Old World Prague & the Blue Danube (2012)

Fly from one of several U.S. gateway cities to Budapest, Hungary.

Arriving in Budapest, you'll be met at the airport by a Grand Circle representative and transferred to your ship.

Gather in the early evening and mingle with your fellow travelers. Throughout your River Cruise, you’ll enjoy “port talks” every evening. Your Program Director will describe the approaching port area and town prior to arrival so you can prepare for the next day’s tour and any free time you may have at the next port-of-call. Tonight you’ll learn a bit about Budapest before enjoying a Welcome Drink and then dinner aboard ship.

After breakfast, set off on a tour of Hungary’s lovely capital, situated on both sides of the magnificent Danube River. In Buda, on the Western bank of the Danube, you’ll see Castle Hill, encircled by ramparts that protect the massive castle complex. Destroyed during World War II, the palace has been restored, approximating its original splendor, and it is now a vast museum complex, where remains of the original structure are displayed.

Later, cross the Danube and see how the imposing Parliament Building dominates Pest on the opposite side of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square, with its Millennial Column set off by equestrian statues of historic ninth-century Magyar conquerors. The adjoining colonnade displays more statues of kings, dukes of Transylvania, and liberty fighters who influenced the history of Hungary.

You'll also enjoy free time in Budapest to explore on your own. Perhaps you'll visit the Church of Our Lady, formerly used for the coronations of Hungarian kings. Its popular name of Matthias is in recognition of the Renaissance king who ruled in the 15th century and whose heraldic sign—a raven—is displayed on one of the towers of the church. Dating back to the 13th century, the structure is an interesting mix of architectural styles used during reconstruction of the building at different times in its history. Note that during the 150-year Turkish occupation of Hungary, the church served as Eski Djami (Old Mosque) for the Turks. Inside the church you can view art of Bertalan Székely and Károly Lotz, 19th-century Hungarian painters.

After lunch onboard the ship, you'll have the afternoon free to explore Budapest on your own.

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If you took our Budapest pre-trip extension and have already enjoyed a Budapest city tour, you can join your Program Director for a visit to the charming town of Szentendre. Set in a painterly landscape, this village is twelve miles north of Budapest, where the Danube River makes a sharp bend through the Pilis and Borzsony hills. Artists have drawn inspiration from these surroundings for almost 200 years, and the town has many galleries.

Tonight, you’ll return to the ship and enjoy a port talk about Bratislava, Slovakia, which you'll discover tomorrow. Then enjoy a Captain's Welcome Dinner.

Begin your day with scenic sailing. As you cruise, learn the secrets to making the perfect Apfelstrudel during a shipboard cooking demonstration—and sample the delicious pastry hot from the oven! Then tour the galley to see where your chef creates the ship’s sumptuous meals.

After lunch onboard, you'll enjoy an exclusive Discovery Series Event when you visit to a local kindergarten that is supported in part by Grand Circle Foundation. Please note: The school visit is not possible on weekends or during the summer and national holidays, when school is not in session.

Then embark on an included tour of Slovakia's capital, the famous Danube city with a picturesque setting at the foot of the Little Carpathian Mountains. Once the capital of Hungary, Bratislava has a history going back to Celtic and Roman times. The Slavs settled here in the fifth century under their ruler Bretislav.

Under Hungarian rule, the city was called Pozsony. Its German-speaking settlers called it Pressburg, and since 1918 it has been called by its Slavic name: Bratislava. Your tour of the city features the Old Town, the historic heart of Bratislava, where you view beautiful St. Martin’s Cathedral, built in the 14th and 15th centuries. Stroll through the pedestrian zone to Michael’s Gate with its 15th-century tower, offering excellent views of the city.

You’ll also stroll by the Old Town Hall and the Neoclassical Archbishop’s Palace. In the Palace’s Hall of Mirrors, Napoleon and the Austrian Emperor Francis I signed the historic Peace of Pressburg after the battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Bratislava is dominated by its massive square castle, which was a favorite residence of the Habsburg Queen, Maria Theresa, and other aristocrats whose lovely houses cluster in the old town below the castle.

Later we join another group of students for a second exclusive Discovery Series Event: a roundtable discussion about life in today’s Slovakia.

Tonight, enjoy dinner onboard with your fellow travelers.

After breakfast, enjoy an exclusive Discovery Series discussion about Austria's history before setting off on an included tour of Vienna.

We first explore the Ringstrasse—Vienna’s grand main boulevard—probably the greatest achievement of the Emperor Franz Joseph. In 1857, the Emperor ordered the demolition of the ancient city walls, which were no longer needed as fortifications and were impeding the growth of the city. In their place was constructed an elegant 2.5 mile-long boulevard, encircling the city center. The Neoclassical buildings along the Ringstrasse bring together all the greatest architectural styles in an exuberant celebration of all that seemed possible during the Industrial Revolution.

