Cruise along the peaceful Danube River through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany—stopping at some of Central Europe’s most splendid capitals and charming towns along the way. Your Danube River cruise begins in Budapest, where guided sightseeing acquaints you with the highlights of the vibrant capital of Hungary. Set sail on the Danube, take pictures of the impressive views of the Parliament Building as you leave Budapest, and head for Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Here, enjoy a guided walk through the delightful Old Town and visit the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. Vienna, Austria, makes an immediate impression with its lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace and neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House. Enjoy the magnificent views as your river cruise takes you through the picturesque wine region of the Wachau Valley. Visit the impressive Benedictine Abbey of Melk and enjoy a tasting of some of the renowned local wines. In Linz, walk around the Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square. Take a guided walk around Passau, Germany, known for its maze of narrow cobblestone streets and St. Stephen’s Cathedral—a masterpiece of baroque architecture. Guided sightseeing in Regensburg, Germany, shows you the Old Town Hall, Porta Pretoria—gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD—and mansions with high towers denoting the status and wealth of their early owners. In beautiful Prague, capital of the Czech Republic you’ll be amazed at St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock, followed by the conclusion of your European vacation with two special nights in Berlin!
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Day 1 Budapest (Embarkation): | Onboard welcome reception |
Day 2 Budapest: | Guided tour, see Heroes' Square |
Day 3 Bratislava-Hainburg: | Guided sightseeing in Bratislava, visit St. Martin's Cathedral; free time in Hainburg |
Day 4 Vienna: | Guided sightseeing |
Day 5 Dürnstein-Wachau Valley-Ybbs: | Choice of guided walk, or hike up to the castle ruins in Dürnstein; scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley; choice of guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk or Ybbs city sightseeing or bakery workshop; wine tasting |
Day 6 Linz: | Guided tour |
Day 7 Passau: | Guided tour; guided hike with your Adventure Host |
Day 8 Deggendorf (Disembarkation)-Regensburg-Prague: | Transfer to Regensburg, guided sightseeing; travel by motorcoach to Prague |
Day 9 Prague: | Guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit Hradcany Castle grounds |
Day 10 Prague-Dresden-Berlin: | Transfer to Dresden and city sightseeing; transfer to Berlin |
Day 11 Berlin: | City sightseeing |
Day 12 Berlin: | Your vacation ends this morning |
Notes:- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
Day 1
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 3:30 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
The day is yours to relax and enjoy the city with time for photographs, cafés, and confections.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST
Day 2
BUDAPEST The Pearl of the Danube in the Heart of Europe
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
This afternoon choose among a wide selection of Optional Guided Excursions or take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying some free time exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs, or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 3
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk, including the quaint streets of Old Town, Town Hall, and the sight of royal coronations at St. Martin’s Cathedral.
During lunch time enjoy a short sailing to Hainburg
HAINBURG, AUSTRIA
Enjoy some free time in the village of Hainburg or take a Guided Optional Excursion to discover the natural beauties of this area.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 4
VIENNA Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel, and Sachertorte
CLASSIC Explore the Habsburg empire with a morning Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—Winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
You may decide to take a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—the former imperial summer home of the Habsburg monarchy.
Spend free time strolling in the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse—the most famous shopping avenue in central Vienna, or take a bike ride through the city and stop in a local café to enjoy Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel.
This evening, enjoy an unforgettable musical performance with an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DÜRNSTEIN
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 5
DÜRNSTEIN–WACHAU VALLEY A King’s Ransom and Castle Ruins
CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart—who was imprisoned in the castle during the Crusades, OR:
ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins to take in the spectacular view of the village, Danube, and the Wachau Valley below.
Later, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you sail through the Wachau Valley past vineyards, castles, and charming villages on your way to Ybbs.
MELK
Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below
DISCOVERY This afternoon, learn more about sweet Austrian pastry. A workshop in a local bakery with an expert chef will let you create your own pastry, fill it and enjoy it as well, OR:
CLASSIC Visit the Lower Austrian little town of Ybbs. Admire the fine architecture of the Babenberger and its romantic old town, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.
DISCOVERY Enjoy the flavors of the Wachau Valley at a Wine Tasting on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LINZ
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 6
LINZ Legendary, Lovely Linz
Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz—Austria’s largest medieval square—and the towering white-marble Trinity Column.
Consider a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.
You may otherwise spend the afternoon on a biking picnic along the banks of the Danube or hike through Linz’s beautiful nature trails to Pöstlingberg for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LINZ
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 7
SCHLÖGEN OXBOW–PASSAU, GERMANY Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet
This morning, cruise through the Schlögen Oxbow, a particularly beautiful horseshoe-shaped bend of the river.
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.”
ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and along Ilz River.
Before sailing to Deggendorf, take a little free time to explore Passau’s cobblestone streets and galleries of Artists’ Alley. Maybe stop at St. Stephen’s Cathedral to catch a concert rehearsal.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DEGGENDORF
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 8
DEGGENDORF (DISEMBARKATION)–REGENSBURG–PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC Magical Regensburg—Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk in Regensburg and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.
Take free time to enjoy a hearty lunch and a local beer, then step back in time through historic lanes and squares of today’s modern and vibrant Regensburg. Continue on to the Golden City of Prague
Day 9
PRAGUE Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Great Cuisine
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
BreakfastDay 10
PRAGUE–DRESDEN, GERMANY–BERLIN This morning travel to Dresden, a city badly damaged by Allied bombing during WWII.
CLASSIC Join a Guided Walk visit the courtyard of the Zwinger Palace to admire its impressive architecture, see the magnificent baroque Semper Opera, built in 1841, destroyed once by fire and once by bombing and finally restored in 1985, and the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche.
Enjoy free time during lunch before continuing to Berlin, Germany’s reunited capital, where you arrive in the late afternoon
BreakfastDay 11
BERLIN
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the major sites of this metropolis, including the restored Reichstag building, Charlottenburg Palace, and the elegant Kurfürstendamm. See the Holocaust Memorial and the 210-foot Victory Column and make a picture stop at monumental Brandenburg Gate, one of the best-known landmarks of Germany where President John F. Kennedy once famously said “I am a Berliner”. Visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church with its bomb-damaged tower, drive along Unter den Linden boulevard and pass the State Opera House and Checkpoint Charlie.
This afternoon is free for your own exploration
BreakfastDay 12
BERLIN Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
BreakfastBudapest Marriott
Deluxe
Apaczai Csere Janos U.4 Budapest Hungary
This modern 364 room property enjoys a prime downtown location and offers convenience blended with style. Free Wi-Fi access is available in the lobby and the hotel has a fitness center with sauna and Jacuzzi. The trendy Mediterranean Grill restaurant serves tasty Hungarian dishes and the stylish lounge bar offers tapas style food and cocktails.
Hotel Sofitel Chain Bridge
Deluxe
Szechenyi Istvan ter 2 Budapest Hungary
This elegant upscale property is located on the left bank of the river Danube, right in the heart of Budapest with Free Wi-Fi internet access throughout the property. The show kitchen restaurant serves refined French-Hungarian cuisine and the vibrant bar offers the chance to sip cocktails overlooking the illuminated Chain Bridge. Leisure facilities include an indoor pool, well-being & fitness center.
Prague Marriott
Superior First-Class
V Celnici 8 Prague Czech Republic
Located in the heart of Prague, just a short stroll away from the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, this sophisticated 239-room hotel combines a great location with top notch service. A smart grill restaurant serves both Czech and international cuisine, the relaxed hipster-styled Bourbon bar offers a great range of wines, cocktails and BBQ dishes. There is also an on-site Italian style café, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi connection is available throughout the property.
Hilton Prague Old Town
Superior First-Class
V Celnici 7 Prague 1 Czech Republic
A contemporary 303 room hotel offering classic art deco inspired luxury. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in the lobby, access in the rooms is subject to a fee (payable locally). There is also an indoor swimming pool and fitness center and the stylish restaurant offers an innovative mix of European cuisine with Asian flavors. Snacks, drinks and cocktails are served throughout the day in the lounge bar.
Alcron Hotel
Deluxe
Stepanska 40 Prague Czech Republic
Situated in the heart of Prague and close to Wenceslas Square, the National Museum, and State Opera. The Old Town Square and Charles Bridge are also within walking distance. All 204 Art Deco-style guestrooms have flat-screen TV, Nespresso coffee machine, and free Wi-Fi. The elegant lobby bar has a selection of special cocktails, a wide variety of spirits, beers, and wines. The on-site restaurants serve either fish, seafood, international, or traditional cuisine. Other facilities include a well-equipped fitness center with sauna and there is also a seasonal outdoor terrace.
Cosmopolitan Hotel Prague
Deluxe
Zlatnicka 3/1126 Prague 1 Czech Republic
A stunning 106-room boutique hotel set in an historic townhouse that dates back to 1889, perfectly located on a quiet street in the heart of Prague's Old Town. Modern Czech cuisine is served in a trendy bistro style setting with an open plan kitchen. For relaxation and connectivity, there is a 24-hour fitness studio, sauna, and free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property. The hotel is ideally located on a quiet street of the Prague Old Town, only a few steps from all important shopping and sightseeing attractions.
Art Deco Imperial Hotel
Deluxe
Na Porici 15, 110 00 Prague Czech Republic
An historic 126-room ornate property oozing old world glamour with architecture dating back to 1913. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the property. This hotel is home to the famous Cafe Imperial which specializes in traditional Czech cuisine with a modern twist and there is also a fashionable bar for drinks and snacks. The Spa offers a sauna, steam room as well as a fitness center.
InterContinental Praha
Superior First-Class
Parizska 30 Prague Czech Republic
Contemporary 9-story Hotel situated in old Jewish Quarter, across the road from the Vltava River.
Sofitel Berlin Kurfurstendamm
Deluxe
Augsburger Strasse 41 Berlin Germany
This sleek 311 room contemporary design hotel offers luxury with a distinct flair of "savoir-vivre." Free Wi-Fi access is available in all the guestrooms and public areas of the hotel. A wellness area with sauna, plunge pool, and fitness room complete the leisure facilities. The French brasserie style restaurant offers outside terrace dining during the summer months and drinks or cocktails can be enjoyed in the relaxing atmosphere of the hotel's stylish lounge and bar.