Experience the majesty of the Danube River while cruising aboard your 5-star Scenic Space-Ship on a seven-night cruise. Sail from Budapest, Hungary, visiting historic ports of call in Austria and Germany. Enjoy escorted shore excursions with English-speaking guides, deluxe amenities and outstanding service onboard ship. Following your cruise along the Danube River, your holiday concludes with a three-night stay in the remarkable capital city of Prague, Czech Republic.
Day
1 Depart the USA
Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Prague, Czech Republic.
Day
2 Prague, Czech Republic
Welcome to Prague, one of Europe’s best-preserved and most beautiful cities, with a rich and fascinating history stretching back more than 1,000 years.
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3 Prague
This morning, join your local guide on a fascinating walk through the city and view the famous Astronomical Clock in the heart of Old Town Square. The red-roofed Old Town is a charming maze of cobblestone lanes, medieval buildings, bustling squares and elaborate statues.
Afterwards you might wish to venture across the world-famous Charles Bridge. This incredibly beautiful structure was commissioned in 1357 by Charles IV after the Judith Bridge was destroyed by floods.
Meal: B
Day
4 Prague
This morning choose from three
Freechoice: Walk the city, tasting locally brewed Beer along the way.
OR tour Prague Castle including St. Vitus Cathedral. Alternatively, visit the Terezin Memorial and the former Theresienstadt Ghetto that was established during World War II. For the remainder of the day this magnificent city is yours to enjoy at leisure. Situated on the bank of the River Vltava in central Bohemia, the beautiful city of Prague is rich in history and home to some of the world’s most striking architectural wonders.
Meal: B
Day
5 Prague / Nuremberg, Germany
Journey by coach to the fascinating Bavarian city of Nuremberg. Begin your cruise here and enjoy a toast at this evening’s welcome reception.
Meal: B, D
Day
6 Nuremberg
Journey by coach to the fascinating Bavarian city of Nuremberg. Explore this fascinating and ancient Bavarian city, dating back to the 11th century, on an orientation tour with your local expert guide. Learn about the infamous history Nuremberg is renowned for, and discover some of the important sights that shaped modern history, before setting sail in the afternoon.
Meals: B, L, D
Day
7 Regensburg, Germany
Freechoice: Join a guided walk around Regensburg and its UNESCO World Heritage City Center. OR take a ferry and sail the Danube Gorge to visit historic Weltenburg Abbey, where you can sample beer from one of the oldest monastic breweries in the world. Alternatively, learn about Regensburg’s Jewish heritage that dates back over a thousand years.
OR hop aboard an e-bike for a guided cycling tour along the River to the Walhalla Memorial, dedicated to notable Germans throughout the centuries.
Meal: B
Day
8 Vilshofen - Brandstatt, Austria
Freechoice: Today, choose between excursions to two World Heritage sites. Explore picturesque Salzburg, Austria, birthplace of Mozart and famous as the backdrop for ‘The Sound of Music’. Stroll through the charming streets of the Old Town, pass Mozart’s birthplace, and see its historic sites.
Alternatively, head to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic – a labyrinth of cobblestoned streets with medieval, baroque, and Renaissance houses, lively cafés, and hidden squares. If you’d prefer a more leisurely option, stay onboard the ship for a cooking demonstration as you cruise from Vilshofen to Brandstatt.
Meals: B, L, D
Day
9 Dürnstein / Melk
Arrive in the quaint town of Dürnstein, “The Pearl of the Wachau Valley”, dominated by the magnificent Baroque Stiftskirche. Stroll through the town or hike to the hilltop ruins of Dürnstein Castle, where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner. Sail through the lush Wachau Valley en-route to Melk.
Freechoice: Guided e-bike ride from Dürnstein to Melk along the Danube.
OR, visit the 18th-century Melk Abbey for a guided tour. Alternatively choose to meet the owners of the 13th-century former home to the Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Meals: B, L, D
Day
10 Vienna or Bratislava, Slovakia
Arrive in Vienna eary this morning.
Freechoice: While in Vienna, you may choose from among several excursions. Stay in the city to visit Schönbrunn Palace, the baroque summer residence of the imperial family.
OR opt to peruse the galleries of the Belvedere Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, including “The Kiss.” Alternatively explore a different side of Vienna on a guided cycling tour to Danube Island.
You can also choose to visit Bratislava with a guided tour through the cobbled streets of the old town. See historic buildings, architectural treasures, and quaint alleyways lined with shops and restaurants.
Enrich: Enjoy a private concert in the gilded halls of Palais Liechtenstein, featuring the music of celebrated Austrian composers Strauss and Mozart.
Meals: B, L, D
Day
11 Budapest, Hungary
This afternoon we arrive in Budapest, one of Europe’s most diverse and vibrant cities.
Freechoice: During a guided city tour that includes a piano concert, discover the two distinct sides of this Hungarian capital – the cobbled hills of Buda and the grand boulevards of Pest. Alternatively, explore Budapest through the lens of its Jewish history with a local guide.
OR choose to hike the Buda Hills that rise beyond the city center. You may also choose to venture to the charming riverfront town of Szentendre, home to a thriving artist colony.
OR discover the Ancestry of the Kitchen, learning how to make a traditional Hungarian dish during a cooking class hosted by a local.
Meals: B, L, D
Day
12 Depart the USA
Bid a fond farewell to Europe as you transfer to the airport and return home with wonderful memories of life enriching experiences from your cruise along the Danube River and visit to Prague.
Meal: B