Eastbound
* Indicates cruise day
Day 1 - Arrive in Prague
Tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Prague's Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors for a preview of your Danube River cruise at tonight's grand kickoff event - a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner at 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at the Prague Castle, accompanied by a classical quartet! Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 2 - The legacy of many centuries in Prague
Start today's exploration of Prague in the ancient Hradcany (Castle) district, where you'll see 1,000-year-old Prague Castle's complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive - a private tour of Strahov Monastery's grand Baroque libraries. You're free to spend the afternoon as you please in Prague, or join us if you like on a walking tour of Prague's Old Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to the Astronomical Clock and Tyn Church - along with Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Sample the culinary pleasures of Prague with dinner on your own tonight; the city's many fine restaurants and cafes feature a wide range of cuisines and some of the best schnitzels, goulashes, strudels, dumplings and beer the region has to offer. Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
* Day 3 - Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise begins
Drive to the well-preserved German cathedral town of Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to Roman days. Your local guide leads you on a walking tour that includes the Steinerne Brucke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube; the Gothic Dom St. Peter; the 15th-century town hall; and the remains of the town's Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own - perhaps opting for some of the town's celebrated Bavarian sausage - before boarding the riverboat in Regensburg to launch your 7-night Danube River cruise. Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 4 - Spend the day in lovely Passau
Enjoy the views from your riverboat's sun deck, lounge, or the windows of your outside cabin. Your first port of call is Passau, Germany; accompanied by a local guide whose love for Passau is evident, take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass and nearly 100 churches. See the Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on the facade and a glockenspiel in the tower. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 5 - Salzburg sights or relaxation in Linz
With your riverboat docked in Linz, you can choose to enjoy this Austrian port city, or take a full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's hometown on the Salzach River. The day trip includes visits to Mozart's birthplace and beautiful Mirabell Gardens, and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces. Back aboard the ship, enjoy dinner and a classical music performance this evening. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 6 - Wachau Valley cruise and picturesque De�rnstein
Your Danube River cruise continues through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Dock in Durnstein and take a walking tour amidst its cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and former Augustinian monastery; if you like, hike up to the ruins of a hilltop castle above the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades. Enjoy some free time in this charming riverside town, and sample the fruits of the Wachau Valley vineyards surrounding it during a wine tasting at a local tavern. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 7 - Music and more in Imperial Vienna
Get an overview of the longtime capital of the old Habsburg Empire and one of Europe's grandest cities - Vienna, Austria - with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of Schonbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a special visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg, now Austria's presidential residence. Tonight, indulge in a bit of royal treatment with a gala, private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace in the heart of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music an unforgettable highlight of your Danube River cruise! Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 8 - Along the Danube to ancient Slovakia
Pursue your own interests this morning in glorious Vienna - which boasts over a hundred museums of all kinds - and then return to the riverboat to continue your Danube River cruise to Slovakia. Gliding along the 'river of kings,' admire the pastoral scenery and immerse yourself in Slovak culture aboard the riverboat, as you enjoy a taste of regional cuisine at dinner - and join in as Slovakian folkloric entertainers in traditional costumes perform for you. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 9 - Baroque in Bratislava
Wake up today in ancient Bratislava, capital of modern Slovakia - and, strangely enough, the long-ago capital of Hungary! Your local expert shares insights and anecdotes about this beloved city on a guided walking tour; view several Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin's Cathedral; visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall; and savor some delectable Slovakian pastry at a local cafe. After some exploring on your own, return to the riverboat and celebrate your memorable cruise with the Captain and crew at the Captain's shipboard farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Day 10 - Goodbye, riverboat! hello, Budapest
Your extraordinary Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew farewell, explore the city's Buda side on a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen's Bastion with its Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church. After lunch at a local cafe, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest; later, dig into dinner at your choice of select city restaurants. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
Day 11 - Discover the landmarks of Pest
The Pest side of the city reveals itself to you today on a visit to Heroes' Square - bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary - and sightseeing including the spectacular Parliament building and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. There may be some surprises in store on a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884, with its gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, royal boxes and three-ton chandelier. Conclude your Danube River cruise adventure by spending the rest of the day exploring what interests you most in Budapest; you may want to stroll along fashionable Vaci Utca, one of the city's grandest boulevards. Sample Budapest's wide variety of cuisines as you enjoy lunch and dinner on your own in a city abounding with fine restaurants and romantic cafes. Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
Day 12 - Homeward bound
Tauck's delightful Danube River cruise ends in Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest's Ferihegy Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals: Breakfast |
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