Away Game Travel 2008 Tour List 2009 Tour List Photo Gallery Request Information Testimonials 2009 Tour Flyer pdf Travel Insurance Events Away Game Activities Tiger Tour Tournament

The Romance of the Blue Danube

September 28 - October 12, 2009

Described by Napoleon as the “king of Europe’s rivers,” the Danube is steeped in beauty, legend and lore. From Passau, Germany, embark for Melk, Austria. Cruise through the charming Wachau Valley, lined with vineyards and castle ruins, to medieval Dürnstein. Visit cultural Vienna, where the Ringstrasse and Hofburg Palace await. After touring Bratislava, Slovak Republic, sail to Budapest, Hungary. Marvel at its Gothic Parliament Building and Opera House before seeing Kalocsa and Mohács, then enjoy Belgrade, Serbia. Cross the Carpathian Mountains through the Iron Gate Gorge to Roman ruins in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania. Experience historic Vidin, Bulgaria, and the harbor town of Rousse. Finally, admire the stunning architecture and romantic squares of Bucharest.

Day-by-Day Itinerary*
Day 1 Depart your gateway city for Munich, Germany. (Flight provided for Air Package participants only.)
Day 2 Upon arrival, transfer to Passau, and embark the MS Amadeus Diamond. (Transfer provided for Air Package participants only.) Excursion: Passau Walking Tour. See the Prince-Bishops’ residences, Old Town Hall, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Niedernburg Abbey. Sail for Melk, Austria. This evening, gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner.
Day 3 Excursion: Melk Abbey. Visit a masterpiece of baroque architecture—the beautiful Benedictine Abbey that dates from 1736. Its terrace high above the Danube River offers a panoramic view. The ship sails through the Wachau Valley, a scenic region that unfolds with vineyards, ornate churches and castle ruins looming overhead. Excursion: Dürnstein Walking Tour. In this picturesque village where Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner, step inside the blue-and-white Stiftskirche built along the banks of the river.
Day 4 Excursion: Imperial Vienna City Tour. Experience the cultural treasures of this elegant city renowned for its rich musical heritage. Admire the landmarks of the Ringstrasse and Hofburg Palace. Independent Exploration: The afternoon is free to discover Vienna on your own. Tonight, the ship departs for Bratislava.
Day 5 Speaker’s Corner: The Velvet Revolution. Excursion: Bratislava Walking Tour. See the Slovak Republic’s capital city and political center with its medieval architecture and grand castle. Later today, the ship sails to Budapest.
Day 6 Excursion: Budapest City Highlights. Visit both the Buda and Pest sides of the “Paris of the East” to see Hero’s Square, the Opera House, the Parliament Building and Fisherman’s Bastion. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Day 7 Excursion: Kalocsa and Mohács. Known for Hungarian embroidery and paprika, charming Kalocsa features an exquisite twin-towered cathedral and baroque Archbishop’s Palace. Travel by horse-drawn carriage to the Equestrian Center, where you’ll watch a thrilling show of acrobatic riding by daring Puszta horsemen. Continue by motorcoach to Mohács to see captivating period architecture, represented by its Byzantine Votive Church and 18th-century Franciscan Church. The ship sets sail for Belgrade this afternoon.
Day 8 Speaker’s Corner: Modern Serbia. Excursion: Belgrade City Tour. Poised at the confluence of the Sava and the Danube rivers, two of the many restored highlights of Belgrade include Kalemegdan Fortress and St. Sava Cathedral. Independent Exploration: The afternoon is at leisure for you to experience Belgrade on your own. Enjoy a colorful performance of regional folklore aboard the ship this evening. Tonight, the ship cruises to Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
Day 9 Cruise across the southern Carpathian Mountains where the awe-inspiring Iron Gate Gorge ushers the Danube through its narrowing gap. Excursion: Drobeta-Turnu Severin. This Romanian town was once an ancient Dacian settlement and the site of the largest bridge in the Roman Empire. See the second-century tower ruins.
Day 10 This morning, depart for Vidin. Excursion: Vidin City Tour. In one of the oldest towns along the Danube’s Bulgarian banks, marvel at the Baba Vida, a 10th-century citadel built on Roman ruins, the Turkish Konak, and the mosque and library of Osman Nuri Pasha.
Day 11 Excursion: Rousse. Once a Roman harbor, Rousse is the Danube’s largest Bulgarian port. The pastel-colored architecture of its Central Square, Philharmonic Orchestra Hall, Opera House, Holy Trinity Cathedral and gold-domed Pantheon create a cheerful, cosmopolitan ambience.
Day 12 Disembark the ship in Giurgiu, Romania. Travel by deluxe motorcoach to the capital city. Excursion: Bucharest City Tour. Discover Bucharest’s rich assemblage of architecture, comprised of historic churches, elegant villas, romantic squares and the colossal Palace of the Parliament. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Check into the InterContinental Bucharest. Independent Exploration: Enjoy some free time for independent interests.
Day 13 Independent Exploration: The day is at leisure to spend as you wish. Tonight, attend a farewell reception at the hotel.
Day 14 Transfer to the Bucharest airport for the return flight to your gateway city. (Transfer and flight provided for Air Package participants only.)

* Itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions. Excursions in this program may involve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are not always located in areas closely accessible by motorcoach.

Cost: approximately $3,895 per person, plus airfare and V.A.T., based on double occupancy.