Your Holiday Itinerary
Blue Danube Explorer & Five Countries Cruise
Day 1
Selected early morning coach pick-ups and a journey to Dover/Folkestone for the 8.15am ferry/ Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. Alternatively, we offer overnight hotel accommodation close to port for those who would prefer.
From Calais we travel to Germany to arrive at your overnight hotel accommodation in time for your included three-course evening meal.
Day 2 TULLN
Depart after breakfast for Austria and the town of Tulln where your vessel lies berthed on the banks of the Danube. Enjoy a welcome drink, followed by dinner on board. Those taking the air option will fly direct from the UK and transfer to the vessel in time for dinner.
*Passengers taking the overnight crossing from the north of England or Scotland, will depart the previous day and join the vessel on day 1 for dinner.
Day 3 TULLN, BRATISLAVA
This morning we will cruise to the beautiful Slovakian capital of Bratislava. Explore the city for yourself or join us on an optional city excursion that includes packed lunch and a visit to the 13th century Bratislava Castle for stunning views over Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. We will return to the vessel in Bratislava in time for the evening meal.
Day 4 BRATISLAVA, KOMÁROM, ESZTERGOM, BUDAPEST
A morning cruise to Komárom, situated on the right-hand side of the Danube in Hungary. Following lunch on board join our optional excursion to the beautiful artists’ town of Szentendre, an exquisite little medieval gem with a Mediterranean feel unusual so far north in Europe. Those not joining the excursion will cruise to Esztergom with its spectacular cathedral, where the vessel berths. This evening, we will cruise to Budapest during dinner.
Day 5 BUDAPEST
Today there’s no cruising, so, after breakfast, join our included Budapest city tour and see sights such as Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion. Following lunch, join our optional excursion to the town of Gödöllö and its Royal Palace, known as the ‘Hungarian Versailles’ (entrance not included).
Day 6 BUDAPEST, KALOCSA, MOHÁCS
After a morning cruising along the Danube, with Croatia on the right bank and Hungary on the left, we’ll arrive in Southern Hungary and the town of Kalocsa during lunch.
From here, join an optional excursion through the Hungarian countryside to Pécs, the biggest and most beautiful city in the Mecsek Hill region, dating back 2,000 years to Roman times. During your walking tour, visit the Romanesque cathedral, the Turkish mosque of Pascha Gazi Kassim and its vibrant market square.
Those not joining the excursion will cruise to Mohács, where in the evening all passengers will enjoy dinner on board. Time permitting, this evening we will cruise downstream towards Vukovar.
Day 7 MOHÁCS, VUKOVAR, NOVI SAD
This morning we will cruise to Vukovar. From here we include a full-day excursion (with included packed lunch) by coach to the city of Novi Sad, where you can visit the enormous Petrovaradin Fortress, called the ‘Gibraltar of the Danube’. We will also visit the beautiful town of Sremski Karlovci, before rejoining the vessel in Novi Sad in time for dinner. Those who choose not to join this excursion will cruise to Novi Sad this afternoon.
Day 8 NOVI SAD, VUKOVAR (for Davoko)
After breakfast, we cruise to Vukovar in Croatia. Following lunch, join us for an included coach journey through Croatia to Dakovo. Here you can join our optional excursion where we visit the Dakovo Horse Farm, established in 1506 as a breeding farm for Lipizzaners and watch the fantastic show. Continue through the town and visit the cathedral surrounded by 19th century landscaped parks and perhaps enjoy a glass or two of the region’s celebrated Weissburgunder, Traminer and Riesling wines.
Day 9 VUKOVAR, BAJA
Sit back, relax and enjoy the views as we enjoy a full-day cruise from Vukovar to Baja in Southern Hungary. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served on board during the day.
Day 10 BAJA, KALOCSA, SZÁZHALOMB ATTA
As you awake we’ll be arriving in Kalocsa, a traditional town in the Hungarian Plains renowned for its embroidery. Our included morning tour features a stop at the House of Folk Arts followed by a visit to a 200-year-old farmer's house where the area's time-honoured farming traditions await your discovery.
You’ll also visit the city centre and see the cathedral and Archbishop's Palace. In the afternoon we’ll cruise to Százhalombatta where we’ll remain berthed overnight.
Day 11 SZÁZHALOMB ATTA, ESZTERGOM,KOMÁROM
This morning we will cruise to Esztergom in Northern Hungary. After lunch on board, join our optional excursion to Esztergom and its renaissance cathedral and Visegrád Castle. We then continue by coach to Komárom where you will rejoin the vessel in time for your evening meal on board.
Day 12 KOMÁROM, HAINBURG
After breakfast we will cruise through the Slovac border into Austria, arriving at the town of Hainburg, the easternmost town of Lower Austria, situated between the Danube, Mount Braunsberg and the Hundsheimer hills. You will have the afternoon at leisure to explore before dinner is served on board.
Day 13 HAINBURG, VIENNA
During breakfast we cruise to Vienna. After lunch on board, we’ve included a fantastic city tour of dazzling Vienna, followed by free time to explore.
Day 14 VIENNA, OVERNIGHT HOTEL
After breakfast this morning we will bid farewell and travel to our hotel in Germany for an overnight stay, arriving in time for a three-course evening meal. Those taking the air option will transfer directly to the airport for the return flight to the UK.
Day 15 GERMANY
After breakfast we will continue to Calais for the 6.25pm crossing to Dover/Folkestone. Upon arrival you will be returned to your original point of departure.
*Passengers returning on the overnight crossing to the north of England or Scotland, will transfer to the departure port and arrive in the UK the next day.
