Delights of the Danube

Your adventure begins as you arrive at London St. Pancras. Make your way to our designated Departure Office to meet your Tour Manager and fellow travelers, then together, board the Eurostar train bound for Brussels. From here, we switch trains and continue toward Cologne and later Wurzburg. This evening, join the group for dinner in the onsite restaurant. Overnight Wurzburg. 

• Dinner

The trip toward the Danube continues with a train ride from Wurzburg to Vienna and then from Vienna to Budapest. Here, we meet our Amadeus river cruise vessel, featuring endless amenities and well-appointed cabins for our journey. Settle into your accommodations, then join your fellow travelers in the lounge for a welcome drink and a toast to the adventures to come. After a multi-course dinner, we get our first taste of the local flair with a traditional Hungarian folklore show. The day concludes with an evening cruise around Budapest, presenting all the riverside buildings and attractions illuminated in nighttime lighting. Overnight ship. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

Relish in the opportunity to see the sites of Budapest by daylight on today's guided tour. We begin after breakfast with a coach transfer into the city, beginning on the Pest side. We pass St. Stephen's Basilica, a stunning Neoclassic church that holds claim as the largest in Hungary. Heroes' Square is next on the itinerary, and you can step off the coach here and walk amongst the monuments. Back on the coach, we drive along Andrássy Avenue, which is lined with impressive mansions and Neo-classic townhouses. This UNESCO World Heritage Site street also hosts a variety of high-end shops. We venture through the old Jewish Quarter and cross the Elisabeth Bridge to reach Buda Castle, built in the 1200s. Enjoy just over an hour to explore the castle itself and the surrounding district, which includes Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church. From here, the tour continues to Gellért Hill, where fantastic views over the Danube River and Buda Castle abound.

Return to the ship in time for lunch and spend the afternoon lounging on the ship's decks or relaxing in your cabin. Early this evening, we begin our cruise toward Bratislava via the incredibly scenic Danube Bend. This portion of the river boasts mountains on both banks, picturesque towns, ruined castles, deep forests, beautiful homes and riverside churches. We pass through here as the sun is setting, and the golden evening light makes the scenery evening more enchanting. Enjoy a multi-course dinner before turning in for the night. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start your day with relaxation aboard the ship as our route proceeds toward Bratislava. Enjoy breakfast in the restaurant, then soak in the changing scenery from the River Terrace or with a drink in hand in the Panorama Bar. There are shuffleboards and chess boards on which to play with fellow travelers and plenty of lounge chairs on the Sun Deck. We dock after lunch and set out on a guided tour of Bratislava, the Slovakian capital. Tucked amongst the foothills of the Carpathian Mountain and straddling the Danube River, this city features a world of contrasts between the Baroque Old Town and the new city. Our excursion presents popular sites in both, ranging from the Old Town Hall and Main Square in Old Town to the Slavin Monument. We have the opportunity to walk through the last remaining medieval gate, Michalska Gate, and visit places like the Cathedral of St. Martin. The Presidential Palace, Bratislava Castle and the parliament buildings are other highlights of our tour. While moving between destinations, gaze upon beautiful examples of Gothic architecture, modern museums and charming pedestrian plazas. There is so much to uncover. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a night of cruising along the Danube's blue waters, we dock in Vienna, Austria, this morning. Imperial heritage brims from the core of this remarkable locale. We join a guided tour of the city after breakfast and get a glimpse at the most significant points of interest. Our motorcoach travels along one of the most famous 3-mile roadways in the world, the Ringstrasse. This byway plays host to several local highlights, including the Imperial Palace, Parliament, the Natural History Museum and other magnificent sights.

This evening, a true Viennese treat awaits us. After dinner we are joined by musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for a private performance. Their musical talents carry through the night and make the evening one to remember. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We dock in Durnstein this morning with a day of wonderful sights and fantastic adventures ahead. Begin the morning with independent sightseeing in this riverside destination. Many of the most incredible attractions, such as Durnstein Castle, the monastery and wineries, are located within walking distance from the docks. A locally themed buffet lunch is served as the ship sets out on the Danube once again. This afternoon's cruising takes us through the picturesque Wachau Valley, where rolling vineyards and ancient castles are perched upon hilltops. Our cruise director offers insightful commentary for this portion of the journey, offering tales and facts that enhance the experience. We stop in the Valley to visit Melk Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery built in the early 1700s, and home to the Abbey Church, considered one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north of the Alps. Our guided tour includes access to the grounds and the amazing interiors. Outside, an expansive terrace offers superb views over the Wachau Valley and Danube. After we return to the ship, our cruise continues toward Linz. Soak in the continually changing scenery ahead of tonight's multi-course dinner in the restaurant. Overnight ship. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast as the ship approaches its next port of call, Linz. We disembark here, where you can choose from one of two excursions. You may wish to head further into the countryside for a day spent amidst the spectacular scenery of the Austrian lakes. Make stops at UNESCO listed Hallstatt, one of Austria's most photographed villages thanks to its traditional pastel-coloured houses, Hallstättersee Lake, and Mondsee. This pretty town is set on the lake of the same name and its most famous sight is the 15th-century parish church, which was featured in the wedding scenes of "The Sound of Music." Alternatively, travel by coach to Salzburg, via Mondsee, one of Austria's most famous cities and known as the birthplace of Mozart. A guided sightseeing tour reveals the city's internationally renowned Baroque architecture, a well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both options rejoin the vessel in Passau at the end of the day and include boxed lunches for all travelers who request them. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Danube River under the morning's glow is truly a magical sight. Relish in its offerings over breakfast and as the ship approaches Regensburg. Here, a walking tour provides a grand introduction to Old Town. There is no shortage of sights to behold, including the Stone Bridge, Old Town Hall, the Regensburg Cathedral and the Portia Praetoria. There are remnants of the town's Roman occupation scattered throughout the city and beautiful architecture that has been built across the ages. Find yourself surrounded by medieval masterpieces and buildings that hint at the city's history as a trade center. Patrician houses with their tall towers and narrow winding streets complete the pictorial atmosphere. This evening, sport your finest evening wear for tonight's gala dinner. Overnight ship. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Having traveled throughout the night, the beautiful Amadeus vessel docks for the final time in Passau this morning. Following breakfast, we are transferred to the Passau train station to begin our journey back to London by way of Frankfurt and Brussels. As our Eurostar train arrives at London St. Pancras, your Danube rail and cruise expedition concludes. 

• Breakfast