DANUBE RIVER CRUISE Budapest to Prague

Budapest (Embarkation)-Danube Bend: Choice of guided tour with travel writer Kinga Tittel, or guided bike tour, or city sightseeing tour in Budapest; onboard welcome reception; scenic sailing

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Visegrád: Choice of medieval knights tournament, or guided hike in the Danube-Ipoly National Park, or canoe tour

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Vienna: Choice of bike tour, or Insider’s tour of Vienna, or guided tour, visit to Belvedere Palace, early risers walking tour with breakfast at a Viennese café, or guided tour, see Habsburg private art collection and the Italian or Dutch masters works, or guided tour, see Habsburg private art collection and the Military Museum

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Krems-Grein: In Krems choice of canoe tour, or bike tour from Krems to Spitz, or Wine World Experience with tasting, or local encounter showcasing regional products; visit Clam castle in Grein and meet the Count

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Grein-Mauthausen-Linz: Guided walk in Grein, visit the historical theater; in Mauthausen, choice of visit to St. Florian Monastery, or guided tour of Mauthausen Concentration Camp, or guided bike tour

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Engelhartszell-Schlögener Oxbow: Choice of visit to Engelszell Abbey, or visit Jochenstein Power-Station or guided bike tour; choice of scenic cruising around the Schlögener Oxbow, or guided hike along the Danube trails

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Deggendorf (Disembarkation)-Cesky Krumlov-Prague: Guided tour in Cesky Krumlov; transfer to Prague

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Prague: Choice of urban hike, or guided city tour see the Astronomical Clock and visit Hradcany Castle grounds

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DAY 1 - Fly to BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Welcome to Budapest—Hungary’s Captivating Capital. The day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.

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DAY 2 - BUDAPEST (EMBARKATION)–DANUBE BEND

The Pearl of the Danube. Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

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ACTIVE See the sights from a different perspective by joining a Guided Bike Tour along the bike paths and pedestrian areas of the city, OR:

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DISCOVERY Join the author of “Fabulous Budapest” for an unforgettable introduction to the local people, places, and experiences that makes Budapest so special," OR:

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CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Budapest to see the city’s most iconic sites.

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Spend free time shopping for Hungarian paprika or handcrafted souvenirs, or savor a piece of cream cake in one of the many cafés.

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Enjoy a Hungarian Dinner on board during a scenic cruise through the Danube Bend.

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Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

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EVENING CRUISE TO VISEGRÁD

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Breakfast |  Dinner

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DAY 3 - VISEGRÁD

Today experience Jousting Tournaments and Dracula’s Tower!

 

ACTIVE Visit Count Dracula’s prison tower on a Hiking Tour, OR:

 

ACTIVE Take a Canoe Excursion through the picturesque Bend Region of the Danube for a unique perspective of one of the river’s most beautiful stretches, OR:

 

DISCOVERY Join a Guided Visit to the Medieval Knights Tournament at Visegrád’s Lower Castle, featuring targeting and fighting demonstrations by members of the St. George Knightly Order.

 

Spend free time after your selected activities to explore Palotaház, where stonemasons, smiths, potters, and paper-makers produce their traditional items using age-old techniques.

 

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA

 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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DAY 4 - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel and Sachertorte

 

ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the famed Ringstrasse and pedestrian avenues of Vienna to see the city’s highlights from a unique perspective, OR:

 

DISCOVERY Take an Insider’s Tour of Vienna to get behind the scenes of her sights and attractions. You will meet locals, have the chance to prepare some food, and enjoy other surprises, OR:

 

CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Vienna, including a tour of Belvedere Palace to see Gustave Klimt’s renowned “Kiss” painting.

 

Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse then take a break for a piece of Sachertorte.

 

This evening consider joining an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.

