Blue Danube Discovery

Arrive in the enchanting city of Budapest and seamlessly transfer to your hotel, where your unforgettable journey begins.

Discover both the hilly Buda and flat Pest sides of the Danube today. Begin in Buda’s historic Castle District, where you can admire the fairy-tale towers of Fisherman’s Bastion, enjoy panoramic city views, and visit Matthias Church with its colorful mosaic roof. For a more active experience, opt for a scenic hike up Castle Hill. In the afternoon, explore Pest’s landmarks, including the grand Hungarian Parliament, the iconic Heroes’ Square, and the poignant “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial.

Check out of your hotel to board your luxurious ship.

Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent city views.

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems. Your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take a guided bike ride for a more active exploration of the area. Enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city in the afternoon at your own pace.

After reaching the Wachau Valley in the morning, you have a choice of three excursions in Durnstein. Partake in a walking tour along cobblestone streets to the luminous blue facade of the Baroque Stiftskirche, with its famed church tower, before enjoying a wine tasting in a local cellar. Visit a local boutique and be treated to the region’s finest apricot products. Alternatively, for a beautiful view of the Wachau Valley, hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held. After your morning excursions, cruise through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Melk. Upon reaching Melk, tour the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey or take a guided bike ride through Melk.

For those who love The Sound of Music, disembark in Linz and set off on a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. Those who remain on board will enjoy a scenic morning sailing to the medieval city of Passau. Join a walking tour through this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided hike to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress overlooking Passau or a guided bike tour along the Inn River.

*Passau tours not available with full-day Salzburg

Explore Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria, gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 A.D. As an alternate option, sample some of Bavaria’s specialties—beer, sausage, and pretzels; or bike to Walhalla, where you can see the neoclassical white marble temple inspired by the Parthenon in Athens.

Enjoy a scenic morning cruise as the ship crosses the Continental Divide via the Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg. Explore the medieval city center with a tour showcasing the Imperial Castle and the famous town wall, Albrecht Dürer’s home, and Market Square with its legendary fountain. Or you can take a guided tour of the city’s WWII history, including a visit to the infamous Zeppelin Field, a museum built on the site of former Nazi rallies and the site of the Nuremberg Trials when not in session. Alternatively, savor traditional Franconian specialties by sampling famously delicious Nuremberg Bratwurst, Rot bier (red beer), and Lebkuchen (gingerbread).

Depart the ship after breakfast and drive through the countryside to Pilzen, a city perhaps best known for producing Pilsner beer. You can have free time to explore this lovely town and have lunch before continuing to Prague and checking into your hotel. 

Discover Prague with a choice of a city tour or a castle hike. Both will reveal why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See all the key highlights, including the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle and Old Market Square, where you can find the famous Astronomical Clock. 

Beer has a long and illustrious history in the Czech Republic, with the first brewery dating back to 993. Join a Czech beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes Czech beer some of the very best in the world.

Bid farewell to Prague and prepare for your homeward flight.