Scenic Pearl December 7-21 2027 Cruise & Offers | Scenic Cruises

Your journey begins in Budapest, the capital of Hungary and one of Europe’s most diverse and vibrant cities. Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, this city became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two.

Budapest is an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. It is also well known for its hot springs and thermal baths, and has a vibrant nightlife scene. The city comes alive during the festive season, with elaborate decorations, charming Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, traditional foods and trams covered in twinkling lights.

Relax on board this morning as you cruise towards Vienna. You may like to ask your butler to bring coffee to your suite so you can savour it as the beautiful scenery rolls by your window. Arrive in the Austrian capital this afternoon.

Wake this morning with Vienna on your doorstep. Slow down and spend a full day exploring or venture further afield. In the afternoon, shuttles will be available to take you from the ship to the Christmas markets in the city centre.

Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in the small and picturesque town of Krems, located in Austria’s beautiful Wachau Valley before cruising on to the city of Dürnstein. Krems > Dürnstein is published as scenic cruising on Christmas Markets: Budapest to Amsterdam aboard Scenic Pearl rather than as a scheduled port call.

After a short stop in Brandstatt arrive in Passau. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, it was an important trading point for centuries. It was also a significant town in the Holy Roman Empire and the charming Old Town was mostly built by powerful prince-bishops in an Italianate style.

You will arrive in Regensburg just before lunch today. Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany’s best preserved medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as World Heritage sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country.

Arrive in Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second-largest city, early this afternoon. The Old Town is protected by an ancient city wall and hosts an enchanting Christmas market, one of the oldest and most famous in the world.

Dock in picturesque Bamberg early this morning. Built on seven hills, this World Heritage-listed town has surprises at every turn. Intersected by rivers and canals, join a guided tour to discover Bamberg’s Old Town, resplendent with cobblestoned streets and well-preserved medieval buildings.

With its lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture, you’ll be captivated by glamorous Wüzburg. This city straddles the Main River in the heart of Franconian wine country. Surrounded by undulating vineyards, Würzburg is home to a World Heritage-listed palace, a dominating hilltop fortress, the 15th century Old Main Bridge, and three universities, including Bavaria’s oldest.

Relax on board this morning as you cruise towards Wertheim. You may like to book a massageˆ or relax in the therapeutic Salt Therapy Lounge, which has natural anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. This afternoon, dock in Wertheim, on the banks of the Main and Tauber rivers.

After lunch you will disembark in Rüdesheim, a picturesque town surrounded by steep vineyards. In the historic centre you’ll find half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, a smattering of wine taverns, and open-air beer gardens. During the festive season, glowing Christmas markets take over the main square, and the buildings are strung with trinkling lights.

Relax on board this morning as you cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge, where the landscapes could have been pulled from the pages of a fairytale. This 65-kilometre stretch of the river is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years.

This afternoon, arrive in picturesque Amsterdam. Getting lost in its labyrinth of narrow laneways and canals lined with beautifully preserved 17th century buildings and charming cafes is one of the great ways to spend a day. You’ll be able to and marvel at the festive Christmas trees decorating historic squares.

Your journey concludes this morning. Farewell your fellow guests and Scenic crew, taking with you a lifetime of memories and Christmas cheer. Due to new restrictions on cruise ships at Amsterdam’s city docks, your cruise is now likely to embark and/or disembark at a port outside central Amsterdam.