Christmas Markets in Europe Cruise 2021
Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for this experience, from packing tips and FAQs to a timeline of post-booking communications. For more information on this experience, please contact your Care team.
At a Glance
- December 4-10, 2021
- Sailing on the Amadeus Star
- Embark in Vienna, Austria
- Disembark in Nuremberg, Germany
Pre-Trip Planning Timeline
Traveler Information Form
About six months prior to departure, you will receive an email from the Inspirato Only Cruise team with the Traveler Information Form. In this form, we'll ask you to provide details such as contact information for each traveler, flight and travel information, etc. We will also include details on pre- and post-cruise tours, transfers, and hotels.
We'll take this information and begin planning your trip and building your personal itinerary. We'll be in touch with you after receiving the completed form should any follow-up or confirmation be necessary.
Shore Excursion Information
About three months prior to departure, you will receive an email from the Inspirato Only Cruise team with shore excursion information and any other details not included in the first newsletter.
Bon Voyage! Itinerary and Final Trip Details
About three weeks prior to departure, you will receive an email from the Inspirato Only Cruise team with your personal itinerary, suggested packing list, contact information for your on-site Inspirato hosts, pre-trip Zoom call details, and more.
What you need to know
Airport and Transportation Information
This experience begins in Vienna, Austria, on December 4, 2021. This experience ends in Nuremberg, Germany, on December 10, 2021. If you are planning to fly out that same day, please do not book a flight earlier than 2 p.m.
You should book your arrival flights into Vienna International Airport (VIE) and your departure flight out of Airport Nürnberg (NUE).
We are happy to book airport transfers for you at an additional cost. All of the transfer information will be sent to you in the Traveler Information Form about six months prior to departure.
Packing List
In keeping with our members’ sophisticated yet laid-back style, Inspirato’s Christmas Markets Cruise will be resort casual. Resort casual wear typically refers to polo- or oxford-style shirts, khaki pants, skirts, button-down tops, and dresses. For gentlemen, jackets and ties are not required at any time while on board the Amadeus Star.
Please no T-shirts or shorts in the dining rooms for dinner service. Shoes should be flat or low-heeled for deck activities. At the time of our cruise, we expect cool days and even colder evenings.
Since there is so much to see and do while exploring the sights, you will find that the most important item to pack in your cruise luggage is a pair of comfortable, sturdy shoes. This is particularly important for shore excursions where the ground is often uneven and where extensive walking or climbing may be required.
When ashore, resort casual attire is appropriate at all times. There are no formal evenings planned but it is encouraged to dress up for the Captain’s welcome dinner and farewell dinners.
Clothing Packing List:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Lightweight athletic shoes
- Brimmed hat
- Warm scarf, gloves, and waterproof shoes
- Sweaters
- Casual shirts
- Lightweight pants or skirts for dinner
- Heavy jacket and/or waterproof jacket with hood
- Sleepwear
- Festive, holiday sweater
Additional Items:
- Personal medications
- Imodium/Pepto-Bismol
- Shaving cream and razors
- Converter/adapter for electronics. The voltage in hotels and onboard ship is 230 volts, European standard. To use any electrical product that is not dual voltage (e.g., from the U.S., Canada, Australia, or the UK), you will need a plug adaptor and some devices will require an electrical converter. Many electronic devices have built-in electrical converters; however, please check the manufacturer’s specifications for details.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- A daypack/backpack to carry cameras/other items when disembarking for excursions
- Deodorant
- Toiletries (ship amenities include shampoo/body wash, conditioner, soap, and lotion; hair dryers are also available in each stateroom)
- Camera equipment and chargers
- Camera memory cards
- Contact lens case and solution (if applicable)
- Comb/brush
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses/eyeglasses
Passport: You will need a passport that is valid past June 11, 2022. Please ensure there are at least two blank pages for stamping. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, passport applications and renewals are taking longer than usual to process. If you need to renew your passport (or apply for one for the first time), we recommend you begin this process immediately to ensure you have ample time to receive it.
