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Cruising the Blue Danube
Cruising the Blue Danube beckons to families looking for fun family Europe tours in 2009! Two special 8-day Tauck Bridges cruise-only departures of Tauck World Discovery's riverboat cruise The Blue Danube – beginning in Budapest on June 21 aboard MS Swiss Emerald, and on July 4 aboard MS Swiss Sapphire – provide the ultimate European family vacation. There is no easier and no better way to see so much of the heart of Europe than on a leisurely cruise along the “River of Kings” with your family aboard the luxurious MS Swiss Emerald or her sister, MS Swiss Sapphire. Unpack only once as you travel from Budapest, Hungary, to Slovakia, Austria and Germany, enjoying action-packed shore excursions specially designed for Tauck Bridges families. Challenge yourself in a totally amazing rally race in Bratislava, Slovakia. Soar over Vienna on the Riesenrad in the Prater, the city’s famous amusement park. Learn how to make strüdel during a visit to Schönbrunn Palace, an awesome place that Empress Maria Theresa, her daughter Marie Antoinette and even Napoleon once called home, and share your creation with fellow passengers – it will be their dessert on the riverboat tonight! Bike along the Danube between Dürnstein and Krems in Austria and discover the tricky secrets of Schloss Hellbrunn in Salzburg. End this coolest of family Europe tours in Passau, Germany, by checking out Europe’s biggest pipe organ and making yourself something yummy with marzipan.
Note: Embarking in Budapest, Hungary, and disembarking in Regensburg, Germany, these special Tauck Bridges departures consist of the 8-day, cruise-only segment of Tauck World Discovery’s 12-day journey, The Blue Danube; Tauck Bridges’ guests join that longer journey on day 3 and depart on day 10.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
2009 Itinerary
• Indicates day of cruising
• Day 1: Welcome aboard!
Your adventures cruising the Blue Danube begin at 4:00 PM in Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from Budapest's Ferihegy Airport right to the gangway, where you'll board MS Swiss Emerald or MS Swiss Sapphire for your 7-night cruise! Settle in, explore your floating home for the next week and meet families with whom you'll share this most delightful of Europe tours at dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
• Day 2: Raft, climb and race around and in Bratislava
If you think that you’ll spend the first day of your journey tromping through musty museums and dusty cathedrals, think again! After a morning spent cruising the Danube along Hungary's border with Slovakia to Bratislava, get set for one of the most exciting days you’ve ever spent as you take part in an action-packed adventure rally race* in and around Slovakia’s capital city, encountering challenges all along the way. You’ll join a team and compete with other teams as you “shoot the rapids” on a controlled water slalom course that hosted the sport’s World Cup competition in 1997. Then, an obstacle course filled with rope-climbing challenges will test your team, followed by a thrilling summer bobsled competition. Go on to ancient Devin Castle where you’ll try to beat the other teams at archery using medieval-style crossbows. You’ve never seen statues like the ones you’ll find in Old Town and your task will be to find scavenger-hunt clues hidden among them. On our family river cruising Europe tours, this is a day that your family will never forget!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
• Day 3: When in Wien... have fun!
While most of the world knows this city as Vienna, the Austrians (and other German-speaking people) call it Wien. Whatever you call it, it’s famous for a whole lot of cool things, as you’ll discover on a sightseeing tour of this grand Imperial city today. There are the Habsburgs and the history and the architecture… and of course, there are the famous classical composers who lived and worked here, whose music is beloved around the world. But there also may be a few surprises in store as you make your way around the city! Tonight brings another highlight on this most unique of family Europe tours – an evening at Vienna’s world-famous Prater amusement park, featuring over 250 rides and attractions to enjoy. You’ll find the Riesenrad, a giant ferris wheel; “extreme speed” rides, merry-go-rounds and go-carts tracks; haunted houses and a fun house; and so much more, for a grand night of family fun.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
• Day 4: Lifestyles of the rich and royal, and a lesson in strüdel
Today, guests on our Danube River Europe tours discover what it was like to be really rich and really royal during a guided visit to the huge – it has 1,441 rooms! – Schönbrunn Palace, the permanent summer residence of the Austrian Imperial Family, the Habsburgs, from the era of the legendary Empress Maria Theresa until 1918. As you look around, you may find yourself wondering what it would have been like to live there – pretty drafty might be a good guess. While you’re there, learn to make real Viennese strüdel during a demonstration by a chef – and then make your own! Your strüdel masterpiece will be shared with everyone aboard your riverboat as dessert at dinner tonight, so pay attention and have fun! You’ll have some free time to explore Vienna with your family as you choose before your riverboat sails on to Dürnstein.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
• Day 5: Tour de Danube
