At the terminal in Vienna the ship’s crew bids you a hearty welcome on board at 15.00 hrs, ready to set sail at 17.30 hrs. There is now an opportunity to explore your „floating hotel“, before joining the Cruise Director and team for a welcome cocktail. This is followed by the Welcome Dinner.
Day 2: Sunday- Kalocsa
We arrive in Kalocsa in the afternoon. This attractive small town on the Hungarian plain is famous for its traditional embroidery and for growing paprika. Here we offer a choice of two tours – either a tour into the Hungarian countryside – the Puszta - or an excursion to the village of Hajos, which was settled by emigrants from Southern Germany and is today famous for its wines (both bookable only on board). We set sail during the late evening en route for Belgrade.
Day 3:Monday- Belgrade
Belgrade, the Serbian capital, is the next highlight of this cruise; it lies on the Danube at the mouth of the River Save. It is one of Europe’s oldest cities, with a history going back over one thousand years. Our city tour gives you an opportunity to see the impressive ruins of the fortress of Kalemegdan, the National Museum and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. Cruising you can also book an evening excursion to an exciting display of traditional music and dance.
Day 4: Tuesday- The „Iron Gate“
Enjoy a relaxing time on deck as we pass through rapidly changing landscapes and enjoy our passage through the rapids. This 130 km long gorge, which takes the Danube through the Carpathians and the foothills of the Balkan mountains, is certainly one highlight of our cruise. With its 130m (400ft) high vertical rock faces the „Iron Gate“ is one of the Danube’s wildest and most impressive stretches. During the morning we pass further impressive sights, such as the monument to the Emperor Trajan and the statue of the Daker king Decebal, which has been hewn into the rockface. Around midday we pass through the Djerdap I lock near Kladovo, the largest on the Danube. During the late afternoon we traverse the Djerdap II lock.
Day 5:Wednesday- Rousse
During the morning we dock in Rousse / Ruse, Bulgaria’s largest port and its fifth-largest city. Rousse is not only an industrial city, close to the border with Romania, but also the cultural centre of the region. Here we offer either a guided walk to see the “Temple of National Revival”, Holy Trinity Church and the Museum of Anthropology or a coach tour to Veliko Tarnavo, the former capital of Bulgaria. Both tours can be booked only on board. We continue our cruise during the evening.
Day 6: Thursday- Tulcea/Danube Delta
Around midday we arrive in Tulcea. After lunch we invite you to join an excursion into the unique landscape of the Danube Delta, an area of unspoilt nature (bookable only on board). We join small launches to sail through the Delta and enjoy the huge variety of flora and fauna.
Day 7:Friday- Oltenita/Bucharest/Giurgiu
We arrive around midday in Oltenita, starting point for the coach tour to Bucharest. We get a taste of this capital city and admire the splendid buildings, such as the Palace of the Republic, poignant symbol of the Ceausescu era, and the church and palace of the Head of the Rumanian Orthodox Church. The wide boulevards and impressive buildings together with the lively people give the city its unique Central European aura. The coach will return you to the ship, now anchored in Giurgiu.
Day 8: Saturday- Vidin
We arrive in Vidin during the afternoon. This is the starting point for an excursion to the cliffs of Belogradschik. Over the course of millions of years nature formed this red stone. The fantastic shapes transport us into a fairytale world. During the evening we set sail for Turnu Severin.
Day 9: Sunday- Turnu Severin
We arrive during the morning in the Romanian town Turnu Severin. Here we offer two alternative excursions – either to Turnu Severin or to Baile Herculane (Both are bookable only on board).
Day 10: Monday- Novi Sad
Around midday we tie up in the fascinating city of Novi Sad, a mixture of traditional (Austro-Hungarian) and modern architecture give it a rare appeal. We visit the huge castle at Petrovaradin, one of Europe’s largest fortresses and a prominent symbol of this Serbian Danube city.
Day 11: Tuesday- Vukovar/Osijek
Today sees us in the Croatian city of Vukovar. Our excursion takes us to the Franciscan monastery in Vukovar and offers a guided walk in the town of Osijek. On our return to the ship we set sail for Budapest.
Day 12: Wednesday- Budapest
After lunch there is a coach tour to give you a full impression of the Hungarian capital and to see something of the imposing buildings on both banks of the Danube. There is the chance to see the lights of the city by booking our tour of “Budapest by Night”. This tour includes a visit to a venue, where we have a typical Hungarian goulash and are entertained with traditional music. Around midnight we bid farewell to this fine city and set sail for Bratislava.
Day 13: Thursday- Bratislava
In the afternoon we arrive in Bratislava, where we have a guided walk in the city before rejoining the coach to drive up to the castle. The tour takes us to St. Martin’s Cathedral, where once the Hungarian kings were crowned, and through the lovely Old Town. This evening the crew invite you to a festive Farewell Dinner.
Day 14: Friday- Vienna
With its music and joie de vivre Vienna is a captivating city, in which Sachertorte (chocolate cake) and new wine are just as important as St. Stephen’s Cathedral or the Hofburg Palace. Our coach tour will take you to the most important sights of the city. Of course there is an opportunity to explore this beautiful city at your leisure. During the afternoon we offer two alternative excursions – one to the Abbey of Klosterneuburg and the other to Schönbrunn Palace. Both are bookable only on board. After Dinner there is the chance either to attend a classical concert or to join a coach tour through the picturesque wine-growing villages in the Vienna Woods to a traditional wine bar (Heurigen). Again, these excursions are bookable only on board.
Day 15: Saturday- Disembark in Vienna
It is time to say farewell to the ship after a last breakfast on board. You will disembark from your ship with many happy memories as your individual onward journey commences.
2010 Departures
2010 Prices
Departure Date
Cabin rates are per passenger in $USD
2-Bed Main Deck
2-Bed Mid Deck fwd
2-Bed Mid Deck
1-Bed Mid Deck
2-Bed Upper Deck french wnd
2-Bed Upper Deck Suite french wnd
Single Suppl.
May 8 - May 22
$3,285
$3,614
$3,942
$4,271
$4,435
$5,421
$1,315
June 5 - June 19
$3,285
$3,614
$3,942
$4,271
$4,435
$5,421
$1,315
July 3 - July 17
$3,285
$3,614
$3,942
$4,271
$4,435
$5,421
$1,315
Sept 4 - Sept 18
$3,285
$3,614
$3,942
$4,271
$4,435
$5,421
$1,315
Prices Include:
• Cruise in an outside cabin of the booked category
• Full board with three daily meals (first meal dinner, last meal breakfast)
• One bottle of water per cabin on the day of embarkation
• Coffee/tea after lunch and dinner
• Coffee/cake and snacks, depending on the program
• Welcome and farewell cocktail with the captain
• Captain's Dinner
• Audio-set for all excursions
• Entertainment program on board
• Music with the board musicians
• All shipping fees
• Luggage transport dock ship-ship cabin and back
Prices Do Not Include:
• Individual arrival and departure
• Shore excursions
• Travel insurance
• Drinks
• Gratuities
• Other personal expenses
*For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.