Currency and Spending Information: The currency on board and throughout our journey is the euro. Your shipboard account is set up during the embarkation/check-in process and a major credit card is required (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express). All onboard purchases are billed to your shipboard spending account. Your account will be settled at the end of the voyage and may be paid in either cash (USD) or credit card.
Please note:
- The ship is unable to honor personal checks, traveler’s checks, or letters of credit.
- If you want to change your money, it is possible to exchange money in the respective local currency in all ports of call outside the EU; exchange offices are usually located near the docks.
- Your gratuities for any services provided in the itinerary are included. Please note that if you plan on purchasing amenities and services outside of the itinerary (spa reservations, for example), the gratuity is not included in the fees.
Additional Reminders:
- Pack your travel and medical insurance information with coverage documentation.
- Contact your bank in advance about your travel plans.
- We recommend recording your credit card information and lost/stolen card hotline should you need to contact your bank at any point during the voyage.
- It is recommended to explore your data plan with your smartphone provider ahead of your trip.
- Travel insurance is not required for the trip, but it is highly recommended that you purchase it. Please contact our preferred partners at Travelex for a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are happy to coordinate your flights. Please reach out to the Inspirato Air Desk here.
- International flights to and from Vienna, Austria, and Nuremberg, Germany
- Airport transfers
- Pre- and post-program hotel stays
- Pre- and post-program touring
- Meals outside of the itinerary inclusions
- Additional premium and reserve spirits selections are available for an additional charge
- Expenses that are of a personal nature such as meals ashore, dry cleaning/laundry, spa appointments, etc.
- Travel insurance (recommended)
The Amadeus Star has 82 staterooms, accommodating 164 members, their family, and friends.
This river cruise is best suited for kids 8 years and older. While there is no minimum age requirement, all guests on board, regardless of age, count as an occupant in a stateroom. Also, there is no children-specific programming both on and off the ship. Some shore excursions may not be age-appropriate for those under 8 years old.
Within three business days of booking, you may cancel for a full refund. After three business days, reservations are non-refundable unless Inspirato is able to rebook the package. If Inspirato is able to rebook, the Inspirato member will receive 90% back in Travel Credits. If applicable, this would be refunded one day after the package is rebooked.
Embarkation begins in Vienna at 4 p.m. on December 4, 2021. Disembarkation will take place in Nuremberg on December 10, 2021, no later than 9 a.m.
Average fall temperatures along the Danube River range from highs around 45°F to lows around 35°F. Prepare for snow as lower temperatures are expected this time of year. Please view the packing list for more details.
Yes, complimentary daily shore excursions are included in the cost of your cruise fare. Inspirato excursions offer a variety of options to experience the Christmas magic on the Danube River. Premium excursions will be offered at an additional cost and charged to your cabin on board the ship.
There will be entertainment and enrichment offered daily on board. Highlights include lectures, cooking demonstrations, onboard music performances, and piano music. Whether it’s traditional European music, a classical quartet, or contemporary piano favorites, you will enjoy an eclectic schedule of onboard entertainment every night.
The ship’s onboard restaurant provides a relaxed environment and accommodates all guests with open seating. It offers international and local cuisine.
Start your day with a generous continental breakfast buffet to which the staff will be pleased to add various freshly cooked egg dishes straight from the kitchen. For lunch, choose between varied menus and buffet specialties in the Panorama Restaurant or a light lunch alternative in the Panorama Bar. Four- to five-course menus will be composed for dinner. Complimentary hot coffee and tea are available all day.
If you have special dietary requirements (vegan, diabetic, gluten-free, etc.), please advise your Care team prior to your departure date. The culinary team will make every effort to accommodate your request with the resources available to them.
Soft drinks, coffee, tea, bottled water, beer, select spirits, and a selection of complimentary wines are included with your voyage fare. Additional premium and reserve selections are available for an additional charge. See any of the bar or dining staff for details.
