|
13 Days The Blue Danube - Eastbound River Cruise Tour Package
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Priced From: $3,990 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: May - Sep/08
Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard a Our riverboat traveling the second longest river in Europe on this Danube River cruise. Take in views of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Enjoy an Imperial evening with dinner and music in Vienna, a wine tasting, and Slovakian and Austrian entertainment. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the historic districts of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, plus the castle-studded Wachau Valley, and Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows, and glockenspiels. Spend three nights in Prague and two nights in Budapest to check out the castles, cathedrals, palaces, and stunning architecture.
Itinerary
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Arrive in Prague
Tour starts at 6:00 p.m. in Prague, Czech Republic. Your transfer from Prague's Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel is included in the tour. Meet your fellow travelers and Our Directors at the welcome reception and dinner and preview your Danube River cruise!
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 2: Legacy of Prague
Choose to take a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – as well as Wenceslas Square and other "Velvet Revolution" sites. Or opt to visit Josefov, Prague's historic Jewish Quarter, where a walking tour includes the Jewish Museum and Pinkas Synagogue (may not be available on some departures due to Jewish holidays).
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 3: Hradcany and a Private Gala Evening at Nelahozeves Castle
Visit Prague's ancient Hradcany district today; see Prague Castle's 1,000-year-old complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens, along with the Cathedral of St. Vitus and Strahov Monastery. Tonight, join us for an exclusive gala evening at Nelahozeves Castle; meet members of the former Czech nobility, and enjoy wine from their vineyards.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 4: Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise begins
Drive to the well-preserved German town of Regensburg. Visit the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube, the 15th-century town hall, and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Board the riverboat to launch your Danube River cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 5: Spend the day in Passau
Enjoy the views from your riverboat's sun deck, lounge, or the windows of your outside cabin. Your first port-of-call is Passau, Germany; take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass. See the Altes Rathaus, a 13th-century town hall with murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 6: Salzburg sights or relax in Linz
Choose to stay on the riverboat while docked in Linz, Austria, or take the full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The day trip includes Mirabell Gardens, Mozart’s birthplace, and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces. Enjoy Austrian entertainment on board this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 7: Wachau Valley cruise and picturesque Dürnstein
Your Danube River cruise continues through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Take a walking tour amidst Dürnstein's cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and a former Augustinian monastery. Enjoy some free time, and attend a wine tasting at a local winery.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 8: Music and more in Imperial Vienna
Get an overview of Vienna, Austria, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg. Tonight, attend a private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace, which features dinner and live Viennese music.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 9: Cruise the Danube to ancient Slovakia
Pursue your own interests this morning in Vienna – which boasts over a thousand museums – and then return to the riverboat for a cruise to Slovakia. Admire the scenery and hear a presentation on Slovak culture; enjoy Slovakian folkloric entertainment in the evening after dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 10: Baroque in Bratislava
Dock in Bratislava, ancient capital of Slovakia. On a guided walking tour you'll view several Baroque palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, St. Martin's Cathedral and emerald green St. Michael’s Gate, the only preserved gate from the city's medieval fortifications. Explore on your own in the afternoon, and attend the evening shipboard farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 11: Disembark the Riverboat and explore Budapest
The Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split in half by the Danube River. On the Buda side, head to Gellért Hill for views of the city. Take a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See Fishermen’s Bastion, with Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows in Matthias Church. After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
Day 12: Discover the landmarks of Pest
Explore the Pest side of the city, including Heroes’ Square bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary. See the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884 with a gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, and a three-ton chandelier. View the Parliament building, a neo-Gothic masterpiece; and stroll Váci Utca, a fashionable promenade. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
Day 13: Homeward bound
Tour ends in Budapest, Hungary. A transfer to Budapest's Ferihegy Airport from the InterContinental Budapest is included in the tour. Allow 2 1/2 hours for departure flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the Uniworld River Cruise vacation planner to be contacted by a Europe River Cruise vacation specialist.
Contact : Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
9/08
|
