christmastime on the danube
TRANSCRIPT
CRUISE WNV • 9 DAYS • PRAGUE TO VIENNA
CHRISTMASTIME ON THE DANUBE
INCLUDED FEATURES
CRUISE
Deluxe 6-night cruise in an outside
stateroom with Avalon’s exclusive
Comfort Collection Bedssm
SIGHTSEEING
Your day-by-day itinerary indicates
in UPPERCASE all inside visits, special
features, and guided sightseeing.
All included guided sightseeing is
conducted by a Certified Local Guide.
Choose the sightseeing pace that
suits you: Leisurely, Traditional, or
Independent (where available).
LOCAL FAVORITESSM
Special onboard and onshore
experiences presented by entertainers,
artisans, and experts, designed to enrich
your cruise.
LEARN ABOUT LOCAL CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AT A FASCINATING ONBOARD LECTURE.
Personalize your onboard and
onshore experiences by choosing
from a variety of included or optional
excursions, visits & activities. Go online
to customize your cruise experience.
See page 188 for more information.
MEALS ON BOARD
• Meals are indicated by breakfast (B),
lunch (L), and dinner (D)
• Captain’s welcome & farewell
receptions with sparkling wine
and canapés
• Welcome dinner
• Daily Afternoon Tea
• Daily Night Fare
• Farewell dinner
• Complimentary sparkling wine with
breakfast; soft drinks with lunch; and
wine, beer, or soft drinks with dinner
are included daily on board your vessel
CITY HIGHLIGHTS (CRUISES WNV & WVN)
Prague: guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit Hradčany Castle grounds; Christmas market
Nuremberg: onboard welcome reception; choice of guided sightseeing or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market
Regensburg: guided walk; enjoy a snack at the Historische Wurstküche; beer tasting; Christmas market
Passau: guided walk; Christmas market
Melk: guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey; wine tasting (WVN only)
Krems (WVN only): guided walk
Vienna: guided sightseeing; Christmas market
SUPERIOR HOTELS
Prague Intercontinental* (D)
*or similar
PHOTOGRAPHY: (Left to right)
Vienna Christmas market; horse-
drawn carriage, Prague
176
PRICED FROM $2,049
CRUISE WVN FROM VIENNA TO PRAGUE IS ALSO AVAILABLE. FOR FULL ITINERARY DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE
DAY 1 Arrive in Prague, Czech Republic. Welcome to Prague,
capital of the Czech Republic, a fascinating city straddling the Vltava River.
DAY 2 Prague. A 1,200-year-old city preserved in time, Prague’s best-
known treasures include the Old Town’s Astronomical Clock, built in 1410
and once the envy of Europe; HRADČANY CASTLE GROUNDS; St. Vitus
Cathedral; and the Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague, which is
guarded on both ends by a tower. Browse the shops for hand-cut crystal
or art books and stroll through the Christmas markets. Rows of brightly
decorated wooden huts sell Christmas tree ornaments, wooden toys, and
Czech handicrafts. Get a little inner warmth with a cup of svarene vino
(hot mulled wine) and a traditional hot sausage from one of the stalls. The
beautifully decorated tree in the Old Town is an impressive sight. (B)
DAY 3 Prague–Nuremberg, Germany (Embarkation). After lunch, drive to Nuremberg, where your river cruise vessel is docked.
Before dinner, meet your crew for a welcome reception. (B,D)
DAY 4 Nuremberg. Although 90% of Nuremberg’s Old Town su$ered
extensive damage during WWII, much of it has been restored to its former
glory as the uno&cial capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Choose a
GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR and marvel at this thousand-year-old city’s
medieval fortifications, gothic churches, and the Kaiserburg (Imperial
Castle), or join a NUREMBERG RALLY GROUNDS tour. The Old Town is
illuminated with festive lights and decorations, and the Christmas market
is one of the most famous in the world. The market has dozens of stalls
o$ering traditional wares, including Lebkuchen (spiced gingerbread),
baked goods, and typical Christmas decorations and ornaments. (B,L,D)
