The Blue Danube

Eastbound Itinerary • = cruise day 1. Arrive Prague Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Prague’s Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel, ranked among the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World, for a memorable two-night stay in the historic “city of a hundred spires.” Tauck brings you inside Prague’s soaring cathedrals and grand palaces during your visit, beginning with a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner at the 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, where a classical quartet and privileged views of the city’s cultural treasures enchant inside and out. Meals D 2. Discover Past & Present Prague Exquisite examples of European architecture await on a guided excursion that takes you to the Hradcany (Castle) district and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus. An exclusive private tour of the grand libraries of Strahov Monastery is sure to be a highlight of your day. Spend time at leisure exploring the nooks and crannies off the courtyards and squares of Prague’s winding cobblestone streets, or join us on a walking tour through ethereal Old Town; see the famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, iconic Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Lantern-lit streets set the mood for dinner on your own tonight, tempting with cafés and restaurants that serve up the region’s best schnitzels, dumplings, strudels, goulashes and beer. Meals B • 3. Regensburg /  Embark Riverboat Drive to the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg, Germany, nestled on the banks of the River Danube. Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view its historic sights up-close. A local guide will lead the way as you see the town’s 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own – this medieval town is famous for its Bavarian sausage – before embarking ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel for the start of your 7-night cruise. Meals BD • 4. Picturesque Passau One of our guests happily remarked that this riverboat cruise is like taking a magic carpet ride through a parade of picturesque places, getting on and off in towns that beg to be explored. An early arrival in Passau this morning lets you do just that when we disembark for a walking tour with a local guide whose love for his hometown makes your visit even more special. Pedestrian walkways take you through tunnels and archways, Baroque houses and ancient cobblestone streets in this hilly town. See the Altes Rathaus and Old Town before cruising to Linz, Austria. Meals BLD • 5. Salzburg and Linz Your boat stays docked in Linz today, giving you the opportunity to visit the town as you wish or join us for a full-day excursion to Salzburg on the Salzach River, the celebrated hometown of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A parade of beautiful Baroque architecture, painted wrought-iron signage, ornate church towers and grand palaces paves the way for your visits to Mozart’s birthplace and lovely Mirabell Gardens. Rejoin the ship for dinner and a wonderful classical music performance. Meals BLD • 6. Wachau Valley Cruise / Dürnstein On-board commentary enriches this morning’s leisurely cruise past lush vineyards, fairy-tale castles and ancient monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes – it is the perfect scenic appetizer for your stop in the charming little village of Dürnstein in Austria’s wine country. Take a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church as you stroll down its one main street or take an invigorating climb up the steps to the ruins of hilltop Kuenringerburg Castle for great views. A wine tasting back in town at an authentic tavern celebrates local cultural traditions and new friendships. Meals BLD • 7. The Imperial City of Vienna Wake up in Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” A choice of sightseeing today features a tour of the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace, resplendent with history, or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg, Austria’s official presidential residence. Nothing quite compares to the royal treatment – and pageantry – you will experience tonight at our private Imperial Evening in a traditional Viennese palace; from a spectacle of beautiful ball gowns and elegant finery to a musical performance alive with the spirit of Mozart, you’ll feel like you could dance all night. Meals BLD • 8. Vienna / Cruise to Slovakia Spend time this morning as you wish discovering the Vienna you have dreamed of in your mind’s eye. Join us back on the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise to neighboring Slovakia. Dinner tonight introduces you to a glimpse of daily life in Slovakia with a taste of regional cuisine and an on-board performance by a talented troupe of Slovakian dancers who welcome you to Bratislava in authentic dress. Meals BLD • 9. Bratislava / Danube Cruise Our local expert will share insider anecdotes about Bratislava before you embark on a walking tour of this vehicle-free, cobblestoned city. See 17 centuries of history eloquently chronicled in its 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral, site of the coronation of many Hungarian kings and queens, and sample some of Slovakia’s delectable almond pastry at a local café. Back on board ship, get ready to celebrate tomorrow’s arrival in Budapest – and the end of your Danube riverboat cruise – with our gala Captain’s farewell reception and dinner. Meals BLD 10. Disembark Budapest / Explore Buda Disembark this morning in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, divided by the mighty Danube River. A guided walking tour of the city’s Buda section includes Castle Hill, Fishermen’s Bastion, and Matthias Church (may be closed on some days). Dine at a choice of restaurants tonight. Meals BLD 11. Fascinating Pest Your tour of Pest today includes patriotic Heroes’ Square, Váci Utca, the Parliament building, tree-lined Andrassy Avenue, and a special visit to Hungary’s State Opera House. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. The city abounds with architectural sights and fine dining. Meals B 12. Journey Home Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Ferihegy Airport; allow a minimum of 2½  hours for flight check-in. Meals B

 

•   Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

Day 1: Arrive in Prague
A 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 Prague
Start 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 begins
Drive 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 lovely Passau
Enjoy 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 relaxation in Linz
With 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 Dürnstein
Your Danube River cruise continues 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 Vienna
Get 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: • Along the Danube to ancient Slovakia
Pursue 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 Bratislava
Wake 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 celebrate your memorable cruise with the Captain and crew at the  Captain's shipboard farewell reception and dinner tonight.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Goodbye, riverboat... hello, Budapest
Your extraordinary Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew farewell, explore the city's Buda side on a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion with its Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church. After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest; later, dig into dinner at your choice of select city restaurants. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.
Overnight: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Discover the landmarks of Pest
The Pest side of the city reveals itself to you today on a visit to Heroes’ Square – bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary – and sightseeing including the spectacular Parliament building and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. There may be some surprises in store on a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884, with its gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, royal boxes and three-ton chandelier. Conclude your Danube River cruise adventure by spending the rest of the day exploring what interests you most in Budapest; you may want to stroll along fashionable Váci Utca, one of the city's grandest boulevards. Sample Budapest's wide variety of cuisines as you enjoy lunch and dinner on your own in a city abounding with fine restaurants and romantic cafés.
Overnight: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12: Homeward bound
Tauck's delightful Danube River cruise ends in Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest's Ferihegy Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: 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
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/18/2010 - 5/30/2010	$4,790
6/8/2010 - 6/20/2010	$4,990
9/14/2010 - 9/26/2010	$4,990
9/28/2010 - 10/10/2010	$4,990
10/18/2010 - 10/30/2010	$3,990
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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