Grand Danube Cruise

Grand Danube Cruise – Ms Amalegro

Prague, Nuremberg, Passau, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Black Sea, Istanbul

Itinerary

Day 1 Thu. Arrive in Prague.
Arrive in Prague where the balance of the day is at leisure.
Three Night Stay: Prague, Renaissance Hotel.

Day 2 Fri. Prague.
This morning’s sightseeing tour reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities. Visit the 1,000-year old Hradcany Castle courtyard, St Vitus and Golden Lane, then walk through the Jewish quarter to the Old Market Square. Enjoy the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
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Day 3 Sat. Prague.
A relaxing day at leisure to stroll through a museum, wander along the banks of the Vltava river, relax at an outdoor cafe or shop for local handicrafts. Alternatively, take an optional excursion to Konopiste, palace and former home of the Emperors.
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Day 4 Sun. Prague – Plzen – Nuremberg.
After a free morning in Prague, drive through the pastoral countryside to Nuremberg. On the way, we stop in the famous beer-brewing town Plzen for a brewery tour. In Nuremberg, board your elegant ship ms Amalegro. Tonight gather on board for a Gala Welcome Dinner. The ship will moor overnight in Nuremberg.
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Day 5 Mon. Nuremberg – Continental Divide.
Enjoy a tour of Nuremberg with its Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. See the 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace. At lunchtime, continue to transit the Main-Danube Canal as you arrive at the highest point of your cruise – 435 metres above sea level – before descending through stair-step locks.
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Day 6 Tue. Regensburg.
This morning takes you through the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal. Arrive in Regensburg, where a tour will show you the city’s highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria – gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. This evening enjoy Bavarian folklore music entertainment on board.
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Day 7 Wed. Passau – Linz.
After breakfast, arrive in Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Or, take an optional full day tour to Salzburg and its most popular Sound of Music sights. Those staying on board cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz. After dinner take a walk through this delightful town.
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Day 8 Thu. Melk – Vienna.
Reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. A tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey. At lunchtime, continue through the romantic Wachau Valley. Late this afternoon arrive in Vienna, the ‘City of Music’. Tonight explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert.
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Day 9 Fri. Vienna Sightseeing.
A tour of Vienna includes Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse, and awe-inspiring St Stephen’s Cathedral. Enjoy a free afternoon to shop or sample some of Vienna’s famous pastries. Your ship departs Vienna at late afternoon to continue cruising towards Budapest. 14-day passengers arrive in Budapest today with two nights at the Sofitel Hotel. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Budapest tomorrow and join the ship on Day 11 after the Puszta excursion.
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Day 10 Sat. Budapest.
The morning is free for own pursuits. Afternoon sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, with splendid views of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. Your tour also features Matthias Church, St Stephen’s Basilica, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace and more.
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Day 11 Sun. Budapest – Puszta Excursion.
Explore the Hungarian Puszta region today, the vast flat Great Plain, where Hungarian cowboys still wear traditional garb and practice the skills of their Magyar ancestors. Visit a typical Gypsy village and marvel at the equestrian skills of the riders and drivers during the horse show. There will be a light lunch of Goulash, the national dish, before returning to the ship in Budapest.
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Day 12 Mon. Mohacs – Pecs Excursion.
Arrive in Mohacs, where you depart for the excursion to Pecs with its distinct Mediterranean feel. Enjoy a walking tour during which you will see the Synagogue, visit the former Turkish Mosque and Christian Basilica.
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Day 13 Tue. Vukovar – Novi Sad.
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Vukovar by bus and foot during which you will see the Franciscan Monastery of St.John Capistrano, the Manourhouse Eltz and Churches St.Philip and St.Roch. At lunch cruise to Novi Sad Serbia, where you will tour the Petrovaradin Fortress guarding the Danube.
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Day 14 Wed. Belgrade.
This morning you arrive in the Capital of Serbia, Belgrade. The home of the Patriarch and St.Sava’s, the largest Orthodox Church in the country will all been seen during the city tour, as well as Tito’s memorial, the Town Hall, Federal Parliament Building and a visit to Kalemegdan Fortress.
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Day 15 Thu. Cruising – Iron Gates.
A full day of cruising through one of Europe’s most impressive natural wonders, the Iron Gates. These natural borders make up the frontier between Serbia and Romania.
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Day 16 Fri. Vidin.
The ‘Bada Vida’ fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. You will also travel overland to see Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th century castle, located in a fairytale landscape of unusual rock formations.
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Day 17 Sat. Bucharest.
Enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, capital of Romania. During the morning city tour you will see the Arch of Triumph, Athenaeum and Library, as well as visit the Parliament Palace – the second largest building in the world. Followed by lunch in a typical restaurant, in the afternoon you can choose to have free time for shopping and exploration on your own or visit the open air museum dedicated to the traditional architecture of rural Romania.
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Day 18 Sun. Rousse (disembark) – Veliko Turnavo – Nessebur.
Disembark in Rouse and continue your tour by coach to the Black Sea and Istanbul. First stop this morning is the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnavo. Here you will tour Tsarevets Hill, the old citadel of the city. You will see the old fortress walls, Royal Palaces and the Patriarchal church and Baldwin’s Tower. You will enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing onto the Black Sea town of Nessebur. Stay: Nessebur.
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Day 19 Mon. Nessebur – Istanbul.
Nessebur is one of the oldest towns in Europe. During this morning’s walking tour you will visit St.Stephan’s, Pantocrator church and Nessebur’s oldest church, the 5th-6th century Basilica on the Beach. After free time for lunch, you continue to Istanbul, arriving late this afternoon.
Three Night Stay: Istanbul, Ritz Carlton Hotel.
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Day 20 Tue. Istanbul Sightseeing.
Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, on the banks of the Bosphorus and natural harbour of the Golden Horn; the Black Sea to it’s north and Sea of Marmara, the entrance to the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea’s, to the south. This morning’s tour will feature the Roman aqueduct and hippodrome; the Suleymaniye Mosque; as well as the Galata Tower, then visit the Blue Mosque. Later choose to see more of Byzantine Constantinople and visit St.Sophia, or explore more of Ottoman Istanbul and visit the Grand Bazaar.
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Day 21 Wed. Istanbul.
Today visit the Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every single Sultan from the time of the conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century till the end of the 19th century. Visit the Grand Palace of Topkapi and tour the private chambers of the Sultans, the Harem, the treasury, home to the Topkapi diamond, the holy relics room, Hagia Eirene Church and more.
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Day 22 Thu. Istanbul – Fly Home.
Your grand tour of Europe concludes today after breakfast.
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What’s Included

