Last Updated: 1/22/2024 - Simply click through the tabs at the top of this page for all the details & to register for this trip.
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* REGISTRATION NOW OPEN *
(ALMOST FULL!)
HURRY! This River Cruise Group SOLD OUT last time!!
(To REGISTER for this trip, click REGISTER TAB at top of this page)
7-Night Festive Season Group River Cruise
on the Danube River w/ Jen Henriksen
(Includes: GERMANY, AUSTRIA, & HUNGARY)
Departs:
12/08/25 from Nuremberg (GERMANY)
Returns:
12/15/25 to Budapest (HUNGARY)
(Jen Henriksen Will Be Traveling With You on this trip as your On-Trip Host)
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DEPOSIT is only $250 pp!
Deposit is NonRefundable
Trip dates above do NOT include pre-trip or post-trip dates of stay.
Most Christmas markets are open from the last week of November through December 22nd
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Sailing aboard Avalon Passion
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DETAILS OF OUR RIVER CRUISE
Travel back through centuries with our group as you walk along cobblestone streets through grand cities and historic towns bedecked with twinkling Christmas trees and lined with wooden huts gleaming with handcrafted treasures. Iconic Christmas markets are plentiful across Europe and are on full display for your pleasure. Nuremberg’s festive Christkindlesmarkt, the largest and oldest Christmas market in Germany; Regensburg’s Christmas market at Thurn and Taxis Castle, considered one of Bavaria’s most beautiful and romantic; Vienna with its impressive Christmas markets that seem to majestically appear around every corner; and Budapest’s Vörösmarty Square, where products sold in the market are traditionally handmade are yours to explore. Sparkling lights; the festive sounds of children dressed as angels singing carols; enticing smells of hot-mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, sausages, and sweet treats of every kind; and timeless wonders are a feast for all your senses.
This Danube River cruise at Christmastime delights with the shining sights and sounds of the holiday season. Experience the beautiful traditions of the festive season amid 14th-century architecture and towns virtually unchanged since Roman times. Walk down narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses and Christkindlmarkt stalls alight with glowing atmosphere of three beautiful countries. Sail through a winter wonderland and revel in the Advent season as each town is festively decorated, offering holiday wares and delicious fare to warm the heart.
We'll board our ship in Nuremberg, Germany, and visit this 1000-year-old city with a Local Guide. We'll stroll through Nuremberg’s Christmas market—one of Europe’s oldest. Be sure to try the city’s traditional gingerbread! Next, visit Regensburg—the only German city not bombed during WWII. Here, you’ll taste some of Germany’s famous beers and sausages. Next stop is Passau, known for its narrow winding streets lined with patrician houses, and the magnificent Italian baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral which forms a perfect backdrop for the delightful Christkindlmarkt. In Melk, visit Austria’s majestic Benedictine Abbey, and enjoy a traditional Austrian cookie tasting as you cruise through a winter wonderland from the Wachau Valley to romantic Vienna. Here, where Christmas markets are scattered around the city, enjoy a culinary walk through the markets to taste some of the local traditional specialties. Our European Christmas river cruise ends in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, with guided sightseeing and plenty of free time to explore one more Christmas market and buy one-of-a-kind gifts. One of my very favorite things are the SMELLS of the season as we stroll through these markets. Gingerbread, sausages, chimney cakes, chestnuts and of course the hot mulled wine! Many of the market stops tend to be filled with tasting all kinds of goodies! Such fun with a group! Onboard, I'll be including lots of other FUN & FESTIVE surprises too! What a fantastically festive way to celebrate this holiday season together!
CLICK HERE for a detailed day-by-day itinerary
PLUS,
Enjoy these added benefits from your On-Trip Host.
On-Trip Host: Jen Henriksen 
I will be joining you on this amazing trip of a lifetime. I have spent the last ten years traveling extensively around Europe as a group trip leader and I'm certainly looking forward to being your host and sharing lots of great memories with you along the way. In 2022 I took 18 people on this same itinerary and what a MERRY time we had! I can't wait to experience it all over again with you this year!
Should you decide to join me on this trip, I'm happy to help take care of securing any/all details for your trip, such as:
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- Securing Travel Protection Coverage
- Customized Payment Plans/Reminders
- Discounted International Airfare
- Check-In Reminders
- Packing Tips
- Custom/Personal Requests
- Round-trip Airport Transfers
- Pre & Post Stays
- Private Customized Side-Trips, etc.
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Roommate Matching & In-Person Gatherings (Tampa, FL)
Usually, I have a few folks that are looking for a roommate. Please let me know if you're interested in a roommate match and I can share their names & information with you.
