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Christmastime from Frankfurt to Budapest 2025
13 Day River Cruise Frankfurt to Budapest
Tour Description:
Board your Avalon Suite Ship® in Frankfurt, Germany. Sail to visit a picturesque Main River Village before stopping in Würzburg to savor the sights, sounds, and confections of its warm Christmas markets. Continue your festive European vacation to enjoy Christmas in the heart of Europe with a guided sightseeing tour of the glowing Christkindlesmarkt of Bam-berg—complete with dozens of nativity scenes of every size. While sailing, you’ll hear an onboard lecture about Christmas traditions in Europe and choose from two guided excursions—a classic sightseeing tour of Nuremberg, or a tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds of WWII notoriety. Board your second Avalon Suite Ship in Nuremberg. Your Danube River cruise continues to Melk, where you’ll see its magnificent Benedic-tine Abbey, with fantastic frescoes, statures, library, and ornate pipe organ. Sail on your European river cruise to visit Vienna and through beautiful views of the rich wine-growing region of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Your Main and danube River cruise vacation concludes Budapest, called the “Pearl of the Danube,” with wonderful experiences and memories of Christmas markets, scenic splendors, and inspiring discoveries to treasure always.
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Dates & Pricing
| Tuesday 02 Dec 25 — Monday 15 Dec 25 | Starting at $6,698 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Thursday 04 Dec 25 — Wednesday 17 Dec 25 | Starting at $6,698 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Frankfurt (embarkation): | Onboard welcome reception |
| Day 2 Main river village: | Guided tour |
| Day 3 Würzburg: | Guided tour, visit the Bishop's Residence; Christmas market |
| Day 4 Bamberg: | Onboard Christmas Traditions lecture; guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; Christmas market |
| Day 5 Nuremberg: | Choice of guided tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market |
| Day 6 Nuremberg (Disembarkation). Excursion to Munich. Nuremberg (Embarkation): | Full-day guided tour in Munich |
| Day 7 Nuremberg: | Choice of guided sightseeing in Nuremberg, or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market |
| Day 8 Regensburg: | Guided walk, see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria; Christmas Market; onboard Christmas traditions lecture |
| Day 9 Passau–Linz: | Guided walk in Passau; Christmas market |
| Day 10 Melk–Wachau Valley–Vienna: | Guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk; scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley; Austrian cookies tasting; free time in Vienna |
| Day 11 Vienna: | City sightseeing; Christmas Market |
| Day 12 Budapest: | Guided sightseeing, see Heroes’ Square; Christmas Market |
| Day 13 Budapest (Disembarkation): | Your cruise ends this morning |
Notes:
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
- Christmas markets generally operate from late November until the third week of December.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
FRANKFURT, GERMANY (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Germany. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding
Flights into Frankfurt must arrive by 3 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
FRANKFURT-FESTIVE-LIGHTS.jpg
Day 2
MAIN RIVER VILLAGE Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.
Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WÜRZBURG
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 3
WÜRZBURG Old Saint Nick and Nutcrackers Sweet
CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the “Pearl of the Romantic Road” with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residence.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. Visit the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum—the world’s most extensive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations.
Spend free time enjoying the festive, warm glow of Wurzburg’s Christmas markets.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 4
BAMBERG Christmas Customs and Cradle Scenes
DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing.
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg—medieval home of Germany’s Roman Empire dynasties. Stroll through dozens of Bamberg’s nativity scenes—from miniature to life-size.
Take free time to enjoy the quaint Christmas markets, and warm up with traditional German dumplings, sausage, and a glass of hearty Bavarian ale.
Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NUREMBERG
BAMBERG-FESTIVE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5
NUREMBERG Legends and History Lessons
CLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.
Spend free time browsing the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg. Sample favorite Bavarian fare—bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and countless other Christkindlmarkt culinary delights.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG
NUREMBERG-SAUSAGE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
NUREMBERG (DISEMBARKATION). EXCURSION TO MUNICH. NUREMBERG (EMBARKATION) This morning say goodbye to your Avalon Suite Ship and get ready to embark your second Avalon vessel which will take you to Budapest.
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Tour which will show you the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace—a former residence of Bavarian monarchs, along with the Old and New Town Halls of Marienplatz.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG
MUNICH-FESTIVE-CHRISTMAS-MARKET.jpg
Day 7
NUREMBERG Legends and History Lessons
CLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg—with its medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds—used by the Third Reich.
Spend free time on your own to browse the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg. Sample favorite Bavarian fare—from dozens of bratwurst varieties, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and countless other culinary delights of the Christkindlmarkt.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO REGENSBURG
NUREMBERG-SAUSAGE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
REGENSBURG Christmas Magic in Bavaria
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.
Take time to browse Regensburg’s sparkling Christmas markets. Enjoy hot-mulled wine, candied almonds, gingerbread, or bratwurst.
DISCOVERY Enjoy a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PASSAU
REGENSBURG-FESTIVE-CHRISTMAS-MARKET.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 9
PASSAU Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers”.
Spend free time in Passau’s charming Christkindlmarkt near magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Alternatively, join a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart and learn how Austrians celebrate Christmas.
Sail to Linz this afternoon, or join your ship after your selected full-day excursion.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK
PASSAU-FESTIVE-CHRISTMAS-MARKET.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
MELK–WACHAU VALLEY Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.
DISCOVERY Enjoy a Christmas Traditions Lecture on board.
VIENNA
Viennese Waltzes on the Beautiful Blue Danube
This evening, you may choose to attend an Optional Excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 11
VIENNA Royal Collections and Culinary Confections
CLASSIC Explore the Habsburg empire this morning on a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Spend free time on your own to enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt or relax by the fire’s glow in a Viennese café this evening.
Join a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace— summer home of the Habsburg Empire.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BUDAPEST
VIENNA-FESTIVE-CHRISTMAS-MARKET.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 12
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY War Heroes and Hot Water
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
Consider a scenic hike above the Danube, or enjoy Budapest’s cafés, pubs or nightlife and don’t miss the unique Christmas market that Budapest hosts every year during the Festive season.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST
BUDAPEST-FESTIVE-CHRISTMAS-MARKET.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 13
BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
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Accommodations
Accommodations| Frankfurt | Budapest |
The Westin Grand Frankfurt
Moderate Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Konrad-Adenauer Str. 7 Frankfurt Germany
This classic luxury 371-room hotel offers high quality service and an excellent location, just steps away from the famous Zeil shopping mile and exclusive Goethestrasse with Free Wi-Fi access available throughout the property. Three restaurants and bars offer a great choice of cusine to suit every palate, you may choose between regional or international cuisine, Japanese sushi & teppanyaki as well as Chinese. For relaxation and revitalization, there is an indoor swimming pool and fitness area complete with Finnish sauna and steam room.
Moderate Deluxe
Hotel as shown or similar
Konrad-Adenauer Str. 7 Frankfurt Germany
This classic luxury 371-room hotel offers high quality service and an excellent location, just steps away from the famous Zeil shopping mile and exclusive Goethestrasse with Free Wi-Fi access available throughout the property. Three restaurants and bars offer a great choice of cusine to suit every palate, you may choose between regional or international cuisine, Japanese sushi & teppanyaki as well as Chinese. For relaxation and revitalization, there is an indoor swimming pool and fitness area complete with Finnish sauna and steam room.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
