Heart of the Danube: Bavaria to Budapest - Eastbound Aboard ms Joy

Experience the scenic, romantic soul of old-world Europe on this river cruise along the Danube. Wind through dramatic river landscapes to discoveries in Grein, Durnstein, Bratislava, Passau or Cesky Krumlov, capped by a sumptuous gala evening at a Viennese Palace.



When your road is the Danube, it's enchanting... Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and Germany are linked by peaceful river landscapes dotted with storybook castles and romantic villages surrounded by stone terraced vineyards, where making world-class wines - and tasting them! - is an art.

A wonderfully preserved medieval castle and town in the Czech Carpathian mountains are as awe-inspiring as the palaces and museums of Imperial Vienna. As you cruise from port to port, explore the cobblestone streets and market squares in the Old Towns of Budapest, Bratislava, Cesky Krumlov, Grein, and Passau, each offering unexpected cultural treasures and culinary pleasures around every bend. And the pièce de resistance - a Tauck Exclusive gala evening with music and dancing at a private palace conjures up elegant Old World Europe just for Tauck guests!



When your road is the Danube, it's enchanting... Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and Germany are linked by peaceful river landscapes dotted with storybook castles and romantic villages surrounded by stone terraced vineyards, where making world-class wines - and tasting them! - is an art.

A wonderfully preserved medieval castle and town in the Czech Carpathian mountains are as awe-inspiring as the palaces and museums of Imperial Vienna. As you cruise from port to port, explore the cobblestone streets and market squares in the Old Towns of Budapest, Bratislava, Cesky Krumlov, Grein, and Passau, each offering unexpected cultural treasures and culinary pleasures around every bend. And the pièce de resistance - a Tauck Exclusive gala evening with music and dancing at a private palace conjures up elegant Old World Europe just for Tauck guests!



Traveling Well Includes:
  • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - An Imperial Evening at a private Vienna palace with dinner and classical performers
  • Wine-tasting event at the village of Weissenkirchen, in Austrian wine country
  • All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Directors
  • Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions - $1,804 Value
  • Choice of sightseeing in Passau or medieval Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic

  • Day 1 - Arrive Munich & embark ship

    Tour begins: 5:30 PM. A transfer is included from Munich International Airport directly to your riverboat, where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Settle in aboard ship and then meet your fellow river cruisers this evening at a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner. Your riverboat sets off along the Danube this evening.



    Lodging: ms Joy

    Meals: D

    Day 2 - Exploring Passau or Cesky Krumlov

    Awaken in Passau today for a choice of sightseeing in this riverside town in Germany, or an excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Once a Roman outpost at the confluence of three rivers, Passau is over 2,500 years old, a quintessential Bavarian town of pastel patrician houses, cafes, romantic cobblestone lanes and riverfront promenades, made for walking (many streets are closed to traffic). If you choose to stay in Passau, your walking tour immerses you in its storybook mix of Roman, Italian Baroque and German Gothic architecture. See St. Stephen's Cathedral; view the hilltop fortress where Passau's prince-bishops once resided; and peruse the 14th-century Rathaus (Town Hall). Later, if you wish, join your Tauck Director for a brisk walk to a hilltop fortress, or attend a public concert on the famous organ of St. Stephen's Cathedral, when available or take a 12 mile bike ride along the Danube, meeting up with your riverboat in the town of Enghelhartszell. Alternatively, travel to Cesky Krumlov, an incredibly well-preserved medieval town in a landscape of exceptional beauty. Your walking tour includes Krumlov Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, embracing 40 buildings and palaces of medieval, Renaissance and Rococo designs, plus numerous courtyards and gardens. Return to the riverboat and enjoy the chef's signature dinner tonight as you cruise to Grein.



    Lodging: ms Joy

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 3 - Grein or the Mauthausen Memorial

    Arrive in the typically picturesque riverside village of Grein, Austria, for a choice of sightseeing in Grein or a visit to the Mauthausen Memorial. Your visit begins with a guided walking tour of the village, which includes views of the Grein Theatre - since 1791 the oldest operating theatre in Austria - and the historic town square with the adjacent Gothic St. Giles Church, known for its fine altar and stained glass. If you wish, visit Schloss Greinburg, the privately owned castle of the Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, showcasing the history and lifestyle of one of the most significant ruling families in Europe (including Queen Victoria of England). Alternatively, pay a poignant guided visit to the museum and memorial on the site of the infamous World War II-era Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, approximately 20 kilometers east of Grein. You'll tour the camp's main complex, preserved as a museum and memorial to the victims of the last major concentration camp liberated by the Allies. Back aboard the riverboat, enjoy dinner and local entertainment tonight.



