Tauck’s Prague to the Black Sea from Prague to Bucharest combines The Blue Danube and Budapest to the Black Sea. Departures run east and west, and are similar.
Eastbound Itinerary
• = cruise day
1. Arrive Prague
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel, a short walk from Old Town. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D
2. Discover Past & Present Prague
In Prague’s Hradcany (Castle) District, visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus, and take an exclusive private tour of the Strahov Monastery libraries. Spend the afternoon as you wish or join us to discover the Astronomical Clock and other Prague icons on a guided walking tour of Old Town. Meals BD
• 3. Regensburg / Embark Riverboat
In the ancient Bavarian town of Regensburg, a walking tour shows you 12th-century Steinerne Brücke, towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Board your luxury riverboat this afternoon. Meals BD
• 4. A Day in Passau
After a morning spent cruising through pastoral German landscapes, arrive in Passau for a walking tour of this hillside Bavarian town; continue cruising to Linz, Austria. Meals BLD
• 5. Salzburg and Linz
You have a choice today – enjoy Linz or join us on an excursion to Salzburg, visiting Mirabell Gardens. Rejoin the ship for dinner and a classical music performance this evening. Meals BLD
• 6. Wachau Valley Cruise / Dürnstein
Cruise through the medieval landscapes of the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein for a walking tour and wine tasting. Castle ruins high above town afford lovely river vistas. Meals BLD
• 7. The Imperial City of Vienna
Vienna inspires romantic visions of “Old Europe.” Tauck’s sightseeing includes your choice of a Schönbrunn Palace visit or the Hofburg’s Imperial Silver Room. Tonight, enjoy a private Imperial Evening in a palace! Meals BLD
• 8. Vienna / Cruise to Slovakia
Spend time pursuing what interests you most in Austria’s grand capital city – home to more than 100 museums – before setting off on an afternoon cruise to Slovakia; Slovakian entertainment follows dinner tonight. Meals BLD
• 9. Bratislava / Danube Cruise
Gain insights about 17 centuries’ worth of history on a Bratislava walking tour, including a visit to the Old Town Hall. Join the Captain and crew this evening for a cocktail reception and dinner aboard your riverboat. Meals BLD
• 10. Fascinating Budapest
Today’s sightseeing in Hungary’s fascinating capital on the Danube includes Heroes’ Square and Fishermen’s Bastion. Later, explore on your own, or perhaps visit one of the city’s famous spas. Tonight, your riverboat cruises to Solt, Hungary. Meals BLD
• 11. Visit Solt & Kalocsa, Hungary
Ride a horse-drawn wagon to the Equestrian Center, where Hungarian craftsmen and Puszta horsemen demonstrate their traditional skills. See one of Europe’s finest libraries in the Bishop’s Palace in Kalocsa. Meals BLD
• 12. Cruise to Vukovar, Croatia
Arrive in Croatia today; visit the fortified city of Osijek and the Baroque port city of Vukovar, which poignantly illustrates the effects of the 1990s war. Meals BLD
• 13. Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
After cruising into Serbia, your morning begins dockside in the capital, Belgrade; sightseeing includes visits to Tito’s
Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Parliament, City Hall, and Slavija Square. Meals BLD
• 14. Iron Gate of the Danube
Spend a day on the Danube, cruising through the Kazan Narrows and the celebrated Iron Gate to Bulgaria. See the monument to King Decebalus, Europe’s tallest rock sculpture; enjoy great views of the Transylvanian Alps. Meals BLD
• 15. Welcome to Bulgaria
Cruise to Svishtov, Bulgaria, for cultural excursions into nearby Bulgarian towns. Explore Veliko Turnovo, the former medieval capital on the Yantra River. In nearby Arbanassi, sample local cuisine with your Bulgarian contemporaries at a memorable home-hosted lunch. Meals BLD
• 16. Romania’s Black Sea Coast
From the port of Cernavoda, travel to the popular Romanian Black Sea resorts of Constanta and Mamaia, the latter boasting the only pure-white sand beaches in Europe. We invite you to join us this evening for the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BLD
17. Disembark Ship / Bucharest
After disembarking your riverboat in Cernavoda, travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital city of Bucharest for a two-night stay. Explore Bucharest on a sightseeing tour that includes Revolution Square, a visit to the People’s Palace – the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon – and the granite Triumphal Arch, a smaller but exact copy of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Meals BLD
18. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
From Bucharest, take a full day excursion to fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia, a grand palace built for Romania’s royal family in the 1880s. Or choose a visit by boat to isolated Snagov Monastery; set on a tiny island in the middle of a lake, it is the reputed burial place of Vlad Tepes, the original model for the character Dracula. Meals BLD
19. Journey Home
Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer is included from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
• Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
Day 1: Arrive in PragueA transfer is included from Prague's Ruzyne Airport to the Prague
Marriott Hotel. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors for a
preview of your Danube River cruise at tonight's grand kickoff event –
a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner at 16th-century Lobkowicz
Palace at the Prague Castle, accompanied by a classical quartet!
