 Vienna, Budapest & the blue Danube river cruise itineraryDay 1 Selected early morning coach pick-ups and a journey to Dover/Folkestone for the 8.30am ferry/Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. Alternatively, join at port or at the Holiday Inn Ashford North. From Calais we continue through France and Belgium into Germany, arriving at your overnight hotel accommodation in time for your included three-course evening meal. Passengers taking the overnight crossing from the north of England or Scotland, will depart the previous day and arrive at your overnight hotel in time for dinner. Day 2 Grein Depart the hotel after breakfast and continue through Germany and into Austria to arrive at the picturesque town of Grein, where the MS Arlene lies berthed. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, followed by dinner on board. The rest of the evening is at leisure, perhaps to take a stroll and enjoy a night out in the town. Those taking the air option will fly direct to the region and transfer to the vessel in time for dinner. Day 3 Grein - Melk - Tulln This morning we will cruise to Melk, situated where the Danube and Melk rivers meet and famous for its lovely Benedictine Abbey perched high on a hill overlooking the Danube. Following lunch on board there will be the opportunity to join our optional excursion to beautiful Schallaburg Castle, one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles to be found north of the Alps, followed by a visit to St Polten, Austria's oldest town. We rejoin the vessel in the little Austrian town of Tulln in time for dinner on board. Day 4 Tulln - Bratislava Today we continue our cruise along the Danube to Bratislava, the picturesque capital of Slovakia, lying at the meeting point of three countries: Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. Lunch is served on board and this afternoon you may wish to join our in-depth city tour to learn more about Bratislava’s past and present from a local guide. See Bratislava Castle, set high up on a hill with spectacular views of the city and the Danube; Grassalkovich Palace, built for the chairman of the Hungarian Royal Council and located on Hodzovo Square; the National Theatre built by Viennese architects and now home to the National Opera and Ballet; and St Martin’s Cathedral, the most sacred and significant Gothic building in the city. Return to the vessel in time for dinner. Day 5 Bratislava - Hainburg (for Budapest) An early morning departure for an included visit by coach to Budapest, Hungary's vibrant capital, with its two distinct cities of Buda and Pest lying on opposite banks of the Danube. On one side, Pest is home to wide leafy boulevards and fashionable shopping areas, while on the other, Buda’s cobbled streets lead to the historic Castle Hill featuring St Matthias Church, the Royal Palace and the neo-Romanesque ramparts of Fisherman’s Bastion. A packed lunch will be provided today. To enhance your visit you can join our optional city tour to see the best of Budapest's many treasures including Castle Hill, the Royal Palace and Fisherman's Bastion. Afterwards, we will travel to the historic town of Hainburg where we rejoin the vessel in time for dinner. Day 6 Hainburg - Korneuburg (For Vienna) - Tulln A morning cruise to the attractive historic town of Korneuburg. Following lunch on board we include a visit by coach to Vienna, the lovely Austrian capital. Take a stroll along the city's bustling boulevards, in the footsteps of former residents Strauss, Beethoven and Mozart, and discover a number of fine coffee houses, beautiful gardens and magnificent palaces and mansions. Our optional city tour will give you an insight into Vienna’s past and show you the most important buildings in the city, including the home of Johann Strauss, the State Opera, the Vienna Boy's Choir and the famous Spanish Riding School. If you get the chance, try Emperor Franz Josef’s favourite meal, Tafelspitz, the most savoury and herb-flavored boiled beef you’ll ever taste. We rejoin the vessel in Tulln in time for dinner on board. Day 7 Tulln - Krems - Melk This morning we will cruise to the picturesque town of Krems, in the heart of Austrian wine country. From here you may wish to join our optional excursion to Durnstein and Melk to discover two of the region's most fascinating and historic towns. Those not joining this excursion can relax on board as we gently cruise to Melk. Day 8 Melk - Passau - Overnight Hotel This morning, we disembark after breakfast and travel to our hotel in Germany for an overnight stay including dinner. En route we will visit Passau, one of Germany's most beautiful cities and renowned for the magnificent Cathedral of St Stephan, which contains the world’s largest church pipe organ, and the Aldstadt (Old Town) where the Baroque and Rococo buildings give the town an elegant feel. Those taking the air option will transfer directly to the airport for the return flight to the UK. Day 9 Germany After breakfast, we continue to Calais for the 6.30pm 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. Timings are correct at time of publish but may be subject to change. Final timings will be confirmed with your joining instructions. 
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