The Map

We will be going through 3 countries:  Germany, Austria, and Hungary.  Here is the Map with the cities listed we will be visiting.  Click on the map for a larger view.

 

 

This is how Viking River Cruises describes this cruise:

 

During this 8-day journey, encounter the grand cities and quaint villages along the celebrated Danube River.  Explore both sides of Hungary's capital -- traditional Buda and more cosmopolitan Pest -- and from Fisherman's Bastion, see how the river divides this fascinating city.

 

Explore Vienna's imperial architecture and gracious culture, and tour riverside towns in Austria's Wachau Valley.  In Germany, explore a baroque cathedral and stroll cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses.  Savor the tastes of authentic dishes, learn about local legends, and understand why Strauss immortalized the "Blue Danube" in his famous melody.

 

We will be on the Viking Bragi.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Date	Day	Globus 7 day ; 3Dec	Globus 8 day / 7Dec	Viking 8 day / 1Dec	Viking 8 Day / 7Dec
Cost		$2114 cruise; $?? Air;  $579 Deposit which includes insurance	$2494 cruise; $?? Air;  $579 Deposit which includes insurance	$1756 cruise; $850 air; $500 deposit	$1756 cruise; $850 air; $500 deposit
11/28 Tksgiving	Thu
11/29 - Friday after Tksgiving	Fri
30-Nov	Sat
1-Dec	Sun			Embark Budapest
2-Dec	Mon			Budapest
3-Dec	Tue	Embark Vienna		Vienna
4-Dec	Wed	Vienna		Melk
5-Dec	Thu	Durstein/Melk		Passau
6-Dec	Fri	Passau		Regensberg
7-Dec	Sat	Regensberg	Prague/Hotel	Nuremberg	Embark Budapest
8-Dec	Sun	Nuremberg	Prague/Hotel	Nuremberg	Budapest
9-Dec	Mon	Nuremberg	Drive to Nuremberg; Embark		Vienna
10-Dec	tue		Nuremberg		Melk
11-Dec	Wed		Bamburg		Passau
12-Dec	Thu		Wurzburg		Regensberg
13-Dec	Fri		Wirtheim / Miltonberg		Nuremberg
14-Dec	Sat		Frankfurt		Nuremberg
15-Dec	Sun
16-Dec	Mon

Viking River Cruise Option

Here is the information from Louise:

 

There are 3 cabins (for 1756 pp) available on Dec 1 and 4 cabins on Dec 7 Romantic Danube, Christmas markets.
 

The rate includes taxes, meals, listed tours and beer, wine and soda with meals.

The deposit required is $500.00 per person.

The cabins will hold a maximum of 2 per cabin. If you book now with only 1 name in each room, you are booking as a single occupant, so the rate is 3399.00 per single. When you add the 2^ndperson, the double rate in effect at that time will apply, so there is no guarantee that the per person rate will be 1756.00, although it is pretty likely. You would be guaranteed the least expensive cabins. I do have a brochure that states the same rate, but does not include the air promo.

The deposit required is $500.00 per person. As soon as you make a deposit, the cancellation penalty will be $100.00 per person. The agent stated that full payment would be due December 19, but I told her that was not possible and she said they could get the May date stated in the email.

The air rate they are offering is $847.00 per person from Kansas City, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta or Dallas, $747.00 from Hartford, and $647 from NY!  On the website, it says that the transfers from/to the airport are included if you get your air from Viking.

 

Viking / 8 Day Danube / December 1

Date	Day	City	Activities	Notes
1Dec	Sun	Budapest	Arrive in Budapest; Embarkation; free to tour Budapest; Overnight on board in Budapest	D
2Dec	Mon	Budapest	Panoramic Tour of Pest then Buda; join ship for lunch; depart	B / L / D
3Dec	Wed	Vienna	Arrive after breakfast; ½ day city tour; Lunch onboard; free time; optional evening concert	B / L / D
4Dec	Thu	Melk	After breakfast sail through Wachau Valley to Benedictine Abbey; guide tour through Abbey; rejoin ship for dinner; cruise along Danube	B / L / D
5Dec	Fri	Passau	Arrive in AM at confluence of Inn, Ilz, and Danube rivers; guided walking tour in Old Town; eat lunch aboard; free PM; early evening departure	B / L / D
6Dec	Sat	Regensburg	Walking tour of town after breakfast; Germany’s oldest restaurant; lunch served on board; PM – scenic cruise along Danube or option Danube Gorge excursion; back for dinner	B / L / D
7Dec	Sun	Main Danube Canal & Nuremberg	Early AM sail through a number of locks that comprise the Main-Danube Canal; Arrive during breakfast at Nuremberg; tour including Old town; lunch onboard; rest of day to explore	B / L / D
8Dec	Mon	Nuremberg	After breakfast – disembark;	B

High-Level Comparison

Below is a comparison of the 2 Globus Christmas Market Cruises under consideration.

