Christmas Cruise on the Danube

Join us on a gorgeous walk through the old city of Passau. The baroque city on three rivers has long been a magnet for traders and travellers.  Our “Little Venice” will astonish you from your first moments in its winding streets. In the heart of the Old Town lies our most known site – St Stephen’s Cathedral, often known as a baroque cathedral with a gothic soul. The impressive pipe organ helps make St Stephen’s a true highlight of our three river city. High above the Old Town sits one of the largest fortress complexes in all Europe – the Veste Oberhaus which can be discovered on your own at the end of the walking tour. Accessible via the exterior walls, never conquered, never completely destroyed; the Veste Oberhaus is a prime example of long term historical construction.

(Please note: Visit to the cathedral is subject to opening hours, availability and Holy Masses or similar).

A two-hour coach ride will bring you to Salzburg – the city of music. The old town with its world-famous Baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps. It was adopted by UNESCO in 1997 and is included on its list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. Salzburg is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

During the guided tour through the old town you will see the birth house of the musician (exterior only), as well as other well-known attractions, such as the Getreidegasse. This long, narrow shopping street runs parallel to the river in the center of town. The street is famous for its old-style signage outside each store, indicating the profession found within. Continue to Mirabell Palace, a beautiful castle with gardens, built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. The Garden of Dwarfs and the Garden of Roses are especially beautiful. After enjoying an included lunch, you will have the opportunity to stroll through the christmas market. 

Melk Abbey is an Austrian Benedictine abbey and one of the world’s most famous monastic sites. The impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 and is the biggest monastery complex of the Austrian baroque period. The abbey’s church, with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr, and the impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts and frescos by Paul Troger are particularly noteworthy.

A guided tour takes you through the abbot’s chambers, along the imperator’s walk, through the marble hall, the balconies and the library.

The Benedictine Abbey of Göttweig towering unmistakably on the eastern edge of the Danube valley in the Wachau.  Today it is not only a center of attraction for guests from all over the world, but also a spiritual cent in the heart of Lower Austria, supported by a community of 40 monks. Founded in 1083, Göttweig was handed over to the Benedictines in 1094 and is now one of the oldest monasteries in Austria. The famously and splendid Baroque-style interior "owes" to a devastating fire in 1718, which made it necessary to rebuild the medieval complex.

Immerse yourself in the history of the monastery and enjoy the unique panoramic view of the Danube valley and the Wachau. 

While it may take days or weeks to fully discover Vienna, this tour will give you an overall impression of the most important sights Vienna has to offer. First, you will drive along the famous Ringstrasse, passing several magnificent buildings like the stunning opera house, the parliament, the Court Theatre and Vienna’s imposing city hall.

The panoramic drive is followed by a guided walk through the city center where you will get to know Vienna at its fullest. Begin at the well-known Hofburg Imperial Palace, walk along the Kohl market and finish at Vienna’s iconic St. Stephen’s cathedral. Before returning to the ship, enjoy free time to stroll along the pedestrian area.

Travel by coach to one of the most beautiful sights of Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace. As one of the most important cultural heritage sites in Austria, Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens were declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The reign of Maria Theresia signified the most splendid era for Schönbrunn.

The castle and park were the center of court and political life. Under the personal guidance of the Empress, it was remodelled and expanded to become a royal residence; a complex with a total of 1,441 rooms and halls was created. Visit many of the ceremonial rooms and then have the opportunity to walk around the beautifully designed gardens of the palace.

The art history Museum in Vienna, which was officially opened by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1891, is one of the largest and most important art history museums in the world. The museum, located in the museum quarter on the Ringstrasse, contains pieces from the great collectors of the  House of Habsburgs from the 16^th and 17^th centuries. The museum contains the world's largest Bruegel collection, numerous major works including Raphael's "Madonna in the Green", Vermeer's "Painting", the Infanta paintings by Velazquez as well as masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, Titian and Tintoretto. Along with beautiful masterpieces, the museum’s collections also include the Egyptian and Near Oriental collection with over 17,000 pieces dating back almost 4,000 year and a section of Roman and Greek antiquities among others. Immerse yourself on a journey of exploration and discovery during the visit to this world-class museum.

During this tour you will get to know the capital of the young Slovakian Republic. The gorgeous old town has maintained its Gothic-Baroque style. The tour passes St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Grassalkovich Palace and continues up to the hill, where you will have a stunning, panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas.

Afterwards, you have the opportunity to participate in a guided walking tour through the restored old town. From Michael’s Gate you will take a leisurely stroll through the historic city center, where you can admire sights such as the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral, a former coronation cathedral for Hungarian kings, as well as the Academia Istropolitana, the oldest university of the city, which dates back to the 15th century. In addition to numerous palaces, you will also walk past the main square with the old City Hall, the Opera House and Maximilian Fountain.

Discover the upper Austrian state capital Linz on a walking tour. It was a provincial and local government city of the Holy Roman Empire, and an important trade center, connecting several trade routes. As the city where the Habsburg Emperor Friedrich III spent his last years, it was, for a short period of time, the most important city in the Empire. It lost its status to Vienna and Prague after the death of the Emperor in 1493.

There are many things worth seeing in Linz. Take a stroll down the main street, which leads to the main square. In addition to the medieval town square in the historic old town and the Mozarthaus, you can see the Renaissance villas, the old cathedral with the Bruckner organ or the new cathedral. Visits depend on Cathedral and Mass openings/times.Visible from afar is the pilgrimage basilica on the mountain Poestling, the landmark of the town.

A modern counterpart are the Lentos art museum and the Ars Electronica centre, with its striking glass facade offering a diverse play of colour in the darkness. If time allows, you can taste a piece of the famous Linzer Torte (Linzer Cake).

Walk along the banks of the Danube to Linz's main square, where the Pöstlingsberg narrow gauge train or ‘mountain tramway’ awaits. The railway up Linz's highest hill was built in 1898 and reconstructed in 2009. This impressive rail system is one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world. After the ride to the summit, which is 539 meters (1,768 feet), it is only a short walk to the church Seven Sorrows of Virgin Mary which was built from 1742 to 1747.  This beautiful church is now a Linz landmark and a local pilgrimage destination. In the 19th century, Archduke Maximilian Joseph of Austria built a fortification around Linz, building towers on Pöstlingsberg Hill marking the highest point. Located in one of the towers is a popular observation terrace providing magnificent views of Linz and the surrounding countryside. (Terrace recommended weather permitting)