Danube Christmas Delights from Budapest

7 nights Dec 16, 2026

The Danube Christmas Delights from Budapest is a 7-night Europe cruise aboard Viking Lif, operated by Viking. Departing Budapest on December 16, 2026, the voyage visits 7 ports. Fares start from $2,999 per person.

from $2,999

$428 / night per person, incl. taxes & fees

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from $2,999 pp

Continues on Viking's site

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Itinerary

Day 1 Dec 16, 2026 Budapest On one bank of the Danube is hilly Buda with its Fisherman’s Bastion and Castle Hill; on the other, there’s flat Pest with its House of Parliament. These two beautiful districts couldn’t be more different. Perhaps that’s why it took until 1873 for the two cities on opposite sides of the river to merge and form Budapest. Right from the start, the landmark of this new metropolis was Buda Castle, a monumental structure that rises high above Budapest and provides mesmerising views across the city. In terms of monumental grandeur, the House of Parliament is certainly on a par with Buda Castle. Erected to mark the millennium celebrations of 1896, this gigantic building was completed in just 22 years. Considering it is 96 metres high, 268 metres long and 118 meters wide, with a total of 691 rooms, that’s an incredible achievement. Budapest is a place where you keep coming across echoes from days gone by. There are traces of Ottoman rule, the extravagant Habsburg era and Soviet socialism – different cultural influences that have combined to create a vibrant, lively city that’s a must-see destination. Go to Budapest Cruises visiting Budapest

Day 3 Dec 18, 2026 Bratislava Slovakia’s capital is situated exactly at the point where the country meets Austria and Hungary. This makes it the only capital city in the world that borders more than one neighbouring country. Due to its location, Bratislava has been an ethnic melting pot since ancient times. This influence can be seen in every corner of the city. Cultures meet and merge together. The streets of the old town – lined with well-preserved baroque and rococo city palaces – are filled with the sound of people speaking different languages. And it almost seems as though the music of the Habsburg era still echoes through the city. Go to Bratislava Cruises visiting Bratislava

Bratislava photo — Day 3 Dec 18, 2026 Bratislava Slovakia’s capital is situated exactly at the point where the country meets Austria and Hungary. This makes it the only capital city in the world that borders more than one neighbouring country. Due to its location, Bratislava has been an ethnic melting pot since ancient times. This influence can be seen in every corner of the city. Cultures meet and merge together. The streets of the old town – lined with well-preserved baroque and rococo city palaces – are filled with the sound of people speaking different languages. And it almost seems as though the music of the Habsburg era still echoes through the city. Go to Bratislava Cruises visiting Bratislava

Day 4 Dec 19, 2026 Vienna, Austria The Viennese have a special aura about them. They come across as a bit arrogant, but underneath it all they’re warm-hearted. You could say the same about the city itself. Once you’ve been there a few hours and settled in, you won’t want to leave again anytime soon. There are all those cafes to visit, where the traditional Viennese coffee-house culture is still very much alive and well. The city’s history, with its emperors, Elisabeth of Austria and the ostentatious Habsburgs, adds to its fascination. Then there’s the music of the First Viennese School – this city brought out the best in its composers, making its own special contribution to great masterpieces. What’s more, the Austrian capital also produces excellent cuisine. It’s no coincidence that the city’s famous Wiener schnitzel and Sachertorte became popular all around the world. Go to Vienna, Austria Cruises visiting Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria photo — Day 4 Dec 19, 2026 Vienna, Austria The Viennese have a special aura about them. They come across as a bit arrogant, but underneath it all they’re warm-hearted. You could say the same about the city itself. Once you’ve been there a few hours and settled in, you won’t want to leave again anytime soon. There are all those cafes to visit, where the traditional Viennese coffee-house culture is still very much alive and well. The city’s history, with its emperors, Elisabeth of Austria and the ostentatious Habsburgs, adds to its fascination. Then there’s the music of the First Viennese School – this city brought out the best in its composers, making its own special contribution to great masterpieces. What’s more, the Austrian capital also produces excellent cuisine. It’s no coincidence that the city’s famous Wiener schnitzel and Sachertorte became popular all around the world. Go to Vienna, Austria Cruises visiting Vienna, Austria

Day 5 Dec 20, 2026 Krems The 1,000-year-old city of Krems lies at the end of the Wachau valley. With its medieval buildings and the Steiner Tor – a city gate and popular landmark – it’s a lovely place for a leisurely stroll. Its historic monuments include the Bürgerspitalkirche, a church built in 1470 under Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. It has a high altar, which was created by Johann Bernhard Grabenberger between 1860 and 1882. Further sites of interest include the Kunsthalle Krems – a museum which focuses on contemporary art – and the Caricature Museum Krems. At the latter, regular special exhibitions as well as permanent exhibitions by the artists Manfred Deix and Gustav Peichl are sure to put a smile on your face. Go to Krems Cruises visiting Krems

