Central European River Cruise To Budapest
The Danube travels through cities and landscapes redolent with history and culture. This Danube River cruise starts with a hotel stay in Berlin, where an included tour takes you to selected sites. An overnight stay in Dresden, at the 4-star Bellevue Hotel Dresden (4Q), provides the opportunity to visit the Sandstone Mountains before your flight to Prague. Enjoy a two-night stay at the 5-star Corinthia Hotel Prague (4Q) and look forward to exploring the city’s Old Town Square, which features Baroque and Gothic churches, and the medieval Astronomical Clock.
In Nuremberg you’ll embark Spirit of the Danube for a seven-night cruise along the Danube. Along the way you’ll explore the medieval streets of Regensburg, see the Baroque St Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau and visit Dürnstein, where the now ruined Kuenringer Castle is where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century. In Vienna take a tour of the Ringstrasse to see the Imperial Hofburg complex and State Opera House before cruising to Bratislava, where you can sample beer and enjoy panoramic views of the city on an optional excursion to the UFO observation tower. A whole day and overnight mooring in Budapest gives you plenty of time to explore the attractions of both Buda and Pest. An included sightseeing tour will reveal the capital’s highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
3 nights Half Board, 2 nights Bed and Breakfast in a hotel, 7 nights Full Board aboard the ship
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Berlin city tour
Walking tour of Passau
Vienna city tour OR culinary walking tour of Vienna
Dresden and the Sandstone Mountains
Budapest city tour OR culinary walking tour of Budapest
FOOD & DRINK
28 meals: 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 10 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK - Berlin
Fly to Berlin and transfer to the 4-star Steigenberger Berlin Hotel (4Q), a distance of around 125 miles, which should take approximately two and a half hours depending on traffic conditions.
Enjoy a two-night stay, with dinner included tonight.
Day 2 Berlin
Stylish, chic and unashamedly bohemian, the avant-garde city of Berlin has a rich history dating back to the 13th century. Learn more about the city’s past on an included city tour this morning, taking in the iconic sights of the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Museum District. Spend this afternoon at leisure exploring the city further.
Day 3 Berlin - Dresden
Check out after breakfast and travel by coach to a 4-star Bellevue Hotel Dresden (4Q), a distance of around 200 kilometres, which should take approximately two and a half hours depending on traffic conditions. Stay overnight, with dinner included tonight.
Dresden has reclaimed its title as the ‘Florence on the Elbe’ since it was restored as the capital of Saxony in 1990. highlights include the Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace with its baroque pavilions and galleries – home to artworks from Titian, Rubens and Raphael. You can even climb the dome of the resurrected Fraenkirche!
Day 4 Dresden - Prague
Check out after breakfast and embark on an included excursion to the Sandstone Mountains. The National Park of Saxon Switzerland, south-east of Dresden, is characterised by rock formations sculpted by erosion, sandstone cliffs, deep valleys and rugged gorges. Around three-quarters of this landscape, unique in central Europe, is in south-eastern Germany with the rest in north Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The Elbe river winds through the mountains in a steep and narrow valley.
Continue by coach to Prague, where you’ll stay at the 5-star Corinthia Hotel Prague (4Q) for two nights, with dinner tonight and breakfasts included.
Day 5 Prague
This morning you may like to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Prague on an optional city tour or an optional culinary walking tour.
This afternoon, you’re free to explore independently – stop by the astrological clock situated in the Old Town Square – one of the oldest working astrological clocks in the world, the elaborate striking of the hour often draws large crowds. This evening you have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Czech entertainment during an optional folklore show with dinner included.
Day 6 Prague - Regensburg
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and travel by coach to Regensburg, a distance of around 270 kilometres, which should take approximately three hours and 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
On arrival you will embark Spirit of the Danube and remain moored here overnight. This evening enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board.
Day 7 Regensburg
This morning you’ll have the opportunity to join an optional visit to Weltenburg Abbey. An optional city walk in Regensburg, which has been a religious centre since the 7th century and has numerous medieval churches, is available here this afternoon.
This evening your ship will cruise towards Passau.
Day 8 Passau
Passau, the most easterly city in Bavaria, is known as the ‘Venice of Bavaria’, being set at the confluence of three rivers. It’s home to a baroque cathedral containing the largest church organ in the world. A short included walking tour will reveal the highlights this morning, most of which are close to the Danube. Alternatively you may prefer to head to Salzburg for the day on an optional excursion.
Depart this evening to cruise towards Melk.
Day 9 Melk - Dürnstein
Spirit of the Danube will pause in Melk this morning, giving you the opportunity to visit Melk Abbey on an optional excursion. This afternoon you’ll arrive in the village of Dürnstein in the heart of the Wachau Valley. The now ruined Kuenringer Castle is where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century. An optional walking tour takes you through the cobbled streets to visit the abbey for an organ concert.
Cruise through the night towards Vienna.
Day 10 Vienna
This morning enjoy an included sightseeing tour of elegant Vienna, for 600 years the centre of the Habsburg Empire. Your tour includes a drive around the Ringstrasse, a wide avenue encircling the old city, taking in famous sights such as the Imperial Hofburg complex built by Emperor Franz Josef, and the world-famous State Opera House.
Alternatively, to experience the culture and taste the local specialities opt for an included culinary walking tour instead. This afternoon you may like to visit Schönbrunn Palace on an optional excursion. While after dinner this evening why not treat yourself to an optional concert of classical music in a Viennese palace?
Day 11 Bratislava
Take time to explore Slovakia's capital. Originally part of Czechoslovakia until 1993, Bratislava’s old town, ‘Staré Mesto’ ,with its historic buildings, provides a stark contrast to the 20th-century buildings, some of which serve as a reminder of its communist past.
Perhaps join an optional city tour this afternoon, or opt for an optional beer tasting at the UFO observation tower. Spirit of the Danube cruises towards Budapest later this afternoon.
Day 12 Budapest
Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube.
East meets west in this fascinating city, as can be seen in the variety of shops and restaurants. An included city sightseeing tour will reveal the capital's highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Alternatively, perhaps opt for an included culinary-themed walking tour of the city with strudel making and a visit to the Central Market Hall.
This afternoon a choice of optional excursions includes a visit to Gödöllo Palace or trip to the Lazar Equestrian Park horse farm.
Day 13 Budapest - UK
Disembark after breakfast and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
