Erin Smith
Cultivating Connections Travel Planners
The Danube River with AmaWaterways
AUSTRIA, GERMANY, HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA
MELODIES OF THE DANUBE
DATE TBD
Voted #1 River Cruise Line by Cruise Advisor Magazine
Join us on the AmaViola and experience the magic of Austria, Germany, Hungary, & Slovakia
Dates TBD
On our river cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes, and Special Interest Tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
CRUISE FROM: BUDAPEST TO VILSHOFEN
What is included in your Cruise?
ONBOARD CRUISE INCLUSIONS:
- 7-night river cruise in elegantly appointed accommodations
- Fine dining on board in multiple venues
- Unlimited hand-selected wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch/dinner
- Small group guided shore excursions with a variety of choices, including exclusive Special Interest, hiking and biking tours
- Professionally trained Wellness Host leading engaging wellness activities
- Live local entertainment
- Unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi access
OPTIONAL LAND PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:
- Hotel accommodations with daily breakfast and city tour
-
Transfers between hotel and ship
- Pre-cruise 2 Nights Budapest from $560 per person
- Post-cruise 3 Nights Prague from $900 per person
What's not included:
- Travel insurance (please accept or decline below)
- Pre- or post- Cruise Land Options (add available Amawaterways land package(s) at check out)
- Airfare (Contract Air arrangements are available through Amawaterways)
Cruise Itinerary:
Note: The itinerary presented is subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays, or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.
Day 1 - Budapest, Embarkation
Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship (D)
Journey along the Danube and see firsthand why this storied river has inspired generations of artists, poets, and musicians. Indulge your passion for timeless architecture and art in three magnificent capitals: Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna. Let the hills come alive with the sounds of music in Salzburg and the Austrian Lake District. Cruise through the enchanting Strudengau Valley and let the melodies of the Danube carry you from one gem to another on a regal journey through time.
Ship Information
With a design inspired by classic ocean yachts, the new 156-passenger AmaViola (2016) offers a luxurious cruise experience on Europe’s most legendary rivers. This beautiful ship offers innovative features including connecting staterooms and triples that accommodate multi-generational families and groups. Guests will also enjoy the comfort of AmaWaterways’ signature twin balconies, hair styling and massage services, multiple dining venues, intimate wine rooms, fitness rooms, and heated sun deck swimming pools with swim-up bars.
Day 2 - Budapest
Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour (“Queen of the Danube” tour) begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall before going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. As an alternative, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Bratislava & Vienna
Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your “Coronation City” walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Vienna
The “City of Waltzes” offers a wealth of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center and then visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or discover Vienna by bike. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Weissenkirchen
After reaching Weissenkirchen, you’ll be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO designated Melk Abbey. For a more culinary focused experience, join a walking tour in Dürnstein, then enjoy a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner and sample special apricot treats from a local boutique. If you prefer a more active adventure, hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held or join a guided bike tour to Melk. Later in the day, sail through the Strudengau Valley to medieval Grein for an exclusive visit to the more than 500 year-old Greinburg Castle, looming regally from above. While here, enjoy a folklore show and wine reception. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Grein
Greinburg Castle occupies a dramatic position high above the Valley, jutting out over the Danube and the small town of Grein at the base of a precipitous cliff. In the year 1823 German Duke Ernst I of Saxon-Coburg and Gotha acquired the Castle and its estates. Until today, the ducal Sachsen-Coburg and Gotha Family has been responsible for the maintenance of this historical building. This is Austria’s oldest Residential Castle and has been erected around 1490. Here you will find one of the amplest and most beautiful arcaded inner courtyards of the late Renaissance era. The Castle features unique rooms with original wall decorations: Highlights are the impressive Knights’ Hall, the Castle Chapel with its early Baroque altar, a unique cellular vault, the fascinating play of light and shadow, and the Stone Theater that has been decorated with pebbles from the Danube.
The massive Castle walls also house the history of the international Saxon-Coburg-Gotha Dynasty. The Coburg festival rooms with their precious furniture can only be visited within a guided tour. Mighty Greinburg Castle also houses Upper Austria’s Museum of Shipping History, preserving and presenting the rich heritage and historic connections with the area’s rivers. The permanent collection is presented in three galleries, dedicated to the Danube, to the Inn-Enns-Salzach Region, and to the Traun River.
Day 6 - Linz
The ship arrives in Linz where you’ll have several choices of excursions. Opt for a fullday excursion to Salzburg where you’ll tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or go on a bike tour of the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. In the afternoon, you can also choose to visit charming Český Krumlov, located just over the CzechAustrian border. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Passau
Discover the city of Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Alternately, choose between a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress or a guided bike tour along the Danube River. Later, cruise to Vilshofen, where you will be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration— an AmaWaterways exclusive. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Vilshofen
Known as the "Little Three Rivers Town," Vilshofen is situated at the entrance of the Lower Bavarian-Upper Austrian Danube Gorge. The captivating four-block, cobblestone old town sits close to the waterfront, with its streets and alleyways framed by a Baroque town tower and the Church of St. John.
Day 7 - Vilshofen, Disembarkation
Bid farewell to Vilshofen and prepare for your flight home. (B)
Optional Pre-Cruise 2 Nights in Budapest Land Package
Dates: TBD
DAY 1 Budapest - Hotel Check-in
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel.
DAY 2 Budapest "Hidden Budapest" tour
Budapest is one of Europe's most regal and storied cities-and many of its most iconic sights are just off the banks of the Danube. Often described as the "Queen of the Danube," Budapest is well-known for Fisherman's Bastion, Buda Hill and its magnificent Hungarian Parliament building. However, this sprawling city full of rich history and culture and offers many "hidden" treasures as you venture further past its river banks. During this excursion, your guide will take you deeper into the city to discover fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler. (B)