When you wake up this morning, your riverboat will be docked in the pretty medieval town of Dürnstein, known for its 13th-century abbey and 16th-century houses along twisting, narrow, cobblestone streets. Your family will take off on a leisurely bicycle tour* along the Danube River and through the countryside to the historic town of Krems. Take a look around town and, while you’re there, you may see something that seems to belong in Texas rather than Austria! Bike on back to Dürnstein, where you might want to hike up the big hill to the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle, for terrific vistas of the town, river and surrounding vineyards. Within the walls of this very castle, England's King Richard the Lionhearted was held as a prisoner after the Third Crusade – although he probably couldn't enjoy the view like you can on our Europe tours!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
• Day 6: A very tricky place... and Mozart's Salzburg
Once upon a time, there was a Prince Archbishop of Salzburg who really liked playing practical jokes, had a great sense of humor… and was possibly a little bit crazy. His many guests were astounded both by the Baroque beauty they found at his home, Schloss Hellbrunn (or Hellbrunn Castle), and the tricks he played on them in his “pleasure grounds” filled with gardens, fountains and "18th-century animatronics." Whether or not they found his pranks as funny as he did is another matter. But today, you’ll find out for yourselves what surprises Schloss Hellbrunn has in store… and you may be as amazed by what you experience as his guests were. You'll even find some locations made famous by the movie The Sound of Music here. Later, you’ll discover there's much to see and do in lovely, historic Salzburg, as you explore the hometown of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as you please during leisure time. And maybe you’ll find all 14 of the ancient drinking fountains scattered around the Old City during your explorations... or have fun trying!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
• Day 7: Making music – and faces – in Passau
Have you ever had a chance to take a look at a really humongous pipe organ? If you have, you’ve no doubt wondered how any one person can play an instrument with as many as five keyboards and a whole bunch of pedals on the floor. Today, you’ll see – and hear – the biggest pipe organ in Europe (in fact, the largest one outside the U.S.) at historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau; it has 17,774 pipes and 233 registers… and it’s totally awesome! Later, learn how marzipan, a candy made from sugar and ground almonds in all sorts of very realistic shapes, is made – and try your hand at making your own tasty tidbit in the shape of a face, very popular in Passau. Tonight, be sure to get the addresses of all your new friends who shared the coolest of Europe tours with you at our festive farewell dinner aboard the riverboat.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Day 8: Homeward bound!
Tauck’s family-friendly river cruising Europe tours end in Regensburg, Germany. You and your family can fly home anytime. After disembarking, take a little tour of Regensburg if time allows before your flight home. A transfer from Regensburg to Munich Airport is included. Be sure to allow 2 ½ hours for check-in formalities at the airport. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
* For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.
Families looking for Europe tours to please every generation
will find the perfect one on Tauck Bridges’ new
Cruising the Blue Danube in 2009!
will find the perfect one on Tauck Bridges’ new
Cruising the Blue Danube in 2009!
Prices
8 days from $3,290 plus airfare
| June 21 - MS Swiss Emerald 2009 Price Per Person |
Double | Single | Triple |
| Category 1 |
$3790 | $4306 | N/A |
| Category 2 |
$4040 | $5656 | N/A |
| Category 3 |
$4640 | 5496 | N/A |
| Category 4 |
$4940 | $7904 | N/A |
| Category 5 |
$5540 | $9418 | N/A |
| Category 6 |
$6240 | $10,608 | $4760 |
| July 4 - MS Swiss Sapphire 2009 Price Per Person |
Double | Single | Triple |
| Category 1 |
$3290 | $4606 | N/A |
| Category 2 |
$3540 | $4956 | N/A |
| Category 3 |
$4140 | $5796 | N/A |
| Category 4 |
$4440 | $7104 | N/A |
| Category 5 |
$5040 | $8568 | N/A |
| Category 6 |
$5740 | $9758 | $4427 |
20 meals included.
Tauck Partners’ Savings – Save $1,000 per person (including children) in Cabin Categories 1 and 3 only on the July 4 departure of this cruise. Certain restrictions apply; ask at booking for details.
International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S (subject to availability). Departure tax is additional.
Children 11 and under Discount $100.
Children under 18 must be booked in a cabin with at least one adult. Triple accommodations, a double-bedded suite with a rollaway cot, are available in Category 6 only, and are not available for more than two adults, age 18 or older, sharing a cabin. All gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director and ship staff are included.
Your family's comfort is important to us. Ask us about booking an additional hotel night before your journey begins and be sure to consider our Cruise Protection Plan offering important travel advantages and a money-back refund if your travel plans change.
Recommended age: 8+
* For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.
Note: This special Tauck Bridges family cruise consists of the 8-day cruise-only portion of the June 21 and July 4 westbound departures of Tauck World Discovery's 12-day The Blue Danube, and does not include Budapest and Prague portions of that journey. Tauck Bridges guests join on day 3 of the full program, and depart on day 10.
Need to Know
Tauck is currently working to provide information regarding this tour. Please check back soon for more information.
If you have an immediate questions, please call us at 800-788-7885 or email info@tauck.com.