Inclusions

• City tours of Nuremberg and Prague
• Walking tour of Passau and Regensburg
• Evening walk Linz
• Tour Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey
• Sightseeing tours of Vienna and Budapest
• Budapest, Puszta excursion
• Mohacs, excursion to Pecs
• City tours of Vukovar, Belgrade and Vidin
• Visit Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad
• Bucharest excursion & city tour
• Veliko Turnavo, visit Tsarevets Hill
• Nessebur, walking tour
• Istanbul city tour & Topkapi Palace

Finest Dining

• Daily breakfasts in Prague, Nessebur and Istanbul; one dinner in Istanbul
• All meals included whilst on board the ship
• Cocktail reception and Welcome Dinner
• Quality wines with dinner
• Special highlights including folklore performances, wine tastings, lectures, theme dinners, local festivities and on board music performances

Outstanding Places to Stay

• 14 night cruise on board the ms Amalegro in an outside cabin
• On board amenities including bicycles, elevator, fitness centre, massage & beauty salon and shop
• Non-smoking ship (smoking only on Sun Deck)

Additional Information

• Single supplement available on application
• Tour Notes. Port charges – add A$285 per person
• Arrival/Departure Transfers on first and last day of package – add A$140 per person
• All departures are guaranteed
• Cruise Upgrades available Contact Us for further details
• Cruise operated in conjunction with Amadeus Waterways

Earlybird Savings

• Ask about our Early Booking discounts on cruises and airfares

The APT Difference

• Services of a professional Cruise Manager
• All English language on board
• 6-star service and facilities
• APT Ownership

Air$aver Airfares

• Enquire about our great airfares to Europe

Additional Information

• Europe River Cruising pdf
• Europe – What to Bring pdf
• Europe – While on Tour pdf
• Europe Travel Documents pdf
• Europe 0708 ms Amalegro Deckplan