Romantic Danube River Cruise, April 5-12, 2027, with Nova Cadamatre of Heron Hill Winery

Day 1: Friday, April 2

ARRIVE IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

You will be met upon arrival at Prague Airport and transferred to the Hotel Thalia located in old town city center.

OVERNIGHT: Hotel Thalia or similar (3 Nights)

If you arrive in Prague prior to April 2, 2027, Please make your way to the hotel.

Day 2: Saturday, April 3

PRAGUE SIGHTSEEING

This morning, meet your escort in the lobby. Our morning walking tour reveals why Prague, which was never bombed in WWII, is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities. The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through Old Town, dominated by the twin spires of St. Tyn Church. Stop at the iconic Astronomical Clock, built in 1399, where the saints come marching in, every hour on the hour! Then board our private tram car to Strahov Library, which is adjacent to the Strahov Monastery. Enjoy a private visit to the library and a beer tasting at the Strahov Monastery Brewery. This afternoon is free to explore Prague’s Old Town, Wenceslas Square and charming cafes. Enjoy lunch on your own, with many restaurants and eateries all around. (B)

Day 3: Sunday, April 4

PRAGUE / OPTIONAL TOURS

Today is at leisure to explore Prague on your own. Highly recommended is an optional walking tour of Old Town and the Jewish Quarter. Old Town, dominated by the huge spires of St. Tyn’s Church, has been the center of commercial life in Prague since the Middle Ages. Continue into the Jewish Quarter, Europe’s best preserved Jewish ghetto. Your guide will provide commentary about the history and insight about Prague’s history and its dynamic Jewish community. Tonight, enjoy a special dinner with Moravian wines at the renowned Mlynec Restaurant, overlooking the Vltava River. (B,D)

NOTE: Tonight, smart casual dress please.

Day 4: Monday, April 5

PRAGUE – CESKY KRUMLOV, CZECH REPUBLIC – VILSHOFEN AN DER DONAU: EMBARKATION

Depart from Prague via motorcoach and enjoy a stop in the mountain town of Cesky Krumlov, one of Europe’s most beautiful and beloved medieval cities. Located near the Czech/Austria border, Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an interesting and photogenic mixture of Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance architecture. Later this afternoon continue to Vilshofen to board AmaVerde, our luxury river ship. Cap the day with a festive Bavarian Oktoberfest celebration in front of the ship. (B,D)

Day 1: Monday, April 5

VILSHOFEN AN DER DONAU, GERMANY: EMBARKATION

Arrive Vilshofen and make your way to the AmaVerde for embarkation on your luxury cruise ship. Cap off the day with an exclusive festive Oktoberfest celebration (D).

Planning Your Travel: Known as the “Little Three Rivers Town,” Vilshofen is situated at the entrance of the Lower Bavarian-Upper Austrian Danube Gorge.

If booking your own flights: Munich (MUC) is the nearest airport and is locate approximately 2.5 hours from Vilshofen. Three options are available for travel to Vilshofen.

• Coach Transportation: For those arriving into Munich (MUC) on Embarkation day.  AmaWaterways offers three transfers to the ship – 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM & 5:30 PM. The fee is $99 per person and must be booked with Expanding Horizons no later than 30 days prior to embarkation.
• Rail: Reservation can be made with RailEurope
• Private Car Transportation: This service is offered by various companies – for example BlackLane Global Chauffeur Services.
• If you arrive prior to April 5, 2027 and you are not participating in the Pre-Land tour, please make your way to the ship.

Services subject to change without notice. 

Day 2: Tuesday, April 6

VILSHOFEN – PASSAU, GERMANY

Explore Vilshofen’s beautiful old town before cruising to Passau, known as the “City of Three Rivers.” Join a walking tour or if you prefer to be more active, hike high into the hills for a visit to the “Veste Oberhaus,” Passau’s Castle Hill; or go on a River Inn bike tour. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Wednesday, April 7

LINZ, AUSTRIA

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 famed Basilica St. Michael and site of the wedding scene in The Sound of Music. Alternatively, you can join a morning walking tour through Linz’s old city center and by the Mozart House; or go on a guided bike tour along the city’s famed “Culture Mile” and the Danube. You can also choose to visit the charming mountain town, Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border. (B,L,D)

