Danube River - Budapest to Prague
Prices starting from $3,189 per person
(Avalon Waterways)
The delightful Danube sets the stage for an incredible river cruise between Budapest and Nuremberg. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Budapest, Regensburg, Passau, and in magical Vienna. Also take a guided city walk past the baroque Stiftskirche in Dürnstein; participate in a wine tasting and guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk; and a beer tasting and guided tour of charming Nuremberg. Your Danube river cruise journey concludes with three nights and plenty of free time in the “Golden City” of Prague.
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Welcome to Budapest, Hungary’s lively capital. The remainder of the day is free to start exploring Eastern Europe’s most cosmopolitan metropolis.
Budapest straddles both banks of the Danube, with seven bridges, including the famous Chain and Elisabeth Bridges, connecting ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. The massive hilltop castle complex with FISHERMEN’S BASTION and the Matthias Church is among the many sights your Local Guide will show you. Shop for renowned peasant embroidery, Herend porcelain, and paprika. (Breakfast)
This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION. (Breakfast, Dinner)
A day to relax on board and marvel at the beautiful scenery on both banks of the Danube. Hungary is on your left as you cruise upriver and Slovakia is on your right. The two countries share the Danube for a 58-mile stretch, with the border in the middle of the river. Vienna, Austria’s capital, is known as the “City of Music” and inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Vienna has much to offer: the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ring Boulevard, and awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral, to name just a few of the sights you will enjoy during your city tour. You do not rush through Vienna; you waltz, taking your time to savor each classic sight and sound. Shop in the Kärntnerstrasse and enjoy Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighborhood café. An optional concert is available during your stay. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Dürnstein, known for the magnificent baroque STIFTSKIRCHE with its blue façade, lying right in the heart of the Wachau wine region. Above town are the ruins of the castle where England’s King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192. This afternoon: Melk, whose magnificent BENEDICTINE ABBEY dominates the town from its commanding hill site and is one of Europe’s largest monasteries. The view you have from the terrace over the Danube and surrounding countryside is breathtaking! This evening you’ll be able to sample some of the Wachau Valley’s FAMOUS WINES. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Linz, Austria’s third-largest city, lies on both banks of the Danube and is an important industrial town and busy river port. An optional full-day excursion to Salzburg takes in the popular Sound of Music sights. Passau, ideally located at the confluence of the Rivers Inn, Ilz, and Danube, is a city of graceful arcades and cobblestone streets. St. Stephen’s Cathedral houses the world’s largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Regensburg is one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. Architectural highlights on your guided tour include the Old Town Hall, the beautiful white and gold OLD CHAPEL, and Porta Pretoria—gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. The city is the capital of Upper Palatinate, a bustling university town, and one of Bavaria’s cultural centers. It is here you will find Germany’s oldest restaurant, the 12th-century Historische Wurstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen). (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Although Nuremberg suffered extensive damage during WWII, much of it was restored to its original style. Marvel at this historic city with its fabulous gothic churches and elegant patrician houses all explained by a local expert. Nuremberg’s traditions include famous Lebkuchen, toy making, and metal working. After dinner we’ll introduce you to some of Germany’s FAMOUS BEERS. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Cross the Czech border in the Bohemian Forest and head for Prague, the “Golden City.” (Breakfast)
Prague is a 1,000-year-old city preserved in time. See its best-known treasures such as the Old Town’s ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK, once the envy of all of Europe; HRADCANY CASTLE, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Charles Bridge. Browse the shops for hand-cut crystal or art books. Mix with the locals in Wenceslaus Square or stroll along the Vltava River. (Breakfast)
A free day for you to explore the city at your own pace. Your Cruise Director will have other suggestions for things to do. (Breakfast)
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (Breakfast)
Seine River - Paris to Normandy's Landing Beaches
Seine River - Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches (9 Days)
Prices starting at $2,149 per person
(Avalon Waterways)
Deluxe 7-night cruise from Paris to Paris in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds. Combine time in France’s splendid capital with discoveries of quaint villages along the Seine and in the picturesque Normandy region, and the poignant WWII landing beaches. Embark in Paris, then set sail and experience Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise, Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny, Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen, and dramatic Château Gaillard at Les Andelys. Along the way, take an included excursion to the historic Normandy landing beaches or sample creamy camembert cheese and Calvados apple brandy, delicacies for which northern France is famous! (Avalon River Cruises)
Day-By-Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine, the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION. (Dinner)
Paris’ famous sights are living history. Included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife, including some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing morning on the Sky Deck as your ship slips its moorings and glides gently down the River Seine, passing through suburban Paris. This afternoon, dock at Conflans—and now the choice is yours: either join our guided excursion to AUVERS-SUR-OISE, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or the guided visit to SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, which boasts a 14th-century château with views over the Seine Valley toward Paris, and whose town center has its roots in the 11th century. It is a lively market town with many boutiques and cafés in its pedestrian areas. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
This morning, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s house and stunning gardens at GIVERNY or a visit of BIZY CASTLE with its magnificent courtyard. There’s still time to stroll through this delightful city on your own before your ship departs for Rouen. Relax on board this afternoon or take your pick of a number of optional excursions on offer. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Rouen is the capital of Upper Normandy and an important commercial city, perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned, and burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses, and the Gros Horloge, an intricate ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK dating back to the 16th century. The splendid gothic CATHEDRAL was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of Claude Monet’s paintings. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own, or you can join an optional excursion to the pretty coastal town of Honfleur or to the busy port city of Le Havre with its contemporary architecture. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Make your choice today of an included excursion to the historic Normandy landing beaches—with poignant sites such as Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery—or a “Taste of Normandy” for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important products are dairy, apples, and grain. Camembert cheese is a specialty, as is Calvados, a strong alcoholic apple brandy. Thoroughbred horses are also reared here. This afternoon, we explore the Calvados region, famous for the aforementioned apple brandy and cider. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
The most dramatic sight along the Seine is imposing CHÂTEAU GAILLARD at Les Andelys. Built by England’s King Richard the Lionheart in 1196, the château is truly a masterpiece of Middle Ages military architecture. Explore on your own and enjoy this last day in France in this delightful small town. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (Breakfast)
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