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OPTIONAL: 2 NIGHT PRE-CRUISE TOUR IN BUDAPEST
Saturday, August 19 – Monday, August 21, 2023
Day 1: Saturday, August 19
ARRIVE BUDAPEST
You will be met on arrival at Budapest International Airport and transferred to your hotel.The remainder of the day is at leisure.
TIP: Tonight stroll down Kazinczy Street and explore the lively Jewish Quarter’s night life. This is Budapest’s version of Bourbon Street with the many “Ruins” bars and night clubs.
Overnight: Budapest Marriott Hotel (2 nights)
Day 2: Sunday, August 20
BUDAPEST
Budapest is one of Europe’s most regal and storied cities, with many of its iconic sights just off the banks of the Danube. Often described as the “Queen of the Danube,” Budapest is well-known for Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Hill and its magnificent Hungarian Parliament building. However, this sprawling city is full of rich history and culture and offers many “hidden” treasures as you venture further past its river banks. During this excursion, your guide will take you deeper into the city to discover fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler. (B)
Day 3: Monday, August 21
DAY AT LEISURE – EMBARKATION
This morning is at leisure.Check out of the hotel midday.This afternoon board the M/S AmaVerde to begin our Danube cruise program. (B,D)
Melodies of the Danube River Cruise
Monday, August 21 – Monday, August 28, 2023
Day 1: Monday, August 21
EMBARKATION – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Arrive in Budapest and board AmaVerde, your luxurious river cruise ship. (D)
Day 2: Tuesday, August 22
BUDAPEST
Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall before going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. As an alternative, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. (B,L,D)
Day 3 Wednesday, August 23
BRATISLAVIA, SLOVAKIA
Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Thursday, August 24
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
The “City of Waltzes” offers a wealth of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center and then visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or discover Vienna by bike. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Friday, August 25
WEISSENKIRCHEN – GREIN
After reaching Weissenkirchen, you’ll be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. For a more culinary-focused experience, join a walking tour in Dürnstein, then enjoy a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner and sample special apricot treats from a local boutique. If you prefer a more active adventure, hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held or join a guided bike tour to Melk. Later in the day, sail through the Strudengau Valley to medieval Grein for an exclusive visit to the more than 500-year-old Greinburg Castle, looming regally from above. While here, enjoy a folklore show and wine reception. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Saturday, August 26
LINZ – AUSTRIAN ALP CITIES
The ship arrives in Linz where you’ll have several choices of excursions. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg where you’ll tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or go on a bike tour of the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. In the afternoon, you can also choose to visit charming Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Sunday, August 27
PASSAU, GERMANY – VILSHOFEN
Discover the city of Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Alternately, choose between a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress or a guided bike tour along the Danube River. Later, cruise to Vilshofen, where you will be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration— an AmaWaterways exclusive. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Sunday, August 28
VILSHOFEN – DISEMBARKATION
Bid farewell to Vilshofen.Prepare for your flight home, or continue on to Prague for our 3-night post-cruise tour of the capital of the Czech Republic. (B)
OPTIONAL: 3 NIGHT POST-CRUISE TOUR IN PRAGUE
Monday, August 28 – Wednesday, August 31, 2023
Day 1: Monday, August 28
DISEMBARKATION – REGENSBURG TOUR — PRAGUE
Disembark the AmaVerde and depart for Prague. Stop in Regensburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, originally founded by the Romans. Enjoy a walking tour and free time to explore the city’s historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Prague, taking in the scenic beauty of the countryside before arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon. (B)
OVERNIGHT: HOTEL EUROSTARS THALIA
Day 2: Tuesday, August 29
PRAGUE
Your morning’s sightseeing tour reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see Rudolfinum, the National Museum, Wenceslas Square and the Hundertwasser Dancing House. After your morning walking tour, enjoy the vintage tram from Old Town to Prague Castle. Visit the Strahov Library — one of the most valuable and best-preserved historical libraries consisting of approximately 200,000 volumes. Following your visit to the Strahov Library, enjoy a beer tasting. Either take the coach or walk over the romantic Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square, where you will find the capital’s famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church and the statue of Jan Husek. The rest of the day is at your leisure. This afternoon you may want to visit the Jewish Quarter & Old Town on an optional tour or perhaps you may just want to enjoy yourself in one of the city’s many charming cafés. (B)
Day 3: Wednesday, August 30
PRAGUE
Spend a day at your leisure, perhaps to stroll through a museum or gallery, wander along the banks of the Vltava River, relax at an outdoor café, or shop for local handicrafts. Alternatively, we have several optional sightseeing excursions available include either a visit to the Terezin Memorial (a former concentration camp), or a Prague Castle tour. Tonight our group enjoys a private dinner at one of Prague’s elegant riverside restaurants. (B,D)
Day 4: Thursday, August 31
DEPART PRAGUE
Bid farewell to Prague.You will be transferred to Prague Airport for your homeward flight. (B)
PLEASE NOTE:
A reasonable degree of mobility is required for all passengers on this program. Most of the guided tours provided on your cruise are walking tours. Many historic villages in Europe are located on hilltops, where it is necessary to walk up and down hilly, cobblestone streets that may have narrow passageways. Ships docked in port are often rafted side-by-side to another river ship. Passengers are then required to ascend and descend flights of 12 or more stairs to walk up to observation deck, down to gang planks to enter or exit the rafted ships. To participate in tours and get on and off the ship, travelers must be able to walk unaccompanied.
Disabilities and Wheelchairs
Persons with a walking disability or an injury, or who require a wheelchair/scooter or other mobility device, must have another dedicated person traveling with them to assist/push etc. The ship’s crew and other cruise guests are not available to assist persons with limited mobility. On customized pre or post cruise land programs, the Expanding Horizons tour manager is authorized to remove, or ask to leave from the tour, any traveler incapable of, unwilling to, or impeding the overall movement and progress of the tour group.