DAY 5 Regensburg. Dating back to the time of the Celts around
500 BC, Regensburg is one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities.
Established during the Holy Roman Empire and the only German city
not bombed during WWII, Regensburg has at least 1,300 listed buildings
of “historic interest.” Highlights included on your GUIDED SIGHTSEEING
TOUR are the 13th-century Old Town Hall, and Porta Pretoria, gates to
an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Wander through the city’s alleys to
discover the many mansions with high towers, built by wealthy families in
the Middle Ages to emphasize their status. Walk across the 12th-century
Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), the oldest of its kind in Germany. Grab
a beer and enjoy a SNACK at the Historische Wurstküche (Old Sausage
Kitchen), one of Germany’s oldest restaurants. This afternoon is free to
explore on your own or to visit the Regensburg Christmas market. The
tempting aromas of mulled wine, sweet roasted almonds, sausages, and
gingerbread create an unforgettable atmosphere. Before dinner we’ll
introduce you to some of Germany’s FAMOUS BEERS. (B,L,D)
DAY 6 Passau. Uniquely located where the Inn, Ilz, and Danube
Rivers converge, Passau is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined
with beautiful patrician houses. The Christkindlmarkt, Passau’s charming
Christmas market, is set against the stunning backdrop of St. Stephen’s
Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian baroque architecture. Take in the
highlights of the “City of Three Rivers” on an included GUIDED WALK.
Afterward, set sail for Linz, where you arrive in the evening. Alternatively,
you might like to join a full-day optional excursion to Salzburg to see
some of the sites from The Sound of Music, find out how mice caused
the composition of the famous Silent Night Christmas carol, and learn
how the Austrians celebrate Christmas. (B,L,D)
DAY 7 Melk, Austria–Vienna. This morning, enjoy a GUIDED
VISIT of Melk’s 11th-century BENEDICTINE ABBEY, one of Europe’s largest
monasteries. The abbey houses an ornate library with over 80,000 printed
books and 2,000 manuscripts. Words cannot describe the splendor of the
frescoed ceilings, stunning high altar, marble statues, and 210-foot-high
cupola. During lunchtime, cruise through the picturesque Wachau Valley,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pass the magnificent baroque Stiftskirche
with its blue façade, the landmark of Dürnstein, before arriving in Vienna
this evening. This “City of Music” inspired the creative genius of Mozart,
Beethoven, and Strauss. An optional concert is available tonight. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 Vienna. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire,
Austria’s magical capital is a showcase of gilded architecture. This is home
to the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace complex with its Vienna Boy’s Choir
and dazzling Lipizzaner stallions; the neo-renaissance Vienna Opera
House; awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral—and countless other sights
you’ll see on your GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR. Visit the Christmas
market in the town center, and be sure to enjoy a piece of decadent
Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in one of the classic Viennese co$ee houses,
historic institutions that helped shape Viennese culture! (B,L,D)
DAY 9 Vienna (Disembarkation). Your vacation ends with
breakfast this morning. (B)
PRAGUE
NUREMBERG
Danube River
VIENNA
PASSAU
MELK
REGENSBURG
6
Main Danube Canal
SALZBURG
KREMS
AUSTRIA
CZECH REPUBLIC
GERMANY
2
(Cruise WVN )
Start/End City
177T R A V E L . A V A L O N W A T E R W A Y S . C O M . A U 177
DATES & PRICES US$
CRUISE WNV: PRAGUE TO VIENNA
Ship Dept.# Start Prague Land/Cruise Cruise Only †
Impression 1127 Sun 27 Nov 2369 2049 Impression 1209 Fri 09 Dec 2369 2049
CRUISE WVN: VIENNA TO PRAGUE
Ship Dept.# Start Vienna Land/Cruise Cruise Only †
Impression 1205 Mon 05 Dec 2369 2049 Impression 1217 Sat 17 Dec 2369 2049
ALL DEPARTURES ARE GUARANTEED.
Port charges: $126Gratuities to Local Guides & excursion drivers are included.Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.Extra nights per person in Vienna: in single room $250, in twin room $140Extra nights per person in Prague: in single room $190, in twin room $110Prices shown above include cruise in Category E in a deluxe outside stateroom on Indigo Deck.To upgrade to a higher category, add per person:
†Cruise Only: WNV–Arrive Nuremberg Day 3 for embarkation between 4 pm and 5 pm. Depart Vienna Day 9 upon disembarkation. WVN–Arrive Vienna Day 1 for embarkation at 3:30 pm. Depart Nuremberg Day 7 upon disembarkation.
NOTES: • Christmas markets operate from late November
until the third week of December, depending on the location (Prague markets are open from early December until the first days of January).
• In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach
or to alter the program. • Included visits and special features are subject
to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
Category Decks Price
D Indigo Deck $171
B Sapphire Deck $899
A Sapphire Deck $942
Category Decks Price
P Royal Deck $1,028
Royal Suite Royal Deck $1,628