Fly from your selected airport in the UK to Nuremberg, where you will be met and taken by coach to your luxurious river ship. After settling in to your suite, this evening enjoy a Welcome Reception as well as a Welcome Dinner on board. (D)

Enjoy a tour of Nuremberg and see the 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace. Then visit the world's largest Christmas Market in Nuremberg's Main market Square. Here, more than 150 red and white booths offer a range of unique children's toys, tinsel angels, dolls and gingerbread. At lunch, cruise the Main-Danube Canal and pass the Continental Divide, the highest point of your cruise - 435 metres above sea level - before descending through stair-step locks. (B,L,D)

Arrive in Regensburg, where a tour will show you the city’s high-lights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. You'll also see one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. There is free time to visit the festive Christmas Market before a folklore performance on board this evening. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, arrive in Passau for a walking tour of this fairytale city. Or, take an optional full day tour to Salzburg and its Christmas Market (at your own expense). Those staying on board cruise to Linz in Austria. (B,L,D)

This morning following breakfast, you'll disembark for the unique opportunity to explore one of the world's most monastic sights, Melk's Benedictine Abbey, on a guided tour. Afterwards, continue cruising through the Wachau Valley to Vienna, the Austrian capital. This evening after dinner, you might choose to go exploring on your own or perhaps take in an optional Mozart and Strauss concert (at your own expense). (B,L,D)

Enjoy the day to savour the elegance of Vienna. A guided tour includes Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse and St Stephen's Cathedral. The rest of the day is free to stroll along the main shopping street, Kärntnerstrasse, or sample some of Vienna's famous pastries. During this time, you may like to go shopping at the festive Christmas Markets that are located throughout the city (B,L,D)

Today disembark for a guided tour of Budapest. Visit Buda Castle, Matthias Church, St Stephen's Basilica, the Fisherman's Bastion and the Royal Palace. After the tour, the balance of the day is yours at leisure to explore or perhaps indulge in a spot of last-minute Christmas shopping (B,L,D)

Your wonderful cruise comes to an end in the Hungarian capital of Budapest today as you disembark the ship after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. (B)