Overnight: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2: The legacy of many centuries in PragueStart today's exploration of Prague in the ancient Hradcany (Castle)
district, where you'll see 1,000-year-old Prague Castle's complex of
palaces, courtyards and gardens; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and
enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private tour of Strahov Monastery's grand
Baroque libraries. You're free to spend the afternoon as you please in
Prague, or join us if you like on a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town –
a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to the Astronomical Clock and
Tyn Church – along with Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Sample the
culinary pleasures of Prague with dinner on your own tonight; the
city's many fine restaurants and cafés feature a wide range of
cuisines... and some of the best schnitzels, goulashes, strudels,
dumplings and beer the region has to offer.
Overnight: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3: • Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise beginsDrive to the well-preserved German cathedral town of Regensburg, whose
roots stretch back to Roman days. Your local guide leads you on a
walking tour that includes the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone
bridge over the Danube; the Gothic Dom St. Peter; the 15th-century town
hall; and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own
– perhaps opting for some of the town's celebrated Bavarian sausage –
before boarding the riverboat in Regensburg to launch your 7-night
Danube River cruise.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4: • Spend the day in PassauEnjoy the views from your riverboat's sun deck, lounge, or the windows
of your outside cabin. Your first port of call is Passau, Germany;
accompanied by a local guide whose love for Passau is evident, take a
walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town
renowned for its lovely stained glass and nearly 100 churches. See the
Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on
the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower. Return to the riverboat for
lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: • Salzburg sights or relax in LinzWith your riverboat docked in Linz, you can choose to enjoy this
Austrian port city, or take a full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's
hometown on the Salzach River. The day trip includes visits to Mozart's
birthplace and beautiful Mirabell Gardens, and a guided walking tour
through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand
palaces. Back aboard the ship, enjoy dinner and a classical music
performance this evening.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: • Wachau Valley cruise and picturesque DürnsteinContinue your Eastern Europe travel experience as you cruise through the Wachau Valley, declared
a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval
landscapes. Dock in Dürnstein and take a walking tour amidst its
cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and former Augustinian
monastery; if you like, hike up to the ruins of a hilltop castle above
the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the
Crusades. Enjoy some free time in this charming riverside town, and
sample the fruits of the Wachau Valley vineyards surrounding it during
a wine tasting at a local tavern.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: • Music and more in Imperial ViennaGet an overview of the longtime capital of the old Habsburg Empire and
one of Europe's grandest cities – Vienna, Austria – with a morning
sightseeing tour of this historic city that includes the Ringstrasse,
the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of
Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a special visit to the
Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg, now Austria's presidential
residence. Tonight, indulge in a bit of royal treatment with a gala,
private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace in the heart
of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music... an
unforgettable highlight of your Danube River cruise!
