Danube Delights

Travel Zoo Exclusive Offer

Travel Zoo Danube
Having been the muse for decades of artistic legacy, the majesty of the Danube is no myth. On this eight day deluxe river cruise along with Emerald Waterways you’ll sail along the iconic river and cross into four countries with plenty of time to explore must see pits stops. Guided walks along the cobblestone streets of Germany tell their own story, and city tours of Vienna and Budapest exemplify how times past can shape the future. Celebrate the ancient as it co-exists with the modern in the Austrian and Hungarian capitals, and gain a personal understanding of why the iconic Danube has acted as inspiration to so many.

Plus, enjoy huge discounts exclusively to Travel Zoo subscribers and save a guaranteed £1000 per person from the brochure price and up to £875 per person from the online price. Pay your balance in full by 31 December 2019 and receive an additional £125 per person discount!
Travel Zoo Danube Delights map

Departure dates

  • 19 October 2020 
  • 25 October 2020
  • 26 October 2020 

8 Day Itinerary

Day 1 - UK > Budapest

Return economy flights from one of up to 15 UK regional airports are included in the price of your holiday. Please call us to check if we can offer your local airport.
Welcome to Budapest. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your luxury Emerald Waterways Star-Ship, before enjoying time at leisure to explore Budapest.
This evening, enjoy an authentic Hungarian folklore show on board, followed by a traditional dinner. Later, join your fellow guests on the Sun Deck for a memorable evening cruise on the Danube, witnessing the illuminated façades of some of Hungary’s most iconic buildings and the delightful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle Quarter.
EmeraldPLUS: A traditional Hungarian folklore show
EmeraldPLUS: A Budapest evening cruise

Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2 - Budapest

The ancient Roman city of Aquincum once sat on the site of modern Budapest, where architecture from across the centuries shines a light on the history of the Hungarian capital. Originally two separate cities, Buda on the right and Pest on the left offer incredibly different views on the culture of one of the liveliest cities in Eastern Europe.
Today, you will have the opportunity to explore the city during a guided tour, including Heroes’ Square and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Andrássy Avenue and Buda Castle District. Alternatively, enjoy a guided hike to Buda Hill for a postcard-worthy panorama of the Danube banks.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided hike to Buda Hill
EmeraldEXCURSION: A guided tour of Budapest

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Bratislava

This morning, relax on board as we sail to Bratislava. An ancient landscape awaits, where remarkable towers add to a skyline that perfectly encapsulates the history of the city, and preserved medieval fortifications tell tales of a turbulent past. Your local guide will take you through the heart of the city, as you soak in sights of the lavish Episcopal Summer Palace and the neo-Renaissance façade of the Slovak National Theatre.
If you are feeling more active, then you could instead choose to hike around the serene gardens of Bratislava Castle, offering the perfect environment for the Shakespeare festival that occurs during the summer months.
This afternoon, you will be invited into the home of a local family to learn about their culture over coffee and cake, before being welcomed to the Gala Dinner.
EmeraldPLUS: Home-hosted coffee and cake with a local family
EmeraldACTIVE: A hike to Bratislava Castle
EmeraldEXCURSION: A walking tour of Bratislava

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Vienna

Set on the banks of the Danube, Vienna has been considered to be Europe’s capital of music for centuries. Viennese Classicism is still highly regarded around the world, as the 18th century brought with it the First Viennese School, consisting of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.
Today, your local guide will take you for a drive around the world-famous Ringstrasse and a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Centre of Vienna, including a peppering of lavish Baroque mansions and the Vienna State Opera. If you are feeling more active, then choose to explore on two wheels instead, cycling along the riverbanks before touching on Danube Island and Prater, home to a traditional 19th-century Ferris wheel.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided bike tour
EmeraldEXCURSION: A guided tour of the Ringstrasse and Vienna
DiscoverMORE: An exclusive Viennese concert with music from Mozart and Strauss (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Tastes of Vienna tour (extra expense)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Dürnstein - Melk
This morning, arrive in Dürnstein; a small town nestled in the heart of the Wachau wine region. When you arrive, you will have the chance to hike to the medieval ruins of Dürnstein Castle, the site where King Richard I was held prisoner following his return from the Third Crusade, and part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape, a place peppered with natural lookout points that highlight the beauty of the region. Alternatively, enjoy a guided bike ride from Dürnstein to Melk, traversing the banks of the Danube.
Later, sail through the Wachau Valley, a place that showcases a plethora of historic architecture, in the form of monasteries, castles and ruins, and the development of urban design through the ages. When you arrive in Melk, you will be taken for a tour of the 900-year-old Melk Abbey, touching on the lavish surrounds of the former palace and viewing ancient manuscripts in the monastic library.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided bike tour along the Danube from Dürnstein to Melk
EmeraldEXCURSION: A visit to Melk Abbey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Passau

After a morning of sailing along the Danube, perhaps relaxing with a drink in hand on the Sun Deck, we will take you into the heart of Passau. As the point at which the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet, Passau is also known as the Dreiflüssestadt, meaning the “City of Three Rivers”.
Your included guided tour of Passau will unveil its noteworthy Gothic and Baroque architecture. The town was destroyed by a series of fires in the 17th century, leaving a blank canvas for Italian architects to work with.
After your tour, enjoy some free time to explore Passau at leisure, before an afternoon spent sailing towards Regensburg.
EmeraldEXCURSION: A guided tour of Passau
DiscoverMORE: Tour to Salzburg (additional cost)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Regensburg

This morning, we will arrive in Regensburg, a city that has been generously steeped in history, built on the site of an ancient Roman fort that went on to become a major centre for trade during the Middle Ages. Your guided walking tour of Regensburg will showcase its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval centre, where ancient Roman architecture can be found sitting alongside 11th – 13th century patrician houses. Narrow cobbled lanes and tall façades help to define the character of this enchanting Bavarian city.
Afterwards, sail down the Main-Danube Canal, passing over a series of aqueducts as panoramas of idyllic landscapes pass by. This evening, enjoy a traditional Bavarian band on board.
EmeraldPLUS: A traditional Bavarian band on board
EmeraldEXCURSION: A guided tour of Regensburg

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Nuremberg - UK

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Roman architecture and the cultural divide in Budapest with you.
Your flight home is included in the price of your holiday. Please call us to check if we can offer your preferred airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tour inclusions

YOUR CRUISE INCLUDES

  • 7 nights on board an Emerald Waterways Star-Ship
  • Airport transfers to and from the ship
  • The services of an Emerald Waterways Cruise Director
  • Port taxes and charges
  • All tipping and gratuities

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

  • Guided tour of Budapest
  • Guided tour of Bratislava
  • Guided tour of Vienna
  • Guided tour to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Melk Abbey
  • Guided tour of Passau
  • Guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Regensburg

EmeraldPLUS

  • Budapest Evening Cruise
  • Traditional Hungarian Folklore Show on board
  • Home Hosted Coffee and Cake with Slovakians
  • Traditional Bavarian Band on board

EmeraldACTIVE

  • Guided hike to Buda Hill
  • Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
  • Guided bike tour in Vienna
  • Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
  • Guided bike tour from Dürnstein to Melk

DINING HIGHLIGHTS

  • 20 superb meals including 7 Breakfasts (B), 6 Lunches (L), 7 Dinners (D)
  • Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Gala Dinner
  • Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board

Pricing & Availability

Travel Zoo
Terms and conditions: All of our holidays are subject to availability. Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing our E grade Emerald Stateroom, departing 19, 25 and 26 October 2020 on Danube Delights itinerary and includes all relevant discounts. Savings of £1000 are per person and are valid for new bookings only. An additional discount of £125 per person is available to those who pay their balance in full by 31 December 2019. Offers end 24 November 2019. Supplements apply for single travellers and upgraded cabins. Our offers are not combinable and we reserve the right to withdraw our offers at any time. Our itineraries, hotels, dates and inclusions are subject to change. Offers are not combinable. For full booking conditions visit emeraldwaterways.co.uk. E&OE.

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