Magnificent Europe Eastbound

15 days
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River Cruise
See the highlights of Central Europe on this enchanting river cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest. Guided sightseeing in each city shows you the highlights, and is conducted by Certified Local Guides. Cruise through the scenic canals of Amsterdam and through the dramatic Rhine Gorge past the legendary Lorelei rock. Spend time in magnificent Cologne, the cha...

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • 15 day river cruise from amsterdam to Budapest
    • Deluxe 14-night cruise in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds
    • Charming wine village of Rüdesheim
    • Visits to Würzburg’s Bishop’s Residenz
    • The phenomenal Benedictine Abbey in Melk
    • Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim

What's this trip about?

    See the highlights of Central Europe on this enchanting river cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest. Guided sightseeing in each city shows you the highlights, and is conducted by Certified Local Guides. Cruise through the scenic canals of Amsterdam and through the dramatic Rhine Gorge past the legendary Lorelei rock. Spend time in magnificent Cologne, the charming wine village of Rüdesheim, medieval Bamberg, historical Nuremberg, and magical Vienna. Attend a beer tasting in Bamberg and enjoy inside visits of Würzburg’s Bishop’s Residenz, and St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava. While on board, be sure to have your camera ready to capture the scenic beauty, quaint towns, fascinating architecture, and historic buildings dotting the landscape as you sail along.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAmsterdam
End CityBudapest

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature
  • River cruise
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • 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 Amsterdam, Holland (Embarkation)

Meals: Dinner

Welcome to Amsterdam! Holland’s sophisticated, modern capital has a rich 700-year-old history and a distinct ambiance. Maybe stroll through the lively marketplace or see the works of famous Dutch masters at world-renowned museums. This afternoon, board your river cruise ship and meet your crew at an evening welcome reception.

Note:
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Day 2: Amsterdam

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, get a unique perspective of Amsterdam on an included CANAL CRUISE, floating along the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” There’s free time in the city this afternoon—or you might like to join an optional excursion before bidding tot ziens (farewell) to Holland and setting sail for Germany.

Day 3: Cologne, Germany

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, enjoy a peaceful morning of cruising before reaching Cologne after lunch. One of Germany’s largest cities and capital of the Rhineland, Cologne straddles both sides of the Rhine and is known for its soaring, twin-steepl...

Day 4: Rhine Gorge–Rüdesheim

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, cruise through the dramatic RHINE GORGE—without a doubt, the most beautiful stretch of river and where ancient castles stand sentry on lofty cliffs rising 400 feet above the waters. Cruise past the rock of the Lo...

Day 5: Main Village River

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

On the banks of the Main River you find cultural gems of small towns, many of them tucked away behind defensive walls and towered gates. With half-timbered houses, narrow streets, and medieval town centers, these picturesque Bavarian villages are a photographer’s delight. Join your Local Guide to experience one of these towns on a GUIDED WALK.

Day 6: Würzburg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Surrounded by verdant hillside vineyards, Würzburg, the “Pearl of the Romantic Road,” makes an immediate impression with imposing Marienberg Fortress perched above town and the 15th-century Alte Mainbrucke (Old Main Bridge). O...

Day 7: Bamberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, arrive in medieval Bamberg, former residence of one of Germany’s most powerful imperial dynasties and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your GUIDED WALKING TOUR takes in its historic center, including the great 13th-c...

Day 8: Nuremberg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Although 90% of Nuremberg’s Old Town suffered extensive damage during WWII, much of it has been restored to the glory it once knew as the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire. This morning, choose a GUIDED SIGHTSEEING T...

Day 9: 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 10: Passau

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Uniquely located where the Inn, Ilz, and Danube Rivers converge, Passau is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian baroque architecture, hou...

Day 11: Dürnstein, Austria. Excursion To Göttweig Abbey

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A day of magical scenery awaits you today! As you cruise into the Wachau Valley, pass unmistakable Melk Abbey, high up and overlooking the river. Then, head into the heart of the Wachau wine region to Dürnstein, known for its ...

Day 12: Vienna

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Early this morning, arrive in Vienna, the “City of Music,” which inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Austria’s magical capital on the blue Danube is a ...

Day 13: Bratislava, Slovakia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

At the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains is Bratislava, the dynamic capital of Slovakia. After breakfast, join your Local Guide for a tour of the city, including a GUIDED WALK of its fascinating Old Town, where winding cob...

Day 14: Budapest, Hungary

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Spanning the banks of the Danube, Budapest is one of Eastern Europe’s liveliest cities. Whether you’re seeing the sights, shopping for handcrafted embroidery or Herend porcelain, or basking in the coffee house culture over a r...

Day 15: Budapest (Disembarkation)

Meals: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,197
Price per day$346
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

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

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Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

B

Bob

Nov 2024

Written on

Magnificent Europe…

We just finished the Magnificent Europe trip on Avalon and it was amazing. Truly a trip to remember. Everything was great, the staff was incredibly attentive, the ex...

C

Colleen Krok

Sep 2024

Written on

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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Dylann Lacroix

Sep 2024

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Beds with a view? NOT!

We took Avalon’s Danube Balkan cruise from Serbia to Bulgaria and Romania on the Avalon Passion starting September 6, 2024. Avalon needs to pay for a docking slip a...

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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

    • Transfers
    • Alcohol & beverages outside of the contracted menu
    • Additional excursions and activities not listed as 'included' in the itinerary
    • Travel Protection premiums
    • 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

14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches and 14 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: Departure October 28 is offered as an exclusive Music Cruise, including special concerts and performances at no additional cost. Our Music Cruise includes excursions to a classical concert in Vienna, a visit to Mozart’s Salzburg birthplace, and the countryside where “the hills are alive with the sound of music.” In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program. Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered. Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
Trip ID
AVALON-MagEurAva

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