Compare Danube Dreams- Eastbound by Avalon Waterways vs The Beautiful Blue Danube by CroisiEurope
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 10 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 3,089 | $ 1,395 |
| Price Per Day | $ 309 | $ 233 |
| Highlights |
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CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
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| Trip Style | River cruise | River cruise |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Premium |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
On this magnificent cruise vacation, enjoy seeing some of Central Europe’s splendid capitals—Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest—as well as many small towns that dot the landscape along the way. Explore the grounds of majestic Hradcany Castle in Prague, explore Germany’s Passau, located at the confluence of three rivers, and Linz, Austria’s third-largest city. Taste beer in Engelhartszell and visit the quaint historical theater in the resort town of Grein. Discover pretty little Weissenkirchen in Austria’s Wachau Valley. Visit St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava and end your vacation in vibrant Budapest. Guided sightseeing with Certified Local Guides in each city is sure to heighten your experience. |
From Budapest to Passau via Bratislava, Vienna and Melk, these cities rich in culture and history will unveil their secrets. Discover the Schoenbrunn Palace and the beautiful Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its wooded hillsides, orchards, small villages, vineyards and monasteries, it is the most picturesque part of the Danube and where the majestic Dürnstein Castle stands. |
Day 1: Arrive In Prague, Czech Republic
Welcome to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. This fascinating city straddles the Vltava River with domes, cupolas, spires, and pinnacles highlighting its skyline. The remainder of the day is free to start exploring.
Day 2: Prague
Meals: Breakfast
Prague is a 1,200-year-old city preserved in time, and, unlike other Central European capitals, it was not bombed during the 20th-century wars. A LOCAL GUIDE will show you its best-known treasures, such as the Old Town’s Astronomical Clock, built in 1410 and once the envy of all of Europe; HRADČANY CASTLE GROUNDS; St. Vitus Cathedral; and the Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague. Browse the shops for hand-cut crystal or art books. Mix with the locals in Wenceslaus Square, an important meeting point and where people demonstrated against the communist regime; watch performers and shop at the market stalls on Charles Bridge; sample the local plum dumplings and Pilsner; stroll along the Vltava River; or wander around Prague’s medieval Old Town, dating from the 10th century. (Breakfast)
Day 3: Prague–Passau, Germany (Embarkation)
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After lunch, drive to Passau, ideally located at the confluence of the Rivers Inn, Ilz, and Danube, where your river cruise vessel is docked. Before dinner, meet your crew for a welcome reception.
Day 4: Passau–Engelhartszell
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Passau is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian baroque architecture, houses one of the world’s largest church organs with 17,774 pipes. Join your Local Guide for a WALKING TOUR through this charming town, and find out much more about the “City of Three Rivers.” This afternoon stop in Engelhartszell and become acquainted with some of Germany’s FAMOUS BEERS.
Day 5: Linz, Austria
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Linz is Austria’s third-largest city and an important river port where culture plays a significant role in everyday life. This morning join a local expert for a GUIDED TOUR. See the 13th-century Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square, and the Trinity Column, built in 1723 as thanks for the city escaping the ravages of the plague, war, and fire. On your own you might like to wander around the old castle grounds and take in the beautiful views of the river, or visit the neo-gothic New Cathedral, Austria’s largest church, with capacity for 20,000 visitors.
Day 6: Grein–Weissenkirchen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning arrive in the attractive country resort of Grein, nestled at the foot of a bluff in the shadow of its castle. Take an included GUIDED WALK through town and visit its unique historical THEATER, the oldest in Austria still holding regular performances. A behind-the-scenes peek to learn about some of the curiosities of this rococo-style, 167-seat theater will certainly tell you much about life as it was—and as it now is in this small town. The turreted houses on the main square make excellent photo subjects. Then, reboard your ship and sail into the picturesque Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stop in Weissenkirchen (“White Church”) for either a GUIDED WALK through this pretty little town. Once you leave Weissenkirchen on your way to Vienna, be sure to look out for the magnificent baroque Stiftskirche of Dürnstein, with its blue façade.
Day 7: Vienna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Wake up this morning in Vienna, known as the “City of Music” and the place that inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Austria’s magical capital on the blue Danube is a showcase of gilded architecture. This is home to the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace complex with its Vienna Boys’ Choir and dazzling Lipizzaner stallions; the neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House; and awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral—plus, countless other sights you’ll see on your GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR. Stroll through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse, and be sure to take a break and enjoy a piece of decadent Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighborhood café.
