Danube Explorer & Oktoberfest

Welcome to the ‘Pearl of the Danube’, Budapest. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the contemporary surrounds of your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you.   This evening, join your fellow guests for a traditional Hungarian folklore show.  EmeraldPLUS Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board Please book your flight to arrive into Budapest prior to 05:00 PM.

Explore the city’s cobbled medieval quarter today, 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, Budapests largest and most expansive indoor market, where you’ll plenty of time for exploration.   If you’re feeling more active, you can instead choose to hike to 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 and are best explored from the medieval paths and alleyways in the area around Buda Castle.   Included Excursion Budapest tour with Grand Market visit EmeraldACTIVE Hike to Gellert Hill DiscoverMORE Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense) DiscoverMORE Hungarian Bath Experience (extra expense)

Relax on board as we sail into the capital of Slovakia this morning. This graceful nation of leafy avenues became an independent country in 1993, and since then Bratislava has flourished as a new capital and made a name for itself as a cultural centre. The romantic cobblestone lanes that weave through the city are yours to explore with your local guide, as you enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town centre, including the Slovak National Theatre and a range of Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings.  Alternatively, embark on a guided hike to Bratislava Castle, a landmark steeped in legend that looks as though it has been plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. This striking building has been rebuilt several times, most recently in a Renaissance style.  Tonight, enjoy some local Slovakian entertainment on board.   Included Excursion Walking tour of Bratislava EmeraldACTIVE Guided hike to Bratislava Castle EmeraldPLUS Local Slovakian entertainment on board DiscoverMORE Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense) DiscoverMORE Carpathian Wine route (extra expense)

Sweeping boulevards and world-famous art exhibitions welcome you to Vienna, the birthplace of revolutionary breakthroughs in the fields of music and psychology. The city perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces, some of which you will be able to see during your guided coach tour of the Ringstrasse. Following this, embark on a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre and its surrounding classical architectural styles, evidence of the melting pot of artistic influences that have existed here since the turn of the 20th century.   If you’re feeling more active, then perhaps choose to explore on two wheels, cycling along the river to the Danube Island.  Included Excursion Guided tour of Vienna EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour of Vienna EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour of 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 that was gifted to Benedictine monks during the 11th century, this opulent Baroque building is home to some of the most important collections of medieval manuscripts in the world.  EmeraldACTIVE Guided Hike in Weissenkirchen Included Excursion Tour of Melk Abbey EmeraldACTIVE Guided bike tour along the Danube River DiscoverMORE Visit to Schallaburg Castle (extra expense)

This morning, your Star-Ship will dock in Linz, where you’ll be transferred by coach 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 about how they have 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.   EmeraldPLUS Guided tour of Ceský Krumlov DiscoverMORE Walking tour of Linz with a coffee and Linzer Torte (extra expense)

Narrow cobblestone streets and the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread welcome you to Passau, a town nestled on the confluence of three of Europe’s main waterways. This important historic trading centre borders Austria and boasts a distinctive blend of cultures.  Experience life on 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.   EmeraldPLUS Bavarian Countryside Experience EmeraldACTIVE Hike to Veste Oberhaus  DiscoverMORE Bavaria Live (extra expense)

After breakfast, you will be transferred from your Star-Ship to your centrally located hotel in Munich. The remainder of the day and evening are at leisure to begin exploring Munich.

After breakfast, an included panoramic tour showcases the former Olympic site, Nymphenburg Palace, Maximilianstrasse and the Parliament, the National Theater and Munich’s Residenz. During a walking tour, stroll the Marienplatz Square and see the famous Glockenspiel. After the tour, you will head to the Oktoberfest grounds where you will enter the tent to celebrate as a local. Included Excursion Guided tour of Munich & entrance to Oktoberfest grounds  

Depart today after breakfast.