Compare Royal Danube & Berlin - Eastbound 2021 by Tauck vs Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Vienna, Small Group End Vienna Small Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1 Arrive Berlin

Tour Begins: 5:00 PM, Hotel Adlon Kempinski. A transfer is included upon arrival at Berlin Airport or Berlin Central Train Station to the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, ideally located near Brandenburg Gate, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Settle in, then join us for a special welcome dinner where a local expert shares a personal perspective of life behind the Iron Curtain.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

PORTOFCALL : Berlin, Germany

Day 2 A choice of Berlin city sights

In the years since the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Berlin – once again the capital of a reunified Germany – has emerged as one of the most exciting cities in the world. Explore it on your choice of excursions today – a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Museum Island for guided museum tours of either the Pergamon Museum (on a private early-opening visit) or the Neues Museum; or an in-depth tour of Berlin’s Jewish Heritage sites. Everyone meets up for lunch and a boat ride, followed by an afternoon and evening at leisure to explore Germany’s vibrant capital as you wish.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

PORTOFCALL : Berlin, Germany

Day 3 Berlin or historic Potsdam

Today you can choose to experience Berlin and environs from one of three perspectives. One is a guided visit to the nearby Baroque city of Potsdam, where the WWII-in-Europe-ending treaty was signed, now attractively rebuilt after its wartime losses and a showcase of beautiful gardens and grand palaces. Your second choice explores World War II history in Berlin, from the Reichstag to the Holocaust Memorial; and a third choice, also in Berlin, offers an opportunity to learn more about the unification of the Cold War-split city through a tour of contrasting sights and stories. Spend the remainder of the day as you please; if you wish, take an optional bicycle ride to see Berlin from a different, modern-day perspective.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

PORTOFCALL : Berlin, Germany

Day 4 Embark your riverboat in Regensburg

A ride aboard the fast train speeds you from Berlin to the well-preserved medieval city of Regensburg, which boasts more than 1,400 historic structures. Following a brief walking tour of town that includes the Dom (cathedral), the market and 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (a medieval stone bridge over the Danube that’s the oldest surviving bridge of its kind in the country), embark your riverboat this afternoon. Join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner onboard as the ship departs for Straubing, and enjoy evening entertainment in the lounge.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : ms Joy

PORTOFCALL : Regensburg, Germany

Day 5 Straubing or a BMW factory tour

Wake up this morning aboard your riverboat in Straubing. An ancient settlement that dates back to 6,000 BC and is steeped with Roman roots, Straubing is a quintessential Bavarian city. You can choose to explore it on a morning walking tour followed by some free time on your own, or set off on an excursion to a nearby working BMW factory to see the modern operations of one of Germany's leading automakers firsthand. Return to the riverboat in Straubing for lunch onboard (or, if you wish, on your own in town), and an afternoon and evening of cruising to Vilshofen, where you'll be docked overnight, then tomorrow to Passau.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Joy

PORTOFCALL : Straubing, Germany

Day 6 Passau by bike or on foot

Your riverboat arrives in Passau today for a choice of ways to explore this riverside town. Once a Roman outpost at the confluence of three rivers, Passau is over 2,500 years old, a Bavarian town of pastel patrician houses, cafés, romantic cobblestone lanes and riverfront promenades. You can choose to discover its storybook mix of Roman, Italian Baroque and German Gothic architecture on a guided walking tour, or on a bicycle excursion accompanied by a local guide; see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the hilltop fortress where Passau’s prince-bishops once resided, and the 14th-century Rathaus (Town Hall). After returning to the riverboat for lunch, spend the afternoon and evening cruising, bound for Linz, Austria – enjoying the chef's signature dinner followed by a crew show tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Joy

PORTOFCALL : Passau, Germany

Day 7 Lovely Linz & the lakes of Austria

Welcome to Austria, a land of great musical traditions, alpine beauty and Imperial lifestyles. Wake up this morning in Linz, inhabited since Roman times and one of Austria’s leading cultural centers. Today you may choose to stay in town and join our local guides for a walking tour of Old Town Linz, then hop aboard the historic mountain tram to Pöstlingberg for panoramic views of the countryside and time at leisure to visit the beer gardens or the pilgrimage basilica. Alternatively, you may choose to spend a full day in the Salzkammergut Lake District – enjoying a boat ride across a lake, a scenic journey by coach to Lake Wolfgangsee, and a visit to St. Wolfgang in Salzkammergut to see the famous Gothic winged altar in its 14th-century church. Onboard this evening, join your Tauck Cruise Director for Game Night or enjoy entertainment in the lounge.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Joy

