Book early for a free upgrade to a Deluxe Suite located on the Rhine Deck on board of the Premicon Queen (as long as one of the eight suites is available)!
During this tour which includes a Luxurious Cruise on the River Danube in Germany and Austria from/to Frankfurt International Airport you will visit Christmas Markets in Würzburg, medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Vienna, Linz and Regensburg. In Germany and Austria, where the tradition of Christmas markets began, some of the markets are held since over 500 years. Until today that tradition is kept alive and each year millions of Germans and visitors from all over the world join the celebrations of age-old Advent traditions.
This tour is available on the following dates starting/ending at Frankfurt International Airport):
- November 25th, 2009 to December 1st, 2009
- November 28th, 2009 to December 4th, 2009
- December 1st, 2009 to December 7th, 2009
- December 4th, 2009 to December 10th, 2009
- December 7th, 2009 to December 13th, 2009
- December 10th, 2009 to December 16th, 2009
- December 13th, 2009 to December 19th, 2009
- December 16th, 2009 to December 22nd, 2009
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Frankfurt Airport to Würzburg
Wurzburg_Residence-Winter With your unrestricted 1-st class rail tickets valid for High-Speed Rail (ICE) it takes only about 80 minutes right from the Airport to Würzburg, the gateway to the Romantic Road. Würzburg is idyllically located amidst vineyards, with the mediaeval fortress Marienberg towering above. Würzburg is old bishop´s see and lively town, proudly presenting monuments of different eras. The city´s Christmas market is very atmospheric, its wooden stalls decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments. Culture, art, history and hospitality are ever-present in this remarkable city!
Würzburg´s Cathedral, the Marienkapelle, the "Alte Mainbrücke" (old bridge across the river Main ), the Juliusspital and the "Käppele" are musts, but make sure that you do not miss out on the "Fürstbischöfliche Residenz", Prince bishops residence. This "Palace above all Palaces" is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are only a few cities in Germany which present buildings of so many different eras as Würzburg does, some of them being true masterpieces of their time. Enjoy this beautiful town which offers not only cultural but also culinary highlights such as the hearty cuisine and of course the world famous Frankenwein (franconian wine)!
Day 2: Day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg-Christmas In a little more than an hour the train takes you to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany's most beautiful mediaeval cities. Taking a walk thru this charming little town is truly a journey back in time. Rothenburg ob der Tauber was once a powerful free imperial town and its monuments, landmarks and buildings still bear witness to these days. Marvel at the half-timbered buildings and at town walls which are withstanding time since hundreds of years, protecting the city since the Middle Ages. Visit the town's most famous spot, the Ploenlein square, probably the most photographed place in Rothenburg. Also very interesting to see is the Spitalbastei Gate, created by Leonhard Weidmann, the latin inscription on the gate reading: " Peace to those who enter, health to those who leave". The Gothic St.James church is the town's most prominent church, here you can take a minute and relax in quietness while you enjoy the beauty of the famous Altar of the Holy Blood and the Twelve Apostles Altar.
Every step you take in this old town is a step thru history with yet another beautiful spot to be discovered around the corner. Rothenburg also offers museums which are cultural highlights, such as the Christmas Museum with an exhibition showing Christmas tradition in Germany, the Doll and Toy Museum where the history of playthings is shown, as well as the Crime Museum, where the visitor gets an insight into the law and especially its execution during the last 700 years. At 2pm you join an English-speaking tour through the town (takes about 90 minutes). In-between the old Town Hall and the church lies the charming Christmas market, one of Germany´s oldest and most charming ones, not only because of its very romantic sourroundings!
Day 3: Würzburg to Passau/ Embarkation. Rhine_Cruise_Wellness In less than three hours the High-Speed ICE will take you from Würzburg to Passau, located at the Danube. A taxi transfer (included) will bring you to the Premicon Queen for Embarkation. Check into your Junior Suite and enjoy dinner on board of the Premicon Queen. At 4pm the ship heads downstream the Danube from Passau towards Austria.
Day 4: Luxurious Danube River Cruise - Vienna. After your first night on board of the Premicon Queen you will pass the scenic landscape on both sides of the Danube on your way to Vienna. When you arrive in Vienna (after lunch, at about 2pm) you have time to visit the Old Town and the Christmas Market located at the Town Hall in Vienna. Enjoy your dinner on board before the Premicon Queen heads upstream towards Linz.
Day 5: Luxurious Danube River Cruise - Linz. On this Christmas Cruise the Premicon Queen passes Krems and Melk on its way to Linz. You will arrive in Linz at about 4pm and you have time to visit the Christmas Market. After Dinner the luxurious Cruise Ship heads towards Passau.
Day 6: Passau to Regensburg
After your last night and breakfast on board of the Premicon Queen you will disembark in Passau. A taxi transfer will take you to Passau Main Station and by High-Speed train (1-st-class) you will get to Regensburg, located upstream on the Danube River. Your First-class hotel (Park Hotel Maximilian, built 1891) is one of Bavaria´s most beautiful private Neo- Rococo palaces. It is ideally situated in the historical city center of Regensburg, only few steps from all major sightseeing points, 500 meters from the Main Station.
During the Christmas season you will get to know Regensburg from its coziest and most peaceful side. Regensburg has changed surprisingly little in nearly five centuries. Two thousand years have remained alive here, and to fall in love with this town you don't need textbooks. Just stroll through the narrow streets and alleys, and you can get a feeling for life in the days of old. The remarkable buildings and towers offer an unspoiled look into the past. Castles, churches, monasteries and St. Peter's Cathedral bear testimony to the grandeur of the era, which is also brought to life in the many museums with their valuable and fascinating collections. The Stone Bridge and the Old Town Hall, set in the heart of the medieval city, are among the most important historic buildings in Germany. More than 1,300 medieval buildings pack an Old City barely a half-mile square: the perfect backdrop for Regensburg's historic Christmas Market.
Day 7: Regensburg to Frankfurt International Airport. After breakfast you will take the High-Speed train (1-st-class) from Regensburg right to the terminal of Frankfurt Airport (or Frankfurt City Center if you wish).
Notes:
- The package can be adjusted and/or extended.
- Book early for a free upgrade to a Deluxe Suite located on the Rhine Deck on board of the Premicon Queen (as long as one of the eight suites is available)!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The tour is USD 1999 per person in a twin or double room. Free upgrade on board of the Luxury Cruise Ship from a Junior Suite to a Deluxe Suite on the Rhine Deck (if available).
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Germany
Austria
Local Culture
Christmas/New Year Tours
Boating and Sailing
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