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River Cruises |
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Cruise 4 Scenic Countries on Danube
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Budapest – Danube Bend – Esztergom – Bratislava – Vienna – Duernstein – Spitz – Melk – Linz – Passau – Munich – Castle Neuschwanstein – Oberammergau |
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Enjoy a delightful sojourn on the lovely Danube starting in Hungary's capital Budapest to admire its magnificent palaces, historic churches, Gothic landmarks and cruise the famous Danube Bend to visit ancient town Esztergom. Experience Slovakia's capital Bratislava, its remarkable architectural heritage and where the Danube has cut large valleys through the mountains. See Austria's imperial capital Vienna, its greatest treasures of art and architecture and be invited to visit most spectacular Schoenbrunn Palace of former Maria Theresa. Journey through legendary and charming wine region of Austria's Wachau where picturesque villages, castles and splendid abbeys suddenly appear and be on deck arriving unique Passau in Bavaria to view its well-preserved architecture in Italian style, beautiful situated on three natural rivers. You will extend this cruise with two more nights stay in Munich and participate in sightseeing and an unforgettable excursion into the Bavarian Alps to visit King Ludwig's fairy-tale Castle Neuschwanstein and quaint town of Oberammergau, home of the world-known Passion Play.
So, just join us on this memorable Danube Cruise, its sightseeings and experience the old world of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany! Available only from Panoramica. |
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| | DAY 01 Budapest/Hungary
A warm welcome awaits you upon arrival Budapest Airport by your Tour Director following by a transfer to your hotel. - The rest of the day is yours to do as you please. - This evening join us for a welcome reception and for dinner to the strains of soulful gypsy violins.
Meals: D. (1 overnight at Hotel Novotel). | | | | | | DAY 02 Budapest – embarking afternoon
Following breakfast at hotel your Tour Director takes you on a sightseeing tour of Hungary's capital that includes both parts of the city, Buda and Pest divided by the Danube river. You will see the Parliament building in neo-Gothic style, built during the late 19th century right at the river bank of Danube and lined with many statues. Visit St. Stephen's Basilica, a huge church which provides space for about 8.000 visitors and see its impressive interior with the statue of St. Stephen, first King of Hungary. Cross the Danube River on the Chain Bridge for the city part of Buda and drive up the Castle Hill to visit its old town center and see restored walls, arches and buildings of all classic architecture. - You will admire a Roman watch-tower at Fishermen's Bastion and the 13th century Coronation Church in which the Kings Franz-Josef and Karl of Hungary were crowned. - Finally, from the Gellert Hill and its Citadel enjoy a wonderful view of the city, of all the bridges and of boatshaped Margaret Island, known for its beautiful flowers and garden. - Time is yours for lunch break before we return to the hotel for our luggage and transfer to the embarking station to board your floating hotel. Join the captain's welcome reception and dinner aboard.
Meals: B. at hotel; dinner and overnight on board. | | | | | | DAY 03 Budapest – Danube Bend – Esztergom/Hungary
The morning in Budapest is still yours before we start with our four-country cruise at noon. Then you glide upstream around the famous Danube Bend to the ancient town of Esztergom with its impressive domed Basilica, visible many miles ahead. Disembark here during the afternoon and participate in a sightseeing to visit restored palace ruins of the 12th century, to be said birthplace of first King Istvan. You will visit the Basilica, largest one in Hungary and supported by several columns. - Return to your ship in time for dinner with an evening departure cruising along the wooded border of Slovakia.
Meals and overnight on board. | | | | | | DAY 04 Bratislava/Slovakia – Vienna/Austria
An early morning arrival at Bratislava, capital of independent Slovakia is followed by a leisurely breakfast and a sightseeing tour of this historic town with magnificent palaces, churches and charming squares. See the Primate's Palace with an ornated Hall of Mirrors where Napoleon signed the Peace of Pressburg after his victory at Austerlitz, the towered Town Hall, a beautiful Renaissance fountain and medieval Castle Hrad, dominated the city and Danube where Austria's Empress Maria Theresa often where seen. From its terraces and gardens enjoy a splendid view of the town and its river. - Ample time for lunch break, to browse around or shop for the country's famous embroidery before we later this afternoon return to our floating hotel. The cruise continues soon into Austria and to its capital Vienna with a midnight arrival.
