AUSTRIA, SLOVAKIA, AND HUNGARY
Discover some of Eastern Europe’s most beloved Christmas markets on this cruise down the Danube River all from the comfort of your cruise ship so you’ll only have to unpack your bags once! In Budapest, we’ll enjoy panoramic views of the city from Fisherman’s Bastion with free time to peruse the local markets for gifts and souvenirs. We’ll see Bratislava Castle during our walking tour with time to sample Trdelniks (Chimney Cakes), Bratislavske rozky, and the well-known honey wine at Bratislava’s one-of-a-kind Christmas markets filled with live music, tantalizing aromas, and Slovakian handcrafted goods. Explore the stunning Melk Abbey with its incredible library and ornate Church and take a walking tour through Linz’ Old Quarter. In Austria’s Imperial City, Vienna, we’ll visit Belvedere Palace and visit one of the city’s most popular Christmas markets.
Itinerary at
a Glance
- Overnight international flight
- 6-night cruise down the Danube:
- Budapest (Hungary)
- Bratislava (Slovakia)
- Melk (Austria)
- Linz (Austria)
- Vienna (Austria)
Tour
Highlights
Your Tour
Includes
- Round-trