Tauck River Cruise – Prague to the Black Sea River Cruise 2010
Prague to the Black Sea River Cruise – Prague to Bucharest
Tauck’s Prague to the Black Sea combines The Blue Danube with Budapest to the Black Sea to create an unforgettable 19-day journey from Prague to the Black Sea and Bucharest. Your journey features two nights each in Prague and Bucharest at luxury hotels centrally located in the heart of the cities, along with a two-week cruise aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel. This ultimate Eastern Europe travel experience takes you to Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Glide past grand cathedrals, medieval monasteries, and historic citadels – as well as through the fabled Iron Gate of the Danube. Tauck’s private, all-included shore excursions ensure in-depth exploration of cosmopolitan cities and picturesque villages including Prague, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest. Enjoy special Tauck experiences including a welcome reception, tour and dinner at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague, a Puszta equestrian demonstration in Hungary, a home-hosted lunch in Bulgaria and an Imperial Evening in Vienna!
2010 Itinerary
| Day 1 | Arrive in PragueYour Eastern Europe travel experience begins at 6:00 PM at the Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Prague’s Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel. Meet your fellow travelers and Tauck Directors for a preview of your Danube River cruise at tonight’s grand kickoff event – a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner at 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at the Prague Castle, accompanied by a classical quartet!
Meals: Dinner Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic |
| Day 2 | The legacy of many centuries in PragueStart today’s exploration of Prague in the ancient Hradcany (Castle) district, where you’ll see 1,000-year-old Prague Castle’s complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private tour of Strahov Monastery’s grand Baroque libraries. You’re free to spend the afternoon as you please in Prague, or join us if you like on a walking tour of Prague’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to the Astronomical Clock and Tyn Church – along with Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Sample the culinary pleasures of Prague with dinner on your own tonight; the city’s many fine restaurants and cafés feature a wide range of cuisines… and some of the best schnitzels, goulashes, strudels, dumplings and beer the region has to offer.
Meals: Breakfast Lodging: Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic |
| Day 3 | Ancient Regensburg / Danube River cruise beginsDrive to the well-preserved German cathedral town of Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to Roman days. Your local guide leads you on a walking tour that includes the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube; the Gothic Dom St. Peter; the 15th-century town hall; and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own – perhaps opting for some of the town’s celebrated Bavarian sausage – before boarding the riverboat in Regensburg to launch your 7-night Danube River cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 4 | Spend the day in PassauEnjoy the views from your riverboat’s sun deck, lounge, or the windows of your outside cabin. Your first port of call is Passau, Germany; accompanied by a local guide whose love for Passau is evident, take a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of this Baroque town renowned for its lovely stained glass and nearly 100 churches. See the Altes Rathaus, the old town hall with 15th-century origins, murals on the façade and a glockenspiel in the tower. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you cruise to Linz, Austria.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 5 | Salzburg sights or relax in LinzWith your riverboat docked in Linz, you can choose to enjoy this Austrian port city, or take a full-day excursion to old Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s hometown on the Salzach River. The day trip includes visits to Mozart’s birthplace and beautiful Mirabell Gardens, and a guided walking tour through the historic district of ornate church towers and grand palaces. Back aboard the ship, enjoy dinner and a classical music performance this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 6 | Wachau Valley cruise and picturesque DürnsteinContinue your Eastern Europe travel experience as you cruise through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Dock in Dürnstein and take a walking tour amidst its cobblestone streets, 16th-century houses, and former Augustinian monastery; if you like, hike up to the ruins of a hilltop castle above the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades. Enjoy some free time in this charming riverside town, and sample the fruits of the Wachau Valley vineyards surrounding it during a wine tasting at a local tavern.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 7 | Music and more in Imperial ViennaGet an overview of the longtime capital of the old Habsburg Empire and one of Europe’s grandest cities – Vienna, Austria – with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city that includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament. Then choose a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a special visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg, now Austria’s presidential residence. Tonight, indulge in a bit of royal treatment with a gala, private Imperial Viennese evening at a traditional palace in the heart of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music… an unforgettable highlight of your Danube River cruise!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 8 | Cruise the Danube to ancient SlovakiaPursue your own interests this morning in glorious Vienna – which boasts over a hundred museums of all kinds – and then return to the riverboat to continue your Danube River cruise to Slovakia. Gliding along the “river of kings,” admire the pastoral scenery and immerse yourself in Slovak culture aboard the riverboat, as you enjoy a taste of regional cuisine at dinner – and join in as Slovakian folkloric entertainers in traditional costumes perform for you.