7-night Christmas Markets Along the Danube Cruise


EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK
Visits to Christmas Markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Passau, Regensburg & Nürnberg*
TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES
- Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors & Tauck Cruise Director
- All private Tauck shore excursions – $1,632 Value
- Locally guided walking tours of market cities and towns
- Visit to Baroque Melk Abbey in Austria
- Tour of Thurn und Taxis Palace and visit to its private Christmas Market
- Onboard performance by the Regensburg Spitzweg Quartet
- Special Christmas lunches ashore
- Traditional European Christmas dinner & holiday events aboard the riverboat
- Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks
- 20 meals; select meals in local restaurants; service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges
*Please note: Operating dates for the Christmas Markets could be subject to change; every effort will be made to visit as scheduled.
Itinerary
Destination | Arrival | Departure |
---|---|---|
Vienna | Tuesday, Dec 08, 2026 | Tuesday, Dec 08, 2026 |
Vienna is dominated by imperial castles and places: Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer residence, the Imperial Coach Collection, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, Belvedere Palace, magnificent state rooms in Hofburg, and the imperial crown in the Treasury. Stop by Ringstraße - the showplace of the monarchy built where Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of city walls. Important buildings include the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, City Hall and Vienna University. The world capital of music. A long line of great composers Johann Strauss, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Mahler and Schonberg all worked here. A city with splendid concert halls, such as the Golden Hall, from which the Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert is broadcast annually. International stars love to appear here in the State Opera, Volksoper, Konzerthaus, and at festivals like the Vienna Festival, the Klangbogen concerts during the Musical Summer, the Jazz Festval and the Haydn, Mozart and Schubert festivals. | ||
Vienna | Wednesday, Dec 09, 2026 | Wednesday, Dec 09, 2026 |
Vienna is dominated by imperial castles and places: Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer residence, the Imperial Coach Collection, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, Belvedere Palace, magnificent state rooms in Hofburg, and the imperial crown in the Treasury. Stop by Ringstraße - the showplace of the monarchy built where Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of city walls. Important buildings include the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, City Hall and Vienna University. The world capital of music. A long line of great composers Johann Strauss, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Mahler and Schonberg all worked here. A city with splendid concert halls, such as the Golden Hall, from which the Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert is broadcast annually. International stars love to appear here in the State Opera, Volksoper, Konzerthaus, and at festivals like the Vienna Festival, the Klangbogen concerts during the Musical Summer, the Jazz Festval and the Haydn, Mozart and Schubert festivals. | ||
Melk | Thursday, Dec 10, 2026 | Thursday, Dec 10, 2026 |
Gateway to the Wachau valley, Melk is world renowned for its magnificent Abbey. One of the most splendid examples of Baroque architecture in Europe, the Abbey dominates the town from high above the Danube river. Admire the splendour of the famous Melk Cross, the Abbey library and the Collegiate Church. | ||
Linz | Thursday, Dec 10, 2026 | Thursday, Dec 10, 2026 |
This Roman-built capital city is an important trade town along the Danube. For people interested in its past, it has an impressive list of important historical figures who have passed through or made Linz their home. Friedrich III, the Hapsburg Emperor, spent his last days in Linz, and for a time it was the most important city in the empire. Adolph Hitler went to school here for a brief period of time before moving on. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his Symphony No. 36 in Linz, and today it is called the Linz Symphony. Sights to see include the Dreifaltigkeitssäule - a monument constructed in memorial of the people who died in the plague epidemics. There are several museums and castles in the area as well. Once in Linz, you'll understand why it was such a place of historical significance. | ||
Linz | Friday, Dec 11, 2026 | Friday, Dec 11, 2026 |
This Roman-built capital city is an important trade town along the Danube. For people interested in its past, it has an impressive list of important historical figures who have passed through or made Linz their home. Friedrich III, the Hapsburg Emperor, spent his last days in Linz, and for a time it was the most important city in the empire. Adolph Hitler went to school here for a brief period of time before moving on. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his Symphony No. 36 in Linz, and today it is called the Linz Symphony. Sights to see include the Dreifaltigkeitssäule - a monument constructed in memorial of the people who died in the plague epidemics. There are several museums and castles in the area as well. Once in Linz, you'll understand why it was such a place of historical significance. | ||
