Welcome to Prague and your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay.

Today, you will have the opportunity to explore Prague as it is effortlessly enveloped by the wonder of the seasonal period. Your local guide will take you through the old town square, a cobblestoned area that perfectly captures the city’s architectural heritage.

Included Excursion A guided tour of Prague with Christmas market

EmeraldPLUS Coffee & Cake at Lobkowicz Palace (B)

Your tour director will be available to help you plan your day of independent exploration today. We would recommend going to one of Prague’s memorable Christmas markets, where colourful stalls owned by local craftsmen are full of handcrafted ornaments and freshly baked Czech Christmas treats.

DiscoverMORE Tastes of Czechia (extra expense) (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to Regensburg, to board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. (B/D)

Today, you'll visit the city of Regensburg. Here, you'll have the chance to see the 12th-century bridge crossing the Danube and some of the city's architectural highlights, before your EmeraldPLUS excursion takes you into the heart of the Thurn und Taxis Palace Christmas market, where rows of quaint wooden stalls are adorned by row-upon-row of twinkling lights.

• EmeraldPLUS Traditional Bavarian band on board
• EmeraldPLUS Visit to the Christmas markets at Thurn und Taxis Palace grounds
• Included Excursion Guided tour of Regensburg
• DiscoverMORE Excursion to Nuremberg (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE BMW Factory behind the scenes (extra expense) (B/L/D)

The cobblestone streets that weave through Passau look as though they have been pulled from a Christmas card, especially when a thin layer of fresh snow blankets the town. Your included walking tour will finish underneath the striking green domes of St. Stephen's Cathedral, where you'll discover a charming Christkindlmarkt full of festive souvenirs and freshly baked goods.

Included Excursion Guided tour of Passau

DiscoverMORE Excursion to the Bavarian Forest (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Today, enjoy a morning stroll around the picturesque village of Dürnstein, before your Star-Ship sails through the fascinating Wachau Valley, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape, and on to Krems.

This afternoon, embark on a guided tour of Göttweig Abbey, a true treasure overlooking the Wachau Valley from a hill covered by vineyards and forests. Built in 1083, it is one of Austria's most important Benedictine abbeys, attracting visitors from all over the world. Run by a community of about 45 monks, it is visible from a great distance and provides epic panoramas from its grounds.

• Included Excursion Guided tour of Göttweig Abbey (B/L/D)

Sweeping boulevards and world-famous art exhibitions welcome you to Vienna, a city which perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces. For art lovers there is no place like the Austrian capital, not just because the city is packed with museums and artwork, but because of the variety. Your tour will include a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the largest art museum in the country and one of the most important museums worldwide.

Included Excursion Vienna art tour with a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum

DiscoverMORE Viennese evening concert (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Today, enjoy learning about Slovakia as we take you into the heart of Bratislava, a capital where cultures really do sit side-by-side. A sightseeing tour of the city will introduce you to its architectural wonders, including the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral and the neo-Renaissance Slovak National Theatre. But it’s the city’s Christmas markets which are a true delight, as they showcase handcrafted souvenirs and traditional Christmas treats.

EmeraldPLUS Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family

Included Excursion Walking tour of Bratislava

DiscoverMORE Carpathian wine route (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Skoda tour of post-communist Bratislava (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Offering an abundance of historical whimsy, Budapest is known for its architectural diversity and the historic monuments that pepper both sides of the Danube. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is a true delight at Christmas, when the locals take to thermal baths to beat the crisp chill of the season. Today, your guided coach tour will introduce you to Andrássy Avenue and the neo-Renaissance façades of the townhouses that can be found there, as well as a generous scattering of Christmas decorations. This evening, an on board traditional Hungarian folklore show is certain to delight.

EmeraldPLUS Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board

Included Excursion Guided coach tour of Budapest

DiscoverMORE Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Jewish heritage tour (extra expense) (B/L/D)

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Christmas stalls and crisp winter mornings with you. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information. (B)

Welcome to Prague and your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay.