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: • Cruise the Danube to ancient SlovakiaPursue your own interests this morning in glorious Vienna – which
boasts over a hundred museums of all kinds – and then return to the
riverboat to continue your Danube River cruise to Slovakia. Gliding
along the "river of kings," admire the pastoral scenery and immerse
yourself in Slovak culture aboard the riverboat, as you enjoy a taste
of regional cuisine at dinner – and join in as Slovakian folkloric
entertainers in traditional costumes perform for you.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: • Baroque in BratislavaWake up today in ancient Bratislava, capital of modern Slovakia – and,
strangely enough, the long-ago capital of Hungary! Your local expert
shares insights and anecdotes about this beloved city on a guided
walking tour; view several Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera
House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin's Cathedral; visit the
13th-century Old Town Hall; and savor some delectable Slovakian pastry
at a local café. After some exploring on your own, return to the
riverboat and enjoy a shipboard reception and dinner tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: • Relax or explore in BudapestAfter arriving in fascinating Budapest – Hungary's capital encompassing both sides of the Danube – you might enjoy a relaxing visit to one of the city's famous spas, or embark on a Budapest sightseeing tour including Heroes' Square and Fishermen's Bastion. Later, cruise to Solt, Hungary for more eastern Europe travel discoveries.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: • Horses and folkways in HungaryA horse-drawn wagon ride takes you to the Equestrian Center, where
you'll see Puszta horsemen demonstrating traditional skills. Then
cruise to Kalocsa, celebrated for its paprika and folk art, where
you'll visit the beautiful Baroque library in the Bishop’s Palace,
housing one of the finest early collections in Europe.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12: • Cruise to Croatia's historic citiesAs you cruise into Croatia on your Eastern Europe travel adventure, attend an
on-board lecture on the country's culture and history. Set out overland
to the Baroque city of Vukovar, once showcasing opulent 18th-century
mansions, but now poignantly symbolizing the effects of the 1990s war
as it rebuilds. Continue cruising to Serbia this afternoon.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13: • Serbia's cosmopolitan capital, BelgradeDock early morning in Belgrade, Serbia's modern capital at the juncture
of the Danube and Sava rivers, with roots dating back to 3 BC. A
shipboard lecture sets the stage for sightseeing including visits to
Tito's Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress, one of the
city's key historic sites. You'll also see busy Slavija Square in the
heart of Belgrade, Serbia's Parliament complex, Republic Square, the
National Theatre and City Hall. Back aboard your riverboat, enjoy some
leisure time before dinner, which is followed by a music and dance
presentation.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14: • The Iron Gate, King Decebalus and moreContinuing one of Tauck's popular Danube cruises, relax on a day's
cruise past the fields and vineyards of Eastern Europe; shipboard
activities which may be offered during your cruise range from cooking
demonstrations to folkloric, music and dance performances. Pass into
Romania and through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube,
a two-mile-long series of narrow gorges between the Carpathian and
Balkan Mountains. As you glide along the Bulgarian / Romanian border,
look for the massive monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus
– Europe's tallest rock sculpture, completed in 2004 – carved into the
riverbank on the Romanian side, as well as spectacular views of the
Transylvanian Alps.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 15: • Big day in BulgariaLearn all about Iconography with a lecture and demonstration as your
journey along the lower Danube cruises to Svishtov, Bulgaria, for
excursions to nearby towns. Travel to the medieval capital of Bulgaria,
Veliko Turnovo, whose ancient walled fortress and castle are set atop
three hills overlooking the Yantra River. In the nearby town of
Arbanassi, you'll enjoy a unique opportunity to meet and share local
specialties with your Bulgarian contemporaries at a private,
home-hosted lunch. A busy day concludes with an on-board presentation
on Bulgarian customs, as well as special music and dance perfomances.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 16: • Romania’s Black Sea coastArrive in Cernavoda and head off on a day trip to Romania's Black Sea
coast, stopping at the seaside resort towns of Constanta – where you'll
take a guided tour – and Mamaia, set at the edge of the Black Sea. You
may want to take a walk along one of Mamaia's fine beaches – they're
the only ones in Europe sporting pure-white sand, and have helped make
Mamaia a popular vacation destination for more than a century. Please
join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain's farewell cocktail
reception and dinner tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 17: Bucharest beckonsAfter disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew goodbye in
Cernavoda, travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest,
capital of Romania and once regarded as the "Paris of the Balkans." A
sightseeing tour includes Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch;
erected to commemorate Romania's reunification and those who fell in
World War I, it is a smaller but exact copy of the Arc de Triomphe in
Paris. You'll also pay a visit to the massive People's Palace, home to
Romania's Parliament; the world's second-largest building after the
Pentagon, some parts of it are reportedly still unfinished! Tonight
you'll spend the first of two nights close to the palace at the elegant JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in the heart of the city.