 

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA

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(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

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DAY 5 -  VIENNA

A Feast for the Soul

 

DISCOVERY Enjoy a morning Guided Walking Tour to see the city in her best light, along with breakfast at a Viennese café, OR:

 

CLASSIC Dive into one of the world’s most important museums with a Guided Tour of the Habsburg family’s private art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, and enjoy Italian or Dutch master works, OR:

 

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by the Military Museum, commemorating the past of the Habsburg Empire.

 

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KREMS

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

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DAY 6 -  KREMS

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. Take a Canoe or a Bike through Austria’s Wine Country

 

ACTIVE Paddle a canoe on a Guided Tour to see the Austrian waterways and shoreline scenery from a unique perspective, OR:

 

ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour from Krems to Spitz, and enjoy a stop in Dürnstein to see the mesmerizing blue Stiftskirche, and to sample local specialties, OR:

 

DISCOVERY Join an interactive Wine World Experience with wine tasting, OR:

 

DISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Visit that showcases production of regional fruits, vegetables, wine, or other products.

 

Relax on board this afternoon to enjoy the picturesque Wachau Valley scenery as you cruise to Grein.

 

GREIN

 

A Modern-Day Castle and the Count

 

DISCOVERY See Burg Clam on a Guided Visit, and meet the Count of Clam during your tour.

 

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN GREIN

 

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

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DAY 7 -  GREIN

Theater History...Alive and Well in Grein

 

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk of Grein, including its historic theater, the oldest in Austria still holding regular performances.

 

Take a mid-morning cruise to Mauthausen.

 

MAUTHAUSEN

 

History Lessons and Monastic Life

 

ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the Danube and discover how fertile this area is. Stop at a local farm and learn more about farming life and flood protection, OR:

 

CLASSIC Visit the 9th-century St. Florian Monastery—the largest monastery in upper Austria and home to Augustine monks, OR:

 

CLASSIC Join a sobering Guided Tour of Mauthausen Concentration Camp, one of the largest and most brutal Nazi camp of WWII.

 

This afternoon sail to Linz arriving this evening.

 

LINZ

 

Legendary, Lovely Linz

 

Tonight, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

 

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ENGELHARTSZELL

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(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

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DAY 8 -  ENGELHARTSZELL–SCHLÖGEN OXBOW

Memories and Beer in the Making

 

ACTIVE Bike your way to a local trappist monastery in Engelhartszell, OR:

 

DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to the “House by the stream” (Haus am Strom) and walk across the Danube Power-Station Jochenstein, OR:

 

CLASSIC Visit the stunning rococo-style Engelszell Abbey, and explore its Sensory Garden—complete with stone labyrinth, herb garden, and vineyard. Sample cheese and beer made by the resident Trappist monks.

 

ACTIVE This afternoon, enjoy a scenic Guided Hike along the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow, a dramatic bend carved by centuries.

 

Or, as a relaxing option, enjoy free time on the Sky Deck this afternoon while you sail through the amazing horseshoe bend of the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow on your way to Deggendorf.

 

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DEGGENDORF

 

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

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DAY 9 -  DEGGENDORF (DISEMBARKATION)–CESKY KRUMLOV–PRAGUE, CZECH 

Continue on to the Golden City of Prague.

 

CLASSIC Visit the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, also known as the “Pearl of the Bohemian Forest.

 

(Breakfast)

 

Day 10 - PRAGUE

Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Great Cuisine

 

ACTIVE Enjoy the natural wonders of Prokopské Valley Nature Reserve on this active, half-day Guided Hiking adventure on the outskirts of Prague, OR:

 

CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk to visit Hradčany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock.

 

Consider sampling delicious plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager beside the Vltava River.

 

Mingle with the locals and be mesmerized by street performers in Wenceslas Square, or browse the market stalls at Charles Bridge.

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(Breakfast)

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DAY 10 -  PRAGUE

This morning a motorcoach transfer will take you to Oberammergau for the highlight of the vacation: the original “Passion Play”, which is performed only once a decade by the residents of the village since 1634. Dinner will be served during intermission. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 11 -  PRAGUE

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

 

(Breakfast)

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