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- Trip Highlights<\/a><\/li>\n
- Detailed Itinerary<\/a><\/li>\n
- Aboard your ship<\/a><\/li>\n
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Trip Highlights<\/h2>\n
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For centuries, the enchanting Danube has cast its spell on poets, musicians and artists of all kinds. And in 2017, it will cast its spell on you even more as it is the year marking the 300th anniversary of Maria Theresa\u2019s birth, the namesake of your stately ship, the\u00a0S.S. Maria Theresa<\/span><\/em>. Travel through the very places Maria Theresa ruled for over 40 years on this regal journey.<\/span><\/p>\n
Exclusive celebratory events both onboard and onshore will be plentiful. In Vienna, where Maria Theresa resided, experience \u201cMorning with the Masters\u201d with exclusive early-morning entrance to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Go on a private guided tour of one of the most prestigious museums in the world, home to the royal Habsburg family\u2019s numerous treasures as well as countless major works of art, including Raphael\u2019s\u00a0Madonna in the Meadow<\/span><\/em>, Vermeer\u2019s\u00a0The Allegory of Painting<\/span><\/em>, and the Infanta paintings by Vel\u00e1zquez. Conclude your tour with a Bellini cocktail served in the stunning temple of art. That same evening, attend an exclusive private \u201cRoyal Anniversary\u201d concert celebrating Maria Theresa at a UNESCO-designated Viennese palace.<\/span><\/p>\n
You will also experience delightful Salzburg, D\u00fcrnstein, Passau and Linz. And all along the way, delve into the flavors of the region with events ranging from an organic wine tasting of the Wachau Valley\u2019s Rieslings to a saffron workshop.<\/span><\/p>\n
Who will enjoy this cruise<\/span><\/p>\n
Those who love history, art, architecture, music and exquisite food and wine will discover the best of both Eastern and Western Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n
The Monarch Collection (select sailings)<\/span><\/p>\n
Get exclusive insider access to Europe\u2019s rich aristocratic heritage, including: being hosted at a private reception by a Habsburg princess at her castle; enjoying an exclusive concert, dinner and ballroom dancing at a Viennese palace; and going behind the scenes at Vienna\u2019s Spanish Riding School to discover the 450-year-old equestrian tradition of the Lipizzaner stallion<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nDetailed Itinerary<\/h2>\n
DAY 1: \u00a0BUDAPEST<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship.<\/p>\n
DAY 2: \u00a0BUDAPEST<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Choice of Budapest city tour\u00a0OR\u00a0exclusive \u201cDo as the Locals Do\u201d Budapest walking tour\u00a0OR\u00a0exclusive guided \u201cLet’s Go\u201d Budapest bike tour<\/p>\n
Choose one of three ways to discover the wonders of the \u201cQueen of the Danube.\u201d Savor the beauty of both Buda and Pest on a panoramic tour showcasing key highlights. If you prefer to experience the city as the locals do, then take a ride on the metro; stop at a lively market hall; visit the oldest and most beautiful garden in the city, K\u00e1rolyi; and explore the National Museum. For a more active exploration, join \u201cGreen Budapest\u201d with stops at various sites, such as the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Rose and Japanese gardens, the Olympic pool, V\u00e1rkert Baz\u00e1r and Gellert Baths, followed by a picnic on Margaret Island\u2014complete with local wine and other typical delights. Cap your day off with the Captain\u2019s Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner.<\/p>\n
DAY 3: \u00a0CRUISING THE DANUBE RIVER,\u00a0BRATISLAVA<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Bratislava walking discovery tour.\u00a0Enjoy a day of leisure onboard as your ship cruises the Danube Bend, which is lined with scenic towns\u2014some of the oldest settlements in the country\u2014nestled at the foot of lovely wooded hills. Before arriving in Vienna, explore Slovakia\u2019s capital city, a thriving commercial centre with a village-like atmosphere and a fascinating mosaic of architectural styles.<\/p>\n
DAY 4: \u00a0VIENNA<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Choice of exclusive \u201cMorning with the Masters\u201d at Kunsthistorisches Museum\u00a0OR\u00a0exclusive \u201cDo as the Locals Do\u201d Vienna walking tour, and exclusive \u201cRoyal Anniversary\u201d Mozart and Strauss Concert at a Viennese Palace<\/p>\n
