Travel Dates
Departing 19th Dec 2025
Package Provider: Scenic
Package Type: Package
Region:
Duration: 18 Nights
A festive tradition. Europe becomes a completely different world during the festive season, with the aroma of gluhwein and roasted chestnuts providing a fragrant ambience and lifelong memories. Santa Claus, Christmas trees, gift giving – these have all been a part of the seasonal tradition in Europe for centuries. In town after town you’ll have the opportunity to experience these rituals with new eyes. As a special highlight, celebrate Christmas on board your Scenic Space-Ship while cruising between Passau and Nuremberg. Then, feel the anticipation for the last day of the year building up as we cruise to Cologne, where you'll ring in the New Year involved in the magic of one of Germany’s most impressive cities.
Your Fly, Tour & Cruise Package Includes:
Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 19 December 2025 – 06 January 2026
Solo traveller pricing available, speak with your travel consultant
Super earlybird deal! Must be paid in full by 20 February 2025
Cruise Itinerary:
Day 1 / Budapest
Your journey begins in the vibrant city of Budapest, the capital of Hungary and one of Europe’s oldest and prettiest cities. This afternoon, board your all-inclusive luxury Scenic Space-Ship and settle into your suite, many of which have a window that converts into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you uninterrupted views of ever-changing landscapes and life along the riverbanks. Relax and raise your glass to the days ahead at this evening’s welcome reception.
Day 2 / Budapest
Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, this city became united in 1873, when a newly built bridge connected the two. The city is an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. Freechoice: A range of Scenic Freechoice activities are on offer to choose from this morning: Budapest in Depth: Explore this magical city by coach. Visit both Buda and Pest, the two districts that are separated by the Danube that make up the city. Starting on the Buda side see the Várkert Bazár before crossing the Margaret Bridge to the Pest side where you will see Széchenyi square and Elizabeth square. Thermal Baths: Budapest is known for its thermal waters and today you can relax in the natural hot springs at Gellert Baths. The baths are said to have medicinal properties and are warm year-round, allowing for a luxurious soak no matter what the season. Guided hike to Buda Hill: Strap on your walking shoes and join your local guide for a beautiful hike through the Buda District of Budapest where you will learn about the history of the city while taking incredible views over Buda and Pest as well as the Danube that cuts its way through the city. Tonight, you can choose to attend a Christmas mass in a local church in Budapest or stay on board and rejoice in extraordinary all-inclusive culinary experiences.
Day 3 / Sailing day
Merry Christmas - celebrate with newfound friends on board your Scenic Space-Ship as you cruise towards Vienna. You may wish to take advantage of the state-of-the-art gym or relax with a massage^ in the wellness centre.
Day 4 / Vienna
Wake up this morning in Vienna, Austria’s imperial capital. A city full of grandeur, it’s famous for having the world’s most beautiful boulevard, The Ringstrasse, and the legacy of the Habsburg monarchy. Also known as the City of Music, Vienna fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, among others. Sigmund Freud also lived and worked here in the late 19th century. Freechoice: Take your pick from today’s selection of Scenic Freechoice experiences: Schonbrunn Palace: Explore Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg family, one of the most prominent dynasties in European history. As you wander its countless ornately designed rooms, hear tales about the royal family that lives here and see the impressive gardens. Cycle to Danube Island: Explore a different side of Vienna on a guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, a recreational playground where locals come to enjoy bathing, boating, cycling and relaxing on its beaches and open spaces .Central Vienna exploration: The city centre of Vienna is overflowing with history, elegance and diverse architecture. During this tour, your expert local guide will delight you with stories from the city before allowing you extended free time to explore the city as you wish. EnrichTonight’s Scenic EnrichClassical concert at Palais Liechtenstein: Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein this evening as you relish an exclusive private classical concert. Enjoy a glass of fine Austrian Sekt and listen to the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart performed by a renowned Orchestra. An experience only shared with your fellow Scenic guests, you’ll be seated in Vienna’s largest secular baroque hall, an ornate space where royals and nobles have sat for centuries. Accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists and surrounded by world-famous art, this will be a concert that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Day 5 / Dürnstein > Melk
Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock early this morning in the quaint town of Dürnstein. Surrounded by vineyards, the city has historical buildings that date back to the 12th century, including the hilltop ruins of Dürnstein Castle, where Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned between 1192 and 1193. Enjoy some free time exploring this captivating town before cruising towards Melk. Freechoice: Choose from a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions today: E-biking from Durnstein to Melk: Embark on a 32km guided e-bike ride to soak up the scenery along the Danube as you cycle to the quaint village of Melk, located in Austria’s scenic Wachau Valley. This tour will pass by many small villages and beautiful rolling vineyards, stopping along the way to enjoy the river views. Glorious Melk Abbey: Your visit to Melk will only be complete with a guided tour to the magnificent 18th century Benedictine Abbey. Wander its 900-year-old hallowed halls, visit the decorated Marble Hall and the library, which is filled with more than 80,000 books, and be awed by the Abbey Church, which is adorned in frescoes and intricate statues. Schnapps tasting: Transfer to the nearby town of Weissenkirchen where you will learn about how Schnapps is produced, including the distilling process in a local distillery. Discover the number of flavours available and get to sample some types of delicious schnapps during a tasting. Tonight, as you sit down to a delicious dinner, your Scenic Space-Ship will set sail towards your next destination.
