Enchanting Danube 2013
(Budapest to Passau)

Day 1: Budapest (embark)
Arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2: Budapest
Featured Excursions: Choice of Budapest city tour OR Budapest walking discovery of national treasures

Savor the beauty of Buda and Pest, which lie on opposite sides of the Danube, with a panoramic coach tour that reveals all the highlights of this handsome city. Marvel at the Dohány Street Synagogue, the Hungarian National Museum, the Opera House, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the stunning Parliament Building. In the UNESCO-designated Castle Hill district, called the heart of the nation, you’ll see magnificent St. Matthias Church. Or join a walking discovery that includes a visit to the spectacular Hungarian Parliament building, with its Neo-Gothic façade and array of statues, and Central Market Hall, where you’ll have a chance to sample some local delicacies. You’ll a stroll along Váci Utca, the main shopping street where Budapest’s affluent citizens have come to see and be seen for over 100 years. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Note: Parliament may be closed for official business without prior notice. If the Parliament is closed, we will visit St. Stephen’s Basilica instead.

Day 3:  Cruising the Danube River, Vienna
Enjoy a day of leisure onboard your floating hotel as your ship winds its way up the enchanting Danube and meanders through a series of locks, through Slovakia, and under bridges en route to the imperial city of Vienna, where you will arrive in the early evening. (BB, L, D) 

Day 4: Vienna
Featured Excursions: Choice of Vienna city tour with National Library visit OR exclusive “See Vienna as the Viennese Do”

Vienna is a treasure trove of secular and sacred gems, such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the stately Ringstrasse—the broad thoroughfare surrounded by many imperial buildings and monuments. After your
panoramic drive through the city, you will start a walking tour through the Hofburg grounds that will culminate at the magnificent State Hall of the Austrian National Library, said to be the most beautiful library room in the world. After marveling at the double-height hall with its glorious Baroque ornamentation, you’ll make your way past the elegant designer shops of Kohlmarkt (Cabbage Market), and pass by the Graben. Or choose to “See Vienna as the Viennese Do” with an intimate walking tour of Vienna’s historic center, where you’ll travel by foot and subway with the locals. Along the way, enjoy a quintessentially Viennese experience— a stop in a traditional coffee house. After your coffee break, you’ll head to Vienna’s oldest square, Hoher Markt, arriving just in time to see the Ankeruhr (Anker clock) strike noon. Each day, this Vienna Secession (as the Art Nouveau movement was known in Austria) clock features a parade of 12 historical figures, ranging from Marcus Aurelius to Joseph Haydn, marking the time. While you wait for the clock show to start, order a sausage from a nearby stand for another typical Viennese experience. (BB, L, D) 

Day 5: Dürnstein, cruising the Wachau Valley, Melk
Featured Excursions: Wachau village wine tasting and Melk Abbey and library visit

Awaken in the tiny Baroque village of Dürnstein, which nestles against sheer cliffs on the banks of the Danube. The Wachau is home to a great wine making tradition; you’ll have an opportunity to taste some world-renowned white wines here. Then cruise the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Wachau Valley—one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe—to Melk and its 900-year-old Benedictine abbey. Your guided tour of this breathtaking masterpiece of Baroque art and architecture will include a look at the famous library that was an inspiration for Umberto  Eco’s acclaimed novel The Name of the Rose. (BB, L, D) 

Day 6: Linz (Salzburg or Gmunden/Steyr)
Featured Excursions: Choice of full-day Salzburg OR Gmunden or Steyr

Today’s adventure may take you to Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well- preserved Medieval town core and musical heritage. During your guided walking tour, marvel at the city’s 15th-century cathedral; stroll along its famous shopping street, Getreidegasse, where you can also pass by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s childhood home; and admire the Mirabellgarten, which was featured in the beloved film The Sound of Music. If you have explored Salzburg in the past, you might opt for a visit to a nearby small town, Gmunden or Steyr (the day’s destination will be determined by the weather). Quaint Gmunden will delight you with its Alpine panorama, and Steyr has one of the best-preserved old towns in Austria. Its lovely historic center houses the famed Bummerlhaus (“plump little dog”)—one of the finest pieces of Gothic residential architecture in Central Europe. (BB, D) 

Day 7: Passau
Featured Excursions: Passau walking tour and St. Stephan’s organ concert

Passau’s historic wealth through trade is reflected in the beauty of its Medieval merchants’ houses. The city’s Italian Baroque buildings, erected after the big fire of 1662, match the historic town center with its winding little streets and narrow alleyways. These streets will lead us to St. Stephan’s Cathedral for an organ concert on Europe’s largest pipe organ. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Note: Concert not available before May 2, after October 31, or on Sundays.

Day 8: Passau (disembark), transfer to Munich airport
Disembark the ship in Passau and transfer to the Munich airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in the golden city of Prague. (CB/BB)

German poet Friedrich Hölderlin called the Danube “a refreshing, melodious river, sometimes foaming with high spirits, at other times dreaming serenely.” For many centuries, this river has been a reflection of Europe’s history—an economic lifeline, a highway to conquest, and a source of inspiration for poets and musicians. Now it is your turn to be inspired.

Waltz your way along the Danube, sailing from one captivating city to the next. Visit Budapest, the beautiful “Queen of the Danube.” Spend two glorious nights in breathtaking Vienna, the “Waltz Capital of the World.” Discover the charming villages of Dürnstein and Melk, located in Austria’s lush, vineyard-rich Wachau Valley. Experience delightful Salzburg, or quaint Steyr and Gmunden—the latter of which has a breathtaking Alpine backdrop—as well as colorful Passau, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ. Discover the many UNESCO World Heritage sites on this regal journey full of centuries of intriguing history. Along the way, delve into the tastes of the region, like the Wachau Valley’s world-famous Rieslings.

• 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the majestic River Beatrice
• All transfers on arrival and departure days 
• All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
• Captain’s Welcome Gala and Farewell Dinners
• Complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner onboard; bottled water replenished daily in your stateroom; and 24-hour specialty coffee and tea station
• Explore 3 countries
• 9 excursions, including 3 “Choice Is Yours” options, fully hosted by English-speaking local expert
• Exclusive Go Active Program and "Gentle Walking" Program
• 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
• Captivating onboard local entertainment
• Signature Lecture: “Austria’s History in the Context of the House of Habsburg, a European Dynasty”
• Exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program

Cabin onboard River Beatrice

Budapest
3 days - $569 per person (single supplement $299)

Enjoy extra time in Budapest, the regal “Queen of the Danube” and one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe.


Prague
4 days - $999 per person (single supplement $499)

Delight in the beautifully preserved "City of Spires", which boasts a remarkable core of historic buildings, as well as gracious squares and friendly people.

• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Prices exclude additional port charges of $140.
• A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.