Savour the Christmas atmosphere and cruise on a luxury river cruiser through the heart of Europe, when the festive lights, the Christmas markets and often a dusting of snow capture the magic of the season. Between the end of November through to New Year, AmaWaterways’ luxury river cruisers offer guests time to visit the festively lit cities and villages with their Christmas markets piled high with gifts and decorations and where the festive scent of gingerbread, sizzling sausages and spicy mulled wine add to the Christmas atmosphere.

Christmas market river cruises

AmaWaterways’ Christmas Time cruise is a 7 night sailing between Nuremberg and Budapest on thirteen departure dates from the end of November throughout the festive season, making it an ideal way to see the Christmas markets and take in Europe’s festive atmosphere. The cruise takes in the world’s largest Christmas market in Nuremberg, the festively decorated stalls of the Old Kornmarkt's in the medieval city of Regensberg and the “royal” Christmas markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, where craftsmen can be seen making their goods. In Passau, guests enjoy and optional tour to Salzburg, the `Sound of Music' city, with its numerous festive markets and tourist attractions, and on to Melk, to visit the magnificent baroque Benedictine Abbey.

In Vienna, guests have the opportunity to see some of the numerous Christmas markets in Austria's capital, including the 60 traditional Christmas market stalls at the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. The cruise concludes in Budapest, festively decorated for Christmas, and an illuminations cruise past the city after a farewell dinner on board enables guests to see the city at its finest.

LEAD IN PRICE:-

Departing on 25th November AmaWaterways’ 7 night Christmas Time cruise costs from £1589pp, including a saving of £347pp, free return UK flights, all meals, free-flowing wine with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours and excursions, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles. The same cruise on 16th December costs from £1595 pp, including free return flights from the UK, saving £359pp. Contact AmaWaterways freephone 0808 223 5009,www.amawaterways.co.uk

2013 Christmas market departures also on 27th & 30th November, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 18th, 21st and 28th December. (Excluding free flights offer).

Spend Christmas on the water

23rd December : 7 night Christmas on the Danube cruise, saving £359pp

Christmas comes early on the Danube where AmaWaterways are giving free flights with bookings for their 23rd December `Christmas on the Danube’ sailing, saving £359pp. The cruise, from Budapest to Vilshofen, visits some of Europe’s most picturesque cities and towns at their most festive, including Vienna, Vilshofen, Passau, Melk and Bratislava.  The cruise costs £1585pp, saving £359pp, including free flights, all meals (with Christmas meals and events), free-flowing wine with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours and excursions, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles. Contact AmaWaterways freephone 0808 223 5009,www.amawaterways.co.uk

18th December : 14 night Magnificent Christmas cruise, saving £684pp

Departing on 18th December 2013, take a magnificent 14 night journey through five countries along Europe’s main waterways, spend Christmas in the medieval city of Nuremberg then overnight in Amsterdam for New Year when the sky is lit up by a magnificent display of fireworks. AmaWaterways’ `Magnificent Europe at Christmas Time’ cruise costs from £2719p, saving £684pp, and includes free flights, all meals (with Christmas meals and events), free-flowing wine with lunch and dinner, complimentary daily tours and excursions, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles. Contact AmaWaterways freephone 0808 223 5009,www.amawaterways.co.uk

END.

UK PR Contact:  Mary Stuart-Miller, 01403 738844, mary@mstuart-miller.co.uk

About AmaWaterways

Founded in 2002 by river cruise pioneer Rudi Schreiner, river cruise executive Kristin Karst and founder of Brendan Vacations, Jimmy Murphy, AmaWaterways is the premier river cruise line on Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Main, Mosel and Rhône rivers. Known for its custom-designed ships, extensive complimentary amenities and personalized service levels, AmaWaterways consistently leads the way in river cruising. With destinations traveling through Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and new voyages to Africa and Portugal the line’s award-winning fleets complement a variety of travel plans.

The Europe fleet includes the AmaPrima (2013); AmaCerto (2012); AmaVerde (2011); AmaBella (2010); AmaLyra (2009);AmaDolce (2009); AmaCello (2008), AmaDante (2008); AmaLegro (2007) and the AmaDagio (2006).  In the spring of 2012,AmaWaterways introduced the new 164-passenger AmaCerto in Europe, joining the AmaVerde and AmaBella in offering an exclusive Twin Balcony design in the majority of staterooms; multiple dining venues; complimentary Internet and Infotainment system, a heated swimming pool or whirlpool on the Sun Deck plus many more unique design elements.
 

In addition to the European destinations, AmaWaterways offers the separate and distinct AmaVoyages to Vietnam andCambodia via the AmaLotus (2011) and the La Marguerite (2009); Russia via the AmaKatarina (2011); Portugal via the AmaVida (2013); and Africa via the Zambezi Queen (2009).