Day 6 / Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov
Today, choose from two completely different, yet equally fascinating full day excursions. Both options require a coach journey but are well worth the drive. Freechoice: Full day excursion to Salzburg: This morning you will disembark your Scenic Space-Ship in Brandstatt, from where you will journey via coach to Salzburg, Austria. Surrounded by alpine peaks and on the banks of the Salzach River, Salzburg is best known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music. This storybook city has a thriving art scene, music and concert halls filled with classical music, a Baroque old town where you’ll find Mozart’s birthplace, and Hohensalzburg, Central Europe’s largest intact fortress, which sits high above the rooftops with panoramic views of the city. During a guided tour, explore this incredible city before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. After some free time, you will return to your Scenic Space-Ship in the German city of Passau. Full day excursion to Cesky Krumlov: From Brandstatt, journey via coach to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov. This delightful UNESCO World Heritage town is brimming with charm. Sitting on the banks of the Vltava River, Cesky Krumlov is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe with its vast array of well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Wander this fairy-tale location with your local guide and explore the historic centre before delighting in a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Your local guide will be on hand to offer expertise on the best way to spend your free time.
Day 7 / Regensburg
You will arrive in Regensburg today. Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany’s best preserved medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country. Regensburg is also fringed by the Bavarian Forest, home to hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails and deer, wild boar, fox and otter. Set on the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, Regensburg is a delight to explore on a walking tour. Your expert local guide will show you the old stone bridge, the Church of St James, and the Porta Praetoria.
Day 8 / Nuremberg
You will arrive in Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second-largest city, after lunch. Boasting an Old Town protected by an ancient city wall, this city is dominated by one of the most significant imperial forts of the Holy Roman Empire, the 12th century Imperial Castle, which was the preferred residence of German kings. Behind its charming façade, Nuremberg also has a turbulent history. During WWII, the city was favoured by the Nazis for party rallies. The boycotts of Jewish businesses began here, as did the laws that denied Jewish people German citizenship – known as the ‘Nuremberg Laws’. By 1945, the city was reduced to rubble, including large sections of the Imperial Castle and Old Town. Allied powers – the US, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union – held the Nuremberg Trials here between 1945 and 1946, where Nazi Germany leaders were tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Freechoice: Make your choice from this afternoon’s Scenic Freechoice excursions: Walking tour of the Old Town: You will drive into Nuremberg’s city centre, passing by the city walls and courthouse before arriving at Augustinerstrasse. From here your local guide will take you on a walking tour of Nuremberg to see the Imperial Castle which overlooks the city, St. Egidien’s Church and market square. The trials and tribulations of WWII Tour: Join your expert local guide and learn about the horrific events that occurred in Nuremberg during Germany’s Nazi regime. Start by taking a drive to the Rally Grounds and explore Memorium Nurnberger Prozesse where subsequent trials of Nazi party members took place. Traditional Gingerbread cooking class: Nürnberger Lebkuchen was invented by medieval monks in Germany during the 13th century. Today join an experienced local chef and learn how to bake this soft, moist and nutty traditional German gingerbread yourself. Enjoy tasting this regional delight whilst learning about the region and its history. You may be surprised how different this is to today's modern-day gingerbread.
