Christmas market cruises remain a major component of the European winter river-cruise season, with itineraries along the Danube combining visits to markets in Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary with festive programming on board. Riverside Luxury Cruises is offering a selection of 2026 holiday departures aboard Riverside Mozart, including voyages covering Christmas, New Year or both.
The current Riverside programme confirms a series of December departures aboard Riverside Mozart. These include the 5-night A Merry Danube Christmas Getaway from Vienna to Passau, the 7-night A Merry Danube Christmas Voyage operating round trip from Vienna, and the 11-night A Merry Danube Christmas Adventure from Vienna to Budapest.
For passengers choosing an extended holiday, the Christmas programme combines time in historic Danube cities with visits to traditional seasonal markets. The itineraries include Vienna, Melk, Mauthausen, Linz, Passau, Krems, Bratislava and Budapest, depending on the sailing. Riverside's programme describes the routes as opportunities to experience Christmas markets and regional traditions along the Austrian and German sections of the river.
The Riverside Mozart is an all-suite river vessel operating on the Danube. Its onboard facilities include several dining venues, spacious public areas and wellness facilities, while the ship's culinary programme changes according to the regions through which it sails. Riverside describes the vessel as offering four restaurants, with menus drawing on Austro-Hungarian, Italian and other European culinary influences.
The holiday programme also allows passengers to combine time ashore with an onboard Christmas and New Year setting, avoiding the need to change hotels between destinations. The ship remains the base throughout the voyage while the itinerary moves between the principal Danube cities and smaller destinations.
Riverside's published offers page identifies Riverside Mozart sailings from December 20th, 2026, through January 2nd, 2027, as part of its eligible 2026 promotional period.
Among the scheduled festive departures are the A Merry Danube Christmas Getaway, departing Vienna on December 6th and continuing to Passau, and the longer A Merry Danube Christmas Voyage, also departing Vienna on December 6th and returning after calls at Melk, Mauthausen, Linz, Passau and Krems. Later December departures include additional Christmas itineraries connecting Vienna with Bratislava, Budapest and other Danube destinations.
The programme illustrates the role of river cruising in extending the traditional Christmas-market season beyond day visits. By combining several markets and historic cities in a single itinerary with accommodation and dining on board, Riverside Mozart provides a format suited to passengers seeking a longer festive journey along the Danube.