Danube Holiday Markets

Arrive at Munich Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer, or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (B)

Passau is a crossroads in more ways than one—three rivers meet here and three nations nearly do, making for a fascinating cultural mosaic. Get to know the town with a guided stroll, then visit the local Christmas Market on the square in front of the cathedral. You'll find a lot to enjoy here—from miniature houses and blown-glass ornaments to spun-sugar confections—in more than 70 stalls. (B/L/WD)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Bavarian Winter Walk OR Passau Walking Tour with Christmas Market

Note: A special Captain's Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Your ship docks at Linz, a modern yet historic city that extends across the shimmering waters of the Danube. From there, you'll head to Mozart's birthplace of Salzburg, which is nestled in a glorious alpine setting that sparkles like a winter wonderland this time of year. Fans of “The Sound of Music” may recognize locations from the Oscar-winning film in the city's Old Town, the site of the grand cathedral and absolutely enchanting Christmas Market. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Full-Day Salzburg Walking Tour with Christmas Market OR Linz Town & Country: Cider Farm Visit and Christmas Markets

Note: Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Enjoy a handful of delightful excursions that inspire the holiday spirit in this beautiful millennium-old town and surrounding valley—both of which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Nights Out: The Christmas Market of Krems OR Dürnstein Village Stroll with Spiced Wine Tasting and Organ Concert in a Monastery OR Krems Town Visit

Note: You'll want to find a comfortable seat in the lounge or on the Sun Deck today as your ship cruises through the Wachau Valley. Over the eons, the Danube cut a gorge through the foothills of the Bohemian Mountains, resulting in a 19-mile (30-kilometer) stretch of riverine scenery so beautiful; UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Landscape. Castle ruins dominate hilltops; baroque church towers appear on the riverbanks, marking historic villages and splendid abbeys; and vineyards and apricot orchards cling to the rocky slopes. Some of Austria's finest white wines are produced from grapes grown on the dry-stone terraces above the river, where grapes were first planted 2,000 years ago.

Renowned for its art and architecture, its classical music, its decadent pastries, and its lengthy list of famous former residents, the refined city of Vienna is a cultural treasure trove. Experience the city with your choice of tours, as well as something extra special—VIP access to an extraordinary collection of art. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of “Morning with the Masters” at the Vienna Art History Museum & Christmas Markets OR Private Mozart and Strauss Concert OR Schönbrunn Palace with Christmas Market OR “Taste of Christmas” Vienna Walking Tour

Note: Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Once hidden from the world behind the “Iron Curtain,” Slovakia retains an air of mystery and intrigue, and its small capital city has an unexpectedly colorful history. You'll learn more about Bratislava's past from a local expert and also visit the local Christmas Market—a relatively new (and thoroughly delightful) tradition for Slovakians. How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Slovak? “Veselé Vianoce!”

The heart and soul of Slovakia, Bratislava is full of surprises. The city straddles the mighty Danube and has played a leading role in the politics and culture of the region for many centuries. Unlike cities with venerable Christmas Markets, Bratislava just established its first holiday market in 1993. But the Slovakians have quickly embraced the seasonal traditions of their Austrian and Hungarian neighbors—and you'll get to embrace them as well. (B/L/D)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Life beyond the Iron Curtain OR Bratislava Walking Tour with Christmas Market

Note: Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each have their own distinctive character and allure. You'll get a taste of this dynamic capital city with your choice of tours, and visit Budapest's celebrated Christmas Market—one of the largest in Europe.

Christmas has been celebrated in Budapest for a thousand years, since the time of St. Stephen, the king who founded the nation of Hungary and encouraged the spread of Christianity throughout his realm, but the city began as a Roman encampment almost a millennium before that. Over the centuries it was controlled by Germans, Austrians, Ottomans, and Communists, all of whom have left traces. (B/L/FD)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Budapest City Tour with Christmas Markets OR Budapest Walk with Local Treats and Christmas Market

Note: A special Captain's Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Please note that most Christmas Markets in Europe end their season on the 23rd of December and will not be available after that date.

Disembark the ship in Budapest. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer, or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport for your flight home. (B)