Day 8: Bratislava, Slovakia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
At the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains is Bratislava, the dynamic capital of Slovakia. Join your Local Guide for a tour of the city, including a GUIDED WALK of its fascinating Old Town, where winding cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways twist and turn to reveal the Town Hall, one of the oldest stone buildings in the city. Also visit gothic ST. MARTIN’S CATHEDRAL, coronation church for the Kingdom of Hungary from the 16th to 19th centuries. This afternoon is free to explore on your own.
Day 9: Budapest, Hungary
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Spanning the banks of the Danube, Budapest is one of Eastern Europe’s liveliest cities. Whether you’re seeing the sights, shopping for handcrafted embroidery or Herend porcelain, or basking in the coffee house culture over a rich cream cake in the renowned Gerbeaud Café, Budapest’s unique energy is positively palatable. On your INCLUDED TOUR, see Heroes’ Square as well as the massive hilltop castle complex with its remarkable Fishermen’s Bastion and 11th-century Matthias Church, the coronation spot of several Hungarian monarchs. Be sure to take note of the city’s eight bridges—many famous sights in and of themselves—which connect ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. You may even want to walk across Chain Bridge, built in 1849 and a symbol of Budapest.
Day 10: Budapest (Disembarkation)
Meals: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Day 1 BUDAPEST
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner will be served on board. In the evening, join us on an excursion : Evening of traditional entertainment in Budapest.
Day 1 BUDAPEST
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner will be served on board. In the evening, join us on an excursion : Evening of traditional entertainment in Budapest.
Day 2 BUDAPEST - BRATISLAVA
Join us on an excursion: Guided tour of Budapest.The afternoon will be spent cruising to Bratislava.
Day 2 BUDAPEST - BRATISLAVA
Join us on an excursion: Guided tour of Budapest.The afternoon will be spent cruising to Bratislava.
Day 3 BRATISLAVA - VIENNA
We'll arrive in Bratislava in the early morning. Join us for the excursions proposed: Guided Tour of Bratislava.Hiking in Bratislava: The Little Carpathians. From Devin Castle, we'll take in the splendid view of Bratislava.Our ship will cruise to Vienna. Enjoy a free evening or join us on an optional excursion : Concert of Viennese music (subject to availability.)
Day 3 BRATISLAVA - VIENNA
We'll arrive in Bratislava in the early morning. Join us for the excursions proposed: Guided Tour of Bratislava.Hiking in Bratislava: The Little Carpathians. From Devin Castle, we'll take in the splendid view of Bratislava.Our ship will cruise to Vienna. Enjoy a free evening or join us on an optional excursion : Concert of Viennese music (subject to availability.)
Day 4 VIENNA
Join us on an excursion : Visit Schönbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the imperial family, and tour of part of Vienna.Afternoon, join us on an excursion : Tour Hofburg Palace, an imperial march through history, art and luxury.Our ship will cruise to Melk.
Day 4 VIENNA
Join us on an excursion : Visit Schönbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the imperial family, and tour of part of Vienna.Afternoon, join us on an excursion : Tour Hofburg Palace, the Hapsburg's winter residence and its Sisi Museum.
Day 5 MELK - PASSAU
Early in the morning, we'll cruise along the most beautiful section of the Wachau Valley before arriving in Melk. Join us on an excursion : Visit Dürnstein, the fortified village where Richard the Lionheart was once held prisoner. In the afternoon, join us on an excursion : Visit the Melk Abbey. Originally a Baroque-style palace built between 1702 and 1736, it is now a Benedictine monastery that hosts a prestigious coed school with more than 900 students. We'll return on board in Ybbs.In the evening, we'll begin to cruise to Passau. Tonight is our gala evening and dinner.
Day 5 MELK - PASSAU
Early in the morning, we'll cruise along the most beautiful section of the Wachau Valley before arriving in Melk. Join us on an excursion: Visit Dürnstein, the fortified village where Richard the Lionheart was once held prisoner. In the afternoon, join us on an excursion: Visit the Melk Abbey. Originally a Baroque-style palace built between 1702 and 1736, it is now a Benedictine monastery that hosts a prestigious coed school with more than 900 students. We'll return on board in Ybbs.In the evening, we'll begin to cruise to Passau. Tonight is our gala evening and dinner.
Day 6 PASSAU
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.