You\u2019re in for a real treat with \u201cMorning with the Masters,\u201d an exclusive early opening and art tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, showcasing the Habsburg\u2019s imperial treasures as well as magnificent works of art by some of the world\u2019s greatest artists, including Rubens, Rembrandt, D\u00fcrer, Titian and Tintoretto. Afterward, enjoy a Bellini cocktail on the stunning cupola terrace. If you prefer to experience the city as locals do, go on a guided walk that highlights Viennese essentials, such as coffee, sausages, wine, music and public transportation. No visit to the \u201cCity of Waltzes\u201d is complete without music, so you\u2019ll be treated to an exclusive private \u201cRoyal Anniversary\u201d concert, celebrating Maria Theresa\u2019s 300th birthday and legacy in a Viennese palace.<\/p>\n
DAY 5: \u00a0D\u00dcRNSTEIN<\/strong><\/h5>\n
D\u00fcrnstein \u201cVillage Day\u201d with choice of exclusive Nikolaihof wine estate visit and tasting\u00a0OR\u00a0exclusive saffron workshop with village stroll\u00a0OR\u00a0exclusive guided \u201cLet’s Go\u201d Wachau Valley bicycle ride, and Melk Abbey with library visit<\/p>\n
Take a guided tour of the village of D\u00fcrnstein, where you have a choice of activities, depending on your tastes. Sample the organic wines at the historic Nikolaihof estate, perhaps the oldest winery in Austria, which produces some of the world\u2019s best Rieslings. Prefer a tasting of a different type? Visit one of the world\u2019s only bio-dynamically certified saffron producers, where you\u2019ll educate your taste buds with flavorful delicacies as you taste saffron-infused chocolate and jams. You\u2019ll then set sail through spectacular UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley to Melk. For a more active adventure, bike along the Danube through the scenic Wachau Valley to Melk. Once in Melk, visit its 900-year-old abbey, a significant centre of learning over the centuries and home to the famous baroque library that inspired the novel The Name of the Rose.<\/p>\n
DAY 6: \u00a0LINZ<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Choice of full day Salzburg*\u00a0OR\u00a0Linz town and country: opera house and cider farm visit<\/p>\n
Salzburg or Linz\u2014the choice is yours. In UNESCO-designated Salzburg, you\u2019ll see Mozart\u2019s childhood home and the garden where the famous \u201cDo-Re-Mi\u201d scene from The Sound of Music was filmed. If you wish, head to nearby Linz instead, a former Roman settlement that is now a vibrant centre for the arts. After a guided walking tour that stops for coffee and a taste of Linzer torte, venture into the countryside to visit a local farm and sample another delicious treat\u2014 hard cider, a specialty of the region. *Note: Lunch is not offered with the full day excursion to Salzburg.<\/p>\n
DAY 7: \u00a0PASSAU<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Choice of Passau walking discovery tour with St. Stephan\u2019s organ concert\u00a0OR\u00a0exclusive guided \u201cLet’s Go\u201d bicycle ride along the Inn River\u00a0OR\u00a0exclusive guided \u201cLet’s Go\u201d hike along the Ilz River<\/p>\n
Cruise the picturesque landscape and hairpin loop in the middle of the Danube, known as Schl\u00f6gener Schlinge, appointed a \u201cNatural Wonder of Austria.\u201d Once at your first German port of call, Passau, discover the medieval city with a walking tour along the cobblestone streets to the baroque St. Stephan\u2019s Cathedral, where you\u2019ll have a rare opportunity to hear a concert played on Europe\u2019s largest pipe organ. You then have two \u201cLet’s Go\u201d choices. For cyclists, join a local guide for a bike ride along the Inn River; for hikers, go on a guided hike with a nature expert along the beautiful Ilz River. Spend your last night onboard at the festive Captain\u2019s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner. Note: The organ concert is only available May 1 \u2013 October 31, excluding Sundays and Catholic holidays. An alternative venue will be organized before and after these dates.<\/p>\n
DAY 8: \u00a0DEPART<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Disembark in Passau and transfer to Munich Airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Prague.<\/p>\n
- Detailed Itinerary<\/a><\/li>\n