Danube River Cruise From Vienna (September)
After a three-night stay near Vienna, sail on this great value Danube river cruise through the cities and valleys of Central Europe till you reach Budapest.
Your holiday begins with a three-night hotel stay near the musical city of Vienna, where an included half-day tour will reveal the historic buildings, including the magnificent State Opera House, of the old city. You’ll also enjoy a meal at the atmospheric Salmbrau restaurant, which is located in one of the last monastery cellars of Vienna’s Old Town.
You will then embark Spirit of the Danube and begin your river cruise adventure along the Danube. Sail through the beautiful riverscapes of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary where you’ll visit a host of delightful towns that cluster on the Danube Bend. A grand finale awaits in the cosmopolitan city of Budapest, which is divided by the Danube into Buda and Pest. See some of the highlights during an included city tour, such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle that sits above the river on the west bank and the impressive Hungarian Parliament buildings in Pest on the east bank or instead embark on an included culinary tour with the opportunity to sample delicious strudels, authentic chimney cake and Hungarian salami.
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 in a hotel, 7 nights Full Board aboard the ship
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Vienna city tour OR Vienna culinary walking tour
Tour of Schönbrunn Palace
Vienna evening concert
Bratislava city tour
Budapest city tour OR Budapest culinary walking tour
FOOD & DRINK
26 meals: 10 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 - Vienna - Baden
Fly to Vienna and transfer to Baden (a 27-mile journey of approximately 40 minutes) for a three-night stay at either the locally rated 4-star Hotel Schloss Welkersdorf (4Q) or at the locally rated 4-star Hotel At-the-Park (4Q).
Your stay is on a half-board basis, with one dinner at a local restaurant and two dinners at the hotel.
Day 2 Vienna
Transfer from Baden (a journey of approximately 45 minutes) to Vienna, the legendary city of the Hapsburgs for 600 hundred years. Enjoy an included tour which takes in the Ringstrasse, a wide avenue encircling the old city, revealing its historic buildings, including the State Opera House.
Alternatively, opt for an included culinary walking tour from Albertina Square to the Imperial Palace, with the opportunity to sample local specialities along the way. You can then spend the rest of the day exploring Vienna independently or transfer back to Baden after your excursion.
Tonight, dinner is included at your hotel.
Day 3 Vienna
Spend the morning at leisure in Baden or take the shuttle back to Vienna for some free time in the city. This afternoon, join an included excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, the Imperial Summer Palace of the Hapsburgs which was inspired by Versailles. The UNESCO-listed palace is filled with priceless treasures, while the vast grounds feature well-manicured lawns and colourful flowerbeds.
Stay in Vienna for dinner at a local restaurant, followed by an included concert at the baroque Palais Auersperg or one of Vienna’s other grand palaces near the Ringstrasse. The concert will feature music by Mozart and the Strauss family.
Day 4 Vienna - Dürnstein
Enjoy a final morning at leisure in Vienna before embarking Spirit of the Danube later this afternoon.
Begin your cruise along the Danube to Dürnstein as you enjoy a welcome reception and dinner on board tonight.
Day 5 Dürnstein - Melk
Dürnstein is set in the Wachau Valley beneath the ruined Kuenringer Castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century.
After time at leisure or an optional tour of Dürnstein your ship will set sail for Melk. Here you'll have the opportunity to visit its Benedictine Abbey. Depart Melk during dinner and cruise through the night to Passau.
Day 6 Passau
Arrive in Passau around lunchtime. Enjoy the afternoon exploring the 'Venice of Bavaria', set at the meeting point of three rivers – the Danube, Inn and Ilz, and surrounded by wooded hills. Or, to make the most of your visit why not join an optional city walk and hear the history of this attractive town?
Spirit of the Danube departs late tonight.
Day 7 Linz
Enjoy the morning exploring Linz on an optional excursion or independently.
Your ship departs during lunch and cruises overnight towards Bratislava.
Day 8 Bratislava
This morning you arrive in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, where an included city tour takes you on a trip aboard the miniature city tourist train passing some of the highlights, including Bratislava Castle. You’ll step off the train in the Old Town for a walking tour to see the Archbishop’s Palace, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Market Square, Town Hall and more….
Spend the rest of the day at leisure or treat yourself to a glass of beer on an optional trip to the UFO observation tower or perhaps visit a pottery workshop on another optional excursion.
Day 9 Bratislava - Esztergom - Budapest
Your ship departs in the early hours, arriving in Esztergom before breakfast. It is perhaps the most beautiful of the small towns on the Danube Bend, and home to Hungary's largest basilica, the dome of which can be seen for miles. Perhaps explore here and the artistic community of Szentendre on an optional excursion.
Depart at lunchtime and cruise to Budapest, arriving early this evening.
Day 10 Budapest
Your ship remains moored in Budapest for a full day and overnight stay.
This cosmopolitan city is divided by the Danube into Buda and Pest. Here you have the option to join an included city tour revealing some of the city's highlights, from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle that sits above the river on the west bank, to the impressive Hungarian Parliament buildings in Pest on the east bank or embark on the unique experience of an included culinary walking tour that features a live strudel-making demonstration and the opportunity to sample authentic chimney cake and Hungarian salami.
In the afternoon a choice of optional excursions includes a visit to Gödöllo Palace or trip to Lazar Equestrian Park Horse Farm.
Day 11 Budapest - UK
Disembark your ship and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
