TAUCK RIVER CRUISES
12 Days | Danube Reflections
Eastbound

MUNICH TO VIENNA

Day 1 | Munich, Germany. Embark. Your Danube and Vienna river cruise begins: 4:00 PM, Regensburg. We’ll meet you at the airport. A transfer is included from Munich International Airport and Munich Hauptbahnhof to your riverboat in Regensburg, a picturesque Bavarian town nestled on the banks of the Danube River. Early arrivals will receive suggestions for independent sightseeing or lunch. Settle into your cabin and join the Captain this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. (D)

Day 2 | Nuremberg. Regensberg. Greet your first day on the beautiful Danube River with a choice of sightseeing excursions – a visit to Nürnberg where you'll view Zeppelin Field and the site of the Nuremberg Trials, and visit the Documentation Center, a museum dedicated to the causes and consequences of the Third Reich. Alternatively, you can choose a guided walking tour of colorful Regensburg where sightseeing includes the Dom, the market, the town hall, and 12th-century Steinerne Brücke. You’ll also have a guided visit to St. Emmeram Palace, royal residence of Thurn und Taxis, the family dynasty whose fortune began in the 16th century and is the largest in Germany today. The castle, formerly a Benedictine abbey, is lush with Baroque features and frescoes, from the throne room to the ballroom and magnificent library, with displays of splendid art treasures, weaponry and fine porcelain – you can’t see it all, of course, since the family still lives here! Everyone returns to the ship this afternoon for lunch and time at leisure; tonight you sail for Passau. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Passau. Once a Roman outpost at the confluence of three rivers, Passau is over 2,500 years old, a quintessential Bavarian town of pastel patrician houses, cafes, romantic cobblestone lanes and riverfront promenades. This a town made for walking (many streets are closed to traffic) and your walking tour immerses you in its storybook mix of Roman, Italian Baroque and German Gothic architecture. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral; its jaw-dropping Baroque interior includes statuary, frescoes and the largest pipe organ in Europe; see the hilltop fortress where Passau’s prince-bishops once resided; and peruse the 14th-century Rathaus (Town Hall), adorned with murals commemorating scenes from the Nibelungenlied, an epic poem believed to have originated here in the 12th century. Cruise to Linz, Austria; arrive after dinner, with an onboard concert by classical trio Donau 3Klang. (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Linz, Austria. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic. Your boat remains docked in Linz while you embark on a full-day excursion through wine country to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, an incredibly well-preserved medieval town in a landscape of exceptional beauty. Your walking tour includes Krumlov Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, embracing 40 buildings and palaces of medieval, Renaissance and Rococo designs, numerous courtyards and gardens, and the breathtaking, impeccably preserved Castle Theatre. Then, a Tauck Exclusive – a private lunch at the Winter Riding School, a hall where 18th-century aristocrats exercised their horses in inclement weather, now a lavish venue for concerts, balls, and social events, with an outstanding restaurant. Return to Linz in late afternoon, where cocktails and dinner aboard ship are in line for this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Grein. Wachau Valley. Durnstein. Arrive in Grein this morning for a choice of sightseeing activities. A walking tour of the village includes Greinburg Castle, which is an imposing 15th-century palace with a gracious arcaded courtyard, and the Grein Theatre, since 1791 the oldest operating theatre in Austria... or take a guided tour of nearby Mauthausen Memorial, site of an infamous World War II-era concentration camp. This afternoon, cruise the lush landscapes of the Wachau Valley, with its rolling vineyards, fairy-tale castles, ancient hilltop ruins and monasteries; this is wine country famous for its Reislings and Grüner Veltliners – as a Tauck Exclusive, enjoy a wine tasting event in the town of Weissenkirchen en route to your overnight at anchor in Dürnstein. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Durnstein. Bratislava, Slovakia. This morning, your riverboat departs Dürnstein and docks in Krems, which offers you a choice of unforgettable sightseeing excursions: visit the lofty, lavish monastery at Göttweig Abbey, a mountaintop Benedictine retreat with Baroque architectural features as stunning as the views... then descend to the Tulin plain to encounter Graffenegg Castle, a 19th-century count’s madly romantic vision of a medieval castle. Or explore the picture-perfect Bavarian village of Dürnstein on a guided walking tour, with free time on your own – maybe a climb up to the brooding ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle high above the town. Rejoin the boat, and set off on a leisurely, breathtakingly scenic river cruise to Bratislava. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Bratislava. This morning, our local expert offers inside information and anecdotes on Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, before you embark on a walking tour of the city’s cobblestoned, vehicle-free historic center; medieval, Baroque and modern architecture mix in this visually intriguing city as you visit sites that include the 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, Michael’s Gate, St. Martin’s Cathedral, and the Primate’s Palace where you’ll view rare 17th-century British tapestries. Your day in Bratislava ends with free time to explore on your own. Or you can opt out of the walking tour for an excursion to the countryside, lush with vineyards, for a wine-tasting and castle visit. Back aboard ship, lunch and settle in for an afternoon at leisure before the riverboat departs for Vienna. Join us this evening for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Vienna, Austria. Disembark. Disembark this morning in romantic Vienna. Your introduction begins with an excursion to the Vienna Woods, the vast forest park on the city outskirts that inspired Strauss’ famed “Tales...” now a green retreat where Viennese go to escape the urban bustle, and immerse themselves in nature and traditional culture... which includes drinking and dining at the area’s vineyards. Many of the wineries have cozy taverns (heurigers) attached to them where regional delicacies are served, Viennese music is played, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Indulge in the pleasures of a heuriger lunch in the woods, like a Viennese native, then head for your luxury hotel in the heart of the city. The Ritz Carlton is a amalgam of four opulent 19th-century palaces, steeped in marble, frescoed ceilings, wood paneling and murals (not to mention the spa and indoor pool), presiding on a corner of Schubertring boulevard, steps from the Ringstrasse, and in easy reach of major landmarks. Check in, then enjoy free time to explore and dine on your own. (B,L)

Day 9 | Vienna. A sightseeing tour this morning introduces you to Imperial Vienna’s legendary opulence and elegance... as witnessed in its showcase boulevards and plazas lined with Baroque palaces, parks, and monuments. But its inner beauty lies in its awesome abundance of world-class galleries and museums, and today you can choose to immerse yourself in one of the following: Kunsthistorisches (the Fine Arts Museum), a palace built by the Hapsburgs in 1891 to house the family’s vast classical art collection (subject to availability); Belvedere Museum, housing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the Impressionists; and the House of Music, an interactive, high-tech museum where you can sample the works of the city’s legendary composers, and even “conduct” the Vienna Philharmonic. Take time for lunch and explore more of the city on your own, then join us for a Tauck Exclusive at a Viennese palace – a festive evening of champagne and dining followed by a classical music entertainment. The sumptuous surroundings of Palais Pallavicini (built in 1784), with its ornate decor and magnificent state rooms, will transport you to another time – in fact, the palace facade is famous in another cultural reference... as the location of Harry Lime’s apartment in Orson Welles’ classic film The Third Man. (B,D)

Day 10 | Vienna. Your Danube and Vienna river cruise ends: Vienna, Austria. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Ritz Carlton Vienna to Vienna International Airport and Vienna Westbahnhof; you should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.(B)

EASTBOUND ITNERARY 10-DAY | MUNICH TO VIENNA Click here to view 10-day WESTBOUND itinerary. Click ship name to view deck plan.