PORTOFCALL : Linz, Austria

Day 8 Krems and Wachau Valley Wines

Arrive in the 1,000-year-old city of Krems this morning, located at the beginning of the Wachau Valley, celebrated for its exquisite Austrian wines. You may choose a walking tour through town with a local guide, or a bicycling excursion through the Krems area and the lush vineyard-lined landscapes of the Wachau Valley. This afternoon’s wine tasting excursion offers an authentic taste of the grape and reveals time-honored secrets of the Austrian winemakers. It’s on to Vienna this afternoon, where an evening arrival offers you the opportunity to see the city at night.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Joy

PORTOFCALL : Krems, Austria

Day 9 Vienna, Past and Present

The Austrian capital of Vienna is a compact city with an abundance of important sights, like former Habsburg family palaces including the Hofburg (the former Imperial Court), Belvedere and Schönbrunn palaces, graced by gardens and gilded treasures. The city’s historic Jewish Quarter, Judenplatz, is in the heart of the city, and Vienna’s contemporary center, including the new Hauptbahnhof and the university campus, is also nearby. You will have a choice of exploring the city’s Jewish Heritage sites, contemporary sights or Schönbrunn on different excursions with our local guides. Spend the afternoon as you like, then dress for an exclusive royal dinner at the private Palais Pallavicini with sparkling entertainment, a highlight of your cruise!

 

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Joy

PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria

Day 10 Choice of discoveries in Imperial Vienna

Today you'll explore more of this amazing city – once the capital of the Habsburgs' Austro-Hungarian Empire – with an on-tour choice of a guided visit to Austria's Museum of Military History (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum), documenting the history of Austria's armed forces; or an exclusive opportunity to sit in on a rehearsal at a Vienna palace as an orchestra prepares for a performance, in the city considered by many to be the classical music capital of Europe. Return to the ship for lunch or stay in Vienna to enjoy lunch as you please. Your riverboat departs this afternoon for the final night of your cruise, bound for Budapest; join us onboard for a farewell reception followed by dinner tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Joy

PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria

Day 11 Budapest & Journey Home

Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport or the Keleti train station. Flights home should not be booked before 11:30; allow a minimum of three hours for check-in at the airport. Guests who have booked a post-stay in Budapest may enjoy a morning city sightseeing tour featuring both the Buda and Pest sections of the city, including the Castle district and Fisherman's Bastion. 

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Budapest, Hungary

Day 1: Welcome to Budapest

On arrival at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your hotel at 10:00, 13:00 and 15:30. Join your Travel Director at 18:00 and travel to the famous and elegant Gundel Restaurant. Your Welcome Dinner is a treat of mouthwatering Hungarian specialities, accompanied by specially selected wine.

Day 2: Delve into Budapest Relaxed Start

Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda with a Local Expert. Admire the facade of Matthias Church and take in the view from the Fisherman’s Bastion. Enjoy a short drive following the Danube and arrive at Gellért Hill. From the top, appreciate astounding panoramic vistas presided over by the Liberty Statue.Enjoy a tour of the Liszt Music Academy with a student, followed by an enchanting recital. The university was founded by the piano virtuoso and composer Franz Liszt in 1875. In the evening, perhaps choose an Optional Experience to see this fairy-tale city as you cruise along the Danube and enjoy a meal of Hungarian specialties, served with drinks?

Day 3: The Mountains to Kraków

Take a gentle drive into Slovakia and through the breathtaking Low Tatra Mountains, where villagers still live in traditional wooden houses. Stop at scenic Donovaly. Continue north to see the picturesque Oravský Hrad Castle before crossing into Poland and continuing to historic Kraków.

