The Blue Danube

Included in the price of your tour:

All hotel and riverboat accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, special dinners, beverages aboard the riverboat (including unlimited soft drinks, regional wine, beer and premium spirits), sightseeing, porterage and the services of the ship staff, the local guides and motor coach drivers, the Tauck Director and the Tauck Cruise Director are included.

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

Transfers to and from the airport: Transportation from Prague Vaclav Havel Airport or Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Main Train Station) to the Tauck hotel is included, regardless of the time of your check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks prior to the start of your tour. Transportation from the riverboat in Budapest to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport or Budapest Keleti Train Station is also included. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests. Note: If you are staying at a hotel other than the Tauck-designated hotel before or after your tour, contact Tauck regarding your various transfer options.

Not included in the price of your tour:

Airfare: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) on My Account.

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 on board. In case of emergency we can easily dock the boat and call for an ambulance or medical assistance.

Your riverboat is registered in Basel, Switzerland. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

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. 

Vaccinations: 

If you are a resident of the U.S., no other vaccinations are currently required for travel to the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia or Hungary. 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.

If you are a resident of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia or Hungary to determine whether additional vaccinations are required for your travel. 

Mobility on tour:

To fully enjoy your Tauck river cruise, you should be in good health and comfortable walking reasonable distances over unpaved and uneven surfaces, as some of the most memorable sightseeing takes place on foot along cobblestone streets, through historic town centers, and at landmarks where stairs and uneven pathways are common. You should be able to walk one to two miles at a time, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and navigating cobblestones, uneven pavement, or groomed paths, and at certain sites standing for up to an hour or more may be required. While there is a moderate to significant amount of walking during included excursions, participation is always at your discretion.

Riverboat accessibility:

Your riverboat features four decks: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, and Sun.

• On the Esprit, Treasures, Emerald and Sapphire, the elevator travels between the Ruby Deck and Diamond Deck only. There is no elevator access to the Emerald Deck on these ships.
• On the Grace, Joy, Savor, Inspire, Lumière, Serene and Andorinha, the elevator travels between the Emerald Deck and Diamond Deck.
• On all ships, the elevator does not access the Sun Deck.
• Elevators provide access to the Reception area and the Compass Rose dining room.
• There is no chair lift between any decks.

Because this is a river cruise and you are never far from land, there is no doctor onboard. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the ship can dock promptly and local medical assistance will be arranged.

Wheelchairs, motorized scooters and individual mobility needs:

We regret that this itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters, and we are unable to provide individualized assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The Tauck Director's responsibility is to the group as a whole and they cannot provide ongoing personal assistance. Guests who require such support must travel with an able-bodied companion who can assist them as needed.

For medical and legal reasons, service animals are not permitted on Tauck river cruises.

Dietary requests:

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

Smoking:

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

Passport:

U.S. citizens: You will need a passport valid for at least six months beyond the completion of your tour to enter the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. A visa is not required for this journey.

Non-U.S. citizens: Please contact the appropriate embassies or consulates to confirm entry requirements.

Before you travel:

• Provide your passport information to Tauck as soon as you book. This is required for embarkation.
• Your passport will be briefly collected onboard to comply with port regulations.
• Make two photocopies of your passport's photo page. Keep one with you (separate from your passport) and leave one at home.

Traveling with children: If a child is traveling without both parents, carry a notarized letter of consent from the non-traveling parent(s) authorizing travel and emergency medical treatment. Some countries strictly enforce these requirements. Tauck is not responsible for disruptions due to incomplete documentation.

If you are extending your stay abroad, additional documentation may be required.

Note: The Czech Republic requires proof of medical insurance covering hospitalization and medical treatment during your stay. A health insurance card or an internationally recognized credit card that includes medical coverage is generally accepted. Please confirm your coverage prior to departure.

Deposits: The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking.

The deposit amount is $900 per person

Final payments: Final payment is due to Tauck 90 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Effective for plans purchased as of July 1, 2021:

Tauck's Cruise and Event Protection

Tauck's Cruise & Event Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. It must be purchased within 10 days of your initial deposit. Guest Protection includes the following:

Cancellation waiver – provided by Tauck:

Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON and Tauck will  reduce the regular cancellation fees outlined herein, provided we are notified of cancellation before your cruise departs. Certain terms and restrictions apply (see below*).

*Extreme circumstances: In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey. Travel insurance benefits – underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

• Trip cancellation – Should you cancel for covered reasons, the plan reimburses cancellation fees imposed, up to your total trip cost. 
  
  
• Trip interruption – If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
  
  
• Travel delay – Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
  
  
• Medical expense – Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 
  
  
• Baggage / personal effects protection – Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.

Worldwide emergency assistance services – Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

The cost of Tauck's Cruise and Event Protection is: $799 per person

This plan provides cancellation coverage for your trip and other insurance coverages that apply only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

This optional Cruise and Event Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included in initial payment. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your reservation. Cruise and Event Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACCREINTL

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit

You may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees.

If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit

Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour. Therefore, the following fees apply for this tour.

Cancellation fees with Tauck's Cruise Protection Plan:

120 days or more before departure: Loss of cost of Tauck's Cruise and Event Protection fee per person

119 – 60 days before departure: Loss of 25% of the cost of the cruise, not including air (if applicable), plus loss of Cruise and Event Protection fee, per person

59 – 1 days before departure: Loss of 50% of the cost of the cruise, not including air (if applicable), plus loss of Cruise and Event Protection fee, per person

Cancellation fees without Tauck's Cruise Protection Plan:

120 days or more before departure: $900 per person

119 – 60 days before departure: Loss of 50% of the cost of cruise, not including air (if applicable), per person

59 - 1 days before departure: Loss of 100% of the cost of cruise, not including air (if applicable), per person

Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Wilton Woods, CT office.

Tour interruption fees

If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund for the unused land portion if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply. Such refunds are based upon the number of overnights missed less a fee of $40 per person per day for unused transportation and other fixed expenses.

Partial room cancellation

A person who cancels or leaves a tour while a roommate remains constitutes a cancellation of one type of accommodation and rebooking of another type of accommodation. The price charged to the remaining person is the new, higher price for the new accommodation.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation and transfer terms outlined herein.

Note: All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Cruise & Event Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services described above, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico.