Making very merry in Vienna
Vienna - Images of St. Nicholas – with his devilish nemesis,
Krampus – Advent wreaths, twinkling lights, roasting
chestnuts, sausages and kartoffelpuffer (potato cakes), hot
glühwein and fruity punsch... all signs of Christmastime in
Vienna! Many Christkindlmarkts big and small grace
Austria’s capital at yuletide, and you’ll explore two of the
major ones. Magic’s in the air at the Wiener
Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz in front of the city hall,
Vienna’s oldest and largest Christmas market... live music,
tastefully lit trees, holiday arts and crafts, tempting treats
and smiling faces are everywhere. And at opulent
Schönbrunn Palace, you’ll tour rooms that the Habsburgs
once lived in, and browse through lovely hand-blown glass
ornaments, red Viennese hearts, Victorian-style sweets and
other treasures in the palace’s own, equally impressive
Christmas Market... guaranteed to warm your heart.
“Imperial” Vienna, which you’ll explore on a sightseeing tour
this morning, seems even grander with Christmas
decorations everywhere you look. Get a glimpse of what
“happy Habsburg family holidays” might have been like on
a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, and take in the palace’s own
Christmas Market. After a holiday lunch at the historic
Palais Pallavicini, enjoy an afternoon at leisure to sample
more of Vienna’s holiday cheer and its many Christmas
Markets; complimentary shuttles run back and forth
between the city and the riverboat. Share your memories of
this wonderful week with your new friends at the captain's
farewell reception, followed by dinner this evening... as your
Christmas Market cruise draws to a close.
Meals: B, L, D
Lodging: Aboard your 443-ft. riverboat