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Enjoy a quiet moment on the banks of the Danube

Enchanted Europe

Westbound - Example 16 Day Cruise aboard Avalon Visionary
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Board the Avalon Visionary in Budapest to set off on your journey through the heart of Europe. Cruise to Vienna and spend two days exploring this artistic city and learning about the history of the Habsburg Empire. Sail to Passau, then the Bavarian city of Regensburg to wander its streets lined with distinctive historic buildings. Sail to bustling Frankfurt, on to charming Rüdesheim, and through the magnificent Rhine Gorge. This European river cruise takes you to the splendid Strasbourg, France, with its gothic cathedral towering above its stained-glass and murals, before cruising to the beautiful Breisach. Your cruise concludes in Basel. 
Visit beautiful and historic StrasbourgEnjoy time in the cultural hub of ViennaFisherman's Bastion in Budapest, HungaryBudapest, the capital city of HungaryAdmire the colorful buildings of historic FrankfurtEnjoy a quiet moment on the banks of the Danube
Highlights
  • Visit Vienna's gilded landmarks, such as the Imperial Palace complex
  • Take a tour of Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey
  • Enjoy the flavors of the Wachau Valley with a wine tasting on board
  • Come along for some city sightseeing in Strasbourg
  • See Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim
Activities
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Budapest | Embark

Welcome to Hungary! The day is yours to relax and enjoy the city with time for photographs, cafés, and confections. Board your ship in the afternoon and set off on your journey. 

Day 2-3: Vienna

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Start the day with a morning stretch with your Avalon adventure host. Enjoy sailing the Danube, which shares dozens of miles with Hungary and Slovakia. Relax on the Sky Deck to see the rolling landscape and red-rooftops of the Slovakian capital of Bratislava come into view. This evening in Vienna, you may choose to join an optional excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.

The next day, venture into the Habsburg empire on a guided city tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the historic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Join an optional guided excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—a Habsburg Empire summer home for 300 years.

This afternoon, enjoy free time to take a tram to visit Austria’s Prater amusement park or one of the many museums nearby. You may also decide to borrow a bike from the ship to explore the streets and squares of Vienna, or ride along the banks of the Danube at your leisure.

Later, relax on board with live entertainment as you sail to Dürnstein.

Day 4: Dürnstein | Wachau Valley | Melk

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join a guided walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart—who was imprisoned in the castle above the village during the Crusades. Or opt to join a guided hike up to the castle ruins with your adventure host to take in the spectacular view of the village, Danube, and the Wachau Valley below.

In Melk, take a guided tour of the magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.

Later, enjoy the flavors of the Wachau Valley with a wine tasting on board.

Day 5: Passau

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join a guided city walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers". Alternatively, join a full-day optional guided excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov. Meet your ship back in Passau after your full-day selected activity for sailing.

Day 6: Regensburg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join a guided city walk and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.

You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to visit the Benedictine Monastery in Weltenburg. Alternatively, spend a free afternoon exploring Regensburg on foot or by bike through its charming streets. This evening, enjoy live entertainment after dinner as you cruise toward Roth.

Day 7: Roth | Nuremberg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy an onboard lecture about the Main-Danube Canal linking these two rivers to make a vital connection enabling navigation between the North and Black seas.

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the Bavarian town of Roth with its half-timbered houses, market square, and 1535 hunting lodge Schloss Ratibor. Or join a guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg with its medieval architecture, gilded fountain, gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle. Alternatively, take a guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds used by the Third Reich to learn about this dark time in history and why we must prevent it from ever repeating.

Later, indulge in a beer tasting on board.

Day 8: Munich

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take a full-day guided tour of the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace, a former residence of German monarchs, along with the old and new town halls of Marienplatz.

Day 9: Bamberg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take a guided walking tour of the historic home to imperial dynasties, and see its Romanesque cathedral, Old Town Hall, and seven hills crowned with churches.

After the tour, spend free time with a glass of German-style Rauchbier. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Day 10: Würzburg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take a guided sightseeing tour of Würzburg with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residenz with the largest-known ceiling fresco.

You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. See the local sights and enjoy the fairytale atmosphere that has inspired countless artists. Enjoy live entertainment on board while sailing tonight.

Day 11: Main River Village

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join a guided walking tour of a picturesque Main River Bavarian village.

Day 12: Frankfurt | Seligenstadt

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join a guided sightseeing tour of Frankfurt to see the city’s cultural landmarks and gleaming financial headquarters combined with the cozy ambiance of quaint neighborhoods. Or opt to take a guided tour to Seligenstadt, one of Germany’s oldest towns and home to the Einhard Basilika, dubbed a “minor basilica” in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

Spend free time this afternoon exploring Frankfurt on your own. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Day 13: Boppard | Rüdesheim | Rhine Gorge

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take some free time to relax, or explore the Rheinallee Promenade for delicatessen fare with a cup of German coffee or glass of Riesling wine. This afternoon, stretch out on the sky deck as you pass through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Rüdesheim. Once there, tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat.

Day 14: Strasbourg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Come along for city sightseeing, including the city’s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. Take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center. Explore on your own along tree-lined streets with gingerbread-style houses reminiscent of Brothers Grimm within the very modern city of the European Parliament.

Day 15: Breisach | Excursion to Black Forest

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join a full-day guided tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration. Or opt for a visit to Badische Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Discover Germany’s southernmost wine country in Baden—ideally situated between the hills of the Black Forest and the Rhine River. Learn about the vintners’ process in the vineyards here, and enjoy a wine tasting.

You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.

Day 16: Basel, Switzerland | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Your cruise ends this morning with breakfast. 

Ship/Hotel

Avalon Visionary

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
Select a Date
Cat. E
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Bathrobes & slippers, Individual climate control, Large mirror in the bathroom, Two windows, Writing desk, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets, Extra blankets, Nightly turn-down service, Hairdryer, and Spacious 3-door closets with shelves
Select a Date
Cat. D
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Individual climate control, Large mirror in bathroom, Two windows, Writing desk, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets, Extra blankets, Nightly turn-down service, Hairdryer, and Spacious 3-door closets with shelves
Select a Date
Cat. B
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, In-room safe, Marble countertops in the bathroom, Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Memory foam mattress, and European-style duvets
Select a Date
Cat. A
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, In-room safe, Marble countertops in the bathroom, Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Luxurious mattress, and European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. P
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, In-room safe, Marble countertops in the bathroom, Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Vanity, Coffee table, Memory foam mattress, and European-style duvets
Select a Date
Royal Suite
Royal Suite: 300 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, In-room safe, Marble countertops in the bathroom, Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets.
Included
  • 15 Breakfasts, 14 Lunches, 15 Dinners
  • 15 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Onboard Adventure Center with active gear, bikes, maps, canoe, kayak and jogging excursions
  • Wifi
  • Complimentary fresh fruit available daily
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
  • Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day
  • Panoramic windows
  • Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director
  • Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges
  • Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with every lunch and dinner
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or on board your vessel
  • Port Fees
  • Porterage
  • Passport or Visa fees

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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
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