This exciting new 8-day vacation introduces you to the people and places along the Danube from Budapest to Linz in the most active, engaged and fun ways imaginable. Start your vacation in Hungary’s capital city where you board your Avalon ship and head for Visegrad. The choice is always yours: attend a medieval knights’ tournament in Visegrad; take a jogging tour around Vienna, or visit the city when it first awakes; meet with a local produce grower in the Wachau Valley, or paddle a canoe; be introduced to a count in his castle; bike to an ancient border defense near Mauthausen or visit World War II’s largest concentration camp; taste locally produced cheese and beer brewed by Trappist monks near Linz, or hike along an old smugglers’ route. And all the while enjoy the comfort of your Avalon ship, with its delectable meals and warm, personal service. Certainly your home from home while you explore your new surroundings every day.

City Highlights

Cruise: deluxe 7-night cruise in an outside stateroom with Avalon’s exclusive Comfort Collection BedsSMDay 1 Budapest (Embarkation)–Scenic Cruising Around Danube Bend–Visegrad: choice of walking tour with language lesson, guided bike tour, or city sightseeing tour; onboard welcome reception; scenic cruising around the Danube BendDay 2 Visegrad: in Visegrad, choice of medieval knights tournament or guided hiking in Danube-Ipoly National ParkDays 3 & 4 Vienna: choice of bike tour, jogging tour, encounter with area business people, or city sightseeing tour with visit of Belvedere Palace to see Klimt’s Kiss; choice of early riser walking tour with breakfast at a Viennese café and entrance to Habsburg private art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts; Habsburg collection entrance with time in the Italian & Dutch Masters Gallery; or Habsburg collection entrance with Military Museum visitDay 5 Krems–Wachau Valley & Strudengau Scenic Cruising–Grein: choice of canoe tour down the Danube; bike tour from Spitz to Krems with sightseeing in Dürnstein and chance to sample local specialties; Wine World Experience with tasting; or local encounter showcasing regional products with included snack and beverage; scenic cruising through Wachau Valley, Strudengau, and past Melk Abbey; castle visit in Grein Day 6 Grein–Mauthausen–Linz: guided walk in Grein, visit the historical theater; in Mauthausen, choice of visit to St. Florian Monastery, guided tour of Mauthausen Concentration Camp, or guided bike tour; onboard tasting of local specialtiesDay 7 Engelhartszell–Schlögen Oxbow Scenic Cruising–Linz: choice of visit to Engelszell Abbey to tour its brewery, enjoy a tasting, and explore its sensory garden, or guided hiking tour to retrace the WWII smugglers route; choice of scenic cruising around the Schlögen Oxbow or guided hike on the Danube Trail; onboard gala farewell dinnerDay 8 Linz (Disembarkation): your vacation ends this morning

Meals

Captain’s welcome & farewell receptions with sparkling wine and canapésWelcome dinnerDaily Afternoon TeaDaily Night FareFarewell dinnerComplimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner are included daily on board your vessel

Notes

NOTES: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); the responsibility for obtaining a visa rests with the traveler.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WBL0-2017