Blue Danube Discovery
8 Day River Cruise
Discover a wealth of art, history and cultural treasures as you cruise to some of Europe’s most famous destinations. From Budapest, journey to Vienna, Passau and the 2,000-year-old town of Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, visit magnificent cathedrals and Baroque abbeys, sample Vienna’s sinfully rich sacher-torte cake, experience the breathtaking scenery of the Wachau Valley winemaking region and traverse Europe’s Continental Divide.
Countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia
River(s): Danube
Pricing
River cruise starting at $4,497* CAD per person, based on double occupancy
8 Days – Budapest to Nuremberg (reverse itinerary available)
Your stateroom includes
- 7 nights luxury accommodation in an outside stateroom (most with twin balconies)
- Entertainment-on-Demand system featuring, movies, TV shows, news and music
- Mini-fridge, desk and sitting area
- Bottled water replenished daily
Onboard amenities
- Wellness Activities with a dedicated Wellness Host leading various exercise classes as well as discussions on healthy eating and relaxation techniques, both on board and on shore.
- Personalized service from a highly trained Cruise Manager during both cruise and land programs
- Internet and Wi-Fi access
- Sun deck pool with swim-up bar and walking track
- Fitness room, massage services and hair salon
- Main Lounge with panoramic views and bar
- Daily entertainment including cultural performances
Dining
- All onboard dining in a variety of venues
- Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
- The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience
- Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
- Sip & Sail Daily Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
- Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
Excursions
- Immersive tours in every destination
- Gentle, regular, active and late-riser tour options
- Bike tours and hikes
- Special Interest Tours
- Knowledgeable guides
- Personal headset for easy exploration
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
Budapest, Hungary
Meals
Dinner
Description
Board the ship for your Blue Danube Discovery cruise.
Day 2
Bratislava, Slovakia
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursions: “Coronation City” Walking Tour OR Tastes of Slovakia OR Bratislava Castle hike
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’ll 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 views of the city.
Day 3
Vienna, Austria
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursions: “Imperial Vienna” tour OR Vienna City Tour by Bike
Free time in the afternoon
The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems and 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. For a more active exploration of the area, take a guided bike ride. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more.
Day 4
Dürnstein – scenic cruising – Melk
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursions
Dürnstein: Walking tour and wine tasting OR Apricots and sweets tasting OR Dürnstein Fortress hike
Scenic cruising: UNESCO Wachau Valley OR Danube bike tour
Melk: Benedictine Abbey tour
After reaching the Wachau Valley in the morning, you’ll have a choice of three excursions in Dürnstein. Partake in a walking tour along cobblestone streets to the luminous blue façade of the Baroque Stiftskirche, with its famed church tower, before enjoying a wine tasting in a local cellar. Visit a local boutique, where you’ll 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, you have the choice to cruise through the Wachau Valley to Melk or join a bike tour along the Danube. Upon reaching Melk, take a tour of the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey.
Day 5
Passau, Germany
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursions: “City of Three Rivers” walking tour OR River Inn Bike Tour OR Passau Castle hike
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 up to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress overlooking Passau or a guided bike tour along the Inn River.
Day 6
Regensburg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursions: UNESCO city walking tour OR Tastes of Bavaria OR Walhalla bike tour
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’ll see the neoclassical white marble temple inspired by the Parthenon in Athens.
Day 7
Nuremberg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursions: Medieval city tour OR WWII tour OR Tastes of Franconia
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 that showcases the Imperial Castle and the famous town wall, as well as 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 Nuremburger Bratwurst, Rot bier (red beer) and Lebkuchen (gingerbread).
Day 8
Nuremberg
Breakfast
Bid farewell to Nuremberg and prepare for your flight home.
Reverse Itinerary
This trip also runs in reverse from Nuremberg to Budapest.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “Blue Danube Discovery” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
Let us work with you to tailor a journey based on your travel style and interests. We can use the existing itinerary above as a foundation, or build one from scratch to create your ideal vacation. Connect with us to start the conversation.
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.