Salzburg | Friday, Dec 11, 2026 | Friday, Dec 11, 2026 |
Mozart's birthplace and "festival city" of breathtaking scenic beauty, "The Sound of Music" resonates in every alleyway and picture perfect street of Salzburg. One of the most famous cities in the world, Salzburg used to be called "Rome of the North" - because of Italian influence on its architecture and because it was for centuries the major center of religious power in the German world. Today, it is perhaps the best existing example of a Baroque city, a riotously decorative style of architecture. Salzburg's most important attraction is still music and the two festivals, Festpielhause and Easter Festival, which annually transform the city into a music-lovers paradise. | ||
Passau | Saturday, Dec 12, 2026 | Saturday, Dec 12, 2026 |
In the third millennium, Passau was considerably enlarged by the prince bishops of Passau, who made it their royal residence and capital of the largest Danube diocese. The wonderful Baroque buildings dominating the city today were built after a fire of 1662. One of the most striking is cathedral of St. Stephan, with the world's biggest church organ. One of the best ways to enjoy the magic of Passau is with a sightseeing tour. Other sights to see include: Neue Residenz - an Episcopal palace; Veste Oberhaus - Citadel of the prince bishops with the best view of the Old Town and confluence of the three rivers; Town Hall, which is lavishly decorated halls with monumental paintings; Niedernburg Abbey - tomb of Gisela, first queen of Hungary; Maria Hilf - an abbey and place of pilgrimage overlooking the town center; Dreiflusse-Eck - the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz; and St. Nikolai - a University church with Romanesque crypt. | ||
Regensburg | Sunday, Dec 13, 2026 | Sunday, Dec 13, 2026 |
Regensburg is located in Bavaria, one of the most distinctive regions of the entire nation. It is an ancient city. Settled first by the Celts in prehistoric times, it was a Roman center for centuries and the site of an important bishopric in the Middle Ages and after. Regensburg is now a thriving city of approximately 150,000 and is a major port on the Danube with beautiful and well-preserved architecture as well as striking, modern buildings. It is only a short distance from both Munich and Nuremberg and within easy access of Vienna, Prague, and other major centers of Central Europe. | ||
Nuremberg | Monday, Dec 14, 2026 | Monday, Dec 14, 2026 |
The second largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg is a glowing testament to medieval culture as evidenced in its historic monuments, Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. Take a walk around the 13th-century city walls, complete with moats, watchtowers and gateways. Then experience "shopping" as it was in the Middle Ages at the Handwerker Hof, a charming "mediaeval mall". Don't forget to sample the city's famous Bratwürste annd Lebkuchen. | ||
Nuremberg | Tuesday, Dec 15, 2026 | Tuesday, Dec 15, 2026 |
The second largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg is a glowing testament to medieval culture as evidenced in its historic monuments, Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. Take a walk around the 13th-century city walls, complete with moats, watchtowers and gateways. Then experience "shopping" as it was in the Middle Ages at the Handwerker Hof, a charming "mediaeval mall". Don't forget to sample the city's famous Bratwürste annd Lebkuchen. |
Deck Plans
Click on the appropriate deck below for more information
Deckplan navigator
Deck 14 |
Deck 12 |
Deck 11 |
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Deck 9 |
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Deck 5 |
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Ship Overview
Statistics | |
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Year Built: | 2014 |
Year Refurbished: | 0 |
Year Entered Present Fleet: | 2014 |
Previous name: | |
County of Registry: | Switzerland |
Tonnage (GRT): | 1000 |
PAX (basis 2): | 134 |
Max Pax (inc. Uppers): | 130 |
Passenger Decks: | 4 |
Number of Crew: | 34 |
Officers' Nationality: | European |
Cruise/Hotel Staff Nationality: | European |
Stateroom | |
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Suites with balcony: | 0 |
Suites (no balcony) | 0 |
Ocean View with balcony | 0 |
Ocean View (no balcony) | 0 |
Accomodations Inside | 0 |
Total number of accomodations in all categories | 67 |
Reviews
Ship Reviews

Cruise reviews reflect the opnions of travel editors and cruisers / readers and may not represent those of our company.
Submit Your Own Review!The service cannot be beat. It's a 12 out of ten. The food is all made onboard .
Pros: The service cannot be beat. It's a 12 out of ten. The food is all made onboard .
