Save Up To 20% on Select 2020 Voyages
Offer Expired
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Celebrate the season in the birthplace of many beloved holiday traditions.
Budapest has celebrated Christmas for a thousand years, since the reign of St. Stephen, the king who founded Hungary and encouraged the spread of Christianity throughout his realm. As you ramble through the Christmas Market on Vörösmarty Square, admiring the handmade porcelain, stop to watch as kürtos kalács (a pastry) is baked on rods over an open fire and then coated with sugar before it’s handed to you.
In Bratislava, where a lively young art scene is revitalizing the compact city core, stalls abound with traditional Slovakian Christmas items such as medovníky (spiced ginger cookies) and šúpolie (figurines made from corn husks). Experience Uniworld’s exclusive “Taste of Christmas" program in the heart of Vienna during the day.
Glorious baroque architecture, delightful concerts and ravishing scenery will make this Christmas season unforgettable as you sail through the holidays on the Danube.
Inclusions
- 100th Anniversary Celebration Event: Save Up To 20% on Select 2020 Voyages
- 2021 Early Payment Savings: SAVE 5% on all Suite category staterooms; SAVE 10% on all other stateroom categories. Book by 30 June 2020 and pay in full at time of booking to be eligible for this offer.
Important Terms
- * Rates quoted are in Australian dollars.
- Book by 31Mar20
- Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes unless otherwise stated.
- Advertised price includes any bonus nights, special offers or discounts listed in the inclusions.
- Surcharges may apply due to demand, Christmas & New Year's Eve, school or public holidays, trade shows, special events & other unforeseen circumstances.
- Prices may be based on Dynamic Rates and as such, may fluctuate at anytime without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases, or at the property's discretion.
Departures & Rates
* All prices quoted are PER PERSON based on twin share in Australian Dollars and include taxes, fees and port expenses (if applicable). All prices quoted are for the cruise departing on 16Dec20. Certain departure dates and embarkation points may be at an additional supplement. For more information please contact one of our Travel Specialists.
100th Anniversary Celebration Event
Uniworld is proud to be a part of The Travel Corporation's family of brands, which is why they are thrilled to announce the 100th Anniversary Celebration Event! Join Uniworld in celebrating TTC's 100 years of excellence in hospitality in 2020 with savings of up to 20% on select 2020 voyages.
Celebrate with the most all-inclusive amenities finely tailored to your tastes.
• Intimate, beautifully designed ships
• Outstanding service
• Delicious farm to five-star dining onboard
• Elegant riverview staterooms and suites
• All scheduled airport transfers
• Unlimited premium wine and spirits
• Onboard fitness including yoga, bicycles & Nordic walking sticks
2021 Early Payment Savings
SAVE 5% on all Suite category staterooms or
SAVE 10% on all other stateroom categories.
Book by 30 June 2020 and pay in full at time of booking to be eligible for this offer.
*Rates are based on per person for two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates, or other cabin types not listed, please contact our Travel Specialists for a quote.
Cabins
Classic
Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (162 sq ft – 15 sq m)
Handcrafted Savoir® of England bed, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, and bottled water
Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers
French Balcony
Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (194 sq ft – 18 sq m) with a French balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England bed, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, and bottled water
Marble bathroom with L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers
Deluxe Balcony
Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (194 sq ft – 18 sq m) with a Full balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England bed, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, and bottled water
Marble bathroom with L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cozy bathrobes and slippers
Suite
Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (305 sq ft – 28.3 sq m) with a Full balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England bed, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, and bottled water
Grand Suite
Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (305 sq ft – 38 Sq m) with a Full balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England bed, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, and bottled water
The Royal Suite offers extra benefits, including a separate spacious living room, bathroom with a separate rain shower and tub, and secluded toilet and bidet area
Itinerary
DAY 1: Budapest (Embark)
Arrive at the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer, or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.
DAY 2: Budapest
Located on opposite sides of the Danube, Buda and Pest each has a distinctive character and allure all its own. You’ll get a taste of this dynamic capital city with your choice of tours, and visit Budapest’s celebrated Christmas market—one of the largest in Europe. Christmas has been celebrated in Budapest for a thousand years, since the time of St. Stephen, the king who founded the nation of Hungary and encouraged the spread of Christianity throughout his realm, but the city began as a Roman encampment almost a millennium before that. Over the centuries it’s been controlled by Germans, Austrians, Ottomans and Communists, all of whom have left traces. Today you’ll have a chance to experience some of the holiday traditions of this beautiful city.
Choice of Budapest city tour with Christmas Market or “Do as the Locals Do” Budapest walking tour with Christmas Market
A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
DAY 3: Cruising the Danube River, Bratislava
Once hidden from the world behind the “Iron Curtain,” Slovakia retains an air of mystery and intrigue, and its small capital city has an unexpectedly colorful history. You’ll learn more about Bratislava’s past from a local expert and also visit the local Christmas market—a relatively new (and thoroughly delightful) tradition for Slovakians. How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Slovakian? “Veselé Vanoce!” Today you’ll arrive in the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava. The heart and soul of Slovakia, Bratislava is full of surprises. The city straddles the mighty Danube and has played a leading role in the politics and culture of the region for many centuries. Following Ottoman incursions into Hungary in the 16th-century, Bratislava, then known as Pressburg, became the capital of Hungary in 1536 and retained that status under the Habsburgs well into the 19th-century. As a result of its longtime imperial prominence, the city is a melting pot of cultures and architectural styles, including Gothic, baroque and art deco. Unlike cities with venerable Christmas markets, Bratislava just established its first holiday market in 1993. But the Slovakians have quickly embraced the seasonal traditions of their Austrian and Hungarian neighbors— and you’ll get to embrace them as well.
Featured Excursion:
Bratislava walking discovery tour with Christmas Market
DAY 4: Vienna
Renowned for its art and architecture, its classical music, its decadent pastries and its lengthy list of famous former residents, the refined city of Vienna is a cultural treasure trove. Experience the city with your choice of tours, as well as something extra special—VIP access to an extraordinary collection of art. To see such masterpieces in complete privacy is an experience reserved solely for Uniworld guests. Tonight, enjoy a concert of Mozart and Strauss at a Viennese palace. The grand dame of the Danube, Vienna was the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and remains, to this day, the political and cultural center of Austria. Klimt painted here; Beethoven and Mozart composed here; Freud developed his theories here. It’s a treasure trove of splendid architecture, astonishing art collections and inviting cafés—and it’s yours to enjoy.
Featured Excursion:
Exclusive “Morning with the Masters” at the Vienna Art History Museum
Choice of “Taste of Christmas” Vienna walking tour or Vienna city tour with Christmas Market
DAY 5: Krems, Cruising the Wachau Valley
One of the most beautiful abbeys in Austria is still an active Benedictine monastery, but a monastery the likes of which you’ve never seen—Napoleon himself once laid his head here in the lavish imperial quarters. With its 14th-century stained glass windows, the abbey’s jewel box of a church is the perfect setting for a soul-stirring concert of organ music. Back onboard, enjoy a scenic cruise through the UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley. The fairytale town of Krems, about 40 miles (70 kilometers) west of Vienna, is your first port of call in the astonishingly beautiful Wachau Valley. Both the millennium-old town and the valley itself have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites; today you’ll have a chance to see why.
Choice of Benedictine Monastery Göttweig Abbey with organ concert or Krems town visit
You’ll want to find a comfortable seat in the lounge or on the Sun Deck today as your ship cruises through the Wachau Valley. Over the eons, the Danube cut a gorge through the foothills of the Bohemian Mountains, resulting in a 19-mile (30-kilometer) stretch of riverine scenery so beautiful; UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Landscape. Castle ruins dominate hilltops; baroque church towers appear on the riverbanks, marking historic villages and splendid abbeys; and vineyards and apricot orchards cling to the rocky slopes. Some of Austria’s finest white wines are produced from grapes grown on the dry-stone terraces above the river, where grapes were first planted 2,000 years ago.
DAY 6: Linz (Salzburg)
Mozart’s birthplace of Salzburg is nestled in a glorious alpine setting that sparkles like a winter wonderland this time of year. Fans of The Sound of Music may recognize locations from the Oscar-winning film in the city’s Old Town, the site of a grand cathedral and an absolutely enchanting Christmas market. Your ship docks in Linz today. From there, you’ll travel to the elegant alpine city of Salzburg for an enchanting full-day excursion.
Choice of Full-day Salzburg walking discovery tour with Christmas Market or Linz town and country: cider farm visit with Christmas Market
DAY 7: Passau
Passau is a crossroads in more ways than one—three rivers meet here and three nations nearly do, making for a fascinating cultural mosaic. Get to know the town with a guided stroll, then visit the local Christmas market on the square in front of the cathedral. Later, enjoy a traditional holiday celebration in a festively decorated barn.
Choice of Passau walking discovery tour with Christmas Market or Bavarian Christmas celebration in a country barn
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
DAY 8: Passau (Disembark)
Disembark the ship in Passau. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer, or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Munich Airport for your flight home.