Meals and overnight on board. | | | | | | DAY 05 Vienna
Your morning tour of this former imperial city starts with a visit at spectacular Schoenbrunn Palace, modified to its present structure by Empress Maria Theresa. You will see some of the 1.400 rooms and apartments display a variety of sumptuously furnished rooms in Baroque and Rococo style, magnificent chandeliers, beautiful paintings, fine lacquer-works from Asia, the Hall of Mirror where small boy Mozart played for the Empress - and or other apartments depending on various inside tours you are temporal scheduled. - Outside and from the Gloriette monument enjoy a superb view of its park and gardens, statues and gracious fountains. - Return to the city center for a lunch break and continue your sightseeing with a drive on everlasting Ring, a promenade of Vienna's most important sights. You view its great buildings and monuments such as the Opera House, the Maria Theresa Memorial, various museums, the Parliament and City Hall and the former imperial palace Hofburg, a complex of historic buildings from the 13th century and home of the famous Spanish Riding School. You will be visiting St. Stephen's Cathedral with its fine altarpiece of the 15th century, and enjoy seeing impressive busts of Saints, including the one of St. Stephen. End your tour at Cafe Sacher and why not try here a piece of tasty Sachertorte. - Tonight, you are invited for dinner at a typical Heurigen-Restaurant in the wine-village of Grinzing.
Meals and overnight on board; dinner in Grinzing. | | | | | | DAY 06 Vienna –Duernstein – Spitz
With a morning departure you leave Vienna on the Danube, passing small town Krems, the eastern end of the lovely Wachau and hills covered with Austria's famous vineyards. During the afternoon arrive at little fortified town Duernstein, crowned by ruins of a former fortress where Richard Lionheart, King of England was imprisoned for several years in the 12th century. - You will visit the towered Parish Church in Baroque style, founded in the 15th century and its courtyard with carved columns and graceful statues. - If good on foot climb up a path to the castle ruins to enjoy a panoramic view of the town and its splendid valley. - Later afternoon your cruise takes you to nearby village Spitz, hidden behind a curtain of fruit trees. -Have your dinner aboard and afterwards join your Tour Director on an easy orientation walk to see its picturesque streets, arcaded houses with balconies and the medieval parish church of Gothic style.
Meals and overnight on board. | | | | | | DAY 07 Spitz – Melk – Linz
Around breakfast time leave charming village Spitz and enjoy a breathtaking scenery as your floating hotel is gliding through the most idyllic region of the Wachau Valley. You stop in Melk right at the foothill of its Benedictine Abbey, the most magnificent Baroque church of its kind overlooking theDanube. - Ample time remains to visit its outside gate and courtyard flanked by statues of prophets and see the imposing Marble Chamber and Library. You also see the abbey buildings surrounding the Abbey Church of the early 19th century. - Some time is left for browsing around before we head for our today's destination Linz, capital of Lower Austria and built on both banks of the Danube. - On request, your Tour Director takes you on a later evening walk to the beautiful illuminated square Hauptplatz to view its splendid Trinity Column of Baroque Style, to the Landhaus, founded during the 16th century, today seat of the provincial Government and across the 15th century Chateau, former residence of Emperor Friedrich III.
Meals and overnight on board. | | | | | | DAY 08 Linz – Passau/Germany
Another enjoyable morning cruise winds with a deep bend at Wesenufer along pastureland into Germany's Bavaria and to our final cruise destination Passau, one of the most picturesque cities with a marvelous setting at the junction of three lovely rivers. - The afternoon sightseeing tour will show you this unrivalled town, crowned by massive stronghold on a wooded hill. Visit first the majestic Cathedral, built in Baroque style during the 17th century and its interior and the world's largest organ. - After this delightful visit we cross the Danube and drive up the castle hill of Georgsberg to see its powerful fortress Veste Oberhaus, a former episcopal stronghold of the 13th century when Passau became an Imperial City and its bishop a Prince of the Holy Roman-German Empire. - From the restaurant terrace or observation tower enjoy a magnificent view, showing peninsula Passau beautiful situated between the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz with its redroofed buildings in a typical Italian style. - Later, return to your floating hotel and join this evening your captain for a festive farewell dinner.
Meals and overnight on board. | | | | | | DAY 09 Passau – Munich
After breakfast on board your fascinating Danube river cruise comes to an end this morning as you disembark here in Passau for a motor-coach transfer to Munich for a two more nights stay. - Arrive the capital of Bavaria and your hotel around noon, check-in and join your Tour Director for a welcome reception following by a city sightseeing. The tour will show you first Munich's landmark the towered Church of our Lady, the splendid Sendlinger Gate, the beautiful City Hall with its famous Glockenspiel and at the center the most celebrated Hofbraeuhaus that doesn't need much explanation. You will view the palace Residenz, built during the 14th century for the former Bavarian Dukes. - See the huge Olympic Stadium of 1972, the Nymphenburg Palace surrounded by a lovely park and visit here the Royal Horse Carriage Museum. - The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to shop or browse around in Munich's pedestrian zone, lined with department stores, boutiques and outside cafes. Tonight you are invited for dinner at one of Munich's famous restaurants with local music and folklore entertainment.
