Your European vacation begins with two nights in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Guided sightseeing shows you its best-known treasures. See the Astronomical Clock, Hradčany Castle, and St. Vitus Cathedral. Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. Guided sightseeing will show you the Old Town Hall, the Porta Pretoria and many mansions with high towers denoting the status and wealth of their early owners. Transfer to Vilshofen where your Danube River cruise begins. Passau, Germany, the “City of Three Rivers” lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers. Explore the city with a Local Guide and admire the Patrician houses and baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In Linz, Austria, see the Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square that forms the center of the city. Enjoy the magnificent views as your river cruise takes you through the picturesque wine region of Wachau Valley. In Dürnstein, see the famous blue and white Stiftskirche and taste some of the local wines. Vienna, the “City of Music,” makes an immediate impression with its lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace and neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House. In Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, a guided walk takes you through the delightful Old Town and to the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. In Budapest, the vibrant capital of Hungary, see the must-see sights with a local expert. In your free time stroll along the main shopping street of Váci utca, or take pictures from Fisherman’s Bastion, for the best panoramic views of Budapest. From the Golden City of Prague to the Pearl of the Danube in Budapest, your European river cruise is an experience not to be missed!

A Master of Wine will travel with you on your cruise to host lectures, tastings, and tips on food–and-wine pairing.

About Masters of Wine
Seldom do travelers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honored to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognized globally across the wine industry. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!

Day 1 - PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Welcome to the Golden City of Prague—Explore the City of 100 Spires Enjoy free time to explore the Golden City and its surrounding countryside at your leisure.  Lodging included: Marriott Prague

Day 2 - PRAGUE

Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Great Cuisine   Classic Excursion Take a Guided City Walk to visit Hradčany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Town’s Astronomical Clock.   Consider sampling delicious plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager. Mingle with the locals and be mesmerized by street performers in Wenceslas Square, or admire the arches and statues decorating Charles Bridge.   breakfast   Lodging included: Marriott Prague

Day 3 - REGENSBURG, GERMANY - VILSHOFEN (EMBARKATION) 

Bavaria’s Medieval Miracle After breakfast this morning, you’ll drive to Regensburg.   Classic Excursion Join a Guided City Walk in Regensburg and see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and Porta Pretoria—built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.   Take free time to enjoy a hearty lunch and a local beer, then step back in time through historic lanes and squares of today’s modern and vibrant Regensburg. Continue on to Vilshofen to board your Avalon Suite Ship® for a welcome reception.   EVENING CRUISE TO PASSAU   breakfast - Dinner

Day 4 - PASSAU - SCHLOGEN OXBOW

Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet   Active Excursion Follow your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and along Ilz River,   OR:   Classic Excursion Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers."   Before sailing to Linz, take a little free time to explore Passau’s cobblestone streets and galleries of Artists’ Alley. Maybe stop at St. Stephen’s Cathedral to catch a concert rehearsal.   Discovery Excursion Join an onboard lecture hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Linz.   This afternoon, cruise to Linz through the Danube’s dramatic horseshoe bend called Schlögen Oxbow. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.   OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LINZ   breakfast - lunch - dinner

Day 5 - LINZ, AUSTRIA 

Legendary and Lovely Linz Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.   Classic Excursion Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz—Austria’s largest medieval square—and the towering white-marble Trinity Column.   Consider a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart, or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov. You may otherwise spend the afternoon on a biking picnic along the banks of the Danube or hike through Linz’s beautiful nature trails to Pöstlingberg for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.   Discovery Excursion Onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine.   EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO YBBS   breakfast - lunch - dinner

Day 6 - DURNSTEIN - YBBS, EXCURSION TO MELK - WACHAU VALLEY 

Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below   Classic Excursion Visit the Lower Austrian little town of Ybbs. Walk through the doors of Austrian history with a guided sightseeing tour of Artstetten Castle,   OR:   Classic Excursion Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.   Later, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you sail through the Wachau Valley past vineyards, castles, and charming villages on your way to Dürnstein.   Active Excursion Alternatively, experience the Wachau Valley from a unique perspective, join your Adventure Host for a bike ride along some of Wachau’s bike trails.   DÜRNSTEIN A King’s Ransom and Castle Ruins   Active Excursion Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins to take in the spectacular view of the village, Danube, and the Wachau Valley below,   OR:   Classic Excursion Join a Guided Walk, and hear the legendary tale of King Richard the Lionheart—who was imprisoned in the castle here during the Crusades,   OR:   Discovery Excursion Discover the fascinating world of wine with a visit to a local wine cellar. While sipping a selection of different wines, you will learn how the wine production developed over the centuries till nowadays   Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.   OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA   breakfast - lunch - dinner

DAY 7 - VIENNA 

Viennese Waltzes on the Blue Danube   Active Excursion Explore Vienna's Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host,   OR:   Classic Excursion Explore the Habsburg empire with a morning Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—Winter residence of the Imperial Family, the grand Vienna Opera House and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral,   OR:   Classic Excursion After a short walk of Vienna, join a Guided Visit of Austria’s largest museum, the legendary Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts).   You may decide to take a Guided Optional Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—the former imperial summer home of the Habsburg monarchy. Spend free time strolling in the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse—the most famous shopping avenue in central Vienna. Take a bike ride through the city and stop in a local café to enjoy Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel. This evening, enjoy an unforgettable musical performance with an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.    OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA   breakfast - lunch - dinner

DAY 8 - BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA 

Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle   Active Excursion Follow your Avalon Adventure Host on a hike to lofty Bratislava Castle,   OR:   Classic Excursion Take a Guided City Walk, including the quaint streets of Old Town, Town Hall, and the sight of royal coronations at St. Martin’s Cathedral.   Enjoy free time to discover on your own Bratislava, the beautiful capital of Slovakia, rich in history and culture, but also a green city with its forests and parks just a hop away from the city center.   OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BUDAPEST   breakfast - lunch - dinner

DAY 9 - BUDAPEST, HUNGARY 

War Heroes and Hot Water   Active Excursion Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host,   OR:   Discovery Excursion Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square and a visit to a unique wine cellar system where you can taste Hungarian wines in a very special way.   This afternoon, choose from a wide selection of Optional Guided Excursions or take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying some free time exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.   OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST   breakfast - lunch - dinner

DAY 10 - BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with Breakfast this morning.    Breakfast

Cabin Options

Deluxe Stateroom (Category D & E)	Panorama Suite (Category A, B, P)