Krems photo — Day 5 Dec 20, 2026 Krems The 1,000-year-old city of Krems lies at the end of the Wachau valley. With its medieval buildings and the Steiner Tor – a city gate and popular landmark – it’s a lovely place for a leisurely stroll. Its historic monuments include the Bürgerspitalkirche, a church built in 1470 under Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. It has a high altar, which was created by Johann Bernhard Grabenberger between 1860 and 1882. Further sites of interest include the Kunsthalle Krems – a museum which focuses on contemporary art – and the Caricature Museum Krems. At the latter, regular special exhibitions as well as permanent exhibitions by the artists Manfred Deix and Gustav Peichl are sure to put a smile on your face. Go to Krems Cruises visiting Krems

Day 6 Dec 21, 2026 Linz (Salzburg) Baroque facades, numerous churches and, at the centre, the river. As you can see, it’s possible to describe Linz, Austria’s largest port city, in a single sentence. But that would be doing it an injustice, since there’s a whole lot more to Linz than buildings and water. In recent years, this former industrial hub has morphed into a European cultural stronghold. No matter whether it’s theatre, cinema, art or music, there’s both great demand and great support for culture here. The city also provides magnificent views – particularly in the evening – from the pilgrimage church on the Pöstlingberg hill. Go to Linz (Salzburg) Cruises visiting Linz (Salzburg)

Linz (Salzburg) photo — Day 6 Dec 21, 2026 Linz (Salzburg) Baroque facades, numerous churches and, at the centre, the river. As you can see, it’s possible to describe Linz, Austria’s largest port city, in a single sentence. But that would be doing it an injustice, since there’s a whole lot more to Linz than buildings and water. In recent years, this former industrial hub has morphed into a European cultural stronghold. No matter whether it’s theatre, cinema, art or music, there’s both great demand and great support for culture here. The city also provides magnificent views – particularly in the evening – from the pilgrimage church on the Pöstlingberg hill. Go to Linz (Salzburg) Cruises visiting Linz (Salzburg)

Day 7 Dec 22, 2026 Passau (Munich) Passau is known as a three-river city and is the first port on the Danube that is navigable by cruise ships. From here the big tours via Vienna, Bratislava and down to the Black Sea start. But the city itself also has a lot to offer, such as the opera house, the Ilz, a small river that is great for hiking, or St. Stephen's Cathedral and the old town hall. A visit to the Passau Glass Museum is particularly recommended, if you want to turn your back on the city, you can go to the Mariahilf pilgrimage church just outside. Go to Passau (Munich) Cruises visiting Passau (Munich)

Passau (Munich) photo — Day 7 Dec 22, 2026 Passau (Munich) Passau is known as a three-river city and is the first port on the Danube that is navigable by cruise ships. From here the big tours via Vienna, Bratislava and down to the Black Sea start. But the city itself also has a lot to offer, such as the opera house, the Ilz, a small river that is great for hiking, or St. Stephen's Cathedral and the old town hall. A visit to the Passau Glass Museum is particularly recommended, if you want to turn your back on the city, you can go to the Mariahilf pilgrimage church just outside. Go to Passau (Munich) Cruises visiting Passau (Munich)

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 89-day span: $2,999 · range $2,999–$3,299

Lower than 72% of peers This week-long sailing's from-price per night is lower than 72% of comparable sailings.

same cruise line, destination, duration, and departure window · from-price per night · as of Jun 21, 2026

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

from $2,999

$428 / night

Fare rows

Standard Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $2,999

$428 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Standard Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $3,099

$442 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony

from $3,799

$542 / night

Fare rows

French Balcony Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $3,799

$542 / night

per person · incl. taxes

French Balcony Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $3,899

$557 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Veranda Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $3,999

$571 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Veranda Stateroom

Cabin grade

Available

from $4,199

$599 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Suite

from $6,499

$928 / night

Fare rows

Veranda Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $6,499

$928 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Explorer Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $8,499

$1,214 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 21, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Viking and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

All cabin grades (8) Detailed cabin specs available at booking.

Name	Supplier code	Type
Veranda Stateroom	A	Balcony
Veranda Stateroom	B	Balcony
French Balcony Stateroom	C	Balcony
French Balcony Stateroom	D	Balcony
Standard Stateroom	E	Oceanview
Standard Stateroom	F	Oceanview
Veranda Suite	AA	Suite
Explorer Suite	ES	Suite

Ship

Your ship Viking Lif 5★ **5,000** GT **190** guests Built **2014** Her name means simply "Life." In Norse mythology, Lif and the male Lifthrasir are two mortals who are foretold that they will survive Ragnarok, the end of the world as it is known, by hiding in the forest of Hodmimir. After the flames have abated, Lif and Lifthrasir emerge to discover that everything has been destroyed, and it is up to them to begin anew and repopulate a fertile new world. Go to Viking Lif Cruises on Viking Lif

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from $2,999 pp

Continues on Viking's site

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Itinerary

Pricing

Current prices

Inside

Oceanview

Balcony

Suite

Price history

Ship

Similar cruises

Other sailing dates

Compare similar cruises