Cruising the Danube. You dock every day, usually for the entire day, in a historic European city in which the riverboat ties up near to the center of town, and not -- as in some ocean cruises -- far out to sea or miles from the city. Unlike an ocean cruise aboard one of those new, 4,000-passenger sea monsters, the river cruise ships do not inundate the cities at which they stop. The typical river ship carries 100-140 passengers, and its presence in town is scarcely noticed by inhabitants.
There are no casinos on board the European river ships -- and passengers aren't the kind who crave casino life. There are no lip-synched, Las Vegas-style evening shows on the river ships. Entertainment is brought on board and includes classical music groups, dancers and local experts in such divers areas as canal building, beer, sausages and even pancakes. There are no bingo games, art auctions, wet T-shirt contests, rock-climbing walls, bowling alleys. There are no children's games (and no children). There is a bar, two computer monitors for e-mail, a tiny shop, an equally tiny fitness room with one treadmill, a beauty parlor.
With the decrease in the value of the dollar and the high price of fuel the cost of hotels and meals have doubled in European during the last three years. Savy travelers have come to understand that a Danube river cruise offers the best value for a European Vacation. The reason is that accommodations, all meals on board and shore excursions are included in the price. Some companies even include wine with dinner. Because of this, you do not have to live in fear of the hotel bill, the $100 not so wonderful restaurant meal and the $10 cup of coffee with no free refills. Just step on board, unpack once, and relax while your floating hotel transports you down the Blue Danube...................
The Western Danube Cruise from Nuremberg on the Main-Danube Canal. Enter Austria and cruise through the lush Wachau wine region. Then, conclude your cruise vacation with two grand old capitals, magnificent Vienna and vibrant Budapest. Vienna, Austria – A wealth of treasures awaits in one of Europe’s most dynamic cities. Budapest, Hungary – This lovely city rewards visitors with its great diversity. Bratislava, Slovakia – Thecapital of Slovakia, this city, once known as Pressburg, had long functioned for the Hapsburgs as a handsome setting for their coronations as the kings of Hungary. Melk, Austria – This charming town with flower-adorned streets is perfect for exploring on foot. It’s best known for its magnificent Benedictine Abbey. Grein, Austria – This stately gothic city dates back to the 11th century, and is home to the oldest theater in Austria. Durnstein, Austria– A delightful village in the heart of the beautiful Wachau wine region.
A cruise down the Danube allows you to travel in elegance and comfort, while visiting some of Europe’s most important cultural centers and charming towns that emerged centuries ago along its fertile banks.
The Eastern Danube Start your journey with vibrant Budapest, a famous haven for musicians, writers and artists. See the rolling hills and vine clad slopes of Pecs before departing Hungary. Soon, the Danube makes up the boundary between Serbia on one side and Croatia on the other. Cruise through the narrow gorges of the Iron Gates, a narrow passage which divides Europe's Balkan from the Carpathian mountains. Then sail along the Romanian-Bulgarian border to Bucharest, the capital and largest city in Romania.
As you cruise along the Danube, you will see rolling hills, medieval towns, castles and vineyard lined valleys. The Danube is Europe's second largest river and extends through eight countries. You can sail the entire river, or you can focus on the area between Melk and Krems which many agree is the most beautiful region off of the Danube.
River cruises that included the Danube normally ranged from 8 days to 25 days if combined with the Rhine or Black Sea. New for 2010, you can take a cruise as short as 5 days along the Danube from $999 To maximize the amount of sightseeing included, we suggest an 10 to 12 day cruise. However we also realize that some people don't have that much time to vacation, or they do not want to spend their entire time aboard a ship. For those customers, there is a new cruise for 2010 called a Taste of the Danube. The cruise begins in Vienna and visits Melk, Durnstein, Bratislava, Slovakia and ends in Budapest, Hungary.
It is an ideal package for those that want to add a couple of nights in Vienna and a couple of nights in Budapest, and be able to explore the region by land and by sea in 9 or 10 days, including the overnight flight from the U.S. There are only 5 departures in 2010, so this is expected to sell out early.
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Danube History Under the Roman Empire (when it was known as Danubius and, in its lower course, as Ister), the Danube was the northern border against the barbarian world. As Rome declined, the Danubian plains for centuries attracted invading hordes—Goths, Huns, Avars, Magyars, Pechenegs, Cumans, Mongols, and others. The Danube increased in commercial importance in the era of the Crusades, but commerce suffered (15th–16th cent.) after the Turks gained control of its course from the Hungarian plain to the Black Sea. In the 19th cent. the Danube's economic importance as an international waterway increased. At the end of the Crimean War the Congress of Paris appointed (1856) a commission to clear the delta (below Brăila) of obstructions. Continued
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Prices always lower than the cruise lines .
We have sailed the ships, slept in the beds, taken the shore excursions and eaten the food. Our prices are lower than the cruise lines. This weeks best values: Avalon French Balconies $1,000 Off Per person Tulip Time, Legendary, Windmills, France & Blue Danube April Dates.