The comparison shows the days of the actual cruise and what is included.  I left space at the top and below the actual cruise days to consider going over early or leaving a day or so after the cruise.

FYI:  I called Globus to see if there is a schedule of when they dock in each city and when they leave so we could get an idea of just how many hours we had in each city.  They don't provide that information until you get on the ship.  Also, when they are docked in a city, we can come and go off / on the ship as we please.  If we stay late in the city, we will be able to get back on the ship.

Globus 7 day Danube / Starting in Vienna / December 3

(Actual vacation days required assuming you work 1/2 day on Monday before and return the day it ends:  5.5 days). Louise provided the following breakdown:

On the December 3, seven day Christmastime on the Danube cruise, the lowest category available is category D, which is carries a $128.00 per person upgrade fee.

Cruise $1899.00 per person base price

Taxes 108.00

Upgrade 128.00

Discount (250.00)

Travel protection 229.00

Total $2114.00 per person based on double

Total per cabin $4228.00

 

Date	Day	City	Activities	Notes
3Dec	Tue	Vienna	Arrive in Vienna; welcome reception; Embarkation; Overnight on board the ship in Vienna	D
4Dec	Wed	Vienna	Guided tour of Vienna	B / L / D Train: Vienna to Durnstin/Melk-1.5 hr
5Dec	Thu	Durnstein/Melk	Durnstein-walking tour stifskirche Melk-Guided tour of Benedictine Abby with wine tasting	B / L / D River: Melk to Passau - 28 mi
6Dec	Fri	Linz / Passau	Passau – guided walk	B / L / D Drive:  Passau to Regensburg -120 km
7Dec	Sat	Regensburg	Regensburg – guided walk	B / L / D Drive: Regensburg to Nuremberg - 58 mi
8Dec	Sun	Nuremberg	Guided sightseeing; beer tasting; Overnight on board the ship in Nuremburg	B / L / D
9Dec	Mon	Nuremberg	Disembarkation	B

 Globus 8 day Danube / Starting in Prague / December 7

(Actual vacation days required assuming you work 1/2 day on Friday before and return the day it ends:  5.5 days).  Louise provided the following breakdown:

On the December 7, eight day Christmas in the Heart of Germany cruise, the lowest 3 categories are already sold out. The least expensive available is category A which carries an upgrade cost of $606.00 per person.

Cruise $1819.00 per person base price

Taxes 90.00

Upgrade 606.00

Discount (250.00)

Travel protection 229.00

Total $2494.00 per person based on double

Total per cabin $4988.00

Date	Day	City	Activities	Notes
7Dec	Sat	Prague	Arrive in Prague; go to Prague Hilton; Overnight in Hotel	Prague Hilton
8Dec	Sun	Prague	Guided sightseeing; see Astronomical Clock; visit Hradcany Castle grounds; Overnight in Hotel	B / Prague Hilton
9Dec	Mon	Prague-Nuremberg	Drive to Nuremberg; welcome reception; Embarkation; Overnight onboard ship in Nuremberg	B / D Drive: Prague to Nuremberg - 156 mi
10Dec	Tue	Nuremberg	Guided sightseeing	B / L / D Drive: Nuremberg to Bamberg - 32 mi
11Dec	Wed	Bamberg	UNESCO World Heritage site; guided sightseeing; Old Town Hall; beer tasting	B / L / D Drive: Bamberg to Wurzburg - 43 mi
12Dec	Thu	Wurzburg	Guided sightseeing; bishop’s Residenz; UNESCO World Heritage Site	B / L / D Air: Wurzburg to Wertheim - 198 mi
13Dec	Fri	Wertheim – Miltenberg	Guided walk; baking demonstration	B / L / D Drive: Wertheim to Frankfurt - 56 mi
14Dec	Sat	Frankfurt	Disembarkation (flights NOT leave before 8:30 AM)	B