Capture the imperial history of Old-World Europe along the Danube River as it flourished beneath towering fortresses and inspired legendary composers the likes of Mozart and Strauss. Follow their famous melodies through the Wachau Valley and the river’s legendary capitals: Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna, the “City of Waltzes,” encountering fascinating architecture, captivating legends and the storied sites where great composers lived, worked and performed. Explore Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, where portions of The Sound of Music were filmed. Along the way, deepen your passion for music while being treated to a variety of live performances, including in or around Melk’s golden-hued Benedictine abbey. As you glide along the Danube River on your way back towards Budapest, remember the figures of the past that left their mark along this fascinating European waterway.
Capture the imperial history of Old-World Europe along the Danube River as it flourished beneath towering fortresses and inspired legendary composers the likes of Mozart and Strauss. Follow their famous melodies through the Wachau Valley and the river’s legendary capitals: Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna, the “City of Waltzes,” encountering fascinating architecture, captivating legends and the storied sites where great composers lived, worked and performed. Explore Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, where portions of The Sound of Music were filmed. Along the way, deepen your passion for music while being treated to a variety of live performances, including in or around Melk’s golden-hued Benedictine abbey. As you glide along the Danube River on your way back towards Budapest, remember the figures of the past that left their mark along this fascinating European waterway.
Celebration of Music
At A Glance
On our river cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and Special Interest Tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship, perhaps exploring the city independently before the evening’s briefings, cocktail hour and dinner. (D)
Day 2 | Vienna | Scenic cruising |
|
| | Exclusive evening concert |
|
Enjoy a day of scenic cruising at the beginning of your journey, taking some time to sit back, relax and delight in the ever-changing views. Sleep in late, participate in a complimentary wellness class, treat yourself to a massage, attend our afternoon teatime and get to know fellow cruisers while exploring all the amenities on board. In the evening, join us for a special included concert on shore in Vienna you won’t soon forget. (B,L,D)
Day 3 | Vienna | Vienna city tour |
|
| | “Composer’s Walking Tour” and House of Music |
|
| | OR Sachertorte and coffee |
|
Following your overnight in the “City of Waltzes,” enjoy an overview of its history and all its famous landmarks on a city tour showcasing all its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Alternatively, take a thrilling guided bike ride along the romantic Danube Canal and through the city, traversing a bridge, cycling across a meadow and heading to Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse Boulevard. Later in the day, explore the city of music while following in the footsteps of one or more world-renowned composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, from their past residences to museums to grand monuments. You will also have a chance to visit the House of Music, an interactive museum where you can feel sound waves, learn more about composers of the Viennese Classical period and even enjoy a virtual simulation where you are the conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra! (B,L,D)
Day 4 | Linz | Full-day Salzburg City tour with Mozart birth house and residence |
|
| | OR Full-day Cesky Krumlov tour |
|
Arrive in Linz, where you’ll have two choices for full-day excursions. Venture to Salzburg where you’ll tour the historic center, lovely Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. You will also visit the museum at the famed yellow building known as Mozart Birth House and residence where the legendary composer was born in 1756 and lived until 1773. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael where the wedding scene from The Sound of Music was filmed. You may alternatively choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city’s picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe’s largest castle complexes. (B,L,D)
Day 5 | Wachau Valley | Scenic cruising |
|
| Melk | Melk Abbey visit with choir performance |
|
Spend your morning reveling in the postcard-perfect landscapes of Austria’s picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wachau Valley. Later in the day, arrive in Melk. Located above the city on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, Melk Abbey is one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries and a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally founded in the 11th century, the magnificent abbey now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. During your tour you will see some of Melk’s musical manuscripts as well as frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger. Plus, enjoy a live choir performance in or around the abbey. If you prefer a more active tour, you may hike to Melk Abbey or pedal around town on a guided bike tour. (B,L,D)
Day 6 | Bratislava | Scenic cruising |
|
| | “Coronation City” walking tour with musical vignettes |
|
| | OR Bratislava Castle hike |
|
Take your time this morning as the ship cruises from Austria to Slovakia. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Along the way, be delighted by a few surprise musical performances. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city, or journey further from the seat of your bike on a guided cycling tour. If you prefer exploring the world through your tastebuds, join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour to sample traditional flavors from the region, including local beer. (B,L,D)
Day 7 | Budapest | Buda city tour |
|
| | Classical Music Tour with Opera House visit and Liszt Museum |
|
Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Start your exploration of the city on the Buda side of the Danube, following your guide through the city’s Castle District where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest’s Castle Hill. In the afternoon, revel in an itinerary-exclusive classical music tour of Budapest. This special tour invites you to enter a world of grandeur as your knowledgeable local guide leads you through the exquisitely designed Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, followed by a stop at the Franz Liszt Memorial Museum, where the renowned Hungarian musician and composer lived for many years. In the evening, head up to the Sun Deck or stroll around town, delighting in the way Budapest’s magnificent landmarks illuminate against the night sky. (B,L,D)
Day 8 | Budapest | DISEMBARKATION |
|
Bid farewell to Budapest and prepare for your flight home. (B)
Day 1 | Budapest | Hotel check-in |
|
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 | Budapest | “Hidden Budapest” tour |
|
Budapest is one of Europe’s most regal and storied cities—and many of its most iconic sights
are just off the banks of the Danube. Often described as the “Queen of the Danube,” Budapest is full of rich history
and culture and offers many “hidden” treasures as you venture further past its riverbanks. During this excursion,
your guide will take you deeper into the city to discover fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler. (B)
Check out of your hotel to board your luxurious ship. (B,D)
Day 4 | Vienna | Scenic cruising |
|
| | Exclusive evening concert |
|
Enjoy a day of scenic cruising at the beginning of your journey, taking some time to sit back, relax and delight in the ever-changing views. Sleep in late, participate in a complimentary wellness class, treat yourself to a massage, attend our afternoon teatime and get to know fellow cruisers while exploring all the amenities on board. In the evening, join us for a special included concert on shore in Vienna you won’t soon forget. (B,L,D)
Day 5 | Vienna | Vienna city tour |
|
| | “Composer’s Walking Tour” and House of Music |
|
| | OR Sachertorte and coffee |
|
Following your overnight in the “City of Waltzes,” enjoy an overview of its history and all its famous landmarks on a city tour showcasing all its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Alternatively, take a thrilling guided bike ride along the romantic Danube Canal and through the city, traversing a bridge, cycling across a meadow and heading to Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse Boulevard. Later in the day, explore the city of music while following in the footsteps of one or more world-renowned composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, from their past residences to museums to grand monuments. You will also have a chance to visit the House of Music, an interactive museum where you can feel sound waves, learn more about composers of the Viennese Classical period and even enjoy a virtual simulation where you are the conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra! (B,L,D)
Day 6 | Linz | Full-day Salzburg City tour with Mozart birth house and residence |
|
| | OR Full-day Cesky Krumlov tour |
|
Arrive in Linz, where you’ll have two choices for full-day excursions. Venture to Salzburg where you’ll tour the historic center, lovely Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. You will also visit the museum at the famed yellow building known as Mozart Birth House and residence where the legendary composer was born in 1756 and lived until 1773. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael where the wedding scene from The Sound of Music was filmed. You may alternatively choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city’s picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe’s largest castle complexes. (B,L,D)
Day 7 | Wachau Valley | Scenic cruising |
|
| Melk | Melk Abbey visit with choir performance |
|
Spend your morning reveling in the postcard-perfect landscapes of Austria’s picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wachau Valley. Later in the day, arrive in Melk. Located above the city on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, Melk Abbey is one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries and a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally founded in the 11th century, the magnificent abbey now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. During your tour you will see some of Melk’s musical manuscripts as well as frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger. Plus, enjoy a live choir performance in or around the abbey. If you prefer a more active tour, you may hike to Melk Abbey or pedal around town on a guided bike tour. (B,L,D)
Day 8 | Bratislava | Scenic cruising |
|
| | “Coronation City” walking tour with musical vignettes |
|
| | OR Bratislava Castle hike |
|
Take your time this morning as the ship cruises from Austria to Slovakia. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Along the way, be delighted by a few surprise musical performances. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city, or journey further from the seat of your bike on a guided cycling tour. If you prefer exploring the world through your tastebuds, join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour to sample traditional flavors from the region, including local beer. (B,L,D)
Day 9 | Budapest | Buda city tour |
|
| | Classical Music Tour with Opera House visit and Liszt Museum |
|
Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Start your exploration of the city on the Buda side of the Danube, following your guide through the city’s Castle District where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest’s Castle Hill. In the afternoon, revel in an itinerary-exclusive classical music tour of Budapest. This special tour invites you to enter a world of grandeur as your knowledgeable local guide leads you through the exquisitely designed Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, followed by a stop at the Franz Liszt Memorial Museum, where the renowned Hungarian musician and composer lived for many years. In the evening, head up to the Sun Deck or stroll around town, delighting in the way Budapest’s magnificent landmarks illuminate against the night sky. (B,L,D)
Day 10 | Budapest | DISEMBARKATION |
|
Bid farewell to Budapest and prepare for your flight home. (B)