Today, you will have the opportunity to explore Prague as it is effortlessly enveloped by the wonder of the seasonal period. Your local guide will take you through the old town square, a cobblestoned area that perfectly captures the city’s architectural heritage.

Included Excursion A guided tour of Prague with Christmas market

EmeraldPLUS Coffee & Cake at Lobkowicz Palace (B)

Your tour director will be available to help you plan your day of independent exploration today. We would recommend going to one of Prague’s memorable Christmas markets, where colourful stalls owned by local craftsmen are full of handcrafted ornaments and freshly baked Czech Christmas treats.

DiscoverMORE Tastes of Czechia (extra expense) (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to Regensburg, to board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. (B/D)

Today, you'll visit the city of Regensburg. Here, you'll have the chance to see the 12th-century bridge crossing the Danube and some of the city's architectural highlights, before your EmeraldPLUS excursion takes you into the heart of the Thurn und Taxis Palace Christmas market, where rows of quaint wooden stalls are adorned by row-upon-row of twinkling lights.

• EmeraldPLUS Traditional Bavarian band on board
• EmeraldPLUS Visit to the Christmas markets at Thurn und Taxis Palace grounds
• Included Excursion Guided tour of Regensburg
• DiscoverMORE Excursion to Nuremberg (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE BMW Factory behind the scenes (extra expense) (B/L/D)

The cobblestone streets that weave through Passau look as though they have been pulled from a Christmas card, especially when a thin layer of fresh snow blankets the town. Your included walking tour will finish underneath the striking green domes of St. Stephen's Cathedral, where you'll discover a charming Christkindlmarkt full of festive souvenirs and freshly baked goods.

Included Excursion Guided tour of Passau

DiscoverMORE Excursion to the Bavarian Forest (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Today, enjoy a morning stroll around the picturesque village of Dürnstein, before your Star-Ship sails through the fascinating Wachau Valley, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape, and on to Krems.

This afternoon, embark on a guided tour of Göttweig Abbey, a true treasure overlooking the Wachau Valley from a hill covered by vineyards and forests. Built in 1083, it is one of Austria's most important Benedictine abbeys, attracting visitors from all over the world. Run by a community of about 45 monks, it is visible from a great distance and provides epic panoramas from its grounds.

• Included Excursion Guided tour of Göttweig Abbey (B/L/D)

Sweeping boulevards and world-famous art exhibitions welcome you to Vienna, a city which perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces. For art lovers there is no place like the Austrian capital, not just because the city is packed with museums and artwork, but because of the variety. Your tour will include a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the largest art museum in the country and one of the most important museums worldwide.

Included Excursion Vienna art tour with a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum

DiscoverMORE Viennese evening concert (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Today, enjoy learning about Slovakia as we take you into the heart of Bratislava, a capital where cultures really do sit side-by-side. A sightseeing tour of the city will introduce you to its architectural wonders, including the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral and the neo-Renaissance Slovak National Theatre. But it’s the city’s Christmas markets which are a true delight, as they showcase handcrafted souvenirs and traditional Christmas treats.

EmeraldPLUS Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family

Included Excursion Walking tour of Bratislava

DiscoverMORE Carpathian wine route (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Skoda tour of post-communist Bratislava (extra expense) (B/L/D)

Offering an abundance of historical whimsy, Budapest is known for its architectural diversity and the historic monuments that pepper both sides of the Danube. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is a true delight at Christmas, when the locals take to thermal baths to beat the crisp chill of the season. Today, your guided coach tour will introduce you to Andrássy Avenue and the neo-Renaissance façades of the townhouses that can be found there, as well as a generous scattering of Christmas decorations. This evening, an on board traditional Hungarian folklore show is certain to delight.

EmeraldPLUS Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board

Included Excursion Guided coach tour of Budapest

DiscoverMORE Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE Jewish heritage tour (extra expense) (B/L/D)

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Christmas stalls and crisp winter mornings with you. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information. (B)