Day 4: The Damsels and Dragons of Krak��w Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert to ascend Wawel Hill and visit the cathedral. Walk past the former residence of Pope John Paul II through the Old Town, to Europe's largest and most beautiful town square. See the medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall and visit the 14th century St. Mary's Basilica, the most important church in the city. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the trumpeter in the tower.This afternoon, why not join an Optional Experience and journey into a glistening subterranean world at the 600-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines? In a maze of tunnels deep below the surface, witness unique salt sculptures, sunken lakes and even a glorious cathedral carved entirely out of rock salt by the miners. Alternatively, enjoy time at leisure.

Day 5: Auschwitz and Częstochowa

Join a Local Expert at Oświęcim, better known throughout the world by its German name, Auschwitz, infamous for its role during the Holocaust. Spend reflective moments amid the remains of the concentration camp and the memorials to those who died. Travel north to Częstochowa to visit the 14th century Monastery of Jasna Góra, famous for the Black Madonna, said to have been painted by St. Luke. Continue across the Polish plains to the country’s capital, Warsaw for the night. Dumplings are an Eastern European tradition, so in the evening enjoy a dumpling demonstration and delightful Highlight Dinner.

Day 6: The Polish Capital of Warsaw Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert in the morning to see the Old Town, Royal Castle and Palace of Culture. Visit the Chopin Memorial in the Łazienki Park.Pay your respects at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes and then enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Perhaps attend a Chopin recital or delve into Warsaw's inspirational past?

Day 7: Wielkopolska to Berlin

Your route leads westward, across the rolling farmlands of the central plains, over the Oder River to enter Germany. Your destination is the vibrant capital of Berlin where you can try traditional Berliner cuisine.

Day 8: The Spirit of Berlin Relaxed Start

Prepare to embrace the rejuvenated spirit of Berlin. Join a Local Expert for a drive through the leafy Tiergarten to the refurbished Reichstag building and see the Brandenburg Gate. On the eastern side, take the Unter den Linden past the State Opera House to Museum Island.

Day 9: Dresden and Golden Prague

Journey south to Dresden. Almost totally destroyed by horrific air raids in 1945, Dresden has now risen again from the ashes in a blend of old and new. See the reconstructed Frauenkirche and walk past the colossal ‘Procession of the Princes' on the wall of the Royal Palace. Explore around the Catholic cathedral to view the tiered facades of the opera house and the Baroque Zwinger Palace. After free time for lunch, head for the Czech border, high in the Ore Mountains and continue to the capital city of Prague.

Day 10: Prague, City of a Hundred Spires

Explore Prague with Insight Choice. Choose to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Alternatively, join your Local Expert for a walk through the Jewish Quarter and learn about a different side of the history of Prague.The city is then yours to explore. Perhaps walk in the footsteps of kings along the Royal Route? Czechs are passionate about their beer, so be sure to try the local pilsners, alongside the Czech cuisine.

Day 11: Bohemian Český Krumlov Relaxed Start

A journey through the green Bohemian countryside will bring you to České Budějovice. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of a local brewery to sample the beer and discover the secrets of how this golden vintage is made. Continue on to Český Krumlov, a picturesque medieval town nestled on the banks of the Vltava. Walk the narrow cobbled streets and arch-covered footpaths, past colourful townhouses and centuries-old inns. With a Local Expert, visit the fairy-tale, red-roofed castle, considered by many to be the finest in the land. When all the day trippers have left, soak up the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO World Heritage Site on your Dine-Around Evening. You will be offered a selection of restaurants, nestled amid the tangle of streets and old squares.

Day 12: Stately Vienna Relaxed Start

Cross the border into Austria and enjoy a delightful journey to Vienna. The afternoon is free for you to explore this stately capital and later why not enjoy a delightful Austrian meal with the option to dine at a country mansion?

Day 13: The Habsburgs of Vienna

Vienna owes much of its present-day charm to the long reign of the Habsburgs. Join your Local Expert for a private visit of Maria Theresa’s Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Then, take some great photos on a circuit of the famous Ring Road. This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, showcases many of the capital’s architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building and Karlskirche. Explore Vienna with Insight Choice. Choose between a visit to a traditional Viennese café to enjoy local specialities of coffee and Sachertorte or alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during an inclusive workshop and take to the floor in a Viennese Waltz dance workshop designed to support the visually impaired community. As night falls, experience an extraordinary concert of Viennese classical music combined with a delicious meal of traditional Austrian fare, with drinks included.

Day 14: Depart Vienna

A transfer arrives at Vienna airport at 08:00.