Cons: Minimal entertainment and ship safety issues
Review: I never thought I would rave about an almond croissant, but it was that good. That's just an example of the excellent food onboard. Pasta made fresh on board, gelato, Neapolitan pizza, wonderfully tender steaks, expertly cooked veggies, delicious fish, raw bar. The only dining venue that failed to amaze was Sakura, the Oriental restaurant. The service could not be improved in any way. Before you knew you needed something, it was there. Blew me away, and we've been on over 80 cruises. Onboarding and leaving were both quick and easy, well planned and efficient. The entertainment or lack thereof. Dance shows for 2 nights, a magician for one., this on a transatlantic crossing. All other evenings were the same singers, over and over again. We were there for 22 nights so you can imagine how tedious it was. Most people didn't even come to the shows.Not even a piano bar. The ship itself is lovely to look at, modern design, lots of polished chrome, shiny marble, muted browns, but I saw trip and fall hazards everywhere and indeed, I did fall. The grab bar in the shower is in the wrong place, off in a corner. Several people fell showering while the ship was in motion because there was nothing to hold on to. They were told about this with Explora I, but apparently the aesthetics of design are the priority. Also, there are unnecessary stairs without handrails. Maybe it's only four steps, but when a ship is in motion, it's nice to have something to grab onto. This is on Deck 5, leading to the coffee bar, and entering the Journey Lounge, where the shows are done. The only thing there is a glass wall that I clutched and left fingerprints all over. A similar problem is with the Conservatory pool. Nice steps to get into the pool, but to access the steps, one must navigate a maze of sharp edged, multi level lounges just waiting to stab you in the shins.
Outstanding luxury cruise
Pros: Outstanding luxury cruise
Cons: Not enough time
Review: My wife and I sailed on the Explora II from Barcelona to Barcelona for 10 days starting the 6th of October 2024. We arrived at the dock 10 min prior to our appointed time. We were quickly greeted by a host of the ship, our luggage was quickly tagged and taken to be loaded and delivered to our room. We were then taken to a waiting area where we sat for about 10 min. We were then escorted by another host to the ship and directed to the ships lounge. Here we were officially checked, issued room keys and then allowed to go to our room. Total time was about 30 min. We found our room and was immediately greeted by our cabin attendant. Hey took a moment to acquaint us to our room. For the remainder of the cruise he was always available to take care of our needs. The room was very comfortable, well laid out, with plenty of closet space, drawers, hangars and other items that made the stay perfect. We never felt cramped or crowed. The bed was wonderful and we hard a small sofa to sit and watch a movie on. Plus room service was also nice in our room. The overall service on the ship was never an issue. Outstanding! The 5 restaurants, and the open buffet were absolutely divine. I was never disappointed in the amount, quality or selection. I felt like I was eating in a 5 star restaurant all the time, with fine china, table clothes and wonderful atmospheres. and the service was impeccable. We were very pleased and we are looking forward to returning for another Explora II cruise soon.
Extraordinary quality of facilities, interior design, staff and food. Attention to every detail on board.
Pros: Extraordinary quality of facilities, interior design, staff and food. Attention to every detail on board.
Cons: Good selection of shore experiences. However, there were some inaccurate descriptions or confusion about the content of some shore excursions. Example, tour that was described as ending with a swim in the Mediterranean went well until the guests shocked the tour guide who knew nothing about a promised swim being part of itinerary. Another, a trip to Positano turned out to be an unguided drop and shop. Another, tour guide and Explora host in Sicily spent most of the time disagreeing about how many people were on the tour, and the tour guide moaning loudly that "she was in trouble." I believe that I may book my own land tours in the future.
Review: I cannot wait to sail on Explora again and will do so. The creators obviously thought everything through and then delivered on their vision. Even the details were spectacular like repeated patterns in different materials...mirror, tile, leather and soothing color palettes. Avoided the normal cruise ship overdone schtick to convey "elegance"...this ship was by its essence elegant. Very international shipmates. Lots of things to do, including nothing in a most pleasant environment. Constant cleaning of every shiny surface by crew. Windex in the air. Suites were spacious and beautifully designed. Large balconies. Lots of light everywhere. Food in the restaurants was of a high quality, creative, and beautifully served and presented. This was the maiden voyage and I'd say they worked extraordinarily hard to make it a memorable experience for all who shared the voyage.
Everything
Pros: Everything
Cons: None
Review: I have nothing but superlatives to describe my week on Explora ll. The ship was gorgeous, immaculate, and filled with every amenity you could imagine or want. The crew was warm and welcoming, competent and always available to help. The dining was a delight; every restaurant offered imaginative menus and served delicious food and wine. The excursions on shore were small groups led by very knowledgeable local guides. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Land / cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals; unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits, in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks.
Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays.
Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections.
Note: This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city. All nights are spent cruising aboard ms Savor or ms Joy.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Information and pricing is subject to change without notice. While we do our very best to ensure that information and pricing appearing in this website is complete and accurate, we cannot be responsible for incomplete and inaccurate representations, which may or may not be under our control. In the event of a pricing issue, misrepresentation or omission, we reser the right to adjust the pricing or make nay other changes. Prices shown are in USD unless stated otherwise.