Then stop for a coffee break before walking the medieval streets of imperial Vienna and visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral, whose stately spire has overlooked the city since the twelfth century. It houses Austria’s largest bell, cast from Turkish guns left behind after the great siege of 1683. With its Romanesque facade, Gothic tower, and Baroque altars, the cathedral illustrates how the Viennese artistically balanced several great architectural styles. Almost completely gutted by fire in 1945, the interior was restored by the Austrian people and was reopened with much celebration in 1948.

You then take a leisurely walk past the magnificent Hofburg Palace. Since the 13th century, this imposing palace was home to Austria’s Habsburg rulers, and it’s an awe-inspiring, vast complex of buildings. The palace originally served as a fortress (complete with drawbridge), and over the years various Habsburgs added many touches, especially in the Baroque style.

You'll also stroll the grounds of the Belvedere Palace, widely considered the crowning Viennese achievement of Baroque architect Lucas von Hildebrandt. Actually, the Belvedere is two palaces with extensive gardens in between, and both are now noted museums for Austrian art. The Osterreichisches Barockmuseum (Austrian Museum of Baroque Art) occupies the lower palace and Osterreichische Galerie (Austrian Gallery) is housed in the upper Belvedere. The latter’s main attraction is the legendary collection of 19th -and 20th-century paintings by Austrian masters such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka.

After returning to the ship for lunch, the balance of your day is free for relaxing or exploring on your own. You may want to stroll through the old Jewish Quarter to see the only Viennese synagogue to have survived the 1938 Kristallnacht.

Perhaps you'll explore Austria's capital aboard a fiaker. These horse-drawn carriages have been in business since the 17th century, and your driver will show you the sights and delight you with Viennese anecdotes. You'll also find out for yourself whether or not it’s true that drivers whistle strains of Mozart’s beloved Magic Flute as they conduct passengers through the city!

After dinner onboard, your time is your own.

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Join us tonight for an unforgettable optional excursion to one of Vienna’s famed concert halls, where you’ll be enchanted by the classical Austrian music of Strauss and Mozart.

 

This morning, enjoy a tour of the Best of Vienna, focusing on some of Vienna's hidden gems. You'll begin with a visit to the world-renowned Vienna State Opera, lovingly restored after being partially destroyed during World War II.

Next, you’ll visit Vienna’s famous Naschmarkt, featuring vendors with fresh produce and local Austrian specialties.

Then you'll view the Hundertwasser House, a surreal, multi-hued apartment building that will challenge your perception of architecture. Designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasse, the house was built between 1983 and 1986. It features undulating floors, a roof covered with earth and grass, and large trees growing from inside the rooms, with limbs extending from windows. Hundertwasser took no payment for the design of the house, declaring that it was worth it to prevent something ugly from going up in its place.

After transferring back to your ship for lunch onboard, you can enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

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Join us for an optional tour of the expansive summer estate of Habsburg royalty, Schoenbrunn Palace (whose name means “beautiful spring”). Featuring 1400 rooms, meticulously maintained gardens, and an architectural legacy that stretches back to the 17th century, the palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your visit includes a stop at the palace’s carriage museum, a tour of palace highlights, and free time to spend exploring the palace’s stunning park and gardens.

After dinner onboard, relax with your fellow travelers.

This morning you will disembark and visit the historic, 900-year-old Baroque Melk Abbey on an included tour. This magnificently ornate structure has a long and storied history. Strategically situated on a steep, cliffside perch, Melk Abbey’s earliest incarnation was as a Roman border post. Later, it served as a tenth-century Babenberg fortress. It became a Benedictine monastery in 1089 and earned a distinguished reputation for medieval scholarship. Its library includes more than 70,000 books and 2,000 manuscripts, chiefly from the ninth through the 15th centuries.

Umberto Eco, author of the well-known book The Name of the Rose, a murder mystery of monastic intrigue, was inspired by the grandeur of Melk Abbey. Eco uses Heinrich von Melk, a Benedictine brother from Melk Abbey who wrote the ironic poem “About Priestly Life,” as one of the novel’s main characters. The novel contains a great deal of scholarly information about the Middle Ages (Eco is known primarily as a scholar) and the compelling politics of medieval religion. The book’s setting is fictional, but the story climaxes with a devastating fire that mirrors the real history of Melk Abbey, which was ravaged by fires in 1297 and 1683. The stately Baroque edifice that stands today, with its twin towers and 208-foot-high dome, dates from its reconstruction in 1736.

The Abbey houses a remarkable cherub-filled library of thousands of books and manuscripts, and 365 windows—one for every day of the year. The interior of the Abbey’s church is a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and gold—with a magnificent carved pulpit and shimmering ceiling frescoes. During your tour, you’ll get the chance to observe and explore up close, learning more about Melk Abbey’s fascinating story.