All staterooms and suites have a comfortable seating area, an Infotainment system with flat-screen TV, telephone, safe, spacious wardrobe, and hair dryer. Each cabin has individually adjustable heating and air conditioning and a comfortable bathroom with spa-quality toiletries. Dressing gowns and slippers are provided in Mozart Suite and are also available on request with reception.
While on board, you may make and receive phone calls, text messages, and other select data services on your own mobile phone or PDA device. You will be billed by your home mobile phone provider and calls or messages will appear as roaming charges on your bill. Before leaving home, contact your provider to purchase an international voice, data, and messaging plan.
The ship is equipped with a telephone system that allows you to make direct-dial phone calls from your stateroom while at sea. Calls will be billed to your onboard account. Please consult the ship’s Reception Desk for the current rate.
Onboard internet services are available and complimentary. You may use your own laptop to conveniently access the internet and personal email in the privacy of your own stateroom, and wireless internet (Wi-Fi) locations throughout the ship. Service may be briefly interrupted in remote areas, while sailing, or when moving through locks, and the speed will likely be slower than what you are used to back home.
There are no medical facilities on board. However, medical services can easily be called from shore if required.
At the time of booking, expectant mothers are required to supply a medical certificate establishing their fitness for travel at the time they are due to travel. The Amadeus Star is unable to accommodate women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy and will not be responsible or liable for any complication relative to any pregnancy during the entire duration of the cruise. Additionally, airlines may have restrictions on travel that may differ from Amadeus’ policies. Please contact your travel professional or airline.
By booking passage and by boarding the ship, the passenger represents and warrants that he/she is physically and otherwise fit to travel, and that he/she will comply at all times with applicable rules and regulations of the ship and orders and instructions of the ship’s officers and medical staff.
Amadeus Star has no baggage or weight restrictions; however, it is important to remember that all luggage and personal items (including golf clubs) must be stored in your stateroom. Due to the size of the ship, additional storage options are not available.
Yes, onboard laundry service is available to wash and iron your clothes for a small fee. Please note that there are no dry-cleaning facilities on board.
For Inspirato and Amadeus, the comfort, enjoyment, and safety of all members is paramount. Smoking is not allowed aboard any sightseeing motorcoach. Onboard smoking is allowed only in a designated area of the sun deck. Members are asked to refrain from smoking on shore excursions/tours, especially because many historical sites and other tourist attractions in Europe are now smoke-free as well.
No, there is not a casino on this cruise.
Yes. Get your heart pumping in the onboard fitness center.
No, there is not a pool on this cruise.
Yes. Throw your everyday life overboard and start your own personal program of well-being: This is best done with a relaxing massage by our trained spa specialists or a beauty appointment with our onboard hairdresser. There is an additional fee for these services.
Our pre-cruise host hotels in Vienna are Palais Coburg and Hotel Sacher Wien. The post-cruise hotel in Nuremberg is Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nuremberg, which can be booked at an additional cost.
The voltage on board the ship is 230 volts, the European standard. To use any electrical product that is not dual voltage (e.g., from the U.S., Canada, Australia, or the UK), you will need a plug adaptor and some devices will require an electrical converter. Many electronic devices have built-in electrical converters; however, please check the manufacturer’s specifications for details. A two-pole adaptor is also available at reception. It is recommended that you pack an international adapter for Europe.
All gratuities for the ship’s staff and crew, as well as your onshore tour guides, are included in your cruise fare. When going ashore on your own, keep in mind that tipping is less expected and more modest in Europe than it is in North America (although equally appreciated). Inspirato likely will make a contribution to “crew welfare” on behalf of all members and guests to reward exceptional service.
For health, safety, and regulatory reasons, passengers may not bring certain items aboard (including but not limited to): explosives, weapons, irons, candles, hazardous chemicals and materials, or equipment that may interfere with ship’s systems or disrupt the enjoyment of the voyage by other passengers. Illegal substances may not be brought aboard. Silversea reserves the right to make adjustments to this policy and deny the bringing aboard of items deemed unsafe/illegal.
The Amadeus Star cannot accommodate pets on any voyage.
Questions? We're here to help.
Please contact the experiences team at experiences@inspirato.com