LIVE! Pre-Trip Classes (Online in Zoom or in-person)
I've offered these live, pre-trip classes for years and they're ALWAYS a hit! Are you worried that you won't know anyone? Not sure what to pack? Nervous about the flight? Not sure where we're headed or what your options are? You'll have plenty of chances to get to know other travelers and have every detail handled as we discuss all of these topics and more in our LIVE pre-trip sessions. I'll personally be hosting these sessions in the months leading up to our trip. We'll get to know each other a bit better as well as learn more about some of the amazing places we'll be visiting on this bucket list trip! We'll also discuss packing tips and other important trip information as well. My clients LOVE these private pre-trip sessions with me, and I'm quite sure you will too!
Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended)
As always, we encourage ALL of our travelers to secure the highest level of Travel Protection available.
We automatically quote Travel Insurance to all travelers upon payment of deposit.
Got Friends?
Think of someone who might like to join you and feel free to them all about this trip! Friends. Family. Siblings. Mother/Daughter. Your hometown high school buddies or college roommates! Spouses & significant others are welcome to join us as well! These trips are open to everyone & are truly MORE FUN when experienced together as a group! So, the more, the merrier! Take a look over all of the information and let me know which cabin category you're interested in reserving on this bucket-list trip! But HURRY! This itinerary usually always SELLS OUT!
As always, I'm here should you have any questions.
- Jen Henriksen
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** TO REGISTER **
DEPOSIT only $250 per person
[Please be advised that the deposit is non-refundable]
FOLLOW THE TABS ABOVE TO REGISTER
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Please Note:
Most Christmas markets open during the last week of November until approximately Dec. 22. Check with each country’s tourist office for more information.
View Cruise Information
About the Sailing
76 days to go
Avalon Passion
Avalon Waterways
Departing Nuremberg on Monday, December 8th 2025
7-night trip going to European Rivers (River Cruises)
Visiting: Nuremberg, Roth, Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Melk, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Budapest
Staterooms
Royal Suite
Stateroom Type: Suite
- 6-person sitting area
- Bathrobes & slippers
- Choice of bed configuration
- Comfort Collection BedsSM
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Double sinks
- Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
- European-style duvets
- Flatscreen satellite TV with movie channel
- Hairdryer
- In-room safe
- L'Occitane bath products
- Marble countertops in bathroom
- Nightly turn-down service
- Soft and firm pillows
- Vanity
- Well-stocked minibar
- Alarm clock
- Bedside tables with reading lamps
- Coffee table
- Complimentary bottled water
- Direct-dial telephone
- Easy under-bed luggage storage
- Elegant, contemporary design
- Extra blankets
- Full shower with glass door
- Individual climate control
- Large mirror in bathroom
- Make-up mirror
- Memory foam mattress toppers
- Sofa
- Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage
- Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony®
- Writing desk
Per Guest
Guest 1: $7,108.00
Guest 2: $7,108.00
includes all applicable taxes and fees
SOLD OUT
Panorama Suite: P
Stateroom Type: Suite
Located on the Royal Deck and the Sapphire Deck (Forward & AFT)
Suite features include:
- Comfort Collection Beds
- Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
- Soft & firm pillows
- Choice of bed configuration
- Bedside tables with reading lamps
- L'Occitane bath products
- Easy under-bed luggage storage
- Alarm clock
- Direct-dial telephone
- Well-stocked minibar
- In-room safe
- Elegant, contemporary design
- Marble countertops in bathroom
- USB Ports
- 6-person sitting area
- Writing desk and chair
- Sofa
- Luxurious mattress toppers
- European-style duvets
- Extra blankets
- Nightly turn-down service
- Hairdryer
- Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage
- Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 100 free movie options
- Make-up mirror
- Bathrobes & slippers
- Complimentary bottled water
- Individual climate control
- Large mirror in bathroom
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air BalconySM
- Full shower with glass door
- Vanity and lighted makeup mirror
- Coffee table
Per Guest
Guest 1: $5,908.00
Guest 2: $5,908.00
includes all applicable taxes and fees
Panorama Suite: A
Stateroom Type: Suite
Located on the Royal Deck and the Sapphire Deck (Forward & AFT)
Suite features include:
- Comfort Collection Beds
- Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
- Soft & firm pillows
- Choice of bed configuration
- Bedside tables with reading lamps
- L'Occitane bath products
- Easy under-bed luggage storage
- Alarm clock
- Direct-dial telephone
- Well-stocked minibar
- In-room safe
- Elegant, contemporary design
- Marble countertops in bathroom
- USB Ports
- 6-person sitting area
- Writing desk and chair
- Sofa
- Luxurious mattress toppers
- European-style duvets
- Extra blankets
- Nightly turn-down service
- Hairdryer
- Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage
- Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 100 free movie options
- Make-up mirror
- Bathrobes & slippers
- Complimentary bottled water
- Individual climate control
- Large mirror in bathroom
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air BalconySM
- Full shower with glass door
- Vanity and lighted makeup mirror
- Coffee table
Per Guest
Guest 1: $5,858.00
Guest 2: $5,858.00
includes all applicable taxes and fees
Panorama Suite: B
Stateroom Type: Suite
Located on the Royal Deck and the Sapphire Deck (Forward & AFT)
Suite features include:
- Comfort Collection Beds
- Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
- Soft & firm pillows
- Choice of bed configuration
- Bedside tables with reading lamps
- L'Occitane bath products
- Easy under-bed luggage storage
- Alarm clock
- Direct-dial telephone
- Well-stocked minibar
- In-room safe
- Elegant, contemporary design
- Marble countertops in bathroom
- USB Ports
- 6-person sitting area
- Writing desk and chair
- Sofa
- Luxurious mattress toppers
- European-style duvets
- Extra blankets
- Nightly turn-down service
- Hairdryer
- Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage
- Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 100 free movie options
- Make-up mirror
- Bathrobes & slippers
- Complimentary bottled water
- Individual climate control
- Large mirror in bathroom
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air BalconySM
- Full shower with glass door
- Vanity and lighted makeup mirror
- Coffee table
Per Guest
Guest 1: $5,758.00
Guest 2: $5,758.00
includes all applicable taxes and fees
Deluxe Stateroom: D & E (Window Only)
Stateroom Type: Inside Cabin
Located on the Indigo Deck (Forward & AFT)
Suite features include:
- Comfort Collection Beds
- Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
- Soft & firm pillows
- Choice of bed configuration
- Bedside tables with reading lamps
- L'Occitane bath products
- Easy under-bed luggage storage
- Alarm clock
- Bathrobes & slippers
- Complimentary bottled water
- Individual climate control
- Large mirror in bathroom
- USB Ports
- Full shower with glass door
- Vanity and lighted makeup mirror
- Luxurious mattress toppers
- European-style duvets
- Extra blankets
- Nightly turn-down service
- Hairdryer
- Spacious 3-door closets with shelves for ample storage
- Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 100 free movie options
- Direct-dial telephone
- Well-stocked minibar
- In-room safe
- Elegant, contemporary design
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Two windows
- Writing desk and chair
Per Guest
Guest 1: $4,109.00
Guest 2: $4,109.00
includes all applicable taxes and fees
SOLD OUT
Itinerary
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Day
Date
Port
Arrive
Depart
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Day 1
Date 12/08/2025
Port Nuremberg
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 2
Date 12/09/2025
Port Roth
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 2
Date 12/09/2025
Port Nuremberg
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 3
Date 12/10/2025
Port Regensburg
Arrive --
Depart --
-
Day 4
Date 12/11/2025
Port Passau
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 4
Date 12/11/2025
Port Linz
Arrive --
Depart --
-
Day 5
Date 12/12/2025
Port Melk
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 5
Date 12/12/2025
Port Wachau Valley
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 5
Date 12/12/2025
Port Vienna
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 6
Date 12/13/2025
Port Vienna
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 7
Date 12/14/2025
Port Budapest
Arrive --
Depart --
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Day 8
Date 12/15/2025
Port Budapest
Arrive --
Depart --
About the Avalon Waterways Avalon Passion
Yet another beautiful Suite Ship graces the rivers of Europe in 2016. The Avalon Passion welcomes passengers to their home-away-from-home with two full decks of Panorama Suites, featuring Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows∘ that transform into a unique Open-Air Balcony. With 200 square feet, Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than industry standard and ideal for stretching out and relaxing-or even throwing a private cocktail party for up to six adults in the spacious sitting area. On board, passengers enjoy free Wi-Fi access, complimentary computer use in public areas, a Fitness Center with state-of-the-art equipment, an elevator, and an expansive Sky Deck with shade system, premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, deck games, and the delightful Sky Bistro for al fresco lunches of light grill fare.
Details and Deck Plans
| Year Built | 2016 | Capacity | 166 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year Refurbished | -- | Elevators | 1 |
| Registry | -- | Restaurants | 3 |
| Tonnage | 5,000 | Bars | 1 |
| Cabins | 83 | Pools | -- |
| Wheelchair Accessible Cabins | N | Theaters | N |
| Shops | N | Library | N |
| Meeting Rooms | N | Casino | N |
| Spa | N | Disco | N |
| Fitness Center | Y | Children's Program | N |
| Internet Cafe | Y |
- Sky Deck
- Royal Deck
- Sapphire Deck
- Indigo Deck
Sky Deck
Royal Deck
Sapphire Deck
Indigo Deck
Ports of Call
Nuremberg (Days 1, 2)
Roth (Day 2)
Regensburg (Day 3)
Passau (Day 4)
Linz (Day 4)
Melk (Day 5)
Wachau Valley (Day 5)
Vienna (Days 5, 6)
Budapest (Days 7, 8)
