Our clients ask many questions about the who what and why about Ama Waterways. Let start with your stateroom which may have 2 balconies for AMA River Cruises guests. When in port guests can choose from a list of unique tours all included in your AMA River Cruise price. From a bike tour to a stop for a bratwurst with a beer the optionals are terrific. Clients rave in their AMA Waterways reviews about the personal service aboard their sailing. We receive so many comments about AMA Christmas river cruises. Pavlus Travel provides value all Ama River Cruises sailings. In fact we promise the lowest fare to all clients.
Day 1
EMBARKATION – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship.
Day 2
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Start your day with a tour of the “Buda” side of the city and through the Castle District, where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion, the breathtaking panorama of Budapest below, and Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and mosaic roof. If you prefer venturing off the beaten path or are returning to the city for a repeat visit, join our Jewish heritage tour which visits the museum at beautiful Dohány Synagogue, as well as the Tree of Life Holocaust memorial and the Temple of Heroes, dedicated to Jewish Hungarian soldiers who fought during WWII. For a more active excursion, hike up to Budapest’s Castle Hill. In the afternoon, enter a world of grandeur and musical history as your knowledgeable local guide leads you through the exquisitely designed Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, followed by a stop at the Franz Liszt Memorial Museum, where the renowned Hungarian musician and composer lived for many years. If you prefer to explore more of the city, join our guide for a tour of Pest instead, learning more about the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes’ Square and the moving “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial.
Day 3
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Plus, enjoy a surprise musical performance as part of this included excursion. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city or enjoy a guided bike tour, pausing to take photos with some of the celebrated statues in Old Town. In the afternoon, take in the breathtaking scenery along the Danube River from your balcony or while up on the Sun Deck – you may even catch a glimpse of the gleaming Bratislava Castle as you leave the city.
Day 4
MELK, AUSTRIA. Sail through Austria’s beautiful Wachau Valley to Melk and explore the city known for its magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries. Within these walls you will find frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger, as well as a famed collection of musical manuscripts. You will also be treated to a beautiful live choral performance in Melk’s community hall. If you prefer a more active adventure, hike up to the Melk Abbey and then visit this magnificent Baroque monastery or join a guided bike tour to Melk. Enjoy an afternoon scenic cruise while in Melk before making your way to Linz.
Day 5
LINZ. Arrive in Linz, where you’ll have several choices of excursions. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg where you’ll tour the historic center, lovely Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. You will also visit the museum at the famed yellow building known as Mozart Birth House and residence where the legendary composer was born in 1756 and lived until 1773. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael where the wedding scene from The Sound of Music was filmed. You may also choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city’s picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe’s largest castle complexes. Following these full-day excursions, you may also choose to take a brief walking tour in Linz. Alternatively, join a walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube.
Day 6
LINZ – VIENNA, AUSTRIA. Sail from Linz to the grand capital of Vienna on a morning scenic cruise. Once there, visit the UNESCO-designated Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, on your included tour. Built in the 18th century as an imperial summer residence, this magnificent 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria. Alternatively, pedal along the scenic Danube River and through charming neighborhoods to the nearby town of Klosterneuburg and its majestic 12th-century Augustinian monastery overlooking the Danube River. In the evening, join us for a very special live classical performance at a renowned local concert hall.
Day 7
VIENNA. Explore the city of music while following in the footsteps of world-renowned composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, from their past residences to museums to grand monuments. Alternatively, discover the regal splendors of the “City of Waltzes,” on a city bike tour, visiting such remarkable sites as the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. If you are looking to treat your palate instead, visit a traditional café to experience a true Vienna specialty with its very own national holiday and a unique history to match: the rich chocolate sachertorte – and savor this treat with a piping hot Viennese coffee.
Day 8
VIENNA – DISEMBARKATION. Bid farewell to Vienna and prepare for your flight home.