The Majestic Capitals of the Danube on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

If you are looking for a shorter cruise of 5 nights on AmaWaterways, there are a few sailing dates in December 2024 on The Majestic Capitals of the Danube, that just might be the right choice for you..

As most of you know, most river cruises are 7 nights or more and there is a trend for longer cruises in 2024, but with 2 land extensions, this becomes a good alternative to see the best capitals on the Danube on a luxurious river cruise.

So, let’s learn about a short-term cruise offering with a big bang and a little about the optional land extensions.

4 AmaWaterways Ships Sail this Route

3 135-meter ships (the AmaRenina, AmaSonata and AmaLea) and the AmaMagna (double wide, best ship on the Danube) sail this route in December. The cruise sometimes starts in Budapest (4 departures) or the reserve in Vienna (3 departures). This route only sails in December and there are 7 possible dates to sail on these 4 ships.

Cruise Overview

• Delight in the Old-World grandeur of Europe’s most spectacular capital cities along the Danube River during this special 5-night cruise.

• From Budapest, Hungary to Vienna, Austria, follow the paths of kings and queens (Habsburg royalty among them) on up to 5 included excursions each day.

• Enjoy a guided hike to the hilltop castle of Bratislava’s gleaming fortress, and bike tours to beautiful sites like Kosterneuburg Abbey.

• Enjoy tastings of local delights, such as the cake that started a national holiday in Austria Sacher torte.

• Enjoy the local nightlife as each capital and its architecture wonders illuminate after sunset.

• Whether you are sailing the Danube River for the first time or returning to venture deeper into the cities that inspired you the most, we invite you to celebrate this spectacular journey with us as we treat you like the royalty you are.

The 3 Ports of the Cruise

Budapest

Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition.

In Budapest, you will have 3 choices of tours.

Option 1 Your city tour begins with a visit to the Great Market Hall before going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river.

You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church.

The wonderful tile work on the roof of the church

Option 2 Venture off the beaten path or if are returning to the city for a repeat visit, join our “Hidden Budapest” tour to discover some fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler.

Option 3 As an alternative, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below.

Buda Castle Complex—it is a good hike up to top

In the afternoon, spend free time at your leisure to explore the city.

Bratislava

Take in the breathtaking scenery as we glide along the Danube River into Bratislava. In Bratislava, you will have 4 choices of tours.

Option 1 Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour

Primate’s Palace was originally built for an Archbishop and later became the mayor’s office

Michael’s Gate—the only remaining gate from the old city walls.

St Martin’s Cathedral Bratislava—this is the coronation site of Hungarian rulers between 1563 and 1830

Bratislava has a whimsical side—these statues are a testament to their humor,

Man at Work—Cumil—which roughly translates to watcher

The Greeter tells the real life story of Ignac Lamar, who lost his fiancée who was deported to a Nazi concentration camp and every day, he would dress up and greet folks who came to the old town square.

Option 2 join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour.

Option 3 For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city.

Bratislava Castle—it is a good hike up to the Castle

Option 4 enjoy a guided biking tour in the evening

Vienna

In Vienna, you will have 2 choices of tours and free time to explore.

Option 1 Visit Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. Built in the 18th century as an imperial summer residence, this magnificent 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural. Cultural and historical monuments in Austria.

Parade Ground Fountain Schönbrunn Palace

At the rear of the palace, the massive garden area includes the Neptune fountain in the foreground and the Glorjette Hill. The structure is a variation of the triumphal arch, to remind visitors of the military victories and power of the imperial Habsburg dynasty

Option 2 Pedal along the scenic Danube River and through charming neighborhoods to the nearby town of Klosterneuberg and its majestic 12thcentury Augustinian monastery overlooking the Danube River.

During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city.

**The 2 Eagle side of the roof. These are the Coat of Arms for Austria and the coat of arms of Vienna. There are 230,000 tiles on the roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral**

Land Extension Prague

In Prague, you will either transfer to the ship or to the airport depending on the cruise direction. In the 3 nights in Prague, you will visit on a morning tour called “Golden City of a Hundred Spires”

or take a hike up to the Castle.

Prague Castle—it is a good hike up from the old town area

St. Vitus Cathedral Prague. It is the coronation site of Czech kings and queens. It is inside the Prague Castle complex.

While in Prague on one AmaWaterways cruises, we got the chance to take the “Golden City of a hundred Spires Tour” and it was excellent! Here are some pictures of what you will probably see:

Astronomicial Clock on the side of the old town hall

Old Town Square with the Tyne Cathedral in the background

On the next day, there is a Czech beer tasting.

Then off to the ship or to the airport on the final day.

Land Extension Krakow

In Krakow, Poland, your first day is a check into the hotel. On day 2, you will have a tour called “Historical Highlights and Wawel Royal Castle” with a free afternoon. The next day is the gloomy tour called “Preserving the Holocaust History tour with Auschwitz visit.” You will then transfer to the ship or to the airport.

Our Final Thoughts

This compact tour has a lot going for it. While it is true it is limited to only December, the chance to see so much of the major cities of the Danube and get the opportunity to visit 2 other very important cities in Central Europe, make it a good choice for folks with limited time who want maximum visits to the most important cities on the Danube.

With the emphasis on nightlife, it also should appeal to younger cruisers.

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 52 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

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