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13 Days The Blue Danube - Westbound River Cruise Tour Package
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Priced From: $3,990 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct /08
 Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard a Our riverboat traveling the second longest river in Europe on one of our popular Danube River cruises. 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 two nights in Budapest and three nights in Prague to check out the castles, cathedrals, palaces, and stunning architecture.
Itinerary
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Begin your adventure in Budapest
Tour starts at 6:00 p.m. in Budapest, Hungary. Your transfer from Budapest's Ferihegy Airport to the InterContinental Budapest is included in the tour. Meet your fellow travelers and Our Directors at the welcome reception and dinner to kick off one of Our Danube River cruises.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
Day 2: Discover the landmarks of Pest
Budapest is split in half by the Danube River. 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.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
• Day 3: Explore Buda and embark your Riverboat
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. Board the riverboat to launch your Danube River cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 4: Baroque in Bratislava
The first port-of-call is Bratislava, 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. Your riverboat sets off for magical Vienna tonight to continue one of our popular Danube River cruises.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 5: Music and more in Imperial Vienna
Arrive in Vienna, Austria; get an overview on 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 6: Explore Vienna and journey to Dürnstein
Pursue your own interests this morning in Vienna – which boasts over a thousand museums – and then return to the riverboat for a cruise past castles and abbeys en route to medieval Dürnstein. High above this village is the castle fortress where England’s King Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner during the Crusades.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 7: Picturesque Dürnstein and Wachau Valley cruise
Your discovery of the Danube River cruises to Dürnstein; take a walking tour amidst its cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and former Augustinian monastery. Enjoy some free time, and attend a wine tasting at a local winery. Cruise through the Wachau Valley, Austria's lush wine-growing region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 8: 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.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
• Day 9: Spend the day in Passau and cruise the Danube
Dock in the German town of Passau; 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 past idyllic German landscapes to Regensburg.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard MS Swiss Diamond or MS Swiss Emerald
Day 10: Disembark in ancient Regensburg and on to Prague
Your Danube river cruise concludes when you disembark your riverboat in the well-preserved Bavarian 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. Explore at leisure before driving to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, known as the City of 100 Spires.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 11: Discover the Legacy of Prague and Attend a Private Gala
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). Tonight, join us for an exclusive gala farewell 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 12: Explore Hradcany and Prague 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. Spend the rest of the day exploring Prague as you please or enjoying the amenities of your hotel, named one of the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 13: Homeward bound
Tour ends in Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer to Prague's Ruzyne International Airport from the Prague Marriott Hotel is included in the tour.
Meals: Breakfast
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Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-415-446-5252 or 1-800-330-8820
10/08
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