December transforms your journey into a winter wonderland as you traverse three of Europe's most historic rivers during the continent's most magical season. Beginning in Vienna's imperial splendor, this unique route carries you backwards along the Danube, then up the Rhine to discover the intimate charms of the Moselle Valley.

December's timing is pure poetry - Christmas markets reach their festive peak while winter's embrace creates cozy riverside sanctuaries perfect for mulled wine and heartwarming local traditions.

Retracing your Danube steps reveals how winter transforms familiar landscapes into crystalline fairylands. Nuremberg's Hauptmarkt becomes Europe's most famous Christmas market, while Frankfurt's Römerberg glows with centuries-old traditions. The transition from the Rhine's grandeur to the Moselle's intimate beauty mirrors the month's progression from Christmas anticipation to New Year reflection.

The Moselle Valley in winter offers river cruising's most romantic chapter - terraced vineyards sleep under frost while medieval villages nestle into protective hillsides.

Cochem's castle overlooks wine cellars offering tastings by firelight, while Bernkastel-Kues reveals why Riesling reigns supreme in this dramatic landscape.

Your month concludes in Luxembourg City, where New Year's celebrations in one of Europe's smallest capitals create an intimate finale to this Christmas river odyssey. The combination of three distinct waterways, peak winter season, and holiday traditions makes this leg truly unforgettable.