With so many river cruise itineraries to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to cruise, and when. To help clear the path, we thought we’d start a new feature here on River Cruise Advisor: the River Cruise of the Week. And there’s no better way to kick it off than by featuring one of the most desirable upcoming itineraries: A Christmas Markets voyage aboard AmaWaterways.
Bratislava's legendary Christmas Market. Photo courtesy of Visit Bratislava
Ama’s popular Christmas Time Cruise itinerary features a seven-night river cruise coupled with a two-night stay in historic Prague. Departures begin on November 25, 2011 aboard AmaLyra and continue until the December 30, 2011 sailing aboard AmaLegro. Sister-ship AmaDolce also operates this popular run in 2011.
The full ‘Christmas Time Cruise’ itinerary:
| DAY | PORT | ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prague | Hotel Check-in |
| 2 | Prague | City tour; optional tours; visit the Prague Christmas Market |
| 3 | Prague | Transfer to Nuremberg; Visit the Christmas Market |
| 3 | Nuremberg | Embarkation: Welcome Cocktail & Dinner. |
| 4 | Nuremberg | City tour; visit Christmas Market |
| 4 | Hilpolstein | Crossing the Continental Divide |
| 5 | Regensburg | Walking tour; visit Christmas Market |
| 6 | Passau | Walking tour |
| 6 | Salzburg | Optional Salzburg excursion |
| 6 | Linz | Visit the Linz Christmas Market |
| 7 | Melk | Benedictine Abbey tour; Wachau valley cruise |
| 7 | Vienna | Optional evening concert |
| 8 | Vienna | City tour; visit Christmas Market |
| 9 | Budapest | City tour; Visit Christmas Market; Illuminations cruise |
| 10. | Budapest | Disembark |
These “Christmas Markets” voyages typically visit many historic Northern European cities. And it’s on these voyages that the versatility of a river cruise really shines through, allowing passengers to experience several different towns and their Christmas traditions in a single trip, all without the hassle of changing hotels, departing on early busses, or driving through treacherous snow-covered streets.
AmaWaterways' popular AmaLegro joins AmaLyra and AmaDolce in operating this year's Christmas Markets voyages. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways
Many North American travelers may not know about the European Christmas Markets, which are exactly that: street markets, set up towards the end of November and lasting through until Christmas. Usually set up outdoors, these can offer an incredible variety of local crafts and wares and – perhaps best of all – delicious local Christmas delicacies. Mulled wine and cider are popular wintertime beverages, and are typically sold in these markets as well. For culture mavens, there’s no better time to truly embrace local customs than at Christmas.
For more information on AmaWaterways and their Christmas Markets voyages, be sure to check out our AmaWaterways profile and fleet overview here on River Cruise Advisor.
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