The Blue Danube
Regensburg to
Budapest
(Or in Reverse Direction)
River/Canal Cruising | 11 Nights | European History & Architecture
Quiet medieval landscapes and vibrant cities beckon on one of Tauck's Danube river cruises
Top▲Highlights
Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard Tauck's Swiss Emerald, Swiss Sapphire, or the new Swiss Jewel on this popular Danube River cruise. Take in views of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Enjoy an Imperial evening with dinner and music in Vienna, a wine tasting in Dürnstein, and Slovakian and Austrian entertainment aboard your riverboat. Explore Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, plus the castle-studded Wachau Valley, and Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows, and stunning architecture as you spend two nights each in Budapest and Prague in 5-star hotels, checking out remarkable bridges, cathedrals, museums, and grand Habsburg palaces.
Please note that some ports and activities may vary on the reverse itinerary. Please contact one of our Specialty Cruise Advisors for details.
Top▲Itinerary
Show All Itinerary Details
Hide All Itinerary DetailsTotal trip is 12 days and 11 nights
The intinerary below includes the standard cruise itinerary and any extras this package includes.
NOTE: All itineraries on the website are constantly being updated. This itinerary may not be the most current, so please check with one of the Specialty Cruise Advisors on the left to ensure that this is the most current one.
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Top▲Dates & Prices
Seasonality
July to
October
No sailings available in August.
All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
Cruise only prices from $2990. Please contact one of our Specialty Cruise Advisors for details.
Special Singles Savings – $1000 per cabin – on Apr 24, Jun 12 & 19, and Oct 22 & 29 departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.
This example may be available on other dates or with different itineraries. We will gladly research other options for you! Special savings may be available for groups of 6 or more. Prices shown are per person, based on double occupancy, for standard and/or inside stateroom unless stated otherwise, are capacity controlled and are subject to availability. Fare is shown in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Government Fees and Taxes are additional. Refer to appropriate supplier brochure for terms and conditions. Pricing for Singles, 3rd, 4th or 5th guests if available, will be provided upon request and is subject to stateroom category availability. Unless specified, airfare is not included. Full details of airfare offers will be provided upon request and may vary by departure location. Prices vary by date of travel, were available when written, but are subject to restrictions and availability when booked, and may be withdrawn at any time. Offer not combinable with other promotions or discount offers. FST #ST37451 / CST #2092247-50 / WST #602-708-936
Top▲What's Included
Cruise-only tour includes 20 meals. Land / Cruise tour includes 29 meals.
Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.
Shore Excursions and Activities (Included)
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Day 2 - Visit Hradcany District and Take a Walking Tour of Prague's Old Town (Prague)
Start today's exploration of Prague in the ancient Hradcany (Castle) district, where you'll see Prague Castle's 1,000-year-old complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy an exclusive 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.
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Day 3 - Visit the Steinerne Brücke (Regensburg)
Visit the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube, and the remains of the town’s Roman wall.
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Day 4 - Walking Tour of Passau (Passau)
Take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass. See the Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower.
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Day 5 - Full Day Trip to Salzburg (Salzburg)
Take the full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mozart's hometown. The day trip includes Mirabell Gardens and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces.
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Day 6 - Walking Tour and Wine Tasting in Dürnstein (Dürnstein)
Take a walking tour amidst Dürnstein's cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and a former Augustinian monastery; see the ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades. Enjoy some free time, and attend a wine tasting at a local winery.
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Day 7 - City Tour and Imperial Viennese Evening in Vienna (Vienna)
Get an overview of Vienna, Austria, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Tonight, attend a private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace, which features dinner and live Viennese music.
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Day 9 - Walking Tour of Bratislava (Bratislava)
On a guided walking tour you'll view several Baroque palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin's Cathedral, and visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall.
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Day 10 - Explore Budapest (Budapest)
On the Buda side, take a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion, with Neo-Romanesque design, admire the stained glass windows in Matthias Church, and view Hungarian and European art in the National Gallery. After lunch at a local café, spend the rest of the day pursuing what interests you most in Budapest. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.
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Day 11 - Discover the landmarks of Pest (Budapest)
Explore the Pest side of the city, including Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary. Enjoy a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884, with a gilded vaulted ceiling, murals, and a three-ton chandelier.
Top▲What's NOT Included
International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air, in coach or business, for travel originating in the United States (subject to availability).
Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise, or about our Cruise Protection Plan.
Top▲Optional Add-ons
Shore Excursions and Activities (Optional)
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Local Tour: Paris City Extension
$1890 (US Dollar)
2009 Price per Person
Double: $1890
Single: $2870
Triple: $1766
Whether you’ve never been there or have visited many times, Paris tours are always delightful. Enjoy 5 days / 4 nights in this glittering capital city before or after select European land or cruise journeys on Tauck's new Paris Extension. While not escorted by a Tauck Director, you’ll enjoy the services of a local host who will help you make the most of your time. Special experiences include an opportunity to be “French for a day” as you shop for fresh ingredients with a Parisian chef and then use those ingredients to prepare lunch at her home. And, there’s ample free time to discover Paris as you please with the guidance of your local host on these short Paris tours. There couldn’t be a more enjoyable way to begin or end your European vacation!
Day 1 – Bonjour, Paris
Your Paris Extension, in “the City of Light,” begins at 12:00 p.m. with a transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Hotel Pont Royal in trendy Saint-Germain-des-Prés on the famed Left Bank. Tauck’s 4-night Paris tours help you get acquainted with the city and begin thinking about what you’d like to see and do. Meet your local host and learn about all your options and the services that your host can provide at a cocktail reception this evening.
Lodging: Hotel Pont Royal, Paris, France
Day 2 – A walk through the Latin Quarter
Join your host this morning for a walking tour of the lively Latin Quarter, so named because Latin, the international language of learning in the Middle Ages, was widely spoken in and around the Université de Paris located there. Today, the area is known for its joie de vivre. Discover Ile de la Cité, the epicenter of Paris tours and the location of Notre Dame Cathedral. The rest of the day is free to spend as you like; your host will have great suggestions about things to do, places to see and restaurants to try.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Pont Royal, Paris, France
Day 3 – French cuisine and convivial conversation
A special treat – and a Tauck Exclusive on these 4-night Paris tours – awaits you today. Visit the outdoor markets with a local chef to select the ingredients for a fine Parisian lunch. Then accompany her to her private home, where she’ll show you how to combine them to create dishes that you’ll remember long after your congenial, delicious luncheon is finished. A plethora of Parisian pleasures await you this afternoon and evening. Ask your host to point you toward what might interest you most.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Hotel Pont Royal, Paris, France
Day 4 – Do as you please in Paris
Awake to a day of discoveries and adventures as you choose to create them! Perhaps you’ll pay a call on the Mona Lisa at the Louvre… or lose yourself in the dreamy Impressionist world inside the Museé d’Orsay. Shopping on the Champs-Elysées? Strolling among the artists at Montmartre before exploring Sacré-Çoeur? Parisian-watching from the comfort of an outdoor café? A cruise along the Seine aboard one of the famed bateaux mouches? It’s your day to do just as you wish. Your host will be happy to tell you about special events going on or recommend a wonderful local restaurant not yet discovered by the tourist hoards for a memorable lunch or dinner.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Pont Royal, Paris, France
Day 5 – Au revoir Paris
This most enjoyable of Paris tours concludes with an included transfer from Hotel Pont Royal back to Charles de Gaulle Airport where you’ll catch your flight to elsewhere in Europe or head for home. Please allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in formalities.
Meals: Breakfast
4 breakfasts and 1 lunch included.
Special "Dinner with a French Family" option – add $125; ask at booking for full details.
Airfare is additional. Please ask Tauck or your booking agent about air travel to or from Paris.
Please ask at time of booking about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.
