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Christmas and New Year
on the Danube 2025
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Christmas and New Year on the Danube 2025
Discover the magic and mystery of the festive season in Hungary, Austria, and Germany. Atmospheric winter riverscapes offer a new dimension to cruising Europe’s most famous river with Saga River Cruises.
Visit famous cities including the three capitals, Bratislava, Budapest, and Vienna, and smaller picturesque towns like Esztergom and Vilshofen. Tours showcase history, heritage, and culture, as well as the iconic Christmas markets.
Relax in the luxurious surroundings of the Spirit of the Danube, a world-class cruiser with mulled wine and traditional festive fare to celebrate the season. Enjoy spacious and elegantly-appointed cabins, award-winning cuisine, and seasonal entertainment.
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Cruise Line: Saga -
Ship: Spirit of the Danube
Christmas and New Year on the Danube 2025 Cruise Prices
Unfortunately, we can't provide live prices for this cruise. Please get in touch with our customer service team to get a quote.
Christmas and New Year on the Danube Cruise Gallery
Christmas and New Year on the Danube Cruise Itinerary
Experience the festive season in the heart of Europe in a winter wonderland that is the Danube at Christmas. This 14-night cruise visits famous capital cities, smaller historic towns, and picturesque ports, all beautifully dressed in wintery finery and seasonal decorations. Tours showcase history, heritage, and culture, visiting popular landmarks as well as the iconic Christmas markets. Enjoy festive fare and celebrations on board Spirit of the Danube, a luxurious cruise ship with modern leisure amenities, award-winning dining, and spacious cabins and suites.
Day 1
Vienna, Austria
Arrive at Vienna International Airport and embark your luxury cruise ship, Spirit of the Danube.
Day 2
Vienna, Austria to Bratislava, Slovakia
Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, is a feast for the eyes decked in twinkling lights and Christmas trees. Easily explored on foot, wander the ancient, cobbled streets that lead to Bratislava Castle and take a look inside the magnificent Primate’s Palace.
Day 3
Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava is a food-lover’s paradise. Enjoy regional foods and delicacies while exploring some of the city’s highlights, like the three-nave Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Old Town Hall, home to the Bratislava City Museum.
Day 4
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is a city of two distinct halves divided yet united by the Danube. On a fascinating excursion, guests can enjoy the history and heritage of Buda, crammed with medieval architecture, before visiting Pest, which hosts two of Europe’s finest Christmas markets.
Day 5
Esztergom, Hungary
Set like a jewel in the crown of the picturesque Danube Bend, spend Christmas Eve in the charming town of Esztergom, home to Hungary’s largest Neoclassical basilica. Visit Széchényi Square, the central plaza with stunning Baroque and Rococo architecture.
Day 6
Krems, Austria
Celebrate Christmas Day on board the ship with a sumptuous lunch. Later, sail to Krems, gateway to the picturesque Wachau Valley, where there is an excursion to Göttweig Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery founded in 1083..
Day 7
Krems, Austria
Spend a relaxing Boxing Day exploring historic Krems, including Winzer Krems, an established winery that showcases the production of famous vintages in this region. There is also the magnificent and medieval Aggstein Castle, with fabulous views over the river.
Day 8
Passau, Germany
Passau sits at the confluence of the Danube, Ilz, and Inn Rivers with a stunning backdrop of wooded hills, a perfect Christmas card scene. A walking tour visits city highlights like the Baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palaces.
Day 9
Regensburg, Germany
Explore Regensburg, considered Germany’s best-preserved medieval city. A religious centre since the 7th century, Regensburg has several medieval churches and an Old Town, which is UNESCO-listed and home to beautiful Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Day 10
Vilshofen, Germany
Vilshofen is a charming small town on the banks of the Danube that offers a slice of Bavarian history, heritage, and culture. Visit the Benedictine Abbey Schweiklberg and wander stunning architecture and old-world streets with half-timbered houses.
Day 11
Linz, Austria
Linz is a fascinating city that blends old Baroque buildings with contemporary architecture and a creative arts scene. Guests explore Linz independently, and should try a slice of delicious Linzer torte, reputedly the world’s oldest cake recipe.
Day 12
Melk to Vienna, Austria
The highlight of historic Melk is the magnificent 900-year-old Abbey perched high above the town and included on a fascinating excursion. Tonight, welcome in the New Year with celebrations on board Spirit of the Danube.
Day 13
Vienna, Austria
Spend the first day of the New Year in one of Europe’s finest capital cities. Explore the famous Opera House, Spanish Riding School, and the Ringstrasse, beautifully decorated for the festive season. In the evening, enjoy a classical music concert.
Day 14
Vienna, Austria
Spend your last cruise day exploring Vienna independently with a chance to visit some museums, palaces, and landmarks and spend some time savouring the famous café culture with renowned coffee and a delicious pastry.
Day 15
Vienna, Austria
Disembark Spirit of the Danube and head to Vienna International Airport for return flights to the UK.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ON THE DANUBE CRUISE SHIPS
Spirit Of The Danube
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ON THE DANUBE 2025 RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
Visit some of Europe’s most treasured cities on your Christmas and New Year on the Danube 2025 River Cruise
Christmas and New Year on the Danube Deals
Discover Capital Cities, Historic Towns, and all the Joy of Christmas in Europe with Crui.se
Saga 
Departure:
January
VISITING: Vienna Vienna to Bratislava Bratislava Budapest Esztergom Krems Passau Regensburg Vilshofen Linz Melk to Vienna Vienna (DISEMBARK)
AVG PER PERSON*
Price on Request
Saga Departure:
January
VISITING: Düsseldorf (EMBARK) Bonn / Andernach Andernach Mainz Miltenberg / Wertheim Wertheim Bamberg Wurzburg Frankfurt Speyer (excursion to Heidelberg) Kehl (excursion to Strasbourg) Koblenz Dusseldorf (DISEMBARK)
AVG PER PERSON*
Price on Request
AVG PER PERSON*
Price on Request
Saga Departure:
January
VISITING: Düsseldorf (EMBARK) Düsseldorf Bonn Cologne Dusseldorf (DISEMBARK)
AVG PER PERSON*
Price on Request
Christmas and New Year on the Danube Cruise Review
Christmas and New Year on the Danube FAQ
Are there lifts on board Spirit of the Danube?
All Saga River cruise ships have lifts. The lift runs between the middle and the upper decks on the Spirit of the Danube. It does not serve the Sun Deck, accessed via a flight of 14 steps or a chair lift. The Lower Deck is 13 steps down from the Middle Deck.
Are there tea and coffee-making facilities in my cabin?
All suites, staterooms, and cabins on Spirit of the Danube have facilities for making tea and coffee. Complimentary tea and coffee are also served in the public areas.
How do I pay for items on board?
An onboard account is created for incidentals and extras not included in the cruise price. This account should be settled the night before you disembark. The ship accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro cards but not travellers cheques.
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