Danube
Cruise
:: Vienna to Belgrade
| May 19, 2007
7
nights all inclusive $799 per person *
Welcome to Austria ! Upon arrival to Vienna airport meet our guides outside of the customs area. Board the buses for a short spin through the city before arriving to the ship for check-in. Prior to dinner, meet your fellow passengers and Cruise Staff for an information meeting. Then enjoy your first dinner on board, followed by a well deserved rest (D)
Your morning city sightseeing tour will introduce you to the most attractive sights of this “Imperial” capital. Starting with Hundertwasserhaus, you will continue on to Belvedere Palace , for a tour of the grounds and gardens. Then it’s on to the city center via the Vienna Ringstrasse to view famous architectural gems such as the State Opera, the Parliament, the Burgtheatre, the Votiv-Church and others. The next stop will be in the old center of Vienna to view St. Stephan’s Cathedral and take a walk through the pedestrian zone from Graben and Kohlmarkt to Michaela Square ending at the entrance of the Hofburg ( Imperial Palace ). From this point, continue past the Spanish Riding School to Albertina Square , where you will see the State Opera and the famous Hotel Sacher. Then it’s back on board the bus for a drive past the famous "Prater" with its Giant Ferry Wheel. Return to the ship in time for lunch. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may choose to explore Vienna on your own or purchase an optional tour available on board. Set sail for Bratislava, Slovakia around midnight.
Welcome to Slovakia ! Enjoy a morning panoramic city sightseeing tour, including St. Martin 's Cathedral, the Castle and Primate's Palace. The sightseeing will end with a walk through the Old Town – Michael's Gate, Michael's Tower, Main Square , Old Town Hall and Slovak National Theatre. Some free time for shopping and strolling. Return to the ship and set sail. Lunch on board. In the afternoon enjoy a wine tasting party featuring a selection of high quality but lesser known wines from Hungary, Serbia and Romania, accompanied with live music from our on board Gypsy Band! Dinner on board and evening free to waltz the night away!
Welcome to Hungary ! After breakfast a 3-hours city sightseeing tour of Budapest will include the most popular sights: The Parliament Building, St. Stefan Cathedral, the Opera, the Square of Heroes , (the Millennium monument) and the town park with the Vajdahunyad Castle etc. There will be stops at the Square of Heroes, the Fisherman’s Bastion and Gellert Hill. Return to the ship for lunch. The balance of the afternoon is free to explore on your own or participate in one of our optional excursions.
After breakfast depart on your excursion to St. Andrej (Szentendre) a small picturesque village (17th century), 25 km away from Budapest . Renowned as a sanctuary for artists, painters and hand crafted arts, the tour will include the Main Square with the memorial cross, the first teaching school in Hungary, Preobrazenska Church, and the Church of the Hill, etc. On the way back to the city, you will stop at a diamond cutting factory for a refreshment and to view artists at work. Return to the ship in time for lunch. The balance of the day is at leisure.
From the port of Mohac, a short bus ride will take you to visit the town of Pesc, a gem of old world architecture, often referred to as the “city for art lovers. Here you will tour Szecheni Square , Kaptalan Street and the Palace of Lorant . Then, visit the catacombs. Afterwards, you will taste some of the local wines in a wine cellar. Upon your return to the ship set sail on to Serbia . Weather permitting, a buffet and barbecue lunch will be held on the Sun Deck enabling you to enjoy gorgeous views of the passing countryside. In the afternoon enjoy lectures on the Balkans held by our Cruise Managers and end the day with a delightful concert of Gypsy music performed by our on board band!
Welcome to Serbia ! Your first stop in this “newly” minted country will be in Novi Sad , Serbia ’s third largest city after Belgrade and Nis . You will be delighted with this pedestrian friendly town as you join your local guide for a walking tour through the town center. After the tour you will have free time to explore the many nooks and crannies of the town or enjoy a cappuccino and some people watching from the terrace of one of the many open air café’s. Return to the ship for lunch as you continue sailing towards the “ White City ” Belgrade, Serbia ’s vibrant capital! On arrival to Belgrade, the day will end with another special treat! After dinner, you will enjoy a private folklore show performed by members of Belgrade ’s renown “Frula” (“Flute”) ensemble. In between the dances, a special fashion show will introduce you to the wonderful hand made sweaters of “Sirogojno ” made with special wool and local motifs. These sweaters are sold in some of the most fashionable world wide boutiques for hundreds of dollars as each one is an individual work of art. If you live in cold climates back home – one of these sweaters would be a wonderful gift to family members – or yourself!
After breakfast on board, your morning sightseeing tour of this lively and vibrant city will include all of the major attractions; Kalemegdan Fortress, looming over the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, St. Sava’s Orthodox Cathedral, perched on a hill which can be seen from every part of the city, the Parliament Building, Princess Ljubica's Manor, Mark's Church, and others. The tour will end with a stroll through Knez Mihajlova Street, the main pedestrian zone full of boutiques, open air café’s and galleries. Return to the ship in time for lunch. The balance of the day is free to explore the city on your own including the bohemian quarter of Skadarlia, only 15 minutes walking distance from the port. Reminiscent of Monmartr, its cobblestone streets come alive in the evening with artists, street performers, open air café’s and some of the best live bands and restaurants in the city. Dinner will be served on board.
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING TOURS AND SHORE EXCURSIONS