The Blue Danube

This month’s great holiday deal

The Blue Danube river cruise from Riviera Travel

• Seven visits and tours including guided tours in Vienna, Salzburg or Linz, Dürnstein, Budapest and Bratislava; and visits to Esztergom Basilica, and Melk Abbey
• Live classical quartet recital and Hungarian folk show on board 
• Return scheduled flights from 13 regional airports (a supplement may apply)
• Receive up to €200 to spend on-board, on selected dates

Your five-star ship also offers:

• All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival through to breakfast on your day of departure (except one lunch if choosing the full-day Salzburg excursion), including a welcome dinner and the Captain’s Dinner 
• Complimentary on-board tea and coffee 
• Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary)
• Five-star service from an English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides 
• Services of a Riviera Travel cruise director and concierge 
• Access to an on-board salon, fitness centre and spa

Overview 

Uncover the hidden gems and fascinating history of Vienna, Budapest and Salzburg on this unforgettable cruise of The Blue Danube. Explore its wealth of grand baroque architecture, medieval cities, picture perfect towns and the sights that inspired Strauss and Mozart. Stepping aboard you will appreciate the superb surroundings of your floating luxury hotel for the next seven nights with spacious and well-appointed cabins or suites, private bathrooms and meticulously prepared fine cuisine.

Highlights

Your journey begins and ends in Budapest, looping up and down the beautiful Danube river to see the cities from a variety of perspectives, as we gently glide past or moor up for a closer look. Our first stop is historic Esztergom, which once was Hungary’s capital, before continuing westwards to the beautiful old town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. 

Navigating through Lower Austria we then reach the romantic town of Dürnstein, before heading to the  remarkable monastery in Melk, lined with portraits of Austrian emperors. Soon we arrive in Linz where you have the opportunity to discover its baroque old town on a guided tour. Alternatively, take the short drive to Salzburg and enjoy a guided tour of the old town, seeing the imposing Hohensalzburg fortress.

On our way back eastwards we will reach classical Vienna, home of Strauss and many great composers. This city offers up so much wonderful architecture as well as a host of other things to see including the Spanish riding school. Finally, cruising into Hungary, we arrive back in imperial Budapest, straddling the picturesque Danube. After a guided tour of this opulent city we spend the evening on board, where the Captain hosts another spectacular dinner, an fitting finale to this most exceptional and relaxing cruise.

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival in Budapest

Arrive at the airport for your flight to Budapest from where you will be taken to your cruise ship. The dedicated crew are there to welcome you on board, ensuring you settle in and familiarise yourself with this first-class floating hotel before an excellent dinner. 

DAY 2 – Esztergom 

Overnight we have cruised upstream to Esztergom, one of Hungary’s oldest towns, a royal capital during medieval times and today the seat of the country’s archbishop. We have a guided tour of the famous neoclassical basilica, standing sentinel over the Danube on the border with Slovakia, and boasting one of the world’s largest altarpieces and a wealth of priceless religious artefacts. 
As you enjoy your first lunch on board we gently leave Esztergom in our wake, affording a fascinating opportunity to compare the different landscapes, towns and villages of Hungary on one river bank and of Slovakia on the other.

DAY 3 – Bratislava 

After a delicious breakfast, this morning we explore Slovakia’s fast-emerging capital city, Bratislava, on a guided tour. You’ll have plenty of free time to explore the cobble-stoned streets of this captivating city too.

This afternoon we cruise into Lower Austria, a peaceful, bucolic region and home to some of the country’s best wines. You’ll marvel as the Captain skilfully navigates the ship along the serene river and through locks whose mechanisms never cease to fascinate, as we cruise towards Dürnstein during dinner.

DAY 4 – Dürnstein & Melk 

Durnstein is known principally for the ice- blue tower of its abbey, which dominates the view, and the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192 after being shipwrecked on his return from the crusades. This morning we take a guided walking tour to explore this memorable city further. 

After lunch you visit the remarkable Melk Abbey. Originally a castle, it was gifted to the Benedictine Order in the 11th-century and, although reconstructed in Baroque style during the 18th century, it has remained a monastic school and monastery ever since. After we re-join the ship, dinner is served during the final part of our cruise upstream through the pretty Nibelungengau, immortalised in the music of Wagner.

DAY 5 – Salzburg or Linz 

Reaching Linz, you will have the choice of two included excursions. You can stay in the city and take a guided walking tour, exploring the charming baroque old town. Alternatively, join our included tour to Salzburg, once an independent state whose archbishops turned it into one of the most sophisticated cities north of the Alps. Please note lunch is not included on this full day excursion to Salzburg; however, the ship will offer a packed lunch.* We return to the ship for another splendid dinner, as the incredible views towards Vienna glide by.

DAY 6 – Vienna 

Vienna’s very name provokes images of elegance, fine music, wide boulevards, Baroque architecture and a rich tapestry of peoples who were drawn here from all corners of Europe. The city’s most iconic monument is the breathtaking Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, whose striking multicoloured roof and huge Gothic South Tower dominate the skyline. There’s also the colossal Hofburg, the former royal court that is now home to a collection of museums, the Crown Jewels and the Spanish Riding School, and the Vienna Boys’ Choir. During the afternoon you’re free to explore as you wish. No visit to Vienna is complete without a live musical experience and this evening we’ve arranged truly the ‘icing on the cake’, a classical recital on board. After dinner listen to exquisite music, played in the city of its creation-a wonderful finale to the day. 

DAY 7 – Budapest 

Enjoy a leisurely morning breakfast as we cruise majestically through Hungary’s peaceful pastoral landscape towards Budapest. After lunch we enjoy a sightseeing tour of this captivating city, which truly lives up to its reputation as the ‘Pearl of the Danube’. The twin cities of Buda, built around the hilltop fortress, and Pest, with its wide boulevards, were fought over through the centuries. After our walking tour, you’ll have plenty of time to explore and immerse yourself in the local culture and history. This evening’s Gala Dinner closes with a Hungarian folklore show, giving you time to bid farewell to your travelling companions and reflect on all the inspirational places, sights and sounds you have experienced on a truly ‘imperial’ cruise. 

DAY 8 – Return home

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

• To find out more, or book this great holiday, call Acomb Travel now on 01904 782401 or call into 41 Front Street, Acomb, York.