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Jul
20
River Cruise Budapest to Paris
Filed Under Europe
Itinerary
Day 1 Board your Overnight transatlantic Flight
Day 2 Arrive in Budapest, Hungary
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or begin exploring this beautiful city.
Day 3 Budapest
Morning sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, where you have a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. Your tour also features 500-year old Matthias Church, St. Stephen’s Basilica,
distinctive Fisherman’s Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. The balance of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day 4 Budapest
Enjoy a free morning in Budapest or join an optional Puszta excursion. This afternoon transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship docked in the center of the city. Tonight gather on board for a Gala Welcome Dinner, as your ship sets sail for Vienna. (B,D)
Day 5 Vienna , Austria
Relax on board as you cruise to Vienna, arriving late this afternoon. Tonight explore the Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Vienna
A wonderful day to savor the baroque elegance of Vienna. A guided sightseeing tour includes lavish Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse and awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Your afternoon and evening are free to explore, shop, stroll along Kärtnerstrsse or sample Vienna’s famous pastries.
(B,L,D)
Day 7 Durnstein - Melk
Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein and marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche.
Above town you will spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192.
Your walking tour through quaint medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. At lunchtime, continue on a short cruise to Melk.
A guided tour takes you to the town’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries. This evening, a wine tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley. (B,L,D).
Day 8 Linz - Passau, Germany
Your choice today. You might want to take an optional full-day excursion to facinating Salzburg and its popular Sound of Music sights.
If you choose to remain on board, enjoy a cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany. Here, a guided walking tour shows you the highlights of this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Regensberg
Arrive this afternoon in Regensburg. A walking tour will show you the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria – gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 A.D. Marvel at beautiful churches
and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. Tonight, folklore entertainers will come on board for your delight. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Nuremberg
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmuhl Valley. The Main-Danube Canal straddles the Franconian Alps via 16 locks, a fascinating feat of modern engineering. In the afternoon,
enjoy a guided tour of Nuremberg, capital of Franconia.
See the storybook 900-year old ramparts that surround this historic city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice
Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Munich Excursion
Today travel by train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany’s largest cities. Your Cruise Director will escort you, offering suggestions of what to do and see.
You will also enjoy lunch in the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Return to the ship this afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Bamberg
Savor breakfast as you cruise through the breathtaking scenery. Then arrive in charming Bamberg and enjoy a walking tour of this medieval gem, with its uniquely intact townscape, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1993.
There is free time here before you continue your scenic cruise, now on the Main River. (B,L,D)
Day 13 Wurzburg
This morning arrive in Wurzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. “The Pearl of the Romantic Road” is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards.
During your tour, see the major sights including the magnificent Residential Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This afternoon, explore Würzburg on your own or take an optional tour to beautiful medieval Rothenburg. (B,L,D)
Day 14 Wertheim - Miltenberg
Disembark in Wertheim and enjoy free time. Then cruise to Miltenberg for a guided walking tour along narrow, cobblestoned streets where you will see the charming gabled, half-timbered houses.
Tonight, as the ship sails, leave the Main River behind. (B,L,D).
Day 15 Mainz - Heidelberg - Rudesheim - Koblenz
Today you have a choice of included sightseeing. You can disembark in Mainz and travel by motor-coach to Heidelberg. Here you will visit the red-walled castle, see the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and the beautiful
views of the Necker Valley and Heidelberg below.
Then enjoy a walking tour of old Heidelberg and free time for lunch on your own.
In the afternoon drive to Frankfurt, where you rejoin your ship. Or, you can enjoy a leisurely walking tour of Mainz, hometown of the famous printer Gutenburg.
Then take a lunchtime cruise on the Main and Rhine rivers to the wine village of Rüdesheim. Here tour the town by mini-train and visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum.
Late this afternoon, everyone will cruise the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine River, passing castles and the infamous Lorelei Rock.
Arrive in Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle, after dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 16 Cochem - Zell
Enjoy a guided visit of Reichsburg Castle, situated above Cochem with spectacular views of the Moselle River.
This afternoon, cruise past hillside vineyards to Zell, home of the famous “Zeller Schwarze Katz” wine. (B,L,D)
Day 17 Bernkastel - Trier
Arrive in Bernkastel early this morning and explore this quaint little town on a walking tour.
Strategically located in the middle of the Moselle wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts over 500 years of documented wine history.
Then on to Trier, Germany’s oldest city. Here a guided tour will introduce you to the city’s rich ancient Roman past. (B,L,D)
Day 18 Trier - Luxembourg - Paris, France
Bid farewell to your cruise ship and head to Luxembourg, for a city tour of the Grand Duchy. This afternoon continue on to Paris, the beautiful “City of Lights.” (B)
Day 19 Paris
Enjoy Paris’ famous sights during this morning’s guided tour: see Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées and more.
The remainder of the day is yours to shop, explore a museum or gallery, or relax in a café or restaurant. (B)
Day 20 Paris
A full free day to explore the French capital on your own. Stroll along the boutique-lined boulevards, visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, sip coffee in the buzzing Latin Quarter, or chat with one of the many artists along the banks of the Seine River.
The spectacular city of Paris offers something for everyone. (B)
Day 21 Depart Paris
Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. Extra nights are available. (B)
Your trip Includes:
- Airport transfers in Budapest on day 2 and Paris on day 21
- Two nights hotel accommodation in Budapest including buffet breakfast daily
- Transfer from the hotel in Budapest to the ship
- Fourteen nights deluxe cruise accommodation in outside cabin with hotel-style beds
- Transfer from the ship in Trier to Paris
- Three nights hotel accommodation in Paris including buffet breakfast daily
- Superb dining with all meals included while cruising
- Quality wines with dinner
- Cocktail Reception and Welcome Dinner
- Captain’s Gala Dinner
- Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Special highlights including a folklore performance, wine tasting, lectures, theme dinners, local festivities and on board music performance
- Services of a professional Cruise Manager throughout your cruise
- Nightly piano entertainment on board
- On board amenities including fitness center, massage and beauty salon, souvenir shop and Club Lounge
- All English language on board in a non-smoking environment (smoking only on the Sun Deck)
- All local taxes
- Brendan flight bag and portfolio of travel documents
Prices are based on availability and can change without notice.
This is one of many river cruises in Europe. Contact one of our specialist and find the right European river cruise package for you.