*Note: Not available with full-day Salzburg excursion

Day 4: Thursday, April 8

WACHAU VALLEY, AUSTRIA

Cruise through the Strudengau and Wachau valleys to Weissenkirchen, gateway to Dürnstein. Once here, you can choose to join a walking tour in Dürnstein along its cobblestone streets to the Baroque Stiftskirche, Dürnstein’s famed church cloister tower, considered the most beautiful of its kind in all of Austria. For the more active adventurer, you can venture high above the town for a visit to the majestic ruins of Kuenringer Castle, or “Dürnstein” (dry stone) castle from which Dürnstein derives its name. After free time in Durnstein, you will leave for a special wine tasting in Weissenkirchen, nestled in the Wachau Valley. Wines from the Weissenkirchen region tend to have a pronounced freshness, spiciness, finesse and complexity. Locally grown Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners are renowned around the world and you will get to sample a few. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Friday, April 9

WEISSENKIRCHEN – KREMS, AUSTRIA

Visit the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey (Stift Melk), one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries. Within these walls, you will find frescos painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger, as well as a famed collection of musical manuscripts. After your tour, enjoy free time exploring the picturesque village of Melk, one of Europe’s great cultural heritage sites. Or for the more active cruise, take a guided bike tour through the picturesque Wachau Valley. Sail to Krems, where you will enjoy a special wine tasting at Schloss Gobelsburg, formerly a Cistercian monastery, one of the oldest wineries in Austria. Visit this beautiful castle and have the opportunity to tour their cellars, learning more about the traditional methods drawn from historical wine-making practices, as well as tasting some traditional Austrian wines. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Saturday, April 10

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems and your city tour showcases them, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace. Your tour concludes in the historic city center with a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Or if you prefer a more active tour, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. (B,L,D)

TIP: Take a taxi or public transport and join one of the hourly walking tours (reservations required) of Vienna’s incredible equestrian institution the Spanish Riding School.

Day 7: Sunday, April 11

ESZTERGOM – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Your city tour begins at Budapest’s Great Market Hall, where you’ll discover plenty of delicious food and shopping. Afterwards, you’ll visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. You’ll see the 19th-century Chain Bridge, which connects the Buda district with Pest; and the UNESCO-designated Castle Hill district, which contains some of Budapest’s most important medieval monuments and museums. As an alternative choice, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Monday, April 12

BUDAPEST – DISEMBARKATION

Disembark the ship as you prepare for your flight home (B).

Planning Your Travel:

• Transportation to the Budapest (BUD) airport for onward flights may be made on board the ship with the Cruise Manager.

Services subject to change without notice.

Day 1: Monday, April 12

BUDAPEST – EGER – TARCAL

For those joining our 4 night post-cruise Hungary tour, after breakfast depart by coach two hours to Tarcal, in the heart of Hungarian wine country.  En route enjoy a private tour, tasting and lunch at Kovacs Nimrod, in the village of Eger, followed by a tour of Eger Castle. This is the region where the golden Royal Tokaji wines (“The Wine of the Czars”) is produced.  Arrive this afternoon at the magnificent Andrassy Residence Wine and Spa, a country manor converted to a 41-room boutique resort.  (B,L)  

Overnight: Andrassy Residence Wine & Spa or similar (2 nights)

Day 2: Tuesday, April 13

TOKAJI WINE COUNTRY

Today enjoy a private cellar tour, tasting at Chateau Dereszla, one of Hungary’s most prominent and historic vintners. This winery’s golden Aszu and Eszencia wines consistently rate 94+ points by Wine Spectator. Lunch today is at Chateau Diznoko another wonderful and historic Hungarian winery. Tonight’s private dinner is served on the lawn at Grof Degenfeld, a manor house hotel and winery in Tarcal.   (B,L,D)

Day 3: Wednesday, April 14

LAZAR EQUESTRIAN ESTATE

Depart Tarcal for our return to Budapest.   En route visit the Champions Estate.  Here brothers Vilmos and Zoltan Lazar raise Hungary’s finest horses, including the beautiful white Lippinzan breed and the big Hungarian draft horses.  Enjoy a phenomenal riding show by Hungarian hussars in traditional costume, followed by refreshments (NOTE: great photo opportunities here). This afternoon arrive in Budapest. Tonight enjoy a traditional Hungarian dinner with Gypsy music.  (B,D)

Overnight: Budapest Marriott Hotel (or similar) (2 nights)

Day 4: Thursday, April 15

BUDAPEST

Today is at leisure to explore Budapest, arguably central Europe’s most substantive city. Budapest has been a crossroads between Europe and Asia since the time of Genghis Khan. Enjoy a private guided tour of the Hungarian Parliament, Opera and briefly into the Jewish Quarter, now a nightlife and entertainment district. Dinner is at leisure tonight.  (B)

Day 5: Friday, April 16

DEPART BUDAPEST

This morning check out of the hotel after breakfast. You will be transferred to Budapest International Airport for onward flights. (B)