The Blue Danube

Today is dedicated to all Vienna has to offer. First, we drive along the famous Ringstrasse, passing several magnificent buildings like the ornate opera house, the stunning parliament, the Court Theatre and Vienna’s imposing city hall.

A guided walking tour follows the driving tour through the city center. It is here we will get to know Vienna more intimately, starting at the well-known Hofburg Imperial Palace and finishing at the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Before we return to the ship, enjoy free time to stroll through the pedestrian area at your leisure.

In the afternoon, we tour one of the most beautiful sights of Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace. As one of Austria’s most significant cultural heritage sites, Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens were declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Maria Theresia received the estate as a wedding gift in 1750, beginning the most splendid and wealthy era for the palatial estate, which was expanded to 1,441 rooms.

No visit to Vienna would be complete without partaking in a concert, and this journey is no different. In the very place where Johann Strauss once directed the orchestra, Vienna’s classical music can once again be heard daily. “Salonorchester Alt Wien,” one of the best interpreters of classical Viennese music, supplies an evening full of charm by performing a lilting collection of polkas, waltzes, arias and duets, as well as operetta and piano concert melodies.

This morning, we visit Dürnstein, one of the best-known wine villages in the Wachau. During our walking tour, we will discover this picturesque town with its traditional architecture and its baroque monastery, famous for the hard-to-miss blue spire. At the end of the tour, enjoy A highlight is the breathtaking view from the Danube terrace underneath the iconic blue tower visible from the Danube.

After lunch onboard, high above the town of Melk, we visit the Melk Abbey. Built from 1702 to 1736, the abbey’s church and the unique library with countless medieval manuscripts and frescos are extraordinary. A guided tour takes you through the abbot’s chambers, along the imperator’s walk, through the marble hall, the balconies and the library.

Our coach brings us to Salzburg, “the city of music.” The old town with its world-famous Baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps. It was adopted by UNESCO in 1997 and is included on its list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. During the guided tour through the old town, we will see Mozart’s birth house from the outside and other well-known attractions such as the ‘Getreidegasse’ shopping street, the gorgeous cathedral of the town, and the area of the Salzburg Festival.

After enjoying lunch, we head to the picturesque village of Mondsee, best known as a film location for the famous movie “The Sound of Music.”

Regensburg is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany. Among the architectural treasures are churches, monasteries, the town hall and one of Europe’s oldest bridges that has spanned the Danube since the 12th century. This morning, during a walking tour, feel the former power and wealth of this city, which once controlled the trade route to the Orient.

During a visit to the Regensburg Cathedral, dedicated to St. Peter, you can admire this masterpiece of Gothic architecture. This visit is dependent on if the cathedral is hosting a mass or celebration.

This afternoon a coach brings us to the “Hall of Liberation” which is an impressive marble building fashioned after the Parthenon in Athens. It towers high above the Danube and can be seen from afar. Afterwards, board a boat that will take us past the former city of the Wittelsbacher Dynasty and through the “Weltenburger Enge” nature reserve to the Benedictine abbey of Weltenburg. The monastery, founded by Irish or Scottish monks in 620 AD, is the oldest in Bavaria. After a short tour of the abbey church, taste the famous dark beer of Weltenburg, which is brewed here in the oldest monastery brewery in the world.

Morning disembarkation followed by a scenic drive takes us from Passau to Prague, “the City of a Hundred Spires.” We stop for lunch before arriving at our hotel this afternoon. Built in 1904 by the Brandejs family, the Hotel Paris offers unequalled style, beauty and excellent service in the city’s heart. Situated in the historic district of Prague, the hotel provides you with the best location for experiencing this one-of-a-kind city. Only minutes separate you from the architectural and historical gems that await exploration. This evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at our hotel.

Today we visit Prague Castle to discover this important cultural and historical monument. Here we experience the Loreta pilgrimage destination, St. Vitus Cathedral (the burial site of patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops), and the Golden Lane. The Crown Jewels are housed here, as are the relics of Bohemian kings, precious Christian relics, art treasures and historical documents. A delicious lunch awaits before your afternoon stroll across the glorious Charles Bridge on our way to the Old Town Square.

This morning a private tour takes us on a relaxing and scenic adventure through the Bohemian countryside to Karlovy Vary. This ancient spa treatment resort was founded in 1350 by Charles IV, Czech King and Roman Emperor. Free time allows you to drink from the healing springs or amble about shops seeking famous local cut glass, a great gift to bring back home to remember this incredible trip…just be sure to pack it safely!

Today we bid “Ahoj” to our new Czech friends and make our way to the airport for our flight home. Enjoy a private car to your home upon arrival. (B)