Discover grand cities and quaint villages on this 8-day journey along the “Blue Danube." Explore both sides of fascinating Budapest, experience Vienna’s imperial architecture and gracious culture, and tour riverside towns in Austria’s Wachau Valley. In Germany, explore a baroque abbey and stroll cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses.
During your 8-day journey, discover the grand cities and quaint villages along the celebrated Danube River. Explore both sides of Hungary’s capital—traditional “Buda” and modern “Pest”—and from Fishermen’s Bastion, see how the river divides the city. Experience Vienna’s imperial architecture and time-honored culture, and tour riverside towns in Austria’s Wachau Valley. And in Germany, explore a baroque abbey and stroll cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses. Savor the tastes of authentic dishes, learn about local legends, and you will understand why Strauss immortalized the romantic Danube in his famous Blue Danube waltz.
Begin your journey with three exciting nights in Budapest.
1 Budapest
Welcome to Budapest, Hungary’s vibrant capital divided by the Danube River. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your ship.* After boarding, you have free time to visit both sides, traditional “Buda” and modern “Pest.” (D)
2 Budapest
Your morning tour begins with a motorcoach ride through the Pest side of the city. Journey along famous Andrássy Avenue and see numerous 19th- and 20th-century mansions and the National Opera House. Other noted sites are the renowned Parliament Building and Chain Bridge. You stop in Heroes’ Square to learn more about Hungarian culture and history. Next, cross the Danube to the Buda side for a tour of the Castle District. Walk up the hill to see Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church and catch brilliant views of the city below. Return to your ship for lunch and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
3 Vienna
Arrive in Vienna just after breakfast for your half-day city tour. Visit the baroque Belvedere Palace with colorful gardens and wonderful art. Then ride along the beautiful Ringstrasse, with sights including the Opera House, Stadtpark and Hofburg Theater. You then visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Return to your ship for lunch. The afternoon is yours to further explore this city on your own. You may go shopping along the Kärtnerstrasse or take an excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, home of Maria Theresa and the Habsburgs’ summer residence. Dinner is served aboard and you may choose to complete your day in this “City of Waltzes” with an optional evening concert. (B, L, D)
4 Melk & Linz
Join a guided tour through the ornate interior of this baroque gem of architecture—the Benedictine abbey at Melk. See its wonderful frescoes and medieval manuscripts inside the large library, and take time to see the garden courtyard. Rejoin your ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise along the Danube. Cruise through dinner and arrive this evening in Linz, a quaint town in the center of Austria’s wine-producing region. Enjoy your evening at leisure with a stroll around town or sample some locally-produced wines. (B, L, D)
5 Passau
Arrive midmorning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. Your guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through the Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. You see the Oberhaus Fortress and visit the impressive baroque St. Stephan’s Cathedral with its ornate interior. Inside, you are treated to a special concert played on the 17,000-pipe organ, considered Europe’s largest church organ.† Eat lunch aboard, but return to the city for further exploration on your own before an early evening departure and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
†Passau organ concert not available after November 1.
6 Regensburg & Kelheim
After breakfast you meet your guide dockside for a walking tour through the scenic town of Regensburg, considered one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. You see one of the largest groupings of 13th- and 14th-century church spires, towers and patrician houses north of the Alps. You also encounter the 12th-century Old Stone Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral and a number of idyllic courtyards. Take time to stroll the streets or shop before returning to your ship for lunch and afternoon cruising. Arrive midafternoon in Kelheim at the southernmost point of the Main-Danube Canal. From here, you embark on a ferryboat ride to explore the Danube Gorge’s dramatic scenery and its spectacular 400-foot chalk cliffs. You then visit the renowned Weltenburg Abbey, which still echoes with age-old chants. It is famous for its dark ale, brewed here by monks since 1050. An evening departure is followed by dinner aboard. (B, L, D)
7 Main-Danube Canal & Nuremberg
Very early this morning, you sail through a number of locks that comprise the Main-Danube Canal, an engineering marvel stretching 106 miles from Bamberg on the Main River to Kelheim on the Danube. Begun as Charlemagne’s dream in 793, it was completed in 1992 with 16 locks that raise the water level 1,332 feet. Today it enables river travel from the North Sea to the Black Sea. Arrive during breakfast in Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city. Your motorcoach tour features Zeppelin Grounds, the Main Railway Station and the Palace of Justice, historic home of the Nuremberg Trials. You have a brief stop at the Court House before returning to the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. You see Elizabeth and St. James Church, and your tour ends with a walk from the castle grounds, passing the Albrecht Dürer House and Main Market Square. Or, join an optional World War II history tour visiting the Documentation Center Museum. Lunch is served aboard, but you have the rest of the evening to explore; your ship remains docked overnight. (B, L, D)
8 Nuremberg
After breakfast, disembark and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.* (B)
Fine Dining: This cruise includes 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners, plus a welcome cocktail reception.
Once you have paid in full for your trip, you are safe from any additional charges. Airfare increases, currency fluctuations, increased fuel surcharges, new government taxes—none of these will apply to you.
Port Charges: Included on all Itineraries Included with Airfare: Air Taxes, Fees, Fuel Surcharges & Transfers
Daily Shore Excursions Included on virtually every Itinerary
All Meals Included on virtually every Itinerary
Staterooms: 75 (63 deluxe, 12 standard)
Deluxe Stateroom: (Cat A, B, C, D) 154 sq. ft.
Standard Stateroom (Cat E) 120 sq. ft.
All staterooms are outside with river view
Category A, B, C & D have large windows that open
Category E has half-height picture window that cannot be opened
Deluxe staterooms have hotel-style beds
Standard staterooms have a Pullman bed and a sofa bed
All beds are equipped with a feather duvet (or hypoallergenic substitute on request)
Additionally, the following is supplied in all staterooms on embarkation day: ship information folder containing welcome letter and two postcards.
The Daily Program for the following day will be delivered each evening to your room.
2009 Rates per person including port fees, all meals on board and Shore excursion.
Sailings from March-November Category E rates from $1,799-$3,199 Group discounts from $250-$375 Category D rates from $2,299-$3,799 Group discounts from $275-$475 Category C rates from $2,499-$3,899 Group discounts from $275-$525 Category B rates from $2,699-$4,099 Group discounts from $275-$525 Category A rates from $2,799-$4,299 Group discounts from $275-$475
Book five cabins with 9 passengers and the 10th passenger cruises FREE
Also Available
Eastern European Odyssey 16 DAYS
Wonder at the grand cities of the Habsburg Dynasty and the ancient remains of Roman Empire outposts on this 16-day Eastern European voyage. Experience vibrant capital cities like Bucharest, Budapest and Vienna, wonderfully preserved towns, and the natural beauty of the Danube’s exquisite Iron Gate region and the Black Sea’s coast.
Ports of call Arbanasi | Belgrade | Belogradshick | Bratislava | Bucharest | Budapest | Iron Gate | Kalocsa | Linz | Melk | Nuremberg | Passau | Regensburg | Varna | Veliko Tarnovo | Vidin | Vienna
Grand European Tour 15 DAYS
Imagine 15 magical days along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, seeing the best of Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Explore the historic cities of Vienna, Bratislava, and imperial Budapest, admire Holland’s windmill-studded tulip fields and Germany’s fairy-tale castles, and enjoy the picturesque vineyards of Austria’s Wachau Valley.
Call 800-640-4899 for detailed itineraries and 2009 Discounted rates
Prices always lower than the cruise lines .
We have sailed the ships, slept in the beds, taken the shore excursions and eaten the food. Our prices are lower than the cruise lines. Call 800-640-4899
