Celebrate the festive season in style on a scenic Danube cruise, indulging in festive cuisine, exploring seasonal markets and enjoying guided tours of the river’s historic cities

Your festive holiday begins as we meet at London Heathrow for our flight to Munich. From the Bavarian capital, we are transferred by coach to the pretty border town of Passau, where our cruise ship awaits.

We're greeted onboard by our friendly crew and enjoy a welcome drink while taking in the waterside views from the lounge. After settling into your cabin and familiarising yourself with our ship's facilities, we indulge in our first five-course dinner on board.

*If you would like to travel by rail, view our Rail & Cruise option here.

Christmas Day brings a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the magnificent Melk Abbey. Standing atop of a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, this golden 11th-century complex is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. We disembark at Emmersdorf and tour the abbey's beautiful church, historic library and ornate halls.

Back on the ship, we enjoy lunch while sailing through the picturesque UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley to the riverside village of Dürnstein, where you're welcome to sample the local produce or wander the charming streets and admire the powder-blue church tower.

Returning to the ship in the evening, we enjoy a festive afternoon in the lounge with the chance to try decorating gingerbread before indulging in the last of today's highlights: a Christmas-themed gala dinner.

After breakfast this morning, we board a coach for a guided tour of the elegant city of Vienna. With our expert guide, we pass the illustrious Ringstrasse boulevard, the world-renowned Opera House and the monumental parliament building.

After lunch on the ship, you can choose between two excursions. The first is a trip to Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the ruling Habsburg family. During the festive season, the forecourt is transformed into a magical Christmas market. Listening as the live band plays festive melodies in front of the beautifully decorated tree, you can wander the stalls selling handmade goods, art and gourmet treats.

Your second option is to return to Vienna, where you can stroll along the scenic boulevards, marvel at the striking St Stephen's Cathedral or enter one of the countless museums and galleries that bring the city's history to life. Don't forget to indulge in a slice of famous Sachertorte, a delicious Viennese cake, at one of the city's grand coffeehouses.

After a relaxed overnight sailing, we make our way to Slovakia's capital, where we are welcomed by views of Bratislava Castle's gleaming white walls. Arriving this morning, we set out on a guided tour of the Baroque Old Town and castle district.

Despite being a national capital, beautiful Bratislava is nicknamed the 'Little Big City' due to its compact size. Wandering the charming streets, where each corner reveals delightful new views, we admire attractive squares, idyllic streets, grand palaces and historic churches. On the tour, we enjoy a ride on the Bratislava City Train up to Bratislava Castle.

We return to the ship for lunch and begin sailing to the Austrian city of Linz. In the afternoon, we indulge in a delightful Christmas-themed afternoon tea of mince pies, stollen, gingerbread, pigs in blankets, turkey and stuffing sandwiches, with mulled wine.

Enjoy a free morning as we continue to cruise along the Danube toward Linz. You might like to step out onto the ship's terrace to enjoy panoramic views of the riverbanks, stop by the fitness room or enjoy a massage in the wellness centre.

After lunch, we moor in Linz and board a coach for a sightseeing tour of the city. Linz has a deep connection to the Danube; in the Middle Ages, the city's location at a bend in the river made it an important trade and transport hub. As our guide narrates the journey, soak up views of Linz's beautiful Baroque architecture. We see the Old Cathedral (Alter Dom), a 17th-century masterpiece; the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus); and Hauptplaz, the Old Town's main square.

Returning to the ship in the evening, we enjoy our final dinner as we continue sailing back to Passau.

Spending Christmas on the Danube was a uniquely enchanting experience. From Passau to Salzburg, Vienna, Bratislava and Linz, the towns and cities along the river revealed their seasonal charm as we soaked up the festive atmosphere. Celebrating Christmas during a tour of the magnificent Melk Abbey was a highlight, and enjoying a gingerbread-making workshop and a Christmas-themed afternoon tea set the scene for this magical cruise.

After breakfast this morning, your cruise comes to an end as we make our way from Passau to Munich. At Munich airport, you can catch your flight back to London where your Danube holiday comes to an end.

Joining the fleet in 2019, the MS Amadeus Star is a 'masterpiece of design' and offers impeccable cabin spaces with 70 deluxe cabins and 12 Amadeus suites. Made up of 4 decks, the ship features several facilities including the panorama bar, restaurant, river terrace, as well as a wellness centre where you can book a relaxing massage, or arrange one of many beauty treatments. The sun deck on board also provides a fitness suite, which is open all day. Each bedroom comes with a spacious ensuite bathroom, a mini bar, a flatscreen television, walk-in wardrobe, and either a double or twin bed. Some rooms also offer panoramic windows or a balcony.

Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the airlines we use, call our expert team for details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.