Day 9 / Bamberg
Built on seven hills, this UNESCO-listed town has surprises at every turn. Intersected by rivers and canals, enchanting Bamberg has an Old Town resplendent with cobblestoned streets and well-preserved medieval buildings. A charming Old Town Hall which occupies an island on its own, a Gothic and Romanesque-style cathedral and the Old and New Residences – an episcopal palace, a pretty ‘Little Venice’ and a 12th century castle that teeters on the highest of the seven hills – are some of the incredible places you’ll see during your guided city tour. This morning, you will tour the Old Town, one of Europe’s largest intact city centres, featuring a range of stunning Medieval and Baroque buildings. This evening, ring in the New Year in this magnificent town. Perhaps make your way into the historic Old Town and celebrate like the locals or stay on board and celebrate with newfound friends.
Day 10 / Sailing Day
Happy New Year! Start 2025 off in relaxation mode as you cruise along this picturesque stretch of the river towards Wertheim. Enjoy time on board your Scenic Space-Ship, delight in the wonderful vistas from the privacy of your Scenic Sun Lounge or relax on the Sun Deck with a drink in hand.
Day 11 / Wertheim > Miltenberg
Arrive in the historic town of Wertheim, sitting on the picturesque banks of the Main and Tauber Rivers. Explore this beautiful town before transferring to Miltenberg, where your local guide will take you on an orientation tour through the beautiful cobblestone streets lined with historic half-timbered houses.
Day 12 / Rüdesheim > Rhine Gorge
This morning you will arrive in Rüdesheim, a pretty town surrounded by steep vineyards that have been cultivating wine for a staggering two millennia. The charming town centre is filled with half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, quaint shops selling trinkets such as traditional Christmas ornaments and cuckoo clocks, as well as a smattering of wine taverns and open-air beer gardens. On arrival take a mini train from the pier to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, where some 350 musical instruments from the 18th and 19th century play themselves for your enjoyment. This afternoon we set sail for Cologne. As we cruise the Rhine River, enjoy spectacular views of the World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge.
Day 13 / Cologne
Today you will arrive in Cologne, a city known for its liberal and laidback lifestyle, unique beer culture, auto industry and the jaw-dropping cathedral that dominates its skyline. Settled by the Romans, this major cultural centre for the Rhineland was built during the Middle Ages but was largely destroyed during WWII. The magnificent Gothic cathedral, an enormous World Heritage site that dates to 1248, was severely damaged but stood tall above the ruins of the city. Take the time to discover Cologne on a walking tour. Wander the laneways of the historical Old Town, which is home to breweries serving up draft Kolsch beer and enjoy free time to visit the city's centrepiece and icon, Cologne Cathedral. After lunch, set sail for our final destination, Amsterdam.
Day 14 / Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, masterpiece-filled galleries, tranquil scenes of boats putting along 16th century canals, narrow cobbled laneways filled with boutiques and cafes, and streets busy with cyclists criss-crossing their way about town. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the UNESCO-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved canal houses and intersected by charming bridges. Freechoice: This morning, choose one of the following Scenic Freechoice experiences: Canal cruise: Amsterdam has more than 100 kilometres of canals and today you will see some of the prettiest sights of the city from these historical waterways. This one-hour cruise takes you along the Gentleman’s Canal, where you will see The Skinny Bridge and The Prince’s Canal, which was known for its warehouses and common people. You will go past the Old Lord Mayor’s House, The Seven Bridges, Anne Frank’s House and head to the Brewer’s Canal. As the historic centre glides past, you can admire the elegant merchant’s residences, churches and warehouses dating from the Golden Age. Flavours of Holland walking tour: Explore the Dutch capital on foot and see the city highlights while tasting some delicious local treats. Pickled herring, a favourite street food, tasty cheeses and mouth-watering Poffertjes (traditional fluffy bite-sized pancakes) are some delicacies you'll savour. Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar: Step outside of Amsterdam to visit the village of Schermerhorn, home to authentic windmills dating back to the 16th century. Take in the idyllic views of the sweeping Dutch countryside and learn about the importance of the windmills. You will also head to Alkmaar, a charming town with historic buildings and picturesque canals, also known as ‘the city of cheese’.
Day 15 / Amsterdam
Depart after a wonderful breakfast. Amsterdam is the end of your cruise but will be the start of a lifetime of wonderful memories. 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.
^Massage/spa treatments at additional cost.
Conditions apply. Subject to availability and change without notice. Full supplier conditions apply. Valid for new bookings only. Prices valid at the time of publication. Prices are per person based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise stated and displayed in AU$. Member savings are calculated using the original advertised price.