Avalon Christmastime on the Danube
6 nightsfrom £2,405 per person
Avalon's Christmastime on the Danube suits travellers short on time, packing Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau and two nights docked in Vienna into seven days. The trade-off is the fare: Avalon's UK prices exclude flights, port taxes and crew tips, which most rivals here include.
Photo Jonathan Schilling · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Follow the ports in sailing order
| Port | Mooring | Christmas market |
|---|---|---|
| Nuremberg | Day 1 is boarding and an overnight docking in Nuremberg; day 2 has a city or Rally Grounds tour and free time at the market. | Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt |
| Regensburg | Day 3 is a guided walk and free time at Regensburg's markets. | Regensburg Christkindlmarkt |
| Passau | Day 4 is a city walk in Passau, with an optional coach trip to Salzburg. | Passau Christmas Market at the Cathedral |
| Vienna | The ship docks overnight in Vienna on days 5 and 6 after a morning at Melk Abbey; day 7 is disembarkation. | Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz |
Pick a December departure
- 4 Dec to 10 Dec 2026from £4,334 per person (2026)
- 5 Dec to 11 Dec 2026from £4,248 per person (2026)
- 8 Dec to 14 Dec 2026from £4,068 per person (2026)
- 11 Dec to 17 Dec 2026from £2,605 per person (2026)
- 14 Dec to 20 Dec 2026from £2,405 per person (2026)
- 17 Dec to 23 Dec 2026from £3,690 per person (2026)
Fares are the operator's published lead-in prices for the year shown. Check the cabin grade, any flight and the port charges before you book.
Do the same route by train
Nuremberg to Regensburg takes 59 minutes on Deutsche Bahn's published fastest train, and Passau sits on the main line on to Linz and Vienna. By rail you can sleep in Regensburg and Passau and see both markets lit after dark.
The ship stays overnight in Nuremberg at the start and in Vienna at the end, which gives you evening market time in both cities. Avalon's own note warns that technical or water-level problems can turn part of the route into a coach trip with a hotel night. The 29 November 2026 departure was sold out on 11 October 2026, and on most other dates only suites were left.
Avalon's UK fares exclude flights, port taxes and tips to the crew, cruise director and local guides.
Worth knowing
- Avalon's notes say Christmas markets generally run from late November to the third week of December, so the 17 December departure is the last one that reaches Passau before its market closes on 22 December 2026.
Quick answers about Avalon Christmastime on the Danube
What happens if the Danube is too low for Avalon's Christmas cruise?
Avalon says that in the event of technical or water-level issues it may run the itinerary by motorcoach or change the programme, including a hotel overnight when needed.
How much is Avalon's Christmastime on the Danube in December 2026?
Avalon's UK site listed the 14 December 2026 departure from £2,405 per person, cruise only, on 11 October 2026. Other December dates ran from £2,605 to £4,334, often for suites only.
Are flights and tips included on Avalon's Danube Christmas cruise?
No. Avalon's UK fares exclude flights, port taxes and tips for the crew, cruise director and local guides. Meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, and the Classic and Discovery excursions are included.
Which towns does Avalon Christmastime on the Danube stop at?
Avalon Christmastime on the Danube sails the Main-Danube Canal and Danube over 6 nights and calls at Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau and Vienna, in that order.
When does Avalon Christmastime on the Danube sail in December 2026?
Avalon Waterways lists six departures of Avalon Christmastime on the Danube in December 2026, leaving on 4 Dec, 5 Dec, 8 Dec, 11 Dec, 14 Dec and 17 Dec.