Jewels of the Danube

$Starting at 4.198
Starting at Per Person / Taxes incl.

PACKAGE INCLUDES

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS
1 NIGHT PRE-CRUISE IN VIENNA
7 NIGHTS ON THE DANUBE
1 NIGHT POST-CRUISE IN VIENNA
CRUISE ON FULL-BOARD BASIS

9 NIGHTS / 11 DAYS

Day 1: Canada – Vienna (Austria)

Flight with a good itinerary.

Day 2: Vienna

Arrival at the airport in Vienna. You will be greeted by our local representatives after exiting the customs and transferred to your hotel in Vienna. The rest of the day is free for you to start your exploration of Austria’s capital city.

Day 3: Vienna

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, transfer to the port of Vienna to board the river cruise ship. After comfortably settling in your cabin, you will be introduced to the crew at a welcome cocktail. Departure toward Melk in the early evening. (Breakfast-Dinner)

Day 4: Melk – Dürnstein (Austria)

After breakfast on board, free time to explore Melk on your own or opt for the optional visit ($) of the impressive Melk Abbey, home to Benedectine monks since the 11th century. Cruising through the beautiful Wachau Valley with its gothic ruins and picturesque villages, you will reach Dürnstein. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a local guide who will show you around this charming medieval town. Return to the ship at the end of the afternoon and continuation to Bratislava. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Day 5: Bratislava (Slovakia)

Following breakfast, free time to explore Bratislava on your own or opt for the optional guided tour ($) of Slovakia’s capital city. Well-preserved baroque palaces, paved streets and beautiful shaded squares make the charming Old Town of Bratislava, which Empress Marie-Theresa of Austria used to hold dear. Notable buildings include St Martin’s Cathedral, Bratislava Castle, Michael’s Gate and the Main Square. The afternoon will be spent cruising toward Hungary. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Day 6: Kalocsa (Hungary)

Breakfast on board. Morning free to explore the historical city of Kalocsa on your own or opt for an optional excursion ($) in the Puszta (including a traditional horse show), a characteristic landscape of Central Europe composed of treeless plains, saline steppes and salt lakes. The afternoon will be spent cruising toward Budapest, reaching it in the night. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Day 7: Budapest

After breakfast, free time to explore Budapest, “the Pearl of the Danube”, on your own or opt for an optional guided tour ($) to discover this metropolis that was once two distinct cities united only in 1873: Buda, with its rolling hills and valleys, and Pest, with its flatter landscape offering a panoramic view over the banks of the Danube. Also known as the “City of Baths”, Budapest is home to a dozen thermal baths that are naturally fed by more than a hundred hot springs. Relax at Széchenyi Thermal Baths, one of largest bath complexes of Europe built in Neo-Baroque style in 1913, or at the Kiraly Bath, first built in the 16th century under the Ottoman rule, which has key elements of a Turkish bath.

In the evening, join an amazing optional excursion ($) of traditional entertainment in the heart of the city. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Day 8: Budapest – Esztergom (Hungary)

Following breakfast on board, enjoy some free time in Esztergom, one of the oldest cities in Hungary, famous for its cathedral which is the largest church in the country and its medieval castle. The rest of the day will be spent cruising toward Vienna. Gala evening while the ship will sail through the night.

This is the night we like to dress up, although no dress code is imposed. The crew, all in their dress uniform, are presented to the passengers who are invited to have a pre-dinner drink with the captain. That evening, the chef will serve a banquet paying a special tribute to the world of French gastronomy. Dancing follows this gala dinner in the lounge bar. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Day 9: Vienna (Austria)

After breakfast, free time to continue your exploration of Vienna on your own or opt for an optional guided tour ($) of Vienna and Schönbrunn Castle. Walking past the famous sights of Ringstraße boulevard, surrounding the historical center of Vienna, you will see the magnificent Vienna State Opera, the Museum of Art History, the Parliament, the Rathaus (Town Hall), and the Burgtheater. From there, you will go to Schönbrunn Palace, the former Imperial summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty, where you will get a glimpse of the lives of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Empress Elisabeth, nicknamed “Sisi”, on a guided tour of the State Rooms.

In the afternoon, join an optional guided tour ($) of the former Imperial Palace of the Hofburg. (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Day 10: Vienna

Breakfast on board and transfer to your hotel in Vienna. The rest of the day is free to explore this incredible city. Stroll along the banks of the Danube and enjoy a more laid-back atmosphere. Discover the varied and sometimes original architecture of the city. Take a break at one of Vienna’s legendary cafes and in the evening, attend an opera, a ballet or a concert of classical music in one of the city’s prestigious halls. (Breakfast)