    Lodging: ms Joy

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 4 - Durnstein, cycling & on to Vienna

    This morning, your riverboat docks in Durnstein, in Austria's Wachau Valley, which offers you a choice of unforgettable sightseeing excursions. You may choose to explore the picture-perfect Austrian village of Durnstein on a guided walking tour, with free time on your own - maybe a climb up to the brooding ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle high above the town. Or, a challenging bicycling excursion (not suitable for beginners) through the Wachau Valley, starting and ending in Durnstein. Rejoin the boat for lunch, and set off on a leisurely, breathtakingly scenic river cruise to Austria's capital, Vienna.



    Lodging: ms Joy

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 5 - Imperial Vienna & a night at the Palace

    You have a choice of sightseeing today, both preceded by a tour of Vienna's landmark sights: visit the Imperial Treasury (the Schatzkammer) in the Hofburg, displaying priceless treasures from the House of Habsburg, including the Austrian Crown Jewels and the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire; or alternatively, enjoy a mid-morning music rehearsal. After lunch aboard the riverboat or in town, your afternoon is free to explore more of this amazing city - once the capital of the Habsburgs' Austro-Hungarian Empire - on your own. Later, join us this evening at Palais Pallavicini for a Tauck Exclusive - a gala evening of dining and musical performances in elegant Viennese style. The sumptuous surroundings of Palais Pallavicini (built in 1784), with its ornate decor and magnificent state rooms, will transport you to another time - in fact, the palace facade is famous in another cultural reference... as the location of Harry Lime's (Orson Welles) apartment in the classic film The Third Man.



    Lodging: ms Joy

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 6 - Choices in & around Bratislava

    A choice of activities await this morning in or near Bratislava, Slovakia's visually intriguing capital city. One is a walking tour of the cobblestoned, vehicle-free historic center of Bratislava; medieval, Baroque and modern architecture mix as you visit sites that include the 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, St. Michael's Gate, St. Martin's Cathedral, and the Primate's Palace, where you'll view rare 17th-century British tapestries. Another is an excursion to the countryside, lush with vineyards, for a wine-tasting and a visit to Pezinok Castle. Dating back to the 13th century, Water Castle is one of the best-preserved castles in Slovakia, boasting historical furnishings, artwork and an impressive collection of glass; during your visit, enjoy a falconry demonstration. Prior to departure this afternoon, our local expert offers inside information and anecdotes on Bratislava. Back aboard ship, have lunch and settle in for an afternoon at leisure. Join us this evening for dinner as your riverboat heads to Budapest.



    Lodging: ms Joy

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 7 - Explore Budapest

    Your cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. A guided tour of the city begins with the Pest side and a drive along Andrassy Avenue to Heroe's Square and a drive by Parliament and other sites. Explore the Buda side with a drive up Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen's Bastion with its Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services). After lunch, spend the rest of the day and evening pursuing what interests you most in this historic, and artistic, city. Join us this evening for a farewell toast followed by dinner as your Danube cruise comes to a close.



    Lodging: ms Joy

    Meals: B, L, D

    Day 8 - Journey home

    Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport; you should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.



    Lodging:

    Meals: B

    Call (410) 573-6888 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18851571

    Cruise Line
    Tauck River Cruising
    Offer
    Offer valid through 12/31/2024
    Duration
    8 Days
    Cruise Ship
    ms Joy

    Click for more information on this ship.

    DayPortArriveDepart
    Day 1Munich  
    Day 2Passau  
    Day 3Grein  
    Day 4Durnstein  
    Day 5Vienna  
    Day 6Bratislava  
    Day 7Budapest  
    Day 8Budapest  
    Dates/Pricing

    Click Quote or call us to get additional information on your chosen travel date. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!

    DatePrice / DescriptionQuote
    07/27/2025Quote
    08/26/2025Quote
    Disclaimer
    * Land / cruise price per person in U.S. dollars, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, and on all included meals.

    Itinerary Changes - Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Further, museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays.

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