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The Blue Danube – Eastbound
2008 Itinerary featuring 13 days from $3,990       River Cruising  Two Week  
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Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard Tauck's Swiss Emerald or new Swiss Sapphire 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 in Budapest and three nights in Prague in 5-star hotels, checking out remarkable bridges, cathedrals, museums, and grand Habsburg palaces.
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2008 Itinerary


Eastbound

Click here for Westbound, Budapest to Prague.

• Indicates day of cruising

Day 1: Arrive in Prague
Tour starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Prague's Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors at the welcome reception and dinner and preview your Danube River cruise!
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 2: Legacy of Prague
Choose to take a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – as well as Wenceslas Square and other "Velvet Revolution" sites. Or opt to visit Josefov, Prague's historic Jewish Quarter, where a walking tour includes the Jewish Museum and Pinkas Synagogue (may not be available on some departures due to Jewish holidays).
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 3: Hradcany and a Private Gala Evening at Nelahozeves Castle
Visit Prague's ancient Hradcany district today, 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 libraries. Tonight, join us for an exclusive gala evening at the Renaissance-era Nelahozeves Castle; meet members of the former Czech nobility, and enjoy wine from their vineyards.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

Day 4: Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise begins
Drive to the well-preserved German town of Regensburg. Visit the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own before boarding the riverboat to launch your Danube River cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 5: Spend the day in 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; 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. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 6: Salzburg sights or relax in Linz
Choose to enjoy the city of Linz, Austria, or 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. Enjoy Austrian entertainment on board this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 7: 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. 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.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 8: Music and more in Imperial 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. Then choose a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg. Tonight, attend a private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace, which features dinner and live Viennese music.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 9: Cruise the Danube to ancient Slovakia
Pursue your own interests this morning in Vienna – which boasts over a hundred museums – and then return to the riverboat for a cruise to Slovakia. Admire the scenery and hear a presentation on Slovak culture; enjoy Slovakian folkloric entertainment aboard the riverboat after dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 10: Baroque in Bratislava
Dock in Bratislava, ancient capital of Slovakia. 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. Explore on your own in the afternoon, and attend the evening shipboard farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat

Day 11: Disembark the Riverboat and explore Budapest
The Danube River cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. On the Buda side, head to Gellért Hill for outstanding views of the city. Take a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion, with Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows in Matthias Church. 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.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary*

Day 12: Discover the landmarks of Pest
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. View the Parliament building, a neo-Gothic masterpiece; and stroll Váci Utca, a fashionable promenade. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: InterContinental Budapest, Hungary*

Day 13: Homeward bound
Tour ends in Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest's Ferihegy Airport. Allow 2 1⁄2 hours for departure flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast

*Note: Eastbound tour of 9/11 will stay at Le Méridien Budapest on nights 11 & 12.

Quiet medieval landscapes and vibrant cities beckon on this Danube River cruise aboard a Tauck riverboat – book today!



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