For those looking for a memorable break over the festive period we heartily recommend our Christmas cruise aboard the 100-passenger RV Advance, our elegant floating hotel that will transport you in comfort and style along this most delightful of rivers.
Christmas in Central Europe is a special time and nowhere is this more evident than in the cities, towns and villages of the Danube. Our Christmas cruise has been planned to include the Christmas markets in Vienna, a ‘Mozart tour’ in Salzburg, and a day in the lovely Wachau Valley with a visit to the village of Weissenkirchen where the traditional joys of Christmas can be best enjoyed. For those who wish to attend Midnight Mass we have made arrangements for a visit to the magnificent Cathedral of St Stephen in Passau. Other highlights of the week will include a morning tour of Bavarian Passau and a visit to the southern Vienna woods to see the Cistercian Monastery in the village of Heiligenkreuz. There will also be the opportunity to join an excursion to Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens, a World Heritage Site that is beautifully serene in winter.
This will be a relaxing week as we slowly make our way through the very heart of Europe. Ashore you will see a wonderful mix of the historic and cultural diversity of the region, witness stunning scenery and visit picturesque towns and villages, all with their own unique history and adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations.
Advance
The 100-passenger RV Advance is a luxurious, boutique river ship which was built in 2017, and launched into service in 2023. No expense has been spared to create a vessel which is a joy to travel on with stylish public rooms and elegant staterooms along with an expansive Sun Deck. The atmosphere is warm and convivial and within days you will have made new friends in the open-seating restaurant, on the shore excursions or whilst relaxing in the comfortable public areas. You will find yourself amongst like-minded people in an English-speaking environment. A musician will play each evening whilst you relax in the lounge, Guest Speakers will provide a series of interesting talks and our Cruise Director will host informative port briefings. After a day exploring ashore, you will return to the comfort and peace of a well-run and exceedingly comfortable vessel.
Itinerary
Day 1 London or Manchester to Vienna, Austria.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the RV Advance for embarkation and moor overnight.
Day 2 Vienna.
This morning there will be a choice of excursions. Enjoy a city sightseeing tour, driving around the ‘Ring’ visiting the Old Quarter including St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Christmas market outside the City Hall. Alternatively, you may wish to join an excursion to the Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens which has its own Christmas market. After lunch on board enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Day 3 Melk & Weissenkirchen.
This morning we will reach the picturesque Wachau Valley, famous for its wine. We will moor under the shadow of the great Baroque abbey, situated on a cliff high above the Danube. After a guided tour of the abbey we will drive to the charming town of Weissenkirchen for some seasonal gluhwein and traditional Schrammel music.
Day 4 Linz for Salzburg, Austria.
After breakfast today join a full day tour to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and famous for its architectural treasures and music festival. Our guided excursion will concentrate on Mozart’s family and his musical contemporaries. Visits will be made to the house known as Tanzmeisterhaus, where he was born and spent his early life, Schloss Mirabell and the Residenz. Lunch will be in a local restaurant and before we leave we will enjoy a special concert of music by Salzburg’s most famous son. Return to the ship in the late afternoon. Alternatively, take a morning walking tour of Linz and after lunch on board enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Day 5 Passau, Germany.
Arrive this morning in Passau, where the Inn and Ilz rivers join the Danube. Our guided walking tour will include the old town of this Bavarian city and the breathtaking Cathedral of St Stephen which contains one of the world’s largest church pipe organs. After lunch on board, the rest of the afternoon will be at leisure. This evening there will be the opportunity to attend Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of St Stephen.
Day 6 Christmas Day on the Danube.
A relaxing day as we sail towards Vienna and enjoy the good food and festivities of Christmas Day on board the RV Advance.
Day 7 Vienna, Austria.
After breakfast we leave the city and drive south towards the beautiful forests known as the Vienna Woods. Visit the delightful Cistercian Monastery of Heiligenkreuz (Holy Cross) for a guided tour and then drive through the woods to Mayerling to see the hunting lodge where Crown Prince Rudolf took his own life with his commoner lover, Maria Vetsera. Finally, we will drive through the lovely Helenental (Helen’s Valley), which was the inspiration for Beethoven’s 6th Symphony. Return to the ship for lunch and a free afternoon. After dinner this evening there will be a concert on board featuring works by Mozart and Strauss as we moor overnight.
Day 8 Vienna to London or Manchester.
Disembark after breakfast and return by scheduled flight.
Dates and Prices
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE £200 PER PERSON FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Prices per person based on double occupancy
| 20 to 27 December 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
| D Standard Stateroom on Deck 2 | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
| C Standard Stateroom on Deck 3 | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
| B Large Stateroom on Deck 2 | £4095 | £3895 |
| A Large Stateroom on Deck 3 | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
| Suite Two room Suite on Deck 3 | £5495 | £5295 |
| D Standard Stateroom on Deck 2 for sole use | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
| C Standard Stateroom on Deck 3 for sole use | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Tour Reference Code: RCAD201224
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Seven nights aboard the RV Advance on a full board basis • House wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch & dinner • Shore excursions • Noble Caledonia onboard team including Guest Speaker • Gratuities • Transfers • Port & airport taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
Advance
The 100-passenger RV Advance is a luxurious, boutique river ship which was built in 2017, and launched into service in 2023. No expense has been spared to create a vessel which is a joy to travel on with stylish public rooms and elegant staterooms along with an expansive Sun Deck. The atmosphere is warm and convivial and within days you will have made new friends in the open-seating restaurant, on the shore excursions or whilst relaxing in the comfortable public areas. You will find yourself amongst like-minded people in an English-speaking environment. A musician will play each evening whilst you relax in the lounge, Guest Speakers will provide a series of interesting talks and our Cruise Director will host informative port briefings. After a day exploring ashore, you will return to the comfort and peace of a well-run and exceedingly comfortable vessel.
Travelling with You
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Professor Richard Butterwick-Pawlikowski
Professor Richard Butterwick-Pawlikowski graduated in History from Cambridge, before obtaining his doctorate from Oxford. He taught European history at Oxford and Queen’s University Belfast before moving to the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at University College London, where he has been Professor of Polish-Lithuanian History since 2013. He is also Principal Historian of the Polish History Museum in Warsaw. Richard’s academic interests range across the history and culture of Europe, especially in the eighteenth century. An admirer of the baroque and classical styles in the arts, he delights in Mozart’s operas. He has published four single-authored books, four edited books, and many articles in scholarly periodicals and collections, and is in frequent demand as a speaker at international conferences.
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000