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 9 | Baroque in BratislavaWake up today in ancient Bratislava, capital of modern Slovakia – and, strangely enough, the long-ago capital of Hungary! Your local expert shares insights and anecdotes about this beloved city on a guided walking tour; view several Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin’s Cathedral; visit the 13th-century Old Town Hall; and savor some delectable Slovakian pastry at a local café. After some exploring on your own, return to the riverboat and enjoy a shipboard reception and dinner tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 10 | Relax or explore in BudapestAfter arriving in fascinating Budapest – Hungary’s capital encompassing both sides of the Danube – you might enjoy a relaxing visit to one of the city’s famous spas, or embark on a Budapest sightseeing tour including Heroes’ Square and Fishermen’s Bastion. Later, cruise to Solt, Hungary for more eastern Europe travel discoveries.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 11 | Horses and folkways in HungaryA horse-drawn wagon ride takes you to the Equestrian Center, where you’ll see Puszta horsemen demonstrating traditional skills. Then cruise to Kalocsa, celebrated for its paprika and folk art, where you’ll visit the beautiful Baroque library in the Bishop’s Palace, housing one of the finest early collections in Europe.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 12 | Cruise to Croatia’s historic citiesAs you cruise into Croatia on your Eastern Europe travel adventure, attend an on-board lecture on the country’s culture and history. Set out overland to the Baroque city of Vukovar, once showcasing opulent 18th-century mansions, but now poignantly symbolizing the effects of the 1990s war as it rebuilds. Continue cruising to Serbia this afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 13 | Serbia’s cosmopolitan capital, BelgradeDock early morning in Belgrade, Serbia’s modern capital at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers, with roots dating back to 3 BC. A shipboard lecture sets the stage for sightseeing including visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress, one of the city’s key historic sites. You’ll also see busy Slavija Square in the heart of Belgrade, Serbia’s Parliament complex, Republic Square, the National Theatre and City Hall. Back aboard your riverboat, enjoy some leisure time before dinner, which is followed by a music and dance presentation.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 14 | The Iron Gate, King Decebalus and moreContinuing one of Tauck’s popular Danube cruises, relax on a day’s cruise past the fields and vineyards of Eastern Europe; shipboard activities which may be offered during your cruise range from cooking demonstrations to folkloric, music and dance performances. Pass into Romania and through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, a two-mile-long series of narrow gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains. As you glide along the Bulgarian / Romanian border, look for the massive monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus – Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, completed in 2004 – carved into the riverbank on the Romanian side, as well as spectacular views of the Transylvanian Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 15 | Big day in BulgariaLearn all about Iconography with a lecture and demonstration as your journey along the lower Danube cruises to Svishtov, Bulgaria, for excursions to nearby towns. Travel to the medieval capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnovo, whose ancient walled fortress and castle are set atop three hills overlooking the Yantra River. In the nearby town of Arbanassi, you’ll enjoy a unique opportunity to meet and share local specialties with your Bulgarian contemporaries at a private, home-hosted lunch. A busy day concludes with an on-board presentation on Bulgarian customs, as well as special music and dance perfomances.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 16 | Romania’s Black Sea coastArrive in Cernavoda and head off on a day trip to Romania’s Black Sea coast, stopping at the seaside resort towns of Constanta – where you’ll take a guided tour – and Mamaia, set at the edge of the Black Sea. You may want to take a walk along one of Mamaia’s fine beaches – they’re the only ones in Europe sporting pure-white sand, and have helped make Mamaia a popular vacation destination for more than a century. Please join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat |
| Day 17 | Bucharest beckonsAfter disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew goodbye in Cernavoda, travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest, capital of Romania and once regarded as the “Paris of the Balkans.” A sightseeing tour includes Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch; erected to commemorate Romania’s reunification and those who fell in World War I, it is a smaller but exact copy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. You’ll also pay a visit to the massive People’s Palace, home to Romania’s Parliament; the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon, some parts of it are reportedly still unfinished! Tonight you’ll spend the first of two nights close to the palace at the elegant JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in the heart of the city.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania |
| Day 18 | Castles, monasteries and mysteries in RomaniaA choice of sightseeing in Romania today invites you to opt for a full day’s excursion to tour fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia – built for Romania’s royal family in the 1880s – or a boat ride to Snagov Island to visit isolated Snagov Monastery, said to be the final resting place of Vlad Tepes, the historical model for Bram Stoker’s character of Dracula. Both groups return to Bucharest as Tauck’s memorable cruise draws to a close.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania |
| Day 19 | Homeward boundYour memorable Eastern Europe travel adventure ends in Bucharest, Romania.A transfer is included from the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel to Bucharest Airport.
Meals: Breakfast |
Departure Dates and Prices
19 Day Land/Cruise prices aboard ms Swiss Jewel from $7790
| DATE | CAT.1 | CAT.3 | CAT.5 | CAT.6 |
| 10/4/2010* | $7790 | $9090 | $10,540 | $11,740 |
19 Day Land/Cruise prices aboard ms Swiss Sapphire from $8290
| DATE | CAT.1 | CAT.3 | CAT.5 | CAT.6 |
| 5/25/2010* | $8690 | $9990 | $11,440 | $12,640 |
| 9/28/2010 | $8290 | $9590 | $11,040 | $12,240 |
* Indicates Bucharest to Prague direction.
Land / cruise price per person includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, wine with dinner aboard ship, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals.
All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
About The Tauck River Cruise Experience