Danube Rhapsody

Itinerary: Munich to Passau

Day 1 Depart Canada. Board your overnight flight to Munich, Germany.

Day 2 Transfer to Passau to embark the vessel. The ship leaves port in the afternoon and takes you through a lovely stretch of the Danube known as the Schloegener Schlinge. After these first scenic impressions of the Danube, our courier on board will welcome you with a cocktail before the official welcome dinner.

Day 3 You sail past the famous town of Duernstein this morning, and dock in the wine growing town of Melk/Emmersdorf, at the western end of the Wachau. A coach excursion can show you more of the beautiful Wachau area (€ 39), of which the highlights are a drive through the region and a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey at Melk. Then, depending on the time of day, there may be an opportunity to hear a short organ recital in the abbey church. This excursion also includes a wine tasting. The remaining afternoon you can relax on the sundeck. You’ll reach Vienna in the evening. After dinner on board, the Evening Excursion Vienna (€ 40) takes you to the Prater and a typical 'Heurigen' wine tavern, where you can enjoy a glass of wine. Alternatively you can book the “Sound of Vienna” (€ 40) where the Salonorchester „Alt Wien“, one of the famous interpreters of classical music, sparks off a unique firework of the most beautiful on its highest level.

Day 4 The entire day is at your disposal to discover the metropolis on the Danube, Vienna. The city of music and joie de vivre where Sachertorte and Heuriger are just as famous as St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Imperial Palace. See all the important sights on our Vienna sightseeing tour (€ 20.) or explore this city full of tradition on your own. An excursion to the magnificent Schoenbrunn Palace (€ 32) is available this afternoon. The coach will take you from the port to one of Vienna’s most beautiful buildings, which was modelled on the palace of Versailles, the residence of Louis XIV (Le Roi Soleil). Here you can view the state apartments of the Hapsburgs’ summer residence for many years, and then take a stroll through the beautifully laid out gardens in the grounds of the castle. In the evening your vessel leaves Vienna in direction to Hungary.

Day 5 The entire day is at your disposal to discover the capital of Hungary, Budapest. Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube. Buda is the older and more graceful part, with its cobbled streets and medieval architecture, while Pest is the administrative and commercial centre, with wide avenues and impressive 19th-century public buildings. East meets West in this fascinating city, and this can be seen in the variety of shops and restaurants. At forenoon you may join a city sightseeing tour (€ 20), or look around Budapest at your leisure. In the afternoon there is the possibility to book an excursion to Castle Gödöllö (€ 24). Castle Gödöllö, which is about 30 km from Budapest, was built in the 18th century. In the era of the imperial monarchy it became a symbol of Empress Elisabeth, who was nick-named ‘Sissi’ and much loved by the Hungarians. Nestling in an enormous park this is the largest complex of Baroque buildings in Hungary and attractive to everyone – not just lovers of Baroque. This evening the ship will take you for a night-time cruise (incl.) with a Hungarian folklore group along the Danube, passing under the city’s numerous bridges.

Day 6 Your ship moors at Esztergom at noon. Esztergom, the old residence of the Hungarian kings and seat of the Archbishop, is one of the highlights of this excursion (€ 31). After visiting the impressive cathedral (Hungary’s largest place of worship), the excursion continues along the Danube to the imposing castle ruins of Visegrad from which there is a splendid view of the great 'knee' of the Danube. Travelling along the banks of the Danube again we take you to the artists’ village of Szentendre. Following a stroll through the picturesque village the excursion goes back to Esztergom where the ship is waiting.

Day 7 This morning you arrive in the republic of Slovakia. Your ship docks in the morning in the city of Bratislava, which celebrated its 2000th anniversary in 1991. Now capital of Slovakia, it was also capital of Hungary for a while during the late Middle Ages, which is a good illustration of how the chequered histories of these central European countries are inter-related. A city sightseeing tour (€ 20) shows you the sights of Bratislava, including the Castle, now the official residence of the President of Slovakia, and the cathedral, where the Kings and Queens of Hungary were crowned for over 250 years: its steeple is topped by a tiny gilded Hungarian crown. On the second-last evening of your journey on the Danube, the captain will be delighted to welcome you to the Captain’s Gala Dinner.

Day 8 In the morning you reach the little Wachau city Grein. Take part in a city walk (€ 12). Our tour of this attractively and idyllically situated little Danube port takes us past its most important sights, including the town square, parish church and town theatre (the oldest in Austria). We then proceed to Schloss Greinberg, which has one of the largest and most beautiful sets of late Renaissance interior arcades. Already before lunch the ship starts cruising in the direction to the cultural capital 2009, Linz. Here you can join a city tour (€ 18), before the vessel is leaving Linz during dinner.

Day 9 The vessel arrives at Passau, the town where the rivers meet. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to Munich airport for your flight home.

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