Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure

•   All private Tauck shore excursions – $793 Value on Taucks 4-country, 7-night Danube River cruise

Day 1: Arrive Budapest / Begin your riverboat cruise along the Danube
A transfer is included from Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport directly to the ms Swiss Jewel where you may drop off your luggage and use the lounge. Join us at 2:00 PM for a sightseeing tour of the city. Budapest is divided by the Danube River into two sections, Buda and Pest; you’ll learn about the city’s turbulent history and see iconic sites such as Heroes’ Square and Fishermen’s Bastion. Board your riverboat, one of the newest on Europe’s rivers, for your family’s weeklong, adventure-filled cruise. This evening you’ll meet fellow families at the Captain’s welcome reception that’s followed by a welcome dinner.
Overnight: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Scavenger hunt & whitewater rafting* in Bratislava
The ms Swiss Jewel arrives in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, with its lovely Old Town and 1,700 years’ worth of stories to tell. Play detective on a scavenger hunt; look up, down and sideways when following clues! Shoot the “rapids” on a controlled whitewater rafting course* used to train Olympians. (Note: Minimum age for rafting is 12; an alternate activity will be provided for guests under 12.) Back aboard the riverboat, enjoy a Slovakian cultural presentation and Slovak specialties for dinner.
Overnight: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Imperial Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace and the royal treatment
Welcome to Vienna, Austria – a grand old European city with a rich history as the capital of the old Habsburg Empire, but with a definitely modern, 21st-century side, too. City sightseeing today takes in celebrated boulevards like the Ringstrasse, beautiful gardens and parks, and Vienna’s famous architecture. Ever dream about what it would be like to live in a palace? A visit to Schönbrunn Palace, where future French queen Marie Antoinette and other royal Habsburg kids grew up, is a start. Once upon a time, only the Imperial family was allowed to walk through the garden Maze. Today, you and your family will, too – and have a great time looking for its hidden secrets. Tonight, have another royal experience during Tauck’s exclusive Imperial Evening at a traditional palace featuring Viennese entertainment.
Overnight: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: The Vienna Prater, a carriage ride and strudel-making
Today’s the day for family fun at the Vienna Prater, one of the world’s oldest and most famous amusement parks! The Prater boasts more than 250 attractions including the 100+ year old Giant Ferris Wheel (which film buffs will recognize from the 1940s classic, "The Third Man"), ghost trains and modern hi-tech roller coasters! Later, go back to Vienna’s Imperial days on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Old Town, then spend a free afternoon checking out some of Vienna’s more than 100 museums and cultural institutions. Back aboard the riverboat, take part in a hands-on strüdel-making demonstration.
Overnight: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Discover Dürnstein and bike along the Danube to Krems
Wake up in Dürnstein; its twisting cobblestone streets are lined with 16th-century houses. Take off on your next adventure – a leisurely bike ride* along the Danube to the country town of Krems to spend a little time before biking back to Dürnstein. The Wachau Valley is known for its vineyards, and we’ve included a wine tasting today. If you wish, hike high above the town to the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom. Spend the late afternoon cruising; enjoy Austrian entertainment tonight.
Overnight: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Salzburg, Hellbrunn Castle and the sound of music...
Dock in Linz for an excursion to Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s alpine hometown. Just outside of town, take a private tour of a place that has to be seen to be believed – Hellbrunn Castle, built centuries ago for the amusement of the wealthy Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, who had an odd sense of humor. As you and your family stroll through this summer palace of fun, filled with trick fountains, grottoes, hundreds of statues, and water-driven 18th-century animatronics, you’ll find out firsthand how the Archbishop surprised and befuddled his guests! You can also visit the pavilion made famous as the setting for the song "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" in the movie "The Sound of Music," also located on the castle grounds. Spend free time in Salzburg before returning to the riverboat for dinner.
Overnight: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Music, marzipan making and more in Passau
Arrive in Passau, Germany, for a walking tour through the tunnels, archways and cobblestone streets of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn rivers – including a stop at St. Stephan’s Cathedral for a performance of the largest pipe organ outside of the United States!  A highlight of your visit is a marzipan demonstration at the famous Café Simon; after learning how this sweet confection is made from sugar and ground almonds, you’ll have a chance to “make a face” by rolling and shaping your own marzipan treat! Celebrate your family’s memorable adventures along the River Danube at tonight’s festive farewell dinner aboard ms Swiss Jewel as she makes her way to Regensburg.
Overnight: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Journey Home
Disembark ms Swiss Jewel; fly home anytime after 2:00 PM. A transfer is included from Regensburg to Munich Airport; you should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/23/2012 - 7/1/2012	$3,490
7/7/2012 - 7/15/2012	$3,290
8/4/2012 - 8/12/2012	$3,690
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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