Danube Classics

HISTORY, GRANDEUR AND NATURAL WONDERS

7 NIGHTS FROM £1,999

Departs weekly April to October 2023 & 2024

Price per person (twin share) including return flights and private transfers

A-ROSA DONNA - see page 64 Optional excursions - see pages 58-59

Delve into the beauty of the famous ‘Blue’ Danube on this classic journey exploring magnificent cities and unrivalled natural gems. Enjoy an overnight in glorious Vienna where the Ringstrasse wraps up the charming Old Town in a boulevard of spectacular palaces and gardens. Visit ancient Esztergom and spend the night in Budapest to witness the Parliament building illuminating as the sun sets. Round it up with the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley with its steeply-terraced vineyards - this stretch of the river is a real showstopper.

Itinerary

Day 1

DEPART 17.00

TRAVEL TO MUNICH AND TRANSFER TO A-ROSA DONNA

Travel to Engelhartszell, a pretty riverside town in Northern Austria where you will embark the A-ROSA DONNA for your 7-night Premium All-Inclusive cruise. Tonight, enjoy an included welcome dinner.

Day 2

VIENNA

ARRIVE 13.00

Formerly the capital of one of Europe’s most powerful empires, Vienna remains full of imperial class and flair. Everywhere you look, you’ll find boulevards brimming with ornate palaces and charming public gardens in what is one of Europe’s most beautiful cityscapes. For those interested in classical music, discover the world-famous home of Beethoven. Or, for romantics, take a ride on the Prater ferris wheel or a horse-drawn carriage tour through the atmospheric cobbled streets of the Old Town.

Day 3

VIENNA DEPART 18.30

Good morning, Vienna! You’ll quickly see why just a day is not enough here. Why not spend a morning in one of Vienna’s grand coffee houses or appreciate Vienna’s imperial might at the wonderful Schönbrunn Palace? For art lovers, Belvedere Palace with exhibits from renowned artists Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt is a must.

Day 4 ESZTERGOM

ARRIVE 08.00, DEPART 10.30

Surrounded by rural countryside on a picturesque stretch of the River Danube, Esztergom is dominated by the enormous basilica that crowns this pretty city. With an impressive history stretching back to the birth of the nation's first king, St Stephen, in 975, Esztergom’s fascinating past is best understood at the castle where continuous excavations since the 1930s have uncovered a treasure trove of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Ottoman styles.

Arrive in...

BUDAPEST 15.00

As views from the river go, Budapest is hard to beat. Straddling both sides of the water, the 'Pearl of the Danube' is full of grand imperial buildings, dramatic history and contrasting scenery. The city is famous for its thermal baths and spas, a unique and rejuvenating experience and a must while you’re here. In the evening, head for the sun deck and admire the lights of the city beneath the stars from your central mooring on the river - a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Day 5 BUDAPEST

DEPART 15.00

With some extra time dedicated to this magnificent city, choose to join a guided city tour visiting Matthias Church and view-wrapped Fisherman’s Bastion or venture to Kiskunzang National Park a unique biosphere complete with stunning nature and rich traditions.

Day 6 BRATISLAVA

ARRIVE 09.00, DEPART 15.30

Slovakia’s capital Bratislava offers the dramatic contrast between grand baroque palaces built by Hungarian nobility and the architectural legacy of a not-so-distant communist past. The medieval Old Town is a joy to explore, with cobbled streets, maze-like alleyways, boutiques and cafes. Overlooking the city is the imposing Bratislava Castle, towering 85 metres above the Danube. Enjoy an included guided city tour and highlight culinary experience on board.

Day 7

KREMS & MELK ABBEY

ARRIVE 08.00, DEPART 08.30

We will have a brief stop in the quaint town of Krems this morning. You can choose to take an optional tour here with time in Krems, Durnstein and finishing at the pastel-painted Benedictine Melk Abbey. If you’d prefer to stay on board, enjoy cruising the Wachau Valley, a pictureperfect stretch of Danube river valley flanked by vineyards and fairy-tale villages. We offer the chance to take a bike and cycle the route too. Whether you’ve toured, cruised or cycled, we rejoin the ship back at Melk Abbey this afternoon. Tonight, enjoy an included farewell dinner.

Day 8

DISEMBARK ENGELHARTSZELL

ARRIVE 07.00

Disembark after breakfast and be transferred to the airport for your return journey to the UK. Alternatively, add a few extra days in Munich - ask for more details.

Set Sail From Vienna

On key dates, join the ship in Austria's glorious capital. It makes a fantastic cruise & stay!

Itinerary

Day 1

TRAVEL TO MUNICH AND TRANSFER TO A-ROSA FLORA

DEPART 17.00