Meals: B. on board; dinner in Munich (2 overnights at Hotel Atrium). | | | | | | DAY 10 Munich – Castle Neuschwanstein – Oberammergau
An unforgettable excursion takes you by motor-coach into the Bavarian Alps, first to small town Hohenschwangau to visit Castle Neuschwanstein. This white and dream-like fortress was built 1869 by sketches of a theatrical decorator which explains the fairy-tale atmosphere. You will tour some of the inside rooms which offers heavy tapestries in Romanesque and Byzantine style, the impressive Singershall with fine candelabra and chandeliers. See also King Ludwig's unique bed room with artistic woodcarvings and an outstanding grotto of stalactite recall opera themes of his friend Richard Wagner. - Step outside on Marienbruecke, spans a deep gorge to enjoy a wonderful view of the Upper Bavarian mountains and its picturesque lakes. - Following a lunch break down at the village we continue our excursion with a drive to lovely old Bavarian town of Oberammergau to admire its beautiful painted burgher houses and the world-famous Passion Play Theatre with a seating for about 5.000 spectators. Time now will be yours to stroll around or visit inviting woodcarving shops before we return to our hotel in Munich. - Dinner tonight will be served at the hotel, including a surprise-drawing of valuable gifts with everyone winning. We are sure you will
enjoy this last evening in Bavaria!
Meals: B&D. | | | | | | DAY 14 Munich – Last day of tour
After breakfast this morning your 4-country-cruise ends with a transfer to the airport of Munich. With delightful memories of four fascinating European countries you board your jetliner for your return flight. Your Tour Director bids farewell andwe are sure to be with us once again!
Meals: B.
Please note: This river cruise package is also available vice versa, starting inMunich and ending in Budapest!
| | | | | | Amenities of your floating hotel
MPS-Esmeralda (Dutch flagship)
- 63 spacious outside cabins with wide windows, including
two lower single beds, private facilities with toilet, shower,
telephone, TV and air-condition.
- An elegant restaurant with panoramic windows,
accommodates all guests in one comfortable seating.
- Your ship is further equipped with a cozy bar, an elevator
and with a spacious Sun Deck with reclining seats to watch
the scenery passing by. | | | |
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All includings* |
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- Transfers between airports Budapest/Munich and
hotels/embarking stations.
- 3 welcome cocktails, each upon arrival Budapest,
embarking day, Munich.
- 1 accommodation at a three to four-star hotel
in Budapest, including buffet-style breakfast and
a three-courses dinner.
- 2 accommodations in Munich,
including 2 buffet-style breakfasts and 2 three-courses
dinners, one with local entertainment, both selected
three or four-star hotel as named or similar, including
hotel tax, service charges and
baggage handling.
- 7 nights on board of MPS-Esmeralda
from Budapest to Passau (or vice versa) as per itinerary, all
in an outside twin-bedded cabin with 2 lower beds, each
with private facilities, telephone, TV and air-condition.
- On cruise up to 5 meals per day,
including captain's dinner.
- All sightseeings, excursions and entrance fees
as per itinerary:
- City sightseeing in Budapest,
including Fishermen's Bastion and Gellert Hill.
- Excursion with sightseeing to Esztergom.
- City sightseeing of Bratislava,
including Primate's Palace and Castle Hrad.
- City sightseeing of Vienna,
including Schoenbrunn Palace and an outside dinner
with local music in Grinzing.
- Orientation walk of Duernstein and Spitz.
- Sightseeing of Melk,
including Bendictine Abbey and Church.
- Orientation walk of Linz late evening on request.
- City sightseeing of Passau, including Fortress Oberhaus.
- City sightseeing of Munich,
including entrance to Royal Horse Carriage Museum.
- Excursion to Oberammergau and Hohenschwangau,
including entrance to Castle Neuschwanstein.
- A valuable gift to each member of tour.
- An experienced and multi-lingual Tour Director
each day throughout land.
- An English-speaking Cruise Director. |
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Hotel-, Cruise- and Land-Cost |
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