Cruise along the peaceful Danube River through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary—stopping at some of Central Europe’s most splendid capitals and charming towns along the way.Passau, Germany, is called the “City of Three Rivers” as it lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers. Walk through the city with a Local Guide and admire the Patrician houses and baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In Linz, Austria, walk around the Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square which forms the center of the city and be sure to get a photo of the splendid Trinity Column. Enjoy the magnificent views as your river cruise takes you through the picturesque wine region of the Wachau Valley. Stop in Melk to visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey and Dürnstein to see the famous blue and white Stiftskirche and taste some of the local wines. Vienna, the “City of Music,” makes an immediate impression with its lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace and neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House. Enjoy a guided tour of this magical city and then take time to explore on your own. Visit a classic Viennese Coffee House and stroll along the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse. In Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, a guided walk takes you through the delightful Old Town and to the gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral.In Budapest, the vibrant capital of Hungary, a local expert shows you all the must-see sights. Then to round out this timeless European river cruise, take a stroll along Váci utca—the main shopping street—enjoy a cream cake at the renowned Gerbeaud Café, or take pictures from Fishermen’s Bastion, which provides the best panoramic views of Budapest.
City Highlights
Day 1 Deggendorf (Embarkation): onboard welcome receptionDay 2 Passau: guided walkDay 3 Linz: guided sightseeingDay 4 Melk–Dürnstein: guided visit of the Benedectine Abbey in Melk; cruise through the Wachau Valley; guided walk in Dürnstein; wine tastingDay 5 Vienna: guided sightseeingDay 6 Bratislava: guided sightseeing, visit St. Martin’s CathedralDay 7 Budapest: guided sightseeing, see Fishermen’s Bastion and Heroes’ SquareDay 8 Budapest (Disembarkation): your vacation ends this morning
Notes
Departure April 6 is offered as an exclusive Beer Tasting Cruises, including special lectures and tastings at no additional cost. A visit to Europe is even better when it includes a discovery of the regional beers! Enjoy onboard tastings, visit historic breweries, and learn about European beer-brewing techniques during fascinating onboard lectures. Prost!Departure October 31 is offered as an exclusive Wine Appreciation Cruise, including special features and tastings at no additional cost. Your palate will applaud as you learn what to look for in a good wine. A distinguished wine authority will teach you the ropes as you visit a wine village and attend tastings to test your newfound talent.In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); the responsibility for obtaining a visa rests with the traveler.
PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WDB0-2018