Overnight: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 18: Castles, monasteries and mysteries in RomaniaA choice of sightseeing in Romania today invites you to opt for a full
day's excursion to tour fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia – built for
Romania's royal family in the 1880s – or a boat ride to Snagov Island
to visit isolated Snagov Monastery, said to be the final resting place
of Vlad Tepes, the historical model for Bram Stoker's character of Dracula. Both groups return to Bucharest as Tauck's memorable cruise draws to a close.
Overnight: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 19: Homeward boundYour memorable Eastern Europe travel adventure ends in Bucharest, Romania. A transfer is included from the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel to Bucharest Airport.
Overnight: Meals Included: Breakfast
Special Air Savings - Learn More
Hurry! Air Savings End March 26!
Special International Air Savings – Europe
Book and deposit summertime departures of the following Tauck journeys to Europe by March 26, 2010 and save $2,000 per couple off Business Class Air ($1,000 off per person) from select U.S. cities.
Savings are valid for travel between June 29 and September 5, 2010, subject to availability:
•Treasures of the Aegean – 14 days with a 7-night cruise aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
•Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome – 11 days with a 7-night cruise aboard Le Ponant
•Switzerland – 11 days featuring travel along Tauck’s scenic Yellow Roads
•Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence & Rome – 10 days in Italy with all multiple-night stays
•Paradors of Northern Spain – 14 days exploring culturally rich Iberia
•The Best of Ireland – 13 days featuring iconic cultural treasures of the Emerald Isle
•A Week In… Ireland – 8 days with a 2-night stay at Dromoland Castle
•A Week In… Spain – 8 days from Barcelona to Andalucía, Seville and Madrid
•A Week In… Scotland – 8 days with 2- and 3-night stays in Loch Lomond, Inverness & Edinburgh
•Spain and Portugal – 14 days of Iberian pleasures and culinary treasures
•Normandy, Brittany, Paris & the Loire Valley – 13 days showcasing joie de vivre
•A Week In… London & Paris – 4 nights at a grand hotel in London and 3 nights in Paree
•Castles & Kings: London to Paris – An 8-day family vacation alive with royal traditions
Deposit must be paid at time of booking and certain restrictions apply. Valid on new bookings only and not combinable with other promotions; ask for details.
Tauck Tour Deals
Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey.
Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE.
Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE
Tauck Single Specials
For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost.
Tauck Single Specials in North America
Best of the Canadian Rockies
Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island
Charleston/Savannah
Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia
San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys
Tauck Single Specials in Europe
A Week in Ireland
A Week in Spain
Mediterranean Discovery
Istanbul and the Black Sea
Treasure of the Mediterranean
Cruising Mediterranean Shores
The Blue Danube
Holland Belgium in Spring
Strasbourg to Prague Serenade
The Rhine and Moselle
Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat
Budapest to the Black Sea
Classic Italy
Bellissima Northern Italy
Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome
A Week in Paris and Provence
Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America
Panama Canal & Costa Rica