2011 Itinerary

Eastbound
Click here for Westbound itinerary.

Inclusive Prices  

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and riverboat accommodations, riverboat and motor coach transportation, port charges, sightseeing, admissions, land excursions, porterage, wine with dinner aboard the riverboat, and the services of the Tauck Directors, the Tauck Cruise Director, hotel, ship and restaurant staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Transportation is included from Strasbourg International Airport to the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, provided we have received accurate international flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the tour departure date. Transportation is also included from the InterContinental Budapest to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport when you choose to depart. Transfers to and from airports may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Riverboat Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and riverboat accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot, where available, and are not recommended for comfort. Quadruple accommodations are not available.

If you request an adjacent, adjoining or connecting room, we will try to accommodate your request. However, we cannot guarantee such accommodations will be available. Please note that a hotel may define “adjacent” as “located across the hall”.

Children under the age of 18 must be booked in a room or cabin with at least one adult.

The ms Swiss Jewel accommodates only 118 guests. Your well-appointed, outside-facing cabin is equipped with a plasma television, mini-bar, radio, international direct-dial telephone, safe and hair dryer. Your cabin also features adjustable air-conditioning and a private bathroom with shower. Most cabins have two twin beds that can be placed together. Triple accommodations are only available in Category 6 cabins on this tour. 

Other riverboat facilities include a lounge with a panoramic bar and a dance floor, a spacious restaurant, which can accommodate all guests in one seating, a large sun deck with deck chairs and a whirlpool, a library, a fitness center and a small boutique.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

On the riverboat, an ample cold and hot buffet breakfast is served in the spacious restaurant. At lunch, you are presented with a choice of entrée with several courses, or a delicious buffet. Dinner’s choice of entrée is accompanied with an international selection of wines. Please let us know about your special dietary requirements when booking your cruise; vegetarian and special diets are available, however kosher meals cannot be accommodated. We will be pleased to meet your special dietary requirements whenever possible.

The legal drinking age aboard the riverboat is 18.

Tauck Director –The Romance of the Rhine & Danube cruise has one Tauck Director for every 40 guests and one Tauck Cruise Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for the hotel, restaurant and ship staff, local guides and drivers, Tauck Directors and the Tauck Cruise Director are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Directors will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

Not Included

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, we will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through us. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this webpage and discuss your request with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the details provided under Tauck Travel Protection on this webpage for more information.

Lost luggage is an unfortunate possibility in today's world of airline travel. We suggest that you:

• Pack some basic clothing in your carry-on bag
• Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
  
• Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
• Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
• Be sure to place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
• File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
• Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
• Be certain that the airline has your onward itinerary

Your Tauck Director will assist you with airline communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages not included with meals, laundry and dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, hotel transfers to and from railway stations, visa fees and services, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures –

If you are traveling from the U.S., beginning in 2010, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program will require that your name, as it appears on your domestic or international airline ticket, precisely match your name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID (i.e., passport or driver’s license) that you present during security screening. The ID name must also match any additional airline data, such as frequent-flyer information. For example, if you present your driver's license to security and it says John T. Smith, your ticket must also say John T. Smith, not John Thomas Smith, not Jack Smith, or any other variant. Your date-of-birth and gender information provided to the airline must also match your photo ID.

If you make your air travel arrangements through us, please ensure that the name you provide us precisely matches your name as shown on the identification you will use while traveling. If you make your own airline reservations, please ensure that the airline has the correct information.

For more information on the Secure Flight program, please visit the TSA web site, tsa.gov, by clicking here.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through us for travel originating in the United States. By using our air services, you agree that we, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, are acting only as your agent and are not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by us. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline only, even if purchased through us. We are not liable for, and do not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). We must handle ticketing for our special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Our air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a one of our tours. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air booking before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to us prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to us as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied.

Holiday and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or to the many religious, state and civic holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – We pledge to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. We reserve the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by us. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of publication.

Journey Start and End Times - The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Your tour ends when you check out of the InterContinental Budapest on the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow a minimum 3 hours for flight check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. We reserve the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs and / or video taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for print, Internet and other media promotional purposes. If you prefer that your image not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Preparing to Go

Travel Document Requirements – You will need a valid passport or similar acceptable travel document to enter each of the countries visited on this tour.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you are not required to obtain a visa to enter any of the countries visited for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries visited to determine what travel documentation is required.

We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. In addition, we recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your cabin while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents or cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children –

Age Recommendations ― Children 8 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, we have a minimum recommended age for each journey to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All activities are available for children 8 years of age or older. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting ― Our journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. if you require babysitting services, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer on-site babysitting services; however, babysitting services may not be available at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility ― We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with us, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

Authorization for Travel

If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so. CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (parent deceased, sole custody, etc.), other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, or a death certificate, will be useful.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, we require you to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information may be obtained from a country’s consulate or embassy.

All children traveling with you who are U.S. citizens must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the completion of your tour.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents (including other pertinent documents as cited above) authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

We are not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by the improper documentation of any guest, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Air Conditioning – The riverboat, hotels, and motor coaches are air conditioned for your comfort.