DAY 3 Budapest EMBARKATION
Check out of your hotel to board your luxurious ship. (B,D)
Optional Post-Cruise 3 Nights in Prague Land Package
Dates: TBD
DAY 10 Vilshofen DISEMBARKATION
Transfer via Regensburg Regensburg UNESCO city highlights tour Prague Hotel check-in Depart the ship and drive to Regensburg, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities, which you'll discover on a guided walking tour. After touring Regensburg, continue on to Prague. (B)
DAY 11 Prague "Golden City of a Hundred Spires" tour OR Prague Castle hike
Experience the wonders of Prague and its historic city center that is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site on your city tour or you can hike to the grand castle. See Rudolfinum and the Hundertwasser Dancing House. Visit the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle and St. Vitus before walking over the romantic Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square, where you will find the capital's famous Astronomical Clock. (B)
DAY 12 Prague Czech beer tasting
Beer has a long and illustrious history in the Czech Republic with the first brewery known to have existed in 993. Pilsner Urquell was created in 1842, being the first pilsner ever made, whilst Budweiser came into being in the city of Budweis. Beer is a core part of the country's national identity, so much so the Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world. The country is home to more than 100 breweries with a combination of big names and micro establishments offering a huge range of styles, so join a Czech beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes the Czech's beer some of the very best in the world. (B)
DAY 13 Prague Return flight home
Bid farewell to Prague and prepare for your flight home. (B)
Questions:
If you have questions about this trip please visit the FAQ page.
If you have further questions please feel free to reach out to Erin Smith at erin@cultivatingconnectionstravelplanners.com
AmaWaterways Terms & Conditions and Cancellation policy: Questions about this trip
AmaWaterways Terms & Conditions and Cancellation policy: Questions about this trip
Note that all travelers are responsible for understanding AmaWaterways terms and conditions as well as their cancellation policies. To read the AmaWaterways terms and conditions as well as their cancellation policy and how they handle cancellations, please follow this link to the Terms and Conditions page for AmaWaterways.
Booking procedures:
- Submit your request below by clicking Book Now, then select the number of passengers at the top of the page + the cabin + additional options that you prefer
- Cabin inventory is live - meaning that the number of cabins listed in any category may not be available when booking request is made and you may end up reserving another category as a result
- No actual space is being held for this group - cabins are first come, first serve. I recommend booking early in order to make sure the category you want is still available.
- Please note your credit card will not be charged immediately. Within 1-3 business days of submitting your request I will send you an invoice showing your stateroom on hold. Once you approve the invoice your deposit will be charged.
- Prices below reflect the per person cost, based on TWO people sharing a room. If traveling solo, please select single/solo pricing.
- Deck Plan is provided below to give a sense of the different categories of cabins. However specific cabin categories or cabin numbers can not be guaranteed
- All guests on Amawaterways cruises or cruise + land tours are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel.
TRAVEL INSURANCE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL
I highly recommend third-party travel insurance to all of my clients. Travel insurance will assist you if you have to cancel for a covered reason, experience an injury, sickness, or death in the family, lost baggage, travel delays, and trip interruption. Having third-party travel insurance helps protect your financial investment—and picks up where your regular medical insurance leaves off. Did you also know that most medical insurance policies in the U.S. only cover you for medical emergencies in the contiguous 48 states? Third-party travel insurance will protect you if you are injured while outside of the country. It’s worth it for the peace of mind alone. I will recommend third-party travel insurance that best fits your needs.
For this trip there are two different insurance options available to you.
- Amawaterways offers its own insurance - to read the description of its coverage please visit Amawaterways Insurance. AmaWaterways travel protection must be purchased at time of deposit. If you chose this option the cost, at 13% of your total purchase excluding taxes and fees, will be added to your purchase.
- An individual or family policy through Travel Insured international is another insurance option. This must be purchased with in 14 days of making your deposit for best coverage.
Select the insurance option you are most interested in during the checkout process.
AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED
Deck Plans
Sun Deck
Sun Deck
Stateroom Features:
- All outside accommodations, with revolutionary “twin balconies” on the Violin and Cello decks
- Deluxe hotel-style bedding with high-thread count linens, plush pillows, and duvet cover
- Your choice of one large bed (larger than queen size) or two twin beds
- Cozy sitting area perfect for admiring scenic river views
- Spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads
- Premium European toiletries, plus cotton bathrobes and slippers
- Large wardrobe, full-length mirror, hairdryer, safe and direct-dial telephone
- Flat-screen TV featuring local and satellite channels
- In-room Entertainment-On-Demand system providing free Internet access, TV shows, movies and music
- Individually controlled air-conditioning
- Complimentary bottled water replenished daily
Suite Features:
- Extra spacious Suites (350 sq. ft.) with revolutionary “twin balconies” and mini-bar
- Roomy sitting area with a sofa and two chairs
- Marble-appointed bathroom with a bathtub, separate shower & double sinks
Ship Features:
- Panoramic Lounge with bar; piano and dance floor; and Observation Lounge
- Elevator reaches the Restaurant, Lobby/Main Lounge, and staterooms on Violin and Cello Decks
- Connecting and triple/quad occupancy available in select staterooms
- Complimentary specialty tea and coffee station available 24/7
- Beauty salon, massage, and spa services
- Walking track, heated pool, and fitness room
- Bicycles for exploring on one’s own or on a guided bicycle tour
Restaurant Features:
- Main Dining Restaurant offers regional specialties using locally sourced ingredients
- The Chef’s Table serves as an intimate dining alternative to the main restaurant. It features a view of the chef as he prepares a true tasting menu with three appetizers, a champagne sorbet intermezzo, three main courses and three decadent desserts, serving up a variety of regional specialties and traditional dishes with more choices and flavors than ever before.
- Complimentary unlimited fine wine, beer, soft drinks, and specialty coffees with every lunch and dinner, plus sparkling wine at breakfast
Available Packages
Suite - Violin Deck - French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 350 sq. ft
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $7,398.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
  
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Category AA - Violin Deck - French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 235 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $6,098.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
   
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Category AB - Cello Deck - French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 235 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $5,898.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
   
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Category BA - Violin Deck - French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 210 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $5,698.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
  
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Category BB - Cello Deck - French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 210 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $5,498.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
 
|
Category CA - Violin & Cello Deck French Balcony, 170 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $4,898.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
|
Category CB - Violin Deck French Balcony, 155 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $4,598.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
|
Category D - Piano Deck Fixed Windows, 160 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $4,098.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
  
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Category E - Piano Deck - Fixed Windows, 160 sq. ft.
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
Starting At: $3,799.00
Deposit: $400.00 per person
  
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Extra Options
AmaWaterways Insurance through Travel Guard
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
$1.00
Deposit: $1.00
AmaWaterways insurance through Travel Guard is priced at 13% of your total trip costs which are purchased through AmaWaterways.
This can only be booked at time of deposit and price is dependent upon what you choose to book .
The cost of $1 listed here is only a placeholder for the 13% cost calculation and does not represent the true cost of the travel insurance.
The actual cost will be calculated after you choose the components of your trip and you will approve the amount of the insurance.
To see the Travel Guard Policy please visit this link
Travel Insurance through Travel Insured
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
$1.00
Deposit: $1.00
A travel insurance policy through Travel Insured International is another insurance option. This must be purchased within 14 days of making your deposit for best coverage.
The cost of $1 listed here is only a placeholder for the cost calculation and does not represent the true cost of the travel insurance.
The actual cost will be calculated after you choose the components of your trip and you will approve the amount of the insurance.
Optional Pre-Cruise 2 Nights in Budapest Land Package
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
$560.00
Deposit: $1.00
per person/double occupancy
Optional Pre-Cruise 2 Nights in Budapest Land Package - SOLO
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
$860.00
Deposit: $1.00
Solo Traveler
Optional Post-Cruise 3 Nights in Prague Land Package
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
$900.00
Deposit: $1.00
per person/double occupancy
Optional Post-Cruise 3 Nights in Prague Land Package - SOLO
Unavailable as of
July 22, 2022
$1,350.00
Deposit: $1.00
Solo Traveler