Day 1
Embarkation
on the vessel in Passau, the city where three rivers
meet. The ship leaves port in the afternoon and takes
you
through a lovely stretch of the Danube known as the Schloegener Schlinge.
After these first scenic impressions of the
Danube, our cruise director will welcome you with a cocktail before the
official welcome dinner.
Day 2
At midday, the vessel puts into port at Vienna. The afternoon is at your
disposal to discover the metropolis on the Danube.
The city of music and joie de vivre where Sachertorte and Heuriger are
just as famous as St. Stephen's Cathedral and the
Imperial Palace. See all the important sights on our Vienna sightseeing
tour (€ 30) or explore this city full of tradition on your own.
After dinner you can join the excursion “Vienna at night” (€ 35).
You will drive through the Wienerwald to the Kahlenberg, the best view
point in Vienna. From here, you can overlook the vineyards and the city
of Vienna. Continue to the traditional wine village of Grinzing, where
you visit a typical Heurigen pub. There is no better way to learn about
the Viennese laid back atmosphere and coziness, then enjoying a glass
of wine, trying spreads with bread, and listening to „Heurigen” music.
At the end of this tour enjoy some of the beauties of Vienna at night,
as we take you along the illuminated Ringstrasse where you can admire
the gorgeous buildings. The ship leaves Vienna at midnight, heading downstream
to Bratislava.
Day
3
In the morning the ship moors in the city of Bratislava, which was founded
over 2,000 years ago. Now capital of Slovakia, it
was also capital of Hungary for a while during the late Middle Ages,
which is a good illustration of how the chequered
histories of these central European countries are inter-related. A sightseeing
tour (€ 30) reveals the city’s major sights. From 13th-century
Bratislava Castle, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views overlooking
three countries-Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. In the afternoon you can
book the optional excursion to the Little Carpathians (€ 35) or
to the Imperial Festival Palace Castle Hof (€ 35). During the excursion
to the Little Carpathians you can encounter the beautiful scenery with
vineyards and small towns at their foot similar to a string of pearls.
Also you will visit the former royal castle Cerveny Kamen (Red Stone).
Later´ you can enjoy a wine tasting and a visit of a small private
ceramic factory. Castle Hof is a magnificent complex that was built in
the early 18th century. Unique in Europe, this world of adventure has
ever since become a top destination for those who seek culture, nature
and delight and want to explore the fascinating world of the Baroque
in all its authenticity and diversity in an historical ambience.
Day 4
In the morning you reach Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Budapest is
a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of
the Danube. Buda is the older and more graceful part, with its cobbled
streets and medieval architecture, while Pest is the administrative and
commercial centre, with wide avenues and impressive 19th-century public
buildings. East meets West in this fascinating city, and this can be
seen in the variety of shops and restaurants. This morning you may join
a city sightseeing tour (€ 30), or look around Budapest at your
leisure. In the afternoon you have the possibility to join an excursion
to castle Gödöllö (€ 40). Castle Gödöllö,
which is about 30 km from Budapest, was built in the 18th century. In
the era of the imperial monarchy it became a symbol of Empress Elisabeth,
who was nick-named ‘Sissi’ and much loved by the Hungarians.
Nestling in an enormous park this is the largest complex of Baroque buildings
in Hungary and attractive to everyone – not just lovers of Baroque.
You can go round rooms that have been carefully restored in recent years,
and also see the former stables. Before you go back to the vessel you
visit a typical Hungarian “Csarda” where you enjoy Hungarian
horse riding show. After dinner on board a gypsy band and a Hungarian
folklore group will entertain you while cruising along Budapest’s
impressive illuminations.
Day
5
In the morning you can explore the city on your own. After lunch the
vessel leaves Budapest. Passengers who booked the
excursion to Szentendre and Esztergom (€ 35) will leave the vessel.
In the meantime the ship cruises to Eztergom where it docks in the evening
to pick up the participants of the excursion. Departing form Budapest
you drive along the Danube to the small artist’s village of Szentendre.
After a walk you continue to the imposing ruins of Visegrad, from where
you have a
marvellous view of the Danube „knee”. Next stop is Esztergom,
the highlight of this tour. The city is dominated by the 1820
built and largest neo-classical basilica of the country, one of the largest
churches in Europe. Following the visit of the
Basilica, we await you with a wine tasting before you board the vessel
in Esztergom.
Day
6
At midday the ship arrives in the Austrian capital Vienna. In the afternoon
you can participate in the optional excursion to
Schoenbrunn castle (€ 35), one of Vienna’s most beautiful
buildings. The castle was built on the template of Versailles, the
residence of the Sun King Louis XIV. At the long-time summer residence
of the Habsburgs visit the ceremonial rooms and
then have the opportunity to make a walk in the beautifully designed
gardens of the palace. Alternatively you can book the
visit to the Hofburg Imperial Palace (€ 35). For more than seven
centuries, the great empire of the Habsburgs was ruled from the Imperial
Palace. After dinner on board you have the possibility to participate
in the optional excursion “Sound of Vienna” (€ 46) where
the Salonorchester „Alt Wien“, one of the famous interpreters
of classical music, sparks off a unique firework of the most beautiful
on its highest level.
Day 7
You sail past the famous town of Duernstein this morning, and dock in
the wine growing town of elk/Emmersdorf, at the
western end of the Wachau. A coach excursion can show you more of the
beautiful Wachau area (€ 45), of which the
highlights are a drive through the region and a guided tour of the Benedictine
Abbey at Melk. This excursion also includes a wine tasting. You leave
Emmersdorf after lunch and continue upstream this afternoon, past the
large Austrian city of Linz to reach the border with Germany. On the
last evening of your journey on the Danube, the captain of the vessel
will be
delighted to welcome you to the Captain’s Gala Dinner.
Day 8
The vessel arrives at Passau, the town where the rivers meet. Disembarkation
after breakfast. End of the program.
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