Danube Dreams – 8 Days

Welcome to Hungary! Flights into Budapest must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. The day is yours to relax and enjoy the city with time for cafes, photographs, and confections.

Overnight docking in Budapest.

Breakfast. Choose from:

• Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host, OR
• Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
• This afternoon choose among a wide selection of Optional Guided Excursions.

Overnight cruise to Bratislava.

Breakfast. Choose from:

• Explore Vienna’s Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host, OR
• Explore the Habsburg empire with a morning Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex – Winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. OR
• Take a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace – the former imperial summer home of the Habsburg monarchy.

Spend free time strolling in the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse – the most famous shopping avenue in central Vienna. This evening, enjoy an unforgettable musical performance with an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.

Overnight cruise to Durnstein.

Breakfast. Choose from:

• Explore Vienna’s Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host, OR
• Explore the Habsburg empire with a morning Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex – Winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. OR
• Take a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace – the former imperial summer home of the Habsburg monarchy.

Spend free time strolling in the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse – the most famous shopping avenue in central Vienna. This evening, enjoy an unforgettable musical performance with an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.

Overnight cruise to Durnstein.

Breakfast. Choose from:

• Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins to take in the spectacular view of the village, Danube, and the Wachau Valley below, OR
• Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart – who was imprisoned in the castle during the Crusades.

Later, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you sail through the Wachau Valley past vineyards, castles, and charming villages on your way to Ybbs. Take an excursion to Melk, Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below. Visit the Lower Austrian little town of Ybbs. Walk through the doors of Austrian history with a guided sightseeing tour of Artstetten Castle Visit, OR Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.

Overnight cruise to Linz.

Breakfast. Choose from:

• Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz – Austria’s largest medieval square – and the towering white-marble Trinity Column. OR
• Consider a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg – the city of Mozart – or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.

You may otherwise spend the afternoon on a biking picnic along the banks of the Danube or hike through Linz’s beautiful nature trails to Pöstlingberg for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.

Overnight docking in Linz.

Breakfast. This morning, cruise through the Schlögen Oxbow, a particularly beautiful horseshoe-shaped bend of the river.

• Join your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and along Ilz River, OR
• Take a Guided City Walk into Passau, the beautiful “City of Three Rivers.” Before sailing to Vilshofen, take a little free time to explore Passau’s cobblestone streets and galleries of Artists’ Alley. Maybe stop at St. Stephen’s Cathedral to catch a concert rehearsal.

Overnight cruise to Vilshoffen.

Breakfast. Disembarkation. Your cruise ends this morning.