Join Our State as we shop the fairy-tale settings of Europe’s Christmas Markets. Each market is unique and reflects local traditions in food, drink, specialty crafts, holiday decorations, sights, and sensations.

December 10-18, 2025

 

Package includes:

• Round-trip airfare — Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport
• One Night Hotel – Frankfurt
• Six Night Cruise – Outside Cabin
• 18 Meals (seven breakfasts, five lunches, and six dinners)
• Premier World Discovery Tour Director
• Our State host
• Hand Selected Wines and Beer with Dinners
• Welcome and Farewell Dinners
• Our State Beer and Wine Reception
• Ship Staff
• Wi-Fi Onboard
• Baggage Handling at Hotel and Ship
• International Air Taxes/Fuel/Port Charges
• Hotel and Ship Transfers

 

Excursions/Tours

• Vienna City Tour
• Nuremberg City Tour and Christmas Market
• Frankfurt Christmas Market
• Salzburg Tour and Christmas Market
• Rothenburg Walking Tour and Christmas Market
• Regensburg Walking Tour and Christmas Market
• Melk Abbey and Gluehwein Tasting
• Extended Vienna Port

 

Itinerary:

DAY 1 – DEPART US – OVERNIGHT FLIGHT

 

DAY 2 – ARRIVE IN FRANKFURT

Meet your Premier World Discovery Tour Director – Hotel Transfer/Check In Frankfurt Christmas Market Experience – PWD Hospitality Desk at the hotel

Overnight: Frankfurt

 

DAY 3 – FRANKFURT – ROTHENBURG – NUREMBERG

Travel via motorcoach to Rothenburg -Rothenburg City Walking Tour & Christmas Market Experience.

Travel to Nuremberg and board the MS Amadeus Nova for a six-night cruise with a Welcome Dinner Onboard – Ship docked overnight in Nuremberg

Meals: B,D 

Overnight: Amadeus Nova

 

DAY 4 – NUREMBERG

Morning Nuremberg City Tour & Christmas Market Experience; Afternoon Cruising – Passage of the Continental Divide; Evening Wine & Beer Reception with fellow Our State travelers

Meals: B,L,S, & D

Overnight: Amadeus Nova

 

DAY 5 – REGENSBURG

Morning Regensburg Walking Tour & Christmas Market Experience

Ship docked into the evening in Regensburg

Meals: B,L,S, & D

Overnight: Amadeus Nova

 

DAY 6 – PASSAU – SALZBURG

Morning Passau – Salzburg Tour (full day)

Meals: B,L,S, & D

Overnight: Amadeus Nova

 

DAY 7 – MELK – VIENNA

Morning visit to Melk Abbey & Gluehwein Tasting; Afternoon Cruising to Vienna

Evening arrival in Vienna – “Sound of Vienna” Concert Optional

Meals: B,L,S, & D

Overnight: Amadeus Nova

 

DAY 8 – VIENNA

Morning Vienna City Tour – Optional Tour to Schoenbrunn Palace

Gala Farewell Dinner Onboard

Meals: B,L,S, & D

Overnight: Amadeus Nova

 

DAY 9 – VIENNA – FLIGHT HOME

Transfer to the Vienna Airport for your flight home

 

Cities & Ports

FRANKFURT

Located on the River Main, Frankfurt is the transportation center of Germany and home of the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange. Every year, the scent of roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and grilled sausages fill the air above the Römerberg during the holiday season. Frankfurt’s Christmas Market is famous for several traditional Christmas delicacies.

 

ROTHENBURG

To the west of the Franconian countryside is the medieval city of Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved medieval town. As you stroll the cobblestone streets, you are spellbound by the city’s 700-year-old charm. The quaint buildings with the original half-timbered walls and the town hall square are lined with festively decorated booths.

 

NUREMBERG

After your Nuremberg city tour, experience the world’s best known Christmas Market visited by more than two million people every year. Located inside this medieval city’s walls on the Market Square around the St. Lorenz Church, the Christmas Market if filled with specialty stalls and booths. Nuremberg’s lamp posts are decorated with Christmas symbols, garlands of natural fir, and colored lights. Try the famous Nuremberger Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and the original Nuremberger Wuerstle (small grilled pork sausages).

 

PASSAU

Passau is one of Germany’s oldest cities situated at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube Rivers. Passau is a beautiful and fascinating fairy-tale town with cobblestone streets and the famous Baroque Cathedral of St. Stephen.

 

REGENSBURG

Situated in Eastern Bavaria, Regensburg is one of Germany’s oldest towns, founded by the Romans in 179 A.D. Today it is a prosperous city with three universities and many landmarks dated to the Middle Ages. Enjoy a Regensburg walking tour through one of the most visited cities in Germany and its Medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and spend time at the colorful Christmas Market.

 

MELK ABBEY & GLUEHWEIN TASTING

Visit and tour the Melk Abbey, an Austrian Benedictine abbey and one of the world’s most famous monastic sites. The impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736. Later, enjoy a mug of hot mulled wine before boarding your ship.

 

VIENNA

Enjoy a Vienna city tour. For over 600 years, the magnificent Baroque capital city of Vienna was the seat of the mighty Hapsburg Emperors, a heritage that has bestowed it with many dazzling palaces and monuments including the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, and the majestic Ringstrasse. The capital is also known as the “City of Music” for having once been the home of composers Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, and Johann Strauss. Maybe visit the Schoenbrunn Palace dressed for the season.

 

EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Enjoy this magical time of year as Europe’s countries hold steadfastly onto Old World holiday tradition and transform into fairy-tale Christmas settings. The sights and sensations of the holiday season are everywhere with the tastes of chocolate covered Lebkuchen (gingerbread), sizzling grilled sausages, and spiced hot “Gluehwein” (mulled wine). Shop for ornaments, crafts, candles, nutcrackers, winter hats, roasted nuts, and other traditional items.

 

SALZBURG

Travel to Salzburg for a walking tour of the famous Old Town, Mirabel Gardens, Mozart Square, the Dom Cathedral, and historic center made famous by the “Sound of Music.” See Mozart’s birthplace located at No. 9 Getreidegasse, the home where the Mozart family lived from 1747- 1773. Enjoy time at leisure to shop, visit a cafe, stroll the wonderful Getreidegasse, and experience the famous Christmas Markets throughout this walkable city.

 

THE SHIP – MS AMADEUS NOVA

The innovative and custom designed 158 passenger Amadeus Nova, launched in 2024, offers all the amenities of a floating 5-star hotel. This Premium cruise ship features the most modern furnishings that blend masterfully with the architecture of the ship and a luxurious design that is the hallmark of the Amadeus fleet. The extensive Restaurant and the Panorama Bar offer divine views of the passing riverscapes. The attentive English-speaking onboard service staff will see to your comfort with typical European hospitality. The cabin design plans are forward-thinking, bright & modern, all part of a premium focus with 67 large Staterooms & 12 Suites. The beauty of river cruising is that the most interesting destinations come to you. This Nova charter features English-only onboard commentary with inclusive shore excursions balanced with choice to simply relax onboard, get a spa treatment or and sightseeing with optional excursions.

 

 

ALL MEALS INCLUDED ONBOARD

Three meals daily are served graciously in the exquisite restaurant and feature local and international specialties. All dinners are four courses and are served with included hand-selected wines, beer, and soft drinks. While dining, you have splendid views of the passing scenic landscapes through the large picture windows. Enjoy afternoon and/or late evening snacks in the lounge, based on the daily schedule.

 

 

COMFORTABLE & INNOVATIVE STATEROOMS

After boarding, unpack once. All staterooms are larger than traditional river cruise cabins and offer excellent river views. The Mozart Deck features 12 suites with walk-out balconies. The other 16 staterooms on the Mozart Deck and 35 staterooms on the Strauss Deck feature innovative panoramic drop-down windows. The 16 staterooms on the Haydn Deck have a fixed window. All staterooms are fully equipped with comfortable and modern furnishings, including flat screen TVs and large private bathrooms with shower.

 

Tour Rates:

Regular Rate: Tour rates start at $4645 per person based on double occupancy, but the actual cost is based on stateroom selections. Please click here for a detailed look at what’s available and single rates.

 

For reservations or more information:

Premier World Discovery
Melissa Grant
(877) 953-8687, ext. 238 (Pacific Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com

 

Additional Information:

What to expect on an Our State trip:

Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful.

We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. There is some free time built in for you to explore on your own.

You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day.

Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided.

Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops.

One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people.
 

Physical requirements:

Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous.

Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you.

Most days are moderately paced with approximately two to three total miles of walking, possibly including some hills and stairs.

We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.