Celebration of Music: Imperial Danube (Taste of Christmas)

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – EMBARKATION. Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship.

BUDAPEST. Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Trace its history on a specialized classical music tour of Budapest. This special tour invites you to enter a world of grandeur 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. Alternatively, 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. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest’s Castle Hill. In the afternoon, cruise through Hungary’s scenic Danube Bend, perhaps enjoying the views from the Sun Deck or your balcony. Keep your eyes peeled for the Börzsöny and Visegrád hills and some of Hungary’s oldest settlements, including Esztergom, Visegrád, and Szentendre. Nature, culture and history intertwine into a picturesque sight as the Danube River turns into this sharp bend.

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. Along the way, be delighted by a few surprise musical performances. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour to sample traditional flavors from the region. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. Or pedal through the city on 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 – you may even catch a glimpse of the gleaming Bratislava Castle as you leave the city.

DÜRNSTEIN - MELK, AUSTRIA. Join us for a walking tour in Dürnstein, the “Pearl of the Wachau,” with its breathtaking scenery, traditional architecture, brilliant blue Baroque Stiftskirche tower and wine taverns. Or perhaps ascend the hill above the cobblestone to visit the ruins of Dürnstein’s Keunringer Fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once imprisoned, and marvel at sweeping views over the town, its vineyards and the Danube River below. You may instead explore the village from the seat of your bike, covering a greater distance while reveling in the sunshine. Later in the day, cruise through the Wachau Valley before arriving in Melk. Located above the city on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, Melk Abbey is one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries and a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally founded in the 11th century, the magnificent abbey now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. During your tour you will see some of Melk’s musical manuscripts as well as frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger. Afterwards, enjoy a live choir performance in or around Melk Abbey.

MELK - VIENNA, AUSTRIA. While your ship cruises past the rolling hills, verdant vineyards and charming steeples scattered through Austria’s UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley, take some time to indulge in the ship’s amenities, from complimentary host-led wellness classes to massage treatments to afternoon tea. This evening, dress in all your finery and be welcomed inside a lovely performing arts venue such as Vienna’s Burg Kapel for an exclusive evening concert.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA. Explore the city of music while following in the footsteps of one or more world-renowned composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, from their past residences to museums to grand monuments. Should you prefer a greater overview of the history of the “City of Waltzes” and all its famous landmarks, join us for a city tour showcasing all its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Alternatively, take a thrilling guided bike ride along the romantic Danube Canal and through the city, traversing a bridge, cycling across a meadow and heading to Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse Boulevard. Later in the day, explore some of the 1,441 rooms of the exquisite Palace of Schönbrunn, the summer residence of the Habsburg Family, on a guided tour that includes the Imperial Apartments, with time to stroll through the impressive gardens as well.

DANUBE RIVER SCENIC CRUISING. Today, enjoy a full day of scenic cruising along the Danube River. Use this final day on board to pack at your leisure, bond with your traveling companions and delight in some of the ship’s many amenities. Or simply sit back and take in the views.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – DISEMBARKATION. Bid farewell to Budapest and prepare for your flight home. (B) (B,L,D) – Indicates Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included on this day.