Danube Christmas Delights

  • From AU$3,395
  • |
  • 8 Days
  • |
  • 6 Guided Tours
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  • 4 Countries

Scenic Sailing: Wachau Valley

  • Snowy vineyard with historic church view

Sail through a scenic tapestry of hillside vineyards, charming towns and castle ruins in Austria’s Wachau Valley, celebrated as perhaps the most scenic stretch of the Danube. Journey 18 miles through this vast UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the river courses through idyllic countryside hamlets. Gaze upon the hibernating, wine-producing villages—the legacy of vintners that stretch as far back as Celtic and Roman times and an echo of the more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days.

Krems, Austria

  • Snow-covered monastery in winter landscape

A small university town at the eastern end of the Danube’s Wachau Valley, Krems is surrounded by terraced vineyards. In its heyday, during the 12th century, Krems held even more importance than Vienna for its iron, grain, salt and wine trade. As to the latter, the city has played a long and celebrated part in the popularity of the Wachau’s wine culture; the valley’s south slopes in Krems are bathed in sunlight all day and create some of the best Riesling and Veltliner wines in the world. The city’s cobblestone streets, taverns, wine bars and coffeehouses have a timeless appeal.

Shore Excursions

Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.

Snow-covered castle on a hill at sunset

Göttweig Abbey at Christmas

Experience a Benedictine abbey where monks work and worship during a Privileged Access visit to Göttweig Abbey.

Included
Snow-covered castle on a hill at sunset

Göttweig Abbey at Christmas

Duration: 3 hours      

A Working Monastery with a Hand-Carved Nativity Scene

Experience a Benedictine abbey where monks work and worship during a Privileged Access visit to Göttweig Abbey. Enjoy the vistas of the splendid Wachau Valley and the Danube River during a scenic drive, before arriving at the abbey, standing in all its majesty atop a hill. The oldest part of the monastery, a small chapel in the inner courtyard, dates back to 1072 and it is usually closed to visitors. However, Viking guests are invited to step inside the chapel and enjoy the nativity scene, an important work by the monks. Admire the craftmanship and intricate carvings of the figurines as you discover more about the history of the abbey. After your delightful experience, you will return to your awaiting ship.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
Apricot dumplings with powdered sugar dessert

Göttweig Abbey with Apricot Dumpling Demonstration

Enjoy an exclusive visit to historic Göttweig Abbey before learning how to make tasty apricot dumplings.

Privileged Access
Apricot dumplings with powdered sugar dessert

Göttweig Abbey with Apricot Dumpling Demonstration

Duration: 3 hours      

A Benedictine Monastery and a Traditional Austrian Treat

Enjoy an exclusive visit to historic Göttweig Abbey before learning how to make tasty apricot dumplings. Take a scenic drive to the Benedictine monastery, located on a hilltop overlooking the splendid Wachau Valley and Danube River. Your host and guide will welcome you at the cellar entrance with a glass of sparkling apricot wine or juice produced in the region. Enjoy a private viewing of a short film about monastic life and learn how the monastery is run today. Step through the church’s neoclassical portal to admire its ornate, colorful interior and stroll the abbey’s informative museum. Climb the Imperial Staircase, crowned by one of the largest and most spectacular ceiling frescoes in the world. Following your tour, continue to the abbey’s show kitchen, where a cook will demonstrate the preparation of Austrian-style apricot dumplings using local ingredients. Sample the delicious results with coffee or tea before returning to your ship.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
Apricots with glasses of golden liquor

Flavors of Krems

Indulge in a taste of local favorites during a guided culinary exploration in Krems.
Apricots with glasses of golden liquor

Flavors of Krems

Duration: 2 hours      

Apricot Schnapps, Mini-Sacher Sausages and Handmade Chocolates

Indulge in a taste of local favorites during a guided culinary exploration in Krems. Transfer by shuttle to the Steiner Tor, where you will meet your knowledgeable guide and receive an overview of Krems, the Wachau Valley’s largest town. Then, set off into the historic Old Town for your first stop, the shop of a private distillery that will offer you a taste of the famous apricot schnapps or an alcohol-free option. Continue to a nearby butcher shop, well known for its selection of fresh products. Here, sample delicious mini-sacher sausages with sweet Kremser mustard before setting off along the Untere Landstrasse, one of Austria’s most beautiful promenades. You will cap your excursion with a glass of local wine, Grüner Veltliner. Afterward, walk back to the Steiner Tor, where a shuttle will return you to your ship.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Rustic wine barrels in stone cellar

Danube Valley Wine Tasting at Christmas

Discover the fine vintages and intriguing viticulture of Lower Austria during a tasting at a local vineyard.
Rustic wine barrels in stone cellar

Danube Valley Wine Tasting at Christmas

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes      

Austria’s Famed Wines from Vine to Bottle

Discover the fine vintages and intriguing viticulture of Lower Austria during a tasting at a local vineyard. From Krems, take a short drive through the winter landscape to one of the nearby wineries where you will explore a region known for its silt-rich soil and full-bodied flavors. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your guide, who will introduce you to the region’s deep-rooted viticultural heritage. Discover how wine has been cultivated here since Celtic times, long before the Romans introduced the Riesling grape. During your visit, learn about the distinctive terroir of Weinland and how it shapes the full-bodied profile of each grape variety. Explore impressive underground cellars and sample wines little-known to American palates. Enjoy this fascinating glimpse into a prolific wine culture that is known by oenophiles the world over.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Shore excursions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.