

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruising ship in Melk or Duernstein
• Transfer in a private minivan
• Private licensed English speaking guide  (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee and private tour at Melk Abbey
• Sandgrube 13 wine cellar tour and tasting

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances, other than stated above

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Vienna's Old Town, 2,5 hours

This interesting city walk offers you an initial overview of the history, culture and achitecture of Vienna, taking you through the most beautiful and elegant streets and passing by some of the most famous sights of the city.
At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.

Highlights:

• The Imperial Palace, residence of the Habsburgs for nearly 650 years (outside)
• St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna's landmark (outside)
• State Opera House (outside)
• the Ringstrasse ('ring road')

• Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances
• Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Mozart in Vienna, 2,5 hours

During this city walk "On the Traces of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart", you discover Vienna's historic old town, passing by some of the most important locations of Mozart's life. This tour also includes a visit of the Mozart House. At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.

Highlights:

• Vienna's historic old town and former addresses of Mozart (outdoor)
• Visit of the Mozart House Vienna (indoor visit)
• St. Stephen's Cathedral (outdoor)

• Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee Mozart House (visit with audio-guide)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above
• Return transfer to the cruise ship (optional service upon extra charge)

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Imperial Palace, 2,5 hours

This privately guided walking tour through Vienna's historic old town takes you to the Imperial Palace ('Hofburg'), to visit the Imperial Apartments and the fascinating Sisi Museum.

Highlights:

• Visit of the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Apartments (indoor visit)
• Visit of the Sisi Museum (indoor visit)
• Augustinian Church

• Pick up the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for the Imperial Palace (Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above
• Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour of Vienna & Visit of Schoenbrunn Palace, 4 hours

This privately guided tour shows you the major historical sights along the Ringstrasse, before taking you to the magnificent Schoenbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Habsburg family.

Highlights:

• Main sights along the Ringstrasse: e.g. Imperial Palace, National Museums, State Opera, Burgtheater, City Hall, Parliament etc. (outside)
• Visit of the Schoenbrunn Palace, privately guided tour (indoor visit)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for Schoenbrunn Palace (Highlight Tour)

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour Art Nouveau and Viennese Architecture, 4 hours

In addition to the familiar Gothic and Baroque buildings, Art Nouveau has a fixed place in Viennese architecture. Naturally, this tour also covers further architecural epoques, such as modernity.

Highlights:

• Architecturally interesting sights along the Ringstrasse: e.g. Imperial Palace, National Museums, State Opera, City Hall, Parliament etc. (outside)
• Visit of the Vienna Secession (inside visit)
• Visit of the Kunst Haus Wien (insde visit)
• St. Charles's Church (outside)
• Hundertwasserhaus (outside)

• Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• Transfer in a private car
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for Vienna Secession
• Entrance fee for Kunst Haus Wien

• Meals
• Gratuities and personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above

Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk & the Lipizzaner Horses, 5 hours

From Tuesday to Friday (9am-1pm, excl. July), this package covers many interesting aspects of Vienna: Starting with a short Vienna Old Town City Walk, you follow your guide through the old town towards the Spanish Riding School, where you attend the Lippizaner's Morning Exercise, allowing an insight into the training of the Lipizzaner Horses and their riders. At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.

Highlights:

• Overview of the history, culture and architecture of Vienna
• Vienna's historic old town (outside)
• Attendance of the Morning Exercise at the Spanish Riding School (inside visit)
• Coffee break at the famous Café Central

• Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
• One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
• Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
• Entrance fee for the Morning Exercise at the Spanish Riding School
• Coffee break at Café Demel (1 hot drink, 1 piece of cake)

• Meals
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses
• Entrances other than stated above
• Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)