Selected early morning coach pick-ups and a journey to Dover/Folkestone for the 8.15am ferry/ Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. Alternatively, we offer overnight hotel accommodation close to port for those who would prefer.
From Calais we travel to Germany to arrive at your overnight hotel accommodation in time for your included three-course evening meal.
Day 2 TULLN
Depart after breakfast for Austria and the town of Tulln where your vessel lies berthed on the banks of the Danube. Enjoy a welcome drink, followed by dinner on board. Those taking the air option will fly direct from the UK and transfer to the vessel in time for dinner.
*Passengers taking the overnight crossing from the north of England or Scotland, will depart the previous day and join the vessel on day 1 for dinner.
Day 3 TULLN, BRATISLAVA
This morning we will cruise to the beautiful Slovakian capital of Bratislava. Explore the city for yourself or join us on an optional city excursion that includes packed lunch and a visit to the 13th century Bratislava Castle for stunning views over Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. We will return to the vessel in Bratislava in time for the evening meal.
Day 4 BRATISLAVA, KOMÁROM, ESZTERGOM, BUDAPEST
A morning cruise to Komárom, situated on the right-hand side of the Danube in Hungary. Following lunch on board join our optional excursion to the beautiful artists’ town of Szentendre, an exquisite little medieval gem with a Mediterranean feel unusual so far north in Europe. Those not joining the excursion will cruise to Esztergom with its spectacular cathedral, where the vessel berths. This evening, we will cruise to Budapest during dinner.
Day 5 BUDAPEST
Today there’s no cruising, so, after breakfast, join our included Budapest city tour and see sights such as Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion. Following lunch, join our optional excursion to the town of Gödöllö and its Royal Palace, known as the ‘Hungarian Versailles’ (entrance not included).
Day 6 BUDAPEST, KALOCSA, MOHÁCS
After a morning cruising along the Danube, with Croatia on the right bank and Hungary on the left, we’ll arrive in Southern Hungary and the town of Kalocsa during lunch.
From here, join an optional excursion through the Hungarian countryside to Pécs, the biggest and most beautiful city in the Mecsek Hill region, dating back 2,000 years to Roman times. During your walking tour, visit the Romanesque cathedral, the Turkish mosque of Pascha Gazi Kassim and its vibrant market square.
Those not joining the excursion will cruise to Mohács, where in the evening all passengers will enjoy dinner on board. Time permitting, this evening we will cruise downstream towards Vukovar.
Day 7 MOHÁCS, VUKOVAR, NOVI SAD
This morning we will cruise to Vukovar. From here we include a full-day excursion (with included packed lunch) by coach to the city of Novi Sad, where you can visit the enormous Petrovaradin Fortress, called the ‘Gibraltar of the Danube’. We will also visit the beautiful town of Sremski Karlovci, before rejoining the vessel in Novi Sad in time for dinner. Those who choose not to join this excursion will cruise to Novi Sad this afternoon.
Day 8 NOVI SAD, VUKOVAR (for Davoko)
After breakfast, we cruise to Vukovar in Croatia. Following lunch, join us for an included coach journey through Croatia to Dakovo. Here you can join our optional excursion where we visit the Dakovo Horse Farm, established in 1506 as a breeding farm for Lipizzaners and watch the fantastic show. Continue through the town and visit the cathedral surrounded by 19th century landscaped parks and perhaps enjoy a glass or two of the region’s celebrated Weissburgunder, Traminer and Riesling wines.
Day 9 VUKOVAR, BAJA
Sit back, relax and enjoy the views as we enjoy a full-day cruise from Vukovar to Baja in Southern Hungary. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served on board during the day.
Day 10 BAJA, KALOCSA, SZÁZHALOMB ATTA
As you awake we’ll be arriving in Kalocsa, a traditional town in the Hungarian Plains renowned for its embroidery. Our included morning tour features a stop at the House of Folk Arts followed by a visit to a 200-year-old farmer's house where the area's time-honoured farming traditions await your discovery.
You’ll also visit the city centre and see the cathedral and Archbishop's Palace. In the afternoon we’ll cruise to Százhalombatta where we’ll remain berthed overnight.
Day 11 SZÁZHALOMB ATTA, ESZTERGOM,KOMÁROM
This morning we will cruise to Esztergom in Northern Hungary. After lunch on board, join our optional excursion to Esztergom and its renaissance cathedral and Visegrád Castle. We then continue by coach to Komárom where you will rejoin the vessel in time for your evening meal on board.
Day 12 KOMÁROM, HAINBURG
After breakfast we will cruise through the Slovac border into Austria, arriving at the town of Hainburg, the easternmost town of Lower Austria, situated between the Danube, Mount Braunsberg and the Hundsheimer hills. You will have the afternoon at leisure to explore before dinner is served on board.
Day 13 HAINBURG, VIENNA
During breakfast we cruise to Vienna. After lunch on board, we’ve included a fantastic city tour of dazzling Vienna, followed by free time to explore.
Day 14 VIENNA, OVERNIGHT HOTEL
After breakfast this morning we will bid farewell and travel to our hotel in Germany for an overnight stay, arriving in time for a three-course evening meal. Those taking the air option will transfer directly to the airport for the return flight to the UK.
Day 15 GERMANY
After breakfast we will continue to Calais for the 6.25pm crossing to Dover/Folkestone. Upon arrival you will be returned to your original point of departure.
*Passengers returning on the overnight crossing to the north of England or Scotland, will transfer to the departure port and arrive in the UK the next day.
