Romantic Danube at New Year

Embark your cruise in Vilshofen. This evening meet your fellow guests on board.

Explore Vilshofen’s beautiful old town before cruising to Passau, known as the “City of Three Rivers.” Join a walking tour or if you prefer to be more active, hike high into the hills for a visit to the “Veste Oberhaus,” Passau’s Castle Hill.

The ship arrives in Linz where you’ll have several choices of excursions. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg where you’ll tour the historic centre, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the famed Basilica St. Michael and site of the wedding scene in “The Sound of Music.” Alternatively, you can join a morning walking tour through Linz’s old city centre and by the Mozart House; or go on a guided bike tour along the city’s famed “Culture Mile” and the Danube. During the afternoon, you have three more options of excursions. Choose a half-day in Salzburg or take a scenic drive through the beautiful Austrian Lake District with a stop in St. Wolfgang. You can also choose to visit the charming mountain town, Český Krumlov, located just over the Czech-Austrian border

Cruise to Weissenkirchen, gateway to Dürnstein located in the heart of the Wachau Valley. Once here, you can choose to join a walking tour in Dürnstein along its cobblestone streets to the Baroque Stiftskirche, Dürnstein’s famed church tower, and then visit Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey. For the more active adventurer, you can opt to hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held, or take a bike ride along the Danube. As an alternative excursion, visit a local apricot grower, where you’ll enjoy the region’s finest apricot treats. Later in the evening, enjoy a special wine tasting of locally grown, world-renowned Riesling and Grüner Veltliner in Weissenkirchen.

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems and you have three ways to discover them. Join a city tour showcasing its regal splendours, including the majestic Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a more active exploration of the area, take a guided bike ride along the Danube.During the afternoon, you can enjoy leisure time or pedal your way to Klosterneuburg Monastery on a guided cycling tour

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. Or join a culinary host to sample traditional Slovakian specialties, as well as learn how to prepare stuffed potato ravioli with an opportunity to taste your own creation. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city.

Experience Budapest in one of two ways: on a city tour or a hike. Your city tour begins with a visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall brimming with vendors selling everything from food to souvenirs. The remainder of this tour takes you to both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the river. As an alternative choice, hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. Spend your last evening on board cruising around the famed Parliament Building as the city turns on all her dazzling lights.

Disembark the ship and prepare for your homeward flight.

Discover one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, Regensburg on a guided walking tour.  Continue your journey to Prague, where you will enjoy a city tour or a castle hike.  Both will reveal why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic centre that’s recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beer has a long and illustrious history in the Czech Republic, so end your European journey with a tasting of some the very best beer in the world. Transfer from Prague to Regensburg for a city tour before travelling on to Vilshofen to embark your cruise.

Intercontinental Hotel (or similar) on Bed & Breakfast Basis Prices from £592 per person

Explore Munich, the Capital of Bavaria and one of Germany’s largest cities.  Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town, ending at the famous Glockenspiel, with its 43 bells and 32 life size figures that portray historic scenes, such as a wedding celebration. You will also discover Frauenkirche, the “Cathedral of our Dear Lady”. Later in the day, do like the Bavarians do and go to the Hofbrauhaus for the famous beer and pretzels. This is the cradle of Bavarian culture, and the origin of tradition, “gemutlichkeit” and hospitality.

You will stay in the 5* Hotel Bayerischer Hof on Bed & Breakfast. Prices from £521 per person.