The Romantic Danube - Cruise Only

This evening meet your fellow passengers on board for the Welcome Reception and Dinner.

This morning you are free to explore Vilshofen’s beautiful old town before cruising to Passau. This afternoon, take a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture, cobblestone streets, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. 

The ship arrives this morning in Linz. Enjoy a walking tour of the second largest city in Austria or choose a guided bike tour that shows you around the Old City Center, along the Danube River, and past the ultra-modern Ars Electronica Center. Later, choose between three different excursions. The first option is an excursion to Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, where you may take a walking tour of the historic center made famous by

Cruise through the narrow Strudengau this morning en route to Weissenkirchen. You have three choices of how to explore Dürnstein today. The first is a walking tour along the town’s cobblestone streets followed by a visit to the magnificent Benedictine Abbey at Melk, one of Europe’s largest and most famous monastic sites, home to religious relics and a library filled with medieval manuscripts. Alternatively, you may join a hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held for ransom, or enjoy an apricots and sweets tasting instead. Tonight, after dinner on board, enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery. 

Journey to Melk to tour its magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overlooking the Danube River, Melk Abbey is one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries with stunning Baroque architectural details and numerous frescoes and religious artifacts. Alternatively, take a bike tour along the Danube River, soaking in views of the serene Wachau Valley. Later in the evening, be treated to a special cellar tour and wine tasting of locally grown, world-renowned Riesling and Grüner Veltliner at the acclaimed Schloss Gobelsburg, which has a documented viticulture history dating back to the 12th century. 

Experience the regal elegance of Vienna with one of three different excursions. Join a city tour that takes you by the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors. Afterwards, visit Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the world famous Spanish Riding School. Alternatively, join an exclusive tour to a famous Viennese café for a taste of sachetorte, a sinfully rich chocolate cake, and sekt, an Austrian sparkling wine. For those who prefer to get more active, you can cycle along the Danube and through the Donaupark. During the afternoon, enjoy free time or bike to the majestic twelfth-century Klosterneuburg Monastery. 

Your morning excursion includes sightseeing in the cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. You may see famed Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church, and spectacular views of the Danube. Alternatively, you may also opt to join a hike up to Castle Hill on which you can see Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and Parliament Square. After dinner, enjoy a special Illuminations Cruise past the glittering riverfront of Budapest. 

Your cruise comes to an end as you prepare for your homeward flight.