Cruising the Blue Danube: Budapest, Vienna & Prague

Arrive in Budapest, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. In 1872, the three Hungarian settlements of Obuda, Pest and Buda merged as one, and the illustrious capital of Budapest was born. Following its unification, Budapest underwent rapid growth and expanded its political sphere, setting the stage for the city’s golden age. Tonight, join fellow guests and your Resident Tour Director for a welcome dinner.

Join your intimate group on a tour of the city’s Jewish heritage, visiting the Great Synagogue and the Hungarian Jewish Museum. Enjoy time for lunch at leisure, and then meet your ship for priority embarkation. This evening, cruise through Budapest, passing under the illuminated Chain Bridge while a local band performs traditional music on board.

See Buda’s cobbled streets and Pest’s 19th-century buildings. Throughout the course of your tour, admire Matthias Church; Fisherman’s Bastion, oddly more decorative than defensive; St. Stephen’s Basilica, which stands just as tall as the Parliament Building to symbolize the balance of church and state; and the Parliament Building itself, an impressive example of neo-gothic architecture. Enjoy a private cooking class, which includes lunch and hands-on strudel-making, and visit the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, founded in 1875 by piano virtuoso Franz Liszt. Then, leave Budapest to explore the charming village of Szentendre, noted for its artisanal shops and fine galleries. Afterward, rejoin your ship at Esztergom.

Arrive in Bratislava and visit its old quarter. In intimate company, visit the 18th-century Primate’s Palace and view St. Martin’s Cathedral. Back on board, enjoy a private cocktail party and an exclusive Chef ’s Highlights dinner.

Visit Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Habsburgs, before setting out on a guided walk of Vienna’s historic center — an imperial masterpiece and the capital of Austria. Later, experience a fantastic dinner ashore, and enjoy preferred seating at a Sound of Vienna concert in the Kursalon.

Take a walking tour of Dürnstein, followed by a wine tasting and private lunch ashore at a restaurant in the Wachau Valley. Visit Melk Abbey, then enjoy a guided tour of Schloss Artstetten, home of the descendants of Emperor Franz Josef. Among the famous castle owners interred here are Emperor Franz I, the father-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte; Duke Maximilian, an established opponent of the Nazi political party and among the first Austrians to be deported to the concentration camp at Dachau; and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose startling assassination ignited World War I.

This morning, discover Salzburg on a walking tour, followed by lunch. Then, enjoy some free time to further explore this magical city — the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — where a symphony of elegant streets and baroque buildings comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, proceed to St. Michael’s Basilica in Mondsee, which served as the backdrop for the iconic wedding scene in The Sound of Music. This evening, your captain hosts a gala dinner on board.

Today, visit Regensburg, walking the cobbled streets of its Old Town and savoring a lunch in the historic local sausage kitchen. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Tour St. Emmeram Palace With a Guide, a magnificent palace built on the complex of a Benedictine abbey. Enjoy a Brewery Visit & Tasting, touring the entire facility and sampling some of their finest brews. Visit the Haus of Bavarian History, joining a guide to peruse unique cultural displays at this modern museum. Afterward, rejoin your ship in Passau.

Disembark in Passau and drive to Cesky Krumlov, where you visit the city’s Old Town and stunning 13th-century castle. Tucked away in the hills of the southern Czech Republic, Cesky Krumlov delights with its medieval detailing and pastoral countryside. Though occupied by German forces during World War II, the town managed to avoid any serious conflict and remains remarkably well preserved. After lunch, continue to Prague for an evening at leisure.

Explore Prague’s Old Town and its Jewish Quarter, birthplace of Franz Kafka. An integral part of the city’s cultural history, the Bohemian Jewish novelist spent many years in the Old Town, where cobblestone streets, enchanting spires and cozy pubs create a fairy-tale atmosphere. As a proper send-off, there is even a memorial dedicated to Kafka on Dusni Street — a peculiar bronze sculpture depicting the writer riding on the shoulders of a headless figure. Take in the Town Hall’s iconic astronomical clock, the Jewish Museum and the Jewish Cemetery. Following an afternoon at leisure, gather for a farewell dinner.

Today, transfer to Prague Airport for your flight home.