Afterwards, you'll enjoy an included tour of the picturesque city of Durnstein, which is said to take its name from both the area’s rocky terrain and the medieval castle overlooking the town proper (the German words duerr and stein mean “dry” and “stone,” respectively).

In the late twelfth century, Britain’s King Richard the Lionheart was held captive in this castle by Duke Leopold V, an Austrian noble who had fought alongside the king during the Crusades—and who was reportedly seeking retribution against Richard for slighting him during the siege of Acre.

This afternoon, relax onboard and enjoy the stunning scenery moving past your eyes while cruising along one of the most beautiful parts of the Danube—the Wachau Valley. This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of a landscape of sculpted hills and medieval towns built along the river.

Set off on a full-day included excursion to Salzburg, the beautiful medieval city where the musical genius Amadeus Mozart was born. Those who remain forever enchanted by the film classic The Sound of Music may feel like they’ve been here before as many of the movie's scenes were shot here.

Nestled along the border of the Alps, Salzburg has been settled for thousands of years and remains a center of culture and education to this day, with three universities and a thriving arts community. It is also rich with historic churches, palaces, and castles. In addition to the Archbishop’s Palace and several key Baroque and Gothic churches, your guided tour includes a visit to the Getreidegasse, the renowned center for Austrian shopping. Note the intricate architectural details of this lane of shops and galleries, nestled under their skillfully crafted wrought-iron signs and offering a myriad of jewelry, antiques, leather goods, and regional foods. The vaulted passageways offer delightful pathways to artisans’ workshops and arcaded courtyards.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll have free time to explore on your own. You might want to visit the small museum in the house where Mozart was born in 1756, located on the shopping street of Salzburg’s Old Town. And, while in Old Town, be sure to take in the magnificent Salzburg Dom, where the great composer was baptized. Spend time in some of the city's many museums and galleries, or explore Schloss Mirabell, whose enchanting gardens were constructed by the Baroque master builder Lukas von Hildebrandt. Perhaps you will view the Felsenreitschule, an impressive Baroque theater that is today the home of the Salzburg Festival, or the city's beloved Schloss Hellbrunn, whose wasserspiele section is home to a series of unique fountains and water-powered displays.

You’ll return to Linz in the late afternoon. Tonight, join your crew for a Captain's Farewell Drink and Dinner. Then enjoy a relaxing evening stroll through the streets of Linz with your Program Director.

This morning, disembark and transfer to Prague in the Czech Republic. Along the way, you’ll stop in the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for an exclusive Discovery Series Event: a Home-Hosted Lunch with local residents. This event is a great opportunity to get a glimpse of everyday life here, as you share cuisine and conversation with your welcoming host family.

 

You arrive in Prague in the late afternoon and check into your hotel. Your evening is at leisure.

This evening, you’ll have time to enjoy dinner on your own in Prague at one of its many fine restaurants. Your Program Director can offer suggestions as to where to sample authentic Czech cuisine.

After breakfast, we set out to explore Prague. During the reign of Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Moravia, Prague was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. Later, it was the vital center of the Habsburgs. While other European capitals were leveled during World War II, Prague survived virtually intact. You’ll walk through Prague’s Castle District, a massive complex including palaces, galleries, churches, and museums, and have the opportunity to visit the 14th-century Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral.

 

You'll also visit Stare Mesto, the Old Town, with its many wonderful Gothic and Baroque buildings, and see the famous 15th-century astronomical clock at the Old Town Hall. Every hour, crowds assemble below to watch Christ and the twelve Apostles appear at two little windows above the clock face, followed by the skeleton of Death tolling the bell. Following your included tour, you’ll return to your hotel by subway, accompanied by your Program Director.

After lunch on your own, spend some time in the early afternoon exploring Prague at your own pace.

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Join us for our optional Charm of the Czech Countryside tour, a unique opportunity to discover genuine Czech rural culture and community life in the village of Nosalov. You’ll tour the village and attend a presentation on Czech handcrafts given by a local artisan. You’ll also taste typical regional dishes during dinner at a local restaurant and join in the energy of a dance show featuring different types of Czech polkas.

Tonight you’ll enjoy dinner on your own.

Enjoy the full day at leisure to explore Prague on your own. As it was during the zenith of the Bohemian kingdom, Prague still ranks as the thriving center of the country, with an artistic community reminiscent of Paris in the 1920s. Here you’ll find some of Europe’s best jazz venues, excellent opera, and innovative theater groups.

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Join an optional tour of Sychrov Castle, the 18th-century residence of a noble family. During the last ten years, an extensive reconstruction and restoration of the manor house’s exteriors and interiors, as well as of the nearby park, has returned the Castle of Sychrov to its former glory. Enjoy an organ concert in the chapel of the palace, followed by a guided walk through the castle. You’ll have the opportunity to view the magnificent woodwork and lush interior of the huge manor before an included lunch. You'll return to Prague mid-afternoon.

Join your fellow travelers to celebrate your discoveries over a Farewell Drink, followed by a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.