| This special
Danube cruise has been carefully created specifically
for lovers of classical
music, with special programmes on board and ashore. Its
highlights are, without any
doubt, the performances in the world famous opera houses
in the musical strongholds of
Budapest and Vienna. Introductory discussions on board,
led by an expert on classical
music, prepare you to derive maximum enjoyment from the
music you will hear. |
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7-night cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom
superb dining with all meals included during your
cruise
coffee and tea after lunch and dinner
quality red & white wines from Europe’s
great wine regions with every dinner onboard the ship
welcome cocktail, Welcome Dinner & Captain’s
Gala Dinner
daily onboard music performances by the board-musicians
services of an experienced, multilingual cruise director
programs, excursions and features which are marked
as “included” in
the itinerary
opera performances in the opera houses of Vienna and
Budapest (depending on availability in the Thalia theatre
in Budapest)
especially selected music program ashore and on board
lectures to the opera performances
non-smoking environment (smoking permitted only on
the Sun-Deck)
port taxes and local taxes
the modern wireless audiosystem “Quietvox” for
all excursions during the cruise
Merian travel guide “Europe’s most beautiful
rivers”
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OPERA TICKETS - we have booked the following tickets:
State Opera Vienna: category 5 (higher category possible
for an extra charge on request)
Volksoper Vienna: category 2 (higher category possible
for an extra charge on request)
State Opera Budapest: highest category |
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Do
you love classical music? Then this Danube cruise is
bound to appeal to your musical self, as not only does
it take you to the high temples of central Europe’s
musical past, namely to the world famous opera houses
of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, but music on board
also plays, as it were, first fiddle! |
The
Concilium Musicum ensemble will present you with selected
musical jewels, while before each concert and opera
performance a lecturer will introduce you to the scores
and libretti of the pieces concerned with great expertise
and enthusiasm.
On this musical cruise, therefore, you at last have sufficient time,
space and leisure not only to get yourself into the right mood for each
musical experience, but also to let it sink in properly afterwards.
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Day
1 - Embarkation in Passau
at 3 p.m. The ship leaves the port at 4 p.m. and heads
downstream towards Vienna taking you through a lovely
stretch of the Danube known as the Schlögener
Schlinge. After these first scenic impressions of the
Danube and seeing round your "floating hotel",
our courier on board will welcome you with a cocktail
in the Panorama Bar. Before the welcome dinner comes
the first musical performance in the panorama bar on
board. |
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Day
2 - Around 8 a.m. the ship docks for a short
stop at Tulln. At this point you may want to join us
on our Vienna sightseeing tour (incl.), to see all
the important sights of this metropolis on the Danube.
A city of music and joie de vivre - where Sachertorte
and Heuriger are just as famous as St. Stephen’s
Cathedral and the Imperial Palace.
Meanwhile the ship continues the cruise and reaches the port of Vienna
at 11 a.m., where all passengers rejoin the ship. |
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ship pulls away for Budapest at 1 p.m. Relax on board
in the afternoon, and admire the Danube riverscape floating
gently by, while an expert lecture will explain the opera
performance of Budapest. In the evening a concert is
given in the Panorama Bar before Dinner. |
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Day
3 - The Vessel arrives in Budapest
around 7.30 a.m. In the morning the Budapest sightseeing
tour (incl.) encompasses all the major sights of the
city.
In the early evening you are driven through Budapest’s illuminated
streets to the performance at the State Opera. The ship stays in Budapest
overnight. |
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Day
4 - After breakfast an expert lecture will
explain the opera performances of Bratislava. Enjoy
the morning at your disposal. You may wish to stroll
through the lively shopping malls of Budapest or visit
the "Museum of Fine Arts" with its collection
of old masters. Following lunch on board, the party
joining the Szentendre- Esztergom excursion (opt.)
leaves here to continue by bus via Visegrad to Esztergom.
cost of € 33 pp |
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ship sails upstream through the Danube Bend, one of the
most beautiful scenic stretches of the Danube, also known
as the "Hungarian Wachau".
We arrive at Esztergom at 6 p.m., where we get a tremendous
view of the vast cathedral above the Danube. All passengers come aboard
again. Before dinner you can enjoy a Hungarian folklore evening on board.
Following the ship pulls away for Bratislava. |
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Day
5 - We dock in Bratislava
around 9 a.m. During our Bratislava sightseeing tour
(incl.)
you can get to know the capital of Slovakia. After
lunch an expert lecture will explain the opera performances
of Vienna. The remaining afternoon is at your disposal.
In the evening, your cruise director will accompany you to the performance
at the opera. The ship pulls away for Vienna around midnight. |
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Day
6 - We reache Vienna in
the morning. You can see round the Schönbrunn
castle (opt.), followed by a lovely performance in
its famous puppet theatre. In the evening a coach takes
you to a performance at Vienna’s State Opera
House or Volksoper, and back to the ship again afterwards.
We leave Vienna around midnight. |
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Day
7 - Enjoy a substantial breakfast in the morning
as the impressive landscape passes by. At 9.30 a.m.
the ship berths at Emmersdorf and you have an opportunity
to join a guided tour on foot, through the world famous
900-year old Baroque Benedictine Abbey of Melk (opt.).
We casts off for Passau at 1.30 p.m. Enjoy the afternoon
on the sun deck as the impressive landscape passes by. |
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this last evening of your Danube cruise you can enjoy
the final musical performance in the Panorama Bar, before
the captain invites you to the Captain’s Gala Dinner. |
Day
8-
Vessel arrives at Passau,
the town where the rivers meet, at about 8 a.m. Disembarkation
by 9.00 a.m. End of the cruise. |
Subject
to alterations!
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