AMADEUS Experience
Winter fairy tale by the water
Advent on the Rhine or Christmas on the Danube? Our river cruises during the cold season are a unique experience and a well-kept secret for those who enjoy peace and quiet.
The AMADEUS Queen glides slowly through the Wachau, as if not to disturb the delicate morning mist or the magic of the moment. Overnight, sparkling frost has settled over the vineyards, and on the mirror-like Danube, the lights and Christmas trees of passing wine villages have been twinkling since the early hours. Those who know river cruises only in summer are often amazed by the unique charm of a winter journey.
On board, a wealth of festive cheer awaits: bake cookies together, sing traditional Christmas carols, savor fragrant mulled wine, and enjoy countless small moments that warm the heart and soul.
Heavenly calm and wonderfully unhurried, the journey unfolds along the river and on land—whether in the Wachau or at the other destinations we visit during our Advent and holiday cruises along the Danube. In festive Vienna, for example, Schloss and concert visits await, while in Regensburg or Nuremberg, the traditional Christmas markets invite a leisurely stroll. Other highlights include excursions to Salzburg, guided tours of Melk Abbey, and walks through Linz’s historic old town.
No less varied and atmospheric are our winter Rhine cruises aboard the AMADEUS Amara: Between Cologne and Strasbourg, we pass the romantic Middle Rhine Valley with the legendary Lorelei Rock, visit cities such as Koblenz, Mainz, and Speyer, and experience how our neighbors in Alsace prepare for the most contemplative time of the year.
Where winter whispers in soft-spoken waves
Whether on the Rhine or the Danube, river cruises in November and December are becoming increasingly popular and attracting more and more guests. No wonder, since punch parties on deck instead of baking cookies in your own kitchen offer a welcome break from the usual pre-Christmas stress. In addition, our winter cruises also offer the opportunity to rediscover familiar cities and landscapes in a whole new way. And if you want, you can even do all your Christmas shopping on an Advent cruise, as our ships anchor at a different destination every day, with atmospheric Christmas markets and chic boutiques and department stores.
Celebrate on the river
Our guests also appreciate the many cozy and convivial hours spent on board. When it gets cold and dark outside, they enjoy meeting up with old and new friends inside for tea in the lovingly decorated salon or for a chat at the bar. Our Christmas and New Year's Eve cruises are particularly family-friendly. In a festive atmosphere, guests enjoy grand gala dinners and attend church services together at Speyer Cathedral or Dürnstein Abbey on Christmas Eve. Passengers and crew aboard the AMADEUS fleet welcome the New Year in traditional style with the Emperor Waltz – whether with a view of the fireworks over the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest or the snow-covered roofs of Basel.
Experience the magic of winter in its most elegant way:
