Danube Explorer & Highlights of Budapest

Welcome to Budapest, the ‘Pearl of the Danube’, where you will be greeted by one of our Emerald Cruises representatives and transferred to your contemporary Star-Ship. Once on board, you receive a warm welcome from our friendly crew. (D)

Your journey starts in Budapest, where a fantastic trip and exciting experiences await. Explore the city’s cobbled medieval quarter as you embark on a coach tour through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre. Your guide will teach you about the Hungarian capital’s culinary scene while touring the neo-Gothic Grand Market, Budapest's largest and most expansive indoor market, where you’ll have time to explore on your own.

If you are feeling more active, you can instead choose to hike up Gellert Hill. The surrounding area has been rebuilt several times, most recently following the air raids of WWII. Some 18th-century Baroque houses still stand, best explored from the medieval paths and alleyways around Buda Castle.

This evening, join your fellow guests for a traditional Hungarian folklore show. (B/L/D)

• Included Excursion Budapest tour with Grand Market visit
• EmeraldPLUS Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
• EmeraldACTIVE Hike to Gellert Hill

Today, we invite you to a special dinner and a traditional folklore show for a truly immersive local experience, presenting you with a great chance to get to know your fellow travellers and to spend the evening in town just like the locals do. (B/L/D)

• EmeraldPLUS Dinner & folklore show in Budapest
• DiscoverMORE Retro tour of post-Communist Budapest (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Jewish heritage tour (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Budapest by Night (extra expense)

On our last morning in Budapest, enjoy a leisurely walk in town or use one of the on board bikes for a last ride through the Hungarian capital. In the afternoon, our ship sets sail on the magnificent Danube River onto our next destination – Slovakia. (B/L/D)

• DiscoverMORE Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense)

Early this morning we sail into the Slovakian capital. The romantic cobblestone lanes weaving through the city are yours to explore. Enjoy guided walking tours of the ancient town centre, passing a range of Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, including the incredible Slovak National Theatre.
Alternatively, embark on a guided hike to Bratislava Castle, a fairy tale-like landmark steeped in legend. This striking building has been rebuilt several times. Most recently in the mid-20th century.
Tonight, enjoy some local Slovakian entertainment on board. (B/L/D)

• Included Excursion Walking tour of Bratislava
• EmeraldPLUS Local Slovakian entertainment on board
• EmeraldACTIVE Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
• DiscoverMORE Carpathian Wine route (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)

Sweeping boulevards and world-famous exhibition halls welcome you to Vienna, the birthplace of revolutionary breakthroughs in the fields of music and psychology. The city perfectly encapsulates the extravagance of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces. A walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre uncovers the classical architectural styles of the city, evidence of the melting pot of artistic influences that existed here at the turn of the 20th century.

If you are feeling more active, choose to explore on two wheels, cycling along the river to Donau insel, Danube Island. (B/L/D)

• Included Excursion Guided tour of Vienna
• EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour in Vienna
• DiscoverMORE Exclusive Viennese evening concert (extra expense)

Effortlessly suspended in time, Weissenkirchen is one of the most frequented parts of the Wachau wine region, where the delightful warm weather creates the perfect setting for viticulture.

Later, sail through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley and arrive in Melk, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Melk Abbey. Originally a lavish castle gifted to Benedictine monks during the 11th century, this opulent Baroque building is home to some of the most important collections of medieval manuscripts. (B/L/D)

• Included Excursion Tour of Melk Abbey
• EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour along the Danube River
• EmeraldACTIVE Guided hike in Weissenkirchen
• DiscoverMORE Visit to Schallaburg Castle (extra expense)

This morning, your Star-Ship will dock in Linz. Transfer by coach across the border into the Czech Republic to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed centre of Ceský Krumlov, a town built around a 13th-century castle. Join your local guide on a walk along the labyrinth of winding cobblestone streets, passing the colourful façades of buildings, as you learn how the architecture survived the test of time. The town surrounds the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ceský Krumlov Castle, and your guided tour will include the 15th-century St. Vitus Church and a number of delightful Gothic façades. (B/D)

• EmeraldPLUS Guided tour of Ceský Krumlov
• DiscoverMORE Walking tour of Linz with a Linzer Torte tasting (extra expense)

Narrow cobblestone streets and the aroma of freshly baked goods welcome you to Passau, a town nestled on the confluence of three of Europe’s main waterways. This historic trading centre borders Austria and boasts a distinctive blend of cultures.

Experience a typical Bavarian farm for some interesting insights into the life of local farmers and livestock farming, then try their homemade specialities. Alternatively, you can set off on a hike, catching sights such as the Mariahilf and St. Severin, an ancient church dating back to the Ottonian dynasty. (B/L/D)

• EmeraldPLUS Bavarian Countryside Experience
• EmeraldACTIVE Hike to Veste Oberhaus
• DiscoverMORE Bavaria Live (extra expense)

After breakfast, it’s time to disembark the Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Europe’s iconic skylines and charming small towns along the Danube River with you.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information. (B)