Day 1: Arrive in Prague Tour starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Prague's Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors at the welcome reception and dinner and preview your Danube River cruise! Meals: Dinner Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 2: Legacy of Prague Choose to take a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – as well as Wenceslas Square and other "Velvet Revolution" sites. Or opt to visit Josefov, Prague's historic Jewish Quarter, where a walking tour includes the Jewish Museum and Pinkas Synagogue (may not be available on some departures due to Jewish holidays). Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Day 3: Hradcany and a Private Gala Evening at Nelahozeves Castle Visit Prague's ancient Hradcany district today, where you'll see Prague Castle's 1,000-year-old complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy an exclusive private tour of Strahov Monastery's grand libraries. Tonight, join us for an exclusive gala evening at the Renaissance-era Nelahozeves Castle; meet members of the former Czech nobility, and enjoy wine from their vineyards. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
• Day 4: Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise begins Drive to the well-preserved German town of Regensburg. Visit the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own before boarding the riverboat to launch your Danube River cruise. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
• Day 5: Spend the day in Passau Enjoy the views from your riverboat's sun deck, lounge, or the windows of your outside cabin. Your first port-of-call is Passau, Germany; take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass. See the Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
• Day 6: Salzburg sights or relax in Linz Choose to enjoy the city of Linz, Austria, or take the full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mozart's hometown. The day trip includes Mirabell Gardens and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces. Enjoy Austrian entertainment on board this evening. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat • Day 7: Wachau Valley cruise and picturesque Dürnstein Your Danube River cruise continues through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Take a walking tour amidst Dürnstein's cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and a former Augustinian monastery; see the ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades. Enjoy some free time, and attend a wine tasting at a local winery. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging:Cruising aboard the Riverboat
• Day 8: Music and more in Imperial Vienna Get an overview of Vienna, Austria, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg. Tonight, attend a private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace, which features dinner and live Viennese music. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging:Cruising aboard the Riverboat • Day 9: Cruise the Danube to ancient Slovakia Pursue your own interests this morning in Vienna – which boasts over a hundred museums – and then return to the riverboat for a cruise to Slovakia. Admire the scenery and hear a presentation on Slovak culture; enjoy Slovakian folkloric entertainment aboard the riverboat after dinner this evening. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
• Day 10: Baroque in Bratislava Dock in Bratislava, ancient capital of Slovakia. On a guided walking tour you'll view several Baroque palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin's Cathedral, and visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall. Explore on your own in the afternoon, and attend the evening shipboard farewell reception and dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Day 11: Disembark the Riverboat and explore Budapest The Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. On the Buda side, head to Gellért Hill for outstanding views of the city. Take a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion, with Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows in Matthias Church. After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary* Day 12: Discover the landmarks of Pest Explore the Pest side of the city, including Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary. Enjoy a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884 with a gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, and a three-ton chandelier. View the Parliament building, a neo-Gothic masterpiece; and stroll Váci Utca, a fashionable promenade. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary*
Day 13: Homeward bound Tour ends in Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest's Ferihegy Airport. Allow 2 1⁄2 hours for departure flight check-in. Meals: Breakfast
*Note: Eastbound tour of 9/11 will stay at Le Méridien Budapest on nights 11 & 12.
2008 departure price from $3,990 plus airfare
Tauck's Riverboats Wake up to a new port of call every day as your “floating hotel” travels with you along Europe’s inland waterways, and experience the joys of cruising by riverboat – with the Tauck Difference:
All riverboats used on Tauck’s River Cruises are limited to a maximum of 118 guests… creating a club-like atmosphere, with no crowds
Enjoy plush bathrobes, slippers, and Escada amenities
All shore excursions are included, with a choice of sightseeing opportunities in many cities
All on-board meals include wine with dinner
All gratuities to ship staff, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director included
Insightful lectures on history and the destinations you’ll visit, and music and folkloric performances
Dine ashore with included meals at local restaurants, featuring a variety of dining styles including à la carte from the regular menu
Bottled water included on all shore excursions
Our newest riverboat, the Swiss Emerald, has 14 spacious suites… measuring 300 square feet!
Specially designed for cruising Europe’s inland waterways, our select riverboats welcome Tauck guests with a club-like atmosphere where personalized attention and gracious service ensure a most memorable cruise. Cruise aboard two of Europe’s finest ships, MS Swiss Diamond and the new MS Swiss Emerald, enjoying tastefully appointed outside cabins with panoramic river views. With comfortable accommodations for two persons, shipboard cabins are equipped with a color television, mini-bar, radio, safe, hair dryer, air conditioning and a private bathroom with shower; power is 220 volt.
By day, relax on the Sun Deck as you view the ever-changing river landscapes in welcome comfort. In the evening, enjoy a cocktail in the lounge, while an on-board pianist plays your favorite tunes, or dance the night away – the bar stays open late into the night. Dining aboard each ship is a pleasure in a spacious restaurant that caters to all tastes with daily buffets, a choice of menus and special theme dinners. Vegetarian meals are available and a selection of international wines is included with dinner.
Many people believe that by dealing directly with the cruise line, they cut out the expense of a middleman. But when it comes to cruising, this is never the case. The cruise lines depend on travel agents to sell their product, and so it is the cruise lines who pay the agent's commission, not the customer. The lines also offer agents various extra incentives, bonus commissions and value-added perks, giving the travel agents more pricing leverage and the ability for us to offer you: Prices always lower than the cruise lines .
There are many superb and well-trained travel agents, but there are also many who know little to nothing about river cruising. They may have been wonderful to work with when planning your business travel, or land vacations, but the might not have the specialized knowledge about river cruising to supply you with equally good service in that area.
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 for the cruise, air fares and insurance!