Ship Info
S.S. Maria Theresa
One of Europe’s most beloved and longest reigning monarchs, the great Habsburg ruler Maria Theresa, was so extraordinary that we built an entire Super Ship in her honor. Named “Best New River Ship" by Cruise Critic editors her maiden season, the S.S. Maria Theresa features ultra-luxurious accommodations and an array of thoughtful personal touches, ensuring a truly indulgent and unforgettable voyage along the Rhine and Danube Rivers.
Staterooms
The S.S. Maria Theresa has a Royal (Grand) Suite, 10 Suites and 64 staterooms, all with made-to-order Savoir of England beds, high-thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, a menu of pillow options and marble-lined bathrooms stocked with Asprey and Hermès bath and body products.
Deck Plans
Public spaces include the Viennese Café and Baroque Restaurant; Bar du Leopard, a favorite gathering place for guests; a well-equipped fitness center; enclosed heating swimming pool and Serenity River Spa; intimate Lipizzan Cinema for onboard screenings of popular films; and the Habsburg Salon with a full-service bar.
Quick Facts
| River | Rhine River, Danube River |
| Guests | 150 |
| Staff | 57 |
| Suites | 11 (305-410 sq ft) |
| Staterooms | 64 (162-194 sq ft) |
| Length | 443 ft |
| Width | 37.5 ft |
Cruise Line
Uniworld
World-class river cruising that’s all about choices
Whether you’ve visited Europe once or a dozen times, you haven’t really experienced the best of Europe until you’ve sailed with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. Uniworld has been cruising the waterways of the world for more than 30 years. Their river cruises combine the charms and landmarks of different destinations with exquisite accommodation, award-winning hospitality, and world-class cuisine of a five-star boutique hotel.
Ready to book a world-class river cruise?
Accommodations
Staterooms offer beautiful river views, and luxury hotel-style beds. These lavish accommodations feature bespoke décor, plush bedding, and modern amenities. Each suite is a sanctuary of elegance, designed to provide ultimate relaxation and comfort during your journey.
Personalised Service
Our dedicated staff delivers exceptional personalised service, with one crew member for every three guests, we cater to your every need with warmth and professionalism. Professionally trained all English-speaking staff, Condé Nast ‘Gold List’ winners with highest honours in hospitality.
Ship Capacity and Regions Visited
Enjoy an intimate cruising experience aboard our boutique ships, each accommodating an average of 130 guests. Sail historic waterways through picturesque regions across Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia, and beyond, exploring enchanting destinations.
Included Shore Excursions
Discover the hidden treasures of every port with our expertly curated shore excursions led by local English-speaking guides. Enjoy complimentary access to exclusive experiences, local tours, and cultural events designed to immerse you in the local culture.
Itineraries
With over 40 itineraries, 500 departure ports in over 20 countries, we sail 12 of the world’s most breathtaking rivers each offering unique experiences and insights. Whether you prefer a leisurely journey or an adventure-filled expedition, Uniworld Cruises have the perfect cruise for you.
All-inclusive Cruises
Uniworld allows you to experience the epitome of luxury with all-inclusive amenities, finely tailored to your tastes. Uniworld’s all-inclusive packages allow passengers to enjoy an unmatched level of inclusions to ensure their cruise is truly carefree and effortless.
Primary Inclusions:
- Unlimited premium spirits and wines
- Delicious, five-star, farm-to-table cuisine
- Your choice of carefully curated excursions
- Airport meet and greet
- All onboard gratuities
- Onboard fitness centre and wellness classes with a certified wellness instructor
- All scheduled airport transfers
- Bicycles and Nordic walking sticks for onshore use
- Shipwide Internet and Wi-Fi access
- Onboard entertainment and enrichment
Quality
- Travel+Leisure’s “World’s Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines"
- Condé Nast Traveller’s “Gold List"
- Condé Nast Reader’s Cruise Poll Winner for “Top Small Cruise Ships"
- Condé Nast Reader’s Choice Award for “World’s Top 10 Small Cruise Lines
Hospitality
- Over 98% guest service satisfaction rates
- One crew member for every three guests
- Professionally trained all English-speaking staff
- Condé Nast “Gold List" winners with highest honours in hospitality
- Meet and Greet transfers on arrival and departure days
Comfort
- Staterooms offer beautiful river views, modern amenities and luxury hotel-style beds
- Meals prepared with the regions’ freshest ingredients by a gourmet culinary staff
- Intimate ambiance of 130 guests on average
- Local English-speaking experts leading shore excursions to the hidden treasures of each port.
