Avalon Passion, Christmastime From Budapest To Vienna ex Budapest to Vienna

Make your holiday wishes come true with special departures for the festive season to experience Europe’s most beautiful Christmas markets and festivities. Enjoy the jolly atmosphere on our decorated Suite Ships® as you delight in the sights, smells, and tastes of local Christmas traditions along your Danube River cruise. Enjoy stunning winter views on the Danube with the warm glow of Christmas markets, beautifully adorned with ageless traditions.

Begin your cruise in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, with guided sightseeing and free time to explore one more Christmas market and buy one-of-a-kind gifts. Next, you’ll sail to the centuries-old Slovakian city of Bratislava with guided sightseeing and time to browse the beautiful Christmas markets. Take a guided tour of its cobblestone streets and Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. Next, cruise to wonderful Melk for guided sightseeing in Austria’s Wachau Valley, including the magnificent Benedictine Abbey perched above the Danube.

Continue your festive Danube River cruise to Vienna—the “City of Music.” Enjoy guided sightseeing and the glow of sparkling Christmas markets while exploring the Imperial Palace, Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Notes: Christmas markets generally operate from late Nov until the third week of Dec.

Day 1
Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
With a free day to explore before your cruise, take time to take photographs on the Royal Palace grounds in this treasure trove of historical architecture. Enjoy the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition before boarding your Suite Ship.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST (D)

Day 2
Christmas Lights and Classic Sights
CLASSIC - Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour to see majestic Heroes' Square and Budapest's classic sites.
Take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying a free afternoon exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city's cafes and pubs, and don't miss the unique Christmas markets that Budapest hosts every year during the Festive season.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA (B,L,D)

Day 3
Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Old Town's cobblestone streets to Town Hall. Visit the Gothic halls of St. Martin's Cathedral - Hungary's centuries-old coronation church.
Spend free time browsing the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Bratislava.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment onboard
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK (B,L,D)

Day 4
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 an Austrian Cookies Tasting while sailing through the splendid Wachau Valley to Vienna.
VIENNA
Vienna's Winter Wonderland
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 (B,L,D)

Day 5
Royal Collections and Christmas 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 cafe this evening.
Join a Guided Optional Excursion to Schonbrunn Palace - summer home of the Habsburg Empire.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA (B,L,D)

Day 6
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

2016 was another big year for Avalon, as we expand our fleet of innovative Suite Ships? once again. In addition to the Avalon Imagery II®, the beautiful Avalon Passion® will grace the waterways of Europe. Like its sister ships, Avalon Impression? and Avalon Illumination®, Passion features two full decks of Panorama Suites? with Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows that transform the living space into a unique Open-Air? Balcony. Cruise along the legendary Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers, enjoying fresh breezes and enchanting scenery from the comfort of your suite. With 200 square feet, Panorama Suites? are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, affording you the incomparable opportunity to wake each morning facing the splendid passing scenery. Onboard amenities include an alternative dining option in the Panorama Bistro, an expanded fitness center, complimentary Wi-Fi access, and a spacious Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, and light al fresco lunches at the open-air bistro.

You've always forged your own path...with your own distinct perspective of looking at the world. Avalon Waterways presents a river cruise experience with your unique style in mind-offering expansive views and wider perspectives. With river cruising's only Open-Air BalconySM, these wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows open wider than any other in the industry, blurring the line between outside and in, forming a spacious seating area for six, and creating an open invitation to discover and dream. Even if you're a seasoned traveler, you've never seen Europe like this.

Whether you'd like a romantic mini-break, an extended exploration, or something in between, with Avalon Waterways, you get to choose the river cruise that reveals the very best of Europe, Asia or South America.

What defines luxury? Is it the enjoyment of the good things in life, or is it simply having things just the way you prefer them? At Avalon Waterways, we navigate with both elegance and ease to deliver a "just right" experience - one that transports you at just the right pace, with just the right amenities, and just the right views. Along the legendary waterways of Europe, we balance enriching activities, included excursions, mouthwatering cuisine, and unmatched service to offer the perfect degree of relaxed indulgence. We call this the Avalon difference.