ATM and Credit Cards - We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. We also recommend that you make a photocopy of the front and back of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is always advisable. A light jacket or sweater for the sun deck is also recommended. Pack comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in, as many of the sites we visit were built centuries ago and have uneven surfaces, some steep inclines and many steps. No special attire is required for dining, although you may wish to dress more formally for fine dining experiences in metropolitan areas.

Bathrobes, slippers and hairdryers are provided in each hotel room and riverboat cabin.

Valet laundry services are available at the hotels and on the riverboat. Dry cleaning is not available on the riverboat.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

We recommend you pack the following items for your cruise:

• Flat, rubber-soled shoes for walking on board
• Sturdy but comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in for onshore excursions
• Jacket and tie for men (optional)
• Casually elegant outfit for ladies
• Short and long-sleeved cotton shirts
• Shorts, slacks and jeans
• Tee shirts
• Socks
• Light sweater (summer), medium-weight sweater (fall)
• Light jacket (summer), medium-weight jacket (fall)
• Raincoat and rain hat
• Lightweight gloves
• Collapsible umbrella
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and sun hat
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries, and memory cards or plenty of film
• Binoculars
• Daypack for camera equipment
• Travel alarm clock
• Copies of your travel documents that should be safely secured in your in-room safe while traveling

Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is 1,332 ft (406 m) on the Main-Danube Canal near Nürnberg, Germany.

Health – While a cruise from Strasbourg to Budapest is very relaxing and the pace leisurely, to enjoy all the tour has to offer, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. There is a moderate to significant amount of walking during our excursions, often along cobblestone streets, irregular surfaces and old walkways, especially in Heidelberg, Passau, Durnstein, Bratislava and Budapest; however, the amount of walking you do is at your discretion.

Your riverboat has four decks: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, and Sun. The elevator runs between the Diamond and Ruby decks only. There is no chair lift between any of the decks.

Because you will be cruising on a river and not on the open sea, you are never far from land and, therefore, there is no doctor onboard. In case of emergency, we can easily dock the boat and call for an ambulance or medical assistance.

We regret that we cannot accommodate wheelchairs or scooters on this cruise. We also cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

On board the riverboat, smoking is permitted in a limited area of the Sun deck. Smoking is not permitted in any cabin, the restaurant, the lounge or any other interior space.

Your riverboat is registered in Basel, Switzerland. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel any of the countries visited on this tour. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC operates a 24-hour information line at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website by clicking here.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries visited on this tour to determine whether vaccinations are required for your travel.

Luggage Restrictions –

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home!

Carry-on Luggage – General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Destination Information

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel, group functions, while sightseeing and while the Tauck Director addresses the group as a whole. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it will not disturb others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine if your service extends to Central and Eastern Europe.

Currency and Exchange Rates - Although it is not necessary for you to exchange money prior to your trip, it may be useful to have a small amount of local currency with you when sightseeing. If upon arrival you require local currency, you will find that ATMs are widespread and are generally the least expensive and most convenient method of obtaining money. You will also find currency exchange desks at the airport and the hotels. The riverboat does not exchange currency, but does accept Euro, American Express, MasterCard and Visa as methods of settling shipboard accounts.

The official currency of each country and its corresponding universal currency code is listed below:

• France – Euro (EUR)
• Germany – Euro (EUR)
• Austria – Euro (EUR)
• Slovakia – Euro (EUR)
• Hungary – Hungarian Forint (HUF)

To obtain the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website, oanda.com, by clicking here.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Each country visited has its own Customs clearing process. You should familiarize yourself with each country’s specific required declarations before you travel. You may consider logging on the Internet website, visahq.com, by clicking here to view each country’s regulations. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries.

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

The current Value Added Tax (VAT) levied by each country on this itinerary is:

• France 19.6%
• Germany 19%
• Austria 20%
• Slovakia 19%
• Hungary 20%

The VAT may be higher on luxury items and lower on basic goods. As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – All hotel rooms and riverboat cabins are supplied with 220/230 V, 50 Hz, alternating electrical current, which accommodates standard European plugs with two round prongs. However, the riverboat cabins are also equipped with a 110 V outlet for shavers. If you bring an electrical device that is not compatible with these standards, you should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

Internet Access is available as indicated below:

ms Swiss Jewel – Free wireless access is available throughout the ship; a stationary computer is located in the Lido Bar.
(Please be advised that cellular service is the method of Internet access and maybe spotty at times due to the ship’s location on the river. Internet connectivity recommendations and sign-up sheets for the stationary computer are available onboard. You may bring your own laptop aboard the riverboats but you should be aware of the challenges with Internet access on the rivers.)

Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île – Access in public areas for a fee; complimentary wireless access in rooms

InterContinental Budapest – High-speed access in rooms; High-speed Internet access and wireless data connection for an initial fee of €25.00 EUR; High-speed Internet access as a business service for an initial fee of €7.00 EUR.

Internet access availability and rates may change without notice.

Time Zones – All the countries visited are 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through October, these locations switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 2 hours ahead.

To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, timeanddate.com, by clicking here. 

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers a Tauck Protection Product.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Cruise Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Cruise Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

60 days or more before departure
$600 per person (the amount of the deposit)

59-30 days before departure
50% of the cost of the tour per person

29-1 days before departure
100% of the cost of the tour per person

 

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.

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