TAUCK RIVER CRUISES
10 Days | Danube Reflections
Westbound

VIENNA TO MUNICH

Day 1 | Vienna, Austria. Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Vienna, Austria. We’ll meet you at the airport. A transfer is included from Vienna International Airport or the Vienna Westbahnof train station to your five-star luxury hotel in the heart of the city. The Ritz Carlton Vienna is an amalgam of four 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. Settle in, then join us at a Viennese palace for a festive evening of cocktails and dining followed by a concert; the sumptuous surroundings of the 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. (D)

Day 2 | Vienna. A sightseeing tour this morning introduces you to Imperial Vienna’s legendary opulence and elegance... as witnessed in its showcase boulevards and plazas that are 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. Enjoy free time to explore more of the city and dine on your own this evening. (B)

Day 3 | Vienna. Embark. Depart your hotel for an excursion to the Vienna Woods, the vast forest park on the city outskirts that inspired Strauss’s “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 back to the city to board your riverboat. Join the Captain this evening for a welcome reception and dinner as the ship departs for Bratislava. (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Bratislava, Slovakia. Krems, Austria. This morning, you’ll meet our local expert who 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, the Slovak Philharmonic Hall, Michael’s Gate, and St. Martin’s Cathedral, coronation site of the Kings of Hungary, indicated by the symbolic Crown of St. Stephen that sits atop its steeple. Enjoy free time to explore colorful Bratislava on your own before returning to the riverboat this afternoon (the city is renowned for its cafe culture). Or if you prefer, you can opt out of the walking tour for an excursion to the countryside, lush with farms, villages, and vineyards, for a wine tasting and a castle visit. Back aboard ship, lunch and settle in for an afternoon at leisure before the riverboat sails for Krems, Austria. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Krems. Durnstein. This morning, your riverboat 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; the grandiose design of this abbey was intended to rival Escorial, the residence of the king of Spain... then descend to the Tulin plain to encounter Graffenegg Castle, a 19th-century count’s madly romantic vision of a medieval castle, complete with fairy-tale turrets and towers, balconies, and gargoyles. Or you can stay aboard the riverboat and sail to the picture-perfect Bavarian village of Dürnstein, for a guided walking tour. Enjoy free time to explore, and if you’re game, climb to the brooding ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle high above the town, where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom in the 12th century. Return to the boat, and set off on a leisurely, scenic river cruise through the Wachau Valley. You'll spy vineyards, castles, ancient hilltop ruins and monasteries as you sail; this is wine country famous for its Reislings and Grüner Veltliners, which you will get a chance to sample at a Tauck Exclusive wine tasting event in the town of Weissenkirchen. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Grein. Wachau Valley. Arrive in Grein for a choice of sightseeing activities. A walking tour of the village includes Greinburg Castle, 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. After free time on your own, return to the riverboat for dinner aboard ship. Sail tonight for Linz. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Linz. 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 palaces of medieval, Renaissance and Rococo designs, courtyards, gardens, and the Castle Theatre, impeccably preserved in high Baroque style. 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. Return to Linz in late afternoon, where cocktails and dinner aboard ship are in line for this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Passau, Germany. 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 a massive pipe organ (the largest in Europe), view Bavaria’s largest glockenspiel; 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. This afternoon, sail for the medieval town of Regensburg. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Regensberg. Nuremberg. Greet the day 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! Return to the riverboat for lunch and free time, then join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Munich. Tour ends: Munich, Germany. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Munich Airport or Munich Hauptbahnhof; you should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Guests interested in staying extra nights should inquire at booking. (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)

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