Christmas Markets Cruise on the Danube River 2023
One year ago, Adam and I were cruising the Danube River during the Christmas season. Christmas markets are a tradition in Europe, but Austrians put on a festive spectacle like no other.
A Night at the Hotel Kaiserhof
A short flight from Heathrow to Vienna and some fresh snow has welcomed us. This should set the mood just right for the Christmas markets! Meeting some friends and ready to explore Austria on foot and by boat.
Vienna Christmas Market
The festive spirit is alive! Vienna has one of the liveliest Christmas markets where everyone is holding a hot cup of glühwein (spicy sweet mulled wine), except maybe the ice skaters.
Boarding the Avalon View
This three deck ship is aptly named the View for all the amazing views from our room, dining room and the spacious lounge.
Vienna Boys Choir
This was more light hearted and informal than I expected, like a school concert for parents. The boys and girls ranged in age from approximately 8 to 16. Some were typically fidgety and silly, but took the performance seriously.
An older Viennese lady seated behind me was tapping her toes and humming along, obviously restraining herself. She got her chance to burst into singing for the last few numbers, along with everyone else.
Schönbrunn Palace
The 1,441-room Baroque palace was the main summer residence of the ruling Habsburg family, located in Hietzing, Vienna. The outside gardens would be glorious in summer, but it has a small market outside selling glühwein to keep us warm.
Imagine living there and trying to find someone. "Leopold, where are you?" "Here." "Where's here?" "The bedroom!" "Which one?!?" .....
Depart Vienna upstream on the Danube River
We leave charming Vienna and start our journey up stream on the Danube River.
Yellow was the colour of the royal Habsburg family and many buildings that housed or served the royal family were painted yellow.
Melk Abbey
Founded in 1089, damaged several times by fire and war but restored in 1736, this still active Benedictine abbey and school is perched on a cliff overlooking the Wachau Valley.
Get used to looking up - the famous frescoes are beautiful, as is the view from the balcony.
Fun fact: a character from Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose was from Melk Abbey.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau Germany
We dock for a few hours to walk the streets of small Bavarian town of Passau, known as the "City of Three Rivers" (no not Pittsburgh). We are heading up steep icy cobblestone streets to the town square to find St. Stephen's Cathedral and maybe some glühwein.
Bratwurst and Sauerkraut in Regensburg, Germany
Our next stop, at another confluence of 3 rivers, is like many places in Germany, where the Roman Empire built fortified towns and bridges that still stand today.
The center of every town is usually only a few minutes walk from where the cruise ship docks. Not just a time saver, this is great for travellers with mobility issues.
Danube Canals
Navigating several canals at the highest point in the cruise. Now we go downstream.
Nuremberg Christmas Market
We have one last night aboard the Avalon View in Nuremberg. The cruise was fantastic and I can't say enough good things.
Rainy but that is not stopping throngs of people on the pedestrian streets of the old city.
The medieval walled city of Nuremberg
Our last day was walking the streets of the old city center. No snow but the weather was good. We walked up to the upper wall with a great view of the city.
Wonderful Cruise, Good Friends
We had a wonderful time aboard the Avalon View, exploring Austria and Germany with good friends.