A-ROSA RIVER CRUISES - DANUBE CLASSICS 2023 THE FLEXIBLE AND RELAXED WAY to discover Europe Danube Classics 2023
Delve into the grandeur and beauty of the famous ‘Blue’ Danube on this classic voyage exploring magnificent cities and unrivalled natural gems.
Introduction
TAKE A JOURNEY INTO EUROPE'S HISTORY
Round it up with the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley with its steeply-terraced vineyards - this scenic stretch of the river is a real showstopper.
Visit ancient Esztergom and spend the night in Budapest to witness the Parliament building illuminating as the sun sets.
Enjoy an overnight in glorious Vienna where the Ringstrasse wraps up the charming Old Town in a boulevard of spectacular palaces and gardens.
Danube River ENGELHAR TSZELL WACHAU PASSAU MELK BRATISL AVA BUDAPEST CRUISE ROUTE PAGE 2 A-ROSA RIVER CRUISES - DANUBE CLASSICS 2023
– Braised sirloin with a savoury-sweet sauce of sour cream, onions and vegetables
Discover like a local with tips from unique A-ROSA Destination Scouts
Return UK flights
Special welcome and farewell dinners
Highlight BBQ evening on the sun deck with local dishes from the destination SOMETHING SPECIAL
Return transfers from the airport to/from the ship
Raise a glass with premium and local-branded drinks served around the clock: including specialty teas and coffees, soft drinks, beers, spirits, and a selection of wines, cocktails and
Little extras like FREE room service, Wi-Fi and luxury cabin amenities including bathrobes and slippers
PLEASE NOTE
TRADITIONAL FLAVOURS
Braised Beef Esterhazy
What's included
Extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner: choose waiter-style service or take your pick from our gourmet buffet with live
There is no seating or dress code; flexible table times ensure a relaxed atmosphereguests.among A-ROSA RIVER CRUISES - DANUBE CLASSICS 2023 PAGE 3
Use of all on-board facilities including SPA-ROSA, sauna, swimming pool, relaxation room and gym plus a 15% discount on spa treatments Services of an on-board cruise director
All port taxes
THE MAIN EVENT
We’ll complement our delicious international dining with the very best authentic regional cuisine. Here's a sample of what to expect...
Taste
Enhance your journey with the info-packed A-ROSA App the destination appetit!
7 night cruise on a Premium All-Inclusive basis:
Austrian veal roulade roast served with rich chanterelle cream sauce
Sun deck BBQs and cooking demonstrations
Savour regional specialties, afternoon tea and snacks
Two cultural performances during your cruise
Bon
Highlight off-ship tour and dining experience
Nightly entertainment
ItineraryINCLUDED
DEPART 18.30
Day 1
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.
OFF-SHIP DINING EXPERIENCE
We overnight in Vienna, allowing you to enjoy a magical evening here with the city lit up in all its glory.
FLY TO MUNICH, TRANSFER TO DEPARTAUSTRIAENGELHARTSZELL,17.00
Look out for our port times, when you're not discovering a new destination, you'll be soaking up the glorious views as you meander down the river.
Day 2
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
TOP TIP
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.
Day 3
ARRIVE 13.00
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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.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
DEPART 17.00
As a special highlight of your cruise, we’ll treat you to an insightful tour and complimentary dinner in a hand-picked local restaurant – now there’s something to look forward to!
ARRIVE 08.00, DEPART 10.30
Arrive in...
With some extra time dedicated to this magnificent city, today you could choose to take a stroll to Margaret Island, with its lovely Japanese garden in the middle of the Danube River. Or join a guided city tour visiting Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion for the best view of the country’s capital. For something a little different, venture to Kiskunzang National Park a unique biosphere on Hungary’s vast plain complete with stunning nature and offering an insight into a more traditional way of life.
ESZTERGOM TO BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
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Day 5 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Day 4
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY 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. On the Buda side of the Danube, discover a landscape of rolling hills and gloriously grandiose buildings, the impressive Hungarian Houses of Parliament amongst them. While over in former Pest, you'll find a more lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere. 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.
DEPART 15.00
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.
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA
PAGE 6 A-ROSA RIVER CRUISES - DANUBE CLASSICS 2023
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. 8
Day
Please note the cruise itinerary is subject to change, at the discretion of the ship’s captain.
ENGELHARTSZELL & DISEMBARK
ARRIVE 09.00, DEPART 15.30
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 picture-perfect 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.
ARRIVE 07.00
Day 6
Day 7
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Munich Airport for your flight back to the UK. Prefer to stay a little longer? We can uniquely tailor your holiday with extra time in Germany or Austria.
KREMS & MELK ABBEY
DAY 3 - VIENNA - GROTTO HINTERBRÜHL AND LIECHTENSTEIN CASTLE £75
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS AND EXPERIENCES
Led by an expert guide, get to know Vienna’s most historic sites including the monumental Habsburg Palace.
THE WIDE LANDS OF THE PUSZTA £59
Cycle through Budapest and explore its magnificent boulevards stopping at its major historic sights along the way.
DAY 4 - BUDAPEST - BUDAPEST CITY TOUR £37
Exclusive destination tour followed by a highlight dinner and drinks in a local restaurant. During the cruise, you will also enjoy two on-board cultural experiences like live music performances or traditional dancing.
Ride a quaint mini train to the site of the Basilica of Esztergom – a striking neoclassical green domed basilica home to the largest single canvas painting in the world.
Explore Bratislava with a cycle tour of the city and soak in a breathtaking view from the famous UFO restaurant.
DAY 7 - WACHAU VALLEY, DURNSTEIN AND MELK £71
Visit Durnstein’s striking Abbey. This pretty place is painted an eye-catching powder blue. Later one of Europe’s most magnificent baroque buildings awaits: Melk Abbey.
DAY 5 - BUDAPEST - BUDAPEST MARKET WITH OUR HEAD CHEF £28
Discover the magic of imperial Vienna illuminated after nightfall.
Explore the grand history of Budapest by coach and by car.
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Sample the best of Budapest’s local delights with your A-ROSA head chef.
£51
FROM DURNSTEIN TO MELK ABBEY
Travelling by coach, enjoy the ‘Queen of the Danube’ lit up at night. The view from Castle Hill of the Danube and Pest district is spectacular.
A short drive from Budapest lies the grasslands of Puszta. Explore the beautiful Kiskunzang National Park by horse and carriage and try typical Hungarian snacks.
MAGICAL VIENNA BY NIGHT £56
DAY 4 - ESZTERGOM - THE BASILICA OF ESZTERGOM £37
DAY 2 - VIENNA - VIENNA CITY TOUR £43
DAY 6 - BRATISLAVA - BRATISLAVA BIKE TOUR
INCLUDED IN YOUR CRUISE
BIKE TOUR THROUGH THE PICTURESQUE WACHAU
BUDAPEST BIKE TOUR £47
£47
BUDAPEST BY NIGHT £35
Once you have booked, you can pre-register for the following optional excursions: (All pre-registered excursions are payable on board, subject to availability. Prices below are the current guide prices per person which may change depending on the exchange rate.)
Visit Europe’s largest underground lake cave by boat. Afterwards take a trip into history at the remarkable Liechtenstein Castle.
MORNING BIKE TOUR OF VIENNA £28
Enjoy a peaceful cycle ride following the river through the Wachau Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Watch the sun rise during your bike tour around Vienna.
The ship’s SPA-ROSA is the home of wellness with a relaxation room, sauna, gym and professional treatment rooms. You’ll receive an extra 15% off spa treatments, so what better excuse?
The comfortable air-conditioned cabins feature a private bathroom with shower, bathrobes, safe, TV, hairdryer, and free WI-FI. All cabins boast river views as standard, and you can choose from a picture window on deck one or opt to upgrade to a private Juliet balcony on deck two or three letting the spectacular river views come to you.
Expect the perfect balance of scenic sailing and longer days and overnight stays in port allowing you to immerse yourself in each of the expertly hand-picked destinations. On board your spacious and modern A-ROSA ship, the atmosphere is warm and cosmopolitan with an attentive crew and leisurely atmosphere which you’ll see in touches like the expansive gourmet buffet dining served without set times and table sizes.
The spacious sun deck has a heated swimming pool, sun loungers and a putting green. Weather permitting, look forward to al fresco dining and BBQs up here too.
The ship’s lounge is great for enjoying a relaxed coffee in the daytime, or livelier evenings with entertainment such as performances by local musicians or traditional dancers.
Why choose A-ROSA River Cruises?
A-ROSA DONNA
The main restaurant offers panoramic views across the river alongside a varied menu of authentic dishes and international cuisine served waiter or buffet style.
Accommodating up to 209 passengers, the A-ROSA DONNA was beautifully refurbished in 2019 and offers a relaxing and flexible way to explore the Danube.
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There’s a great value Premium All-Inclusive package included on every cruise with an extensive drinks menu serving up everything from freshly-mixed cocktails to specialty coffees. Raise a glass to unforgettable moments and complete enjoyment on board your next holiday with A-ROSA River Cruises.
With over 20 years’ experience sailing Europe’s most beautiful waterways, A-ROSA River Cruises have crafted the art of uniquely relaxed and flexible journeys to spectacular cities, charming towns and awe-inspiring natural gems.
A-ROSA RIVER CRUISES - DANUBE CLASSICS 2023
The on board currency is Euros.
On board your ship, the dress code is relaxed which means you can enjoy the public areas and restaurants in the clothing you feel most comfortable in.
On shore, we recommend packing for a variety of weathers depending on the time of year you plan to travel.
One of the most exciting things about a river cruise is the variety of destinations you’ll visit.
Ensure you bring your favourite pair of walking shoes, trainers or sandals for discovering new cities, plus layers for cooler days and a rain jacket or coat too.
We're an international line, so expect a cosmopolitan feeling on board and announcements in both English and German.
Make it yours
We no longer require proof of vaccination or testing to join our ships. Our friendly team can help to advise on any local requirements or up-to-date Foreign Office advice.
PAGE 9 O UR INSIDERTIP...
Choose to add extra time in Austria or Vienna and make your holiday completely unique. We can tailor-make your entire experience with a fantastic choice of hotel stays before or after your cruise so you can enjoy our favourite destinations for a
Tips are entirely discretionary.
Bring your dancing shoes for the evening of Day 4. We will enjoy an evening cruise along the Budapest waterfront with the illuminated city as our stunning backdrop. Waltzing to Strauss’ ‘Blue Danube’ in this unforgettable setting is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.
One thing you won’t want to forget – your camera.
Useful information
- MADELEINE ROAST -
A-ROSA RIVER CRUISES - DANUBE CLASSICS 2023
PACKING TIPS
TO BOOK, OR FIND OUT MORE: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT TRAVEL AGENT
