Jewels of Central Europe Westbound

19 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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River Cruise
Sail along the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Moselle Rivers, and through the Main Danube Canal and dramatic Rhine Gorge on this remarkable river cruise vacation. Begin your trip with two nights in the vibrant Hungarian capital of Budapest, with guided sightseeing and time to explore the city on your own. Then, set sail and enjoy guided sightseeing that shows off t...

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • 19 day river cruise from Budapest to Paris
    • Sail along the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Moselle Rivers
    • Deluxe 14-night cruise in an outside stateroom
    • Fishermen’s Bastion and Heroes’ Square
    • Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour
    • The Marienplatz
    • Reichsburg Castle

What's this trip about?

    Sail along the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Moselle Rivers, and through the Main Danube Canal and dramatic Rhine Gorge on this remarkable river cruise vacation. Begin your trip with two nights in the vibrant Hungarian capital of Budapest, with guided sightseeing and time to explore the city on your own. Then, set sail and enjoy guided sightseeing that shows off the highlights in each city, including inside visits of Melk’s awe-inspiring Benedictine Abbey, the Bishop’s Residenz in Würzburg, and Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in charming Rüdesheim. In Regensburg we’ll introduce you to some of Germany’s famous beers, and in Bernkastel you’ll enjoy a tasting of Moselle wines. Travel by high-speed train to Paris, where your vacation concludes with two overnights, guided sightseeing, and plenty of free time to explore the “City of Light” at your own pace!

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBudapest
End CityParis

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • River Cruise
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Trains & Rail
  • Wine Tasting

Trip includes

    • Accommodation
    • Most of the meals as mentioned in the itinerary
    • Internal transportation
    • Wi-Fi accessibility
    • Sightseeing with Certified Local Guides

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Arrive In Budapest, Hungary

Welcome to Budapest, Hungary’s lively capital spanning the banks of the Danube. The remainder of the day is free to start exploring Eastern Europe’s most cosmopolitan metropolis.

Day 2: Budapest

Meals: Breakfast

Whether you’re seeing the sights, shopping for handcrafted embroidery or Herend porcelain, or basking in the coffee house culture over a rich cream cake in the renowned Gerbeaud Café, Budapest’s unique energy is positively palatable. On your Gu...

Day 3: Budapest (Embarkation)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

You have time this morning to explore Budapest further. Perhaps visit St. Stephen’s Basilica for marvelous views of the city from its viewing platform. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception.

Day 4: Budapest–Vienna, Austria

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy a day of relaxation on board and marvel at the beautiful scenery on both banks of the Danube. Hungary is on your left as you cruise upriver and Slovakia is on your right. The two countries share the Danube for a 58-mile ...

Day 5: Vienna

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Austria’s magical capital on the blue Danube is a showcase of gilded architecture. This is home to the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace complex with its Vienna Boy’s Choir and dazzl...

Day 6: Dürnstein–Melk

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Dürnstein, known for the magnificent baroque, blue Stiftskirche built in the 1700s, is situated right in the heart of the Wachau wine region. The main street of this small town—with a population of less than 1,000 people—is li...

Day 7: Passau, Germany

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you can choose from several full-day optional excursions: to Salzburg, taking in some of the Sound of Music sights; the popular “Romantic Austria” tour; or to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic, a UNESCO World Heritage ...

Day 8: Regensburg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Dating back to the time of the Celts around 500 BC, Regensburg is one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. Established during the Holy Roman Empire and the only German city not bombed during WWII, Regensburg has at lea...

Day 9: Nuremberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, spend a relaxing morning of cruising, and before lunch, attend a fascinating ONBOARD LECTURE about the engineering marvel that is the Main Danube Canal. The afternoon is dedicated to Nuremberg. Although 90% of Nuremberg...

Day 10: Nuremberg. Excursion To Munich

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, drive to Munich, capital of Bavaria. With its historical museums, splendid English Garden, traditional cafés, and delightful shops, Munich has plenty to see and do. A LOCAL GUIDE will show you the highlights of this ...

Day 11: Bamberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the early morning hours, arrive in medieval Bamberg, former residence of one of Germany’s most powerful imperial dynasties and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your GUIDED WALK takes in its historic center, including the gr...

Day 12: Würzburg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arrive in Würzburg during breakfast. Surrounded by verdant hillside vineyards, Würzburg, also known as the “Pearl of the Romantic Road,” makes an immediate impression with imposing Fortress Marienberg perched above town and th...

Day 13: Miltenberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Tucked away behind medieval defensive walls and towered gates, picturesque Bavarian Miltenberg is a cultural gem on the banks of the Main River. The town’s delightful Marktplatz (market square) centers around a Renaissance-era...