All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
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Local Tour: Warsaw / Cracow City Extension
$1490 (US Dollar)
2009 Price per Person
Double: $1490
Single: $1950
Triple: $1440
Add a few days to your European vacation with our new 5-day, 4-night Warsaw / Cracow Extension visiting Europe's most fascinating cities. Our short Poland tours are the perfect way to explore these historic gems as you choose. Although you’re not escorted by a Tauck Director, a local host is at your service to ensure that you’ll be able to see and do whatever interests you most during your three nights in Warsaw and overnight in Cracow.
Day 1: Welcome to Warsaw
Tauck’s new Poland tours begin at 12:00 p.m. with an included transfer from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport to the Hilton Warsaw Hotel in the heart of the city. Your local host looks forward to meeting you at our cocktail reception this evening and to sharing information about what the coming days hold for you.
Lodging: Hilton Warsaw Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
Day 2: Wonderful Warsaw
Begin the day with an orientation sightseeing tour that includes such famous landmarks as Constitution Square, the Palace of Culture, Radziwill Palace and the famous statue of Warsaw’s favorite son, Frederic Chopin. Then, a walking tour through Old Town followed by a screening of the poignant film Warsaw Will Not Forget reveals the soul of the city. The afternoon is free for you to do some exploring on your own; your host will be happy to make suggestions regarding things to see that might intrigue you. A special treat – and a Tauck Exclusive on our new Poland tours – awaits in the early evening as you attend a private piano recital at Szustra Palace that brings Chopin’s musical genius to life. Ask your host for restaurant recommendations and assistance with dinner reservations.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hilton Warsaw Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
Day 3: The many charms of Cracow
After a buffet breakfast, board a train to Cracow for a one-night stay at the lovely Hotel Stary in the midst of the city. After lunch on your own, you can choose to stay in Cracow to discover its charms on your own or join us for a poignant excursion to Auschwitz. Your host stands ready to assist you with reservations for dinner and to suggest pleasant diversions for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Stary, Cracow, Poland
Day 4: Meanwhile, back in Warsaw
Before returning to Warsaw, explore Krakow Cathedral and visit the State Apartments in historic Wawel Castle. Board your train back to Warsaw in the late afternoon, arriving in time for dinner. Your host can tell you about great restaurants favored by local residents perhaps.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hilton Warsaw Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
Day 5: Homeward bound
Our Poland tours conclude in Warsaw as Tauck’s Warsaw / Cracow Extension ends with an included transfer from the Hilton Warsaw Hotel to Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport. Please allow 2 1/2 hours for airport flight check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
4 breakfasts included.
Airfare is additional. Please ask Tauck or your booking agent about air travel to or from Warsaw.
Please ask at time of booking about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.
All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
Top▲Vessel Information
Motor Ship (Riverboat) | 118 Passengers | Operated by Tauck,
Along with her sister ships MS Swiss Emerald and MS Swiss Jewel, the MS Swiss Sapphire – launched exclusively for Tauck River Cruises in 2008 – defines the word luxury. She features three passenger decks custom-designed to comfortably accommodate 118 Tauck guests in gracious style – as opposed to most similar-sized riverboats, which average about 140 guests. And like all Tauck riverboats, MS Swiss Sapphire boasts four times more suites than most of her European counterparts – 14 luxurious 300-square-foot suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, brocade upholstery, walk-in closets and marble baths with full-size tubs, along with 7 junior suites.
Tauck guests enjoy exceptional vantage points throughout MS Swiss Sapphire; panoramic windows provide spectacular views of the passing shore. Culinary pleasures are many, from a spacious panoramic restaurant offering menus designed for a variety of tastes, to alternative bistro dining – a first on Europe’s rivers – featuring lighter fare in the teak-lined Lido Bar on the aft deck, as well as breakfast served in your cabin, available in select cabin categories. Sporting a fully opening 180º glass wall, the Lido Bar also offers coffee & tea, cappuccino, and snacks throughout the day. Guests can get in a workout in MS Swiss Sapphire's fitness center; curl up with a good book or catch up on the news in the reading/Internet corner; or relax on the topside sun deck (complete with 24-hour Jacuzzi) or in the panoramic lounge.
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