Enchanting Christmas & New Year's Cruise with Uniworld
11 days
23 Dec 25 to 02 Jan 26
Book by 30 Sep 25
Celebrate Christmas and New Year in grand style as you cruise the Danube through four countries, with stops in Budapest, Vienna, Passau, and more. Highlights include singing “Silent Night” in its birthplace, meeting the Count of Castle Clam, and spending Christmas Day in Salzburg with a festive lunch at St. Peter’s Abbey. Along the way, savor Slovakian delicacies, Austrian hospitality, and unforgettable holiday celebrations filled with art, wine, and song.
Includes
11 Day Uniworld Boutique River Cruise
10-Night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the stately S.S. Maria Theresa
Unlimited premium spirits and wines on-board, including fine wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, and mineral water
9 days of excursions, including "Choice Is Yours" options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
Onboard entertainment and enrichment
All gratuities on-board
Onboard fitness centre and wellness classes with a certified wellness instructor
Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks for onshore use
Shipwide internet and wi-fi access
Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio- headset system on all shore excursions
Excludes
Flights
Arrival / departure transfers
Visas
Travel Insurance
Items of a personal nature
Extras
Note
The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.
Highlights
10-Night cruise onboard S.S. Maria Theresa
All meals onboard
Unlimited premium spirits and wines on-board
Carefully curated excursions
Itinerary
Day 1: Passau
Arrive at Munich Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer, or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship docked in Passau.
Day 2: Passau
Old-town Passau is built on a spit of land that looks almost like a ship with its narrow prow jutting into the water, a fitting shape for a city that has been an important center of river trade since it was founded by the ancient Romans. Today a local expert shows you the highlights of this delightful and accessible town located at the confluence of three rivers— the Danube, Inn, and Ilz.
A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Day 3: Linz
Your ship docks in Linz today. From there, you’ll travel to the alpine city of Salzburg for a delightful full-day excursion. Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg, is nestled in a glorious alpine setting that sparkles like a winter wonderland. Fans of “The Sound of Music” may recognize locations from the Oscar-winning film in the city’s Old Town, the site of a grand cathedral and a wonderful Christmas Market.
Day 4: Grein
On today's agenda—a walk through charming Grein and a peek inside Austria’s oldest theater.
Day 5: Melk, Dürnstein
Melk Abbey has an unexpectedly opulent library filled not only with rare and precious books but also secret doors and optical illusions. After your visit, cruise the Wachau Valley to the tiny village of Dürnstein, where you can browse the shops selling apricot schnapps, hike up to the ruins of a castle, taste mulled wine, and attend an organ concert at a local church. Your river adventure today takes you through one of the most beautiful regions in Austria, bookended by two picturesque and historic towns, Melk and Dürnstein.
Day 6: Vienna
Renowned for its art and architecture, its classical music, its decadent pastries, and its lengthy list of famous former residents, the refined city of Vienna is a cultural treasure trove. Experience the city with your choice of tours, followed by an evening concert of Mozart and Strauss, performed at a 12th-century monastery.
Day 7: Vienna
A day of free time to explore Vienna at your leisure awaits. Maybe the Viennese love for music, food, drink, and stunning architecture will compel you to visit one of the many pubs, coffeehouses, wine taverns, art museums, and sprawling palaces.
Day 8: Bratislava
Once hidden from the world behind the “Iron Curtain,” Slovakia retains an air of mystery and intrigue, and its small capital city has an unexpectedly colorful history. You’ll learn more about Bratislava’s past from a local expert, then have free time to check out the whimsical street art and sample delicious delicacies found only in Slovakia.
Day 9: Budapest
Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each have their own distinctive character and allure. Get a taste of this dynamic capital city during today's tour. This evening, celebrate the new year with a special dinner, then join us in the lounge after for a festive night of music and dancing.
Day 10: Budapest
Start off the New Year on a high note with an excursion to a village of talented artisans and craftspeople who live and create beautiful things together. The village is also home to two museums you’re welcome to visit—one devoted to lovely ceramics and the other to the art of marzipan.
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Day 11: Budapest, Disembark
Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer, or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport for your flight home.
Ship info
S.S. Maria Theresa
One of Europe's most beloved and longest reigning monarchs, the great Habsburg ruler Maria Theresa, was so extraordinary that we built an entire Super Ship in her honor. Named "Best New River Ship" by Cruise Critic editors her maiden season, the S.S. Maria Theresa features ultra-luxurious accommodations and an array of thoughtful personal touches, ensuring a truly indulgent and unforgettable voyag
Prices are per person twin share, include discounts, and are subject to availability and rate of exchange changes. Offers above are a guide only and will vary depending on departure date, our guide price is based on the cheapest departure within the stipulated season and availability is correct at time of loading. Visas may be necessary and insurance is essential. Pentravel and Tour Operator terms and conditions apply, and can be requested. Excludes flights, transfers, visas, travel insurance and anything not mentioned. Savings are not valid on all itineraries and/or departure dates, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. High season supplements and block out dates may apply, pricing varies pending departure date. Package excludes flights. You can do optional free-time add-on experiences in your free time and pay for them as you travel (additional costs apply).
Uniworld reserves the right to withdraw promotional offers and adjust savings anytime. All savings / discounts mentioned have already been included in the advertised price.
Save 20% per person. Book by 30 September 2025 to be eligible for this offer. Note: Reduced pricing shown above is inclusive of The Great River Cruise Sale discount. All rates and savings are quoted in South African rand and vary based on itinerary and departure date. Savings are applicable solely to the cruise-tour portion and exclude airfares and optional add-ons.
Discounts are applied sequentially, with fixed savings deducted prior to any percentage-based discounts. Offer is capacity controlled and may be modified or withdrawn at any time. Other restrictions may apply. These packages are based on CASH price. E&OE;.
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