Day 14: Rüdesheim–Rhine Gorge–Boppard

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Pretty Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town, and SIEGFRIED’S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise. Enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT, then there’s free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick u...

Day 15: Cochem

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, arrive in Cochem on the river Moselle, a charming, picturesque town with half-timbered houses and winding streets full of history and legends that will be brought to life during your included GUIDED WALK. Visit REIC...

Day 16: Trier

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, an excursion takes you to Trier, Germany’s oldest city. Some say Trier is even older than Rome and that it was populated over a thousand years before the Romans arrived. Many Roman remains have survived, inclu...

Day 17: Remich, Luxembourg (Disembarkation)–Paris, France

Meals: Breakfast

Reach Remich in the early morning hours and say goodbye to your crew after breakfast. Travel to Luxembourg or to Metz to board the HIGH-SPEED TRAIN to Paris, where you arrive later in the day.

Day 18: Paris

Meals: Breakfast

Known as one of the world’s most romantic and lively cities, Paris is a delight for all your senses. Your INCLUDED CITY SIGHTSEEING shows you magnificent must-see sights, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyr...

Day 19: Paris

Meals: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. 

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,817
Price per day$359
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Cruise Deposit & Final Payment: A non-refundable, non-transferable cruise deposit of $250 per person per vacation is required for Avalon to reserve space for you, with some limited exceptions as noted below. Avalon accepts checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, Discover/Novus, and American Express. Your booking is not confirmed and payment is not deemed made until the deposit is received by Avalon and you receive a confirmation invoice. Your reservation will be automatically canceled if deposit is not received by Avalon by the deposit due date. On certain departures, deposits may be required at time of booking to hold or to confirm space for you. Payment of the deposit indicates you have read and accepted these Terms & Conditions.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
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Sep 2024

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Trip of a lifetime

This was my first trip to Europe and my first cruise. I could not have asked for, or wanted anything better....all around. The crew (from housekeeping to food serv...

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Tour Operator

Avalon Waterways

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CRUISING ELEVATED.
Innovative, transformative, original. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and
away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and you’ll see how the tides they are a-changin’. 

Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

IT DOESN’T GET ANY SUITER.
Enjoy the perfect blend of elegance and ease – where little touches are bold, gestures are grand and the views even grander. There’s a reason our ships are the critics’ darlings and favorites among our most discerning guests. Our boutique-hotel-inspired Panorama Suites feature the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the ever-changing scenery.

PACK YOUR PASSIONS.
As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off.

SEE MORE THAN THE SEA/
On a typical cruise, you see waves, water and more water. On an Avalon cruise, legendary landmarks and postcard-perfect landscapes are always in view. Dock to discovery takes mere minutes. 

LET’S DISH.
While we naturally present the signature delicacies of the regions you visit, we enrich the gastronomic journey by offering multiple dining venues, bringing unexpected culinary experiences to the table.

What they’re known for
River cruises to classic and exotic destinations with a luxury flair and personalization options.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Airfare
    • Airport transfers
    • Alcohol & beverages outside of the contracted menu
    • Additional excursions and activities not listed as 'included' in the itinerary
    • Travel Protection premiums
    • Applicable cruise taxes, fees, fares and port charges
    • Other items of a personal nature

Accommodation

Cancellation policy

Booking Cancellations & Cancellation Fees:

If a booking cancellation is received by Avalon prior to the final payment date of your vacation, your non-refundable land deposit and Travel Protection payments will be retained in addition to your Flex-Air deposit, Instant Purchase Air payment and service fee, and/or intra-vacation air deposit. For individual reservations, the following per person cancellation fees apply. Total price does not include discounts, promotions, or special incentives. (For group reservations, refer to the Group Policy.)

Standard Cancellation Fees:

90-60 days prior to commencement of services: 35% of total price* plus Travel Protection payments

59-30 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price* plus Travel Protection payments

29-1 days prior to commencement of services: 80% of total price* plus Travel Protection payments

On departure day and later: 100% of total price* plus Travel Protection payments

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

18 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Meals: Captain’s welcome & farewell receptions with sparkling wine and canapés Welcome dinner Daily Afternoon Tea Daily Night Fare Farewell dinner Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; soft drinks with lunch; and wine, beer, or soft drinks with dinner are included daily on board your vessel Notes: In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motor coach or to alter the program. In the rare event that the high-speed train is unavailable, alternative arrangements will be made. Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered. Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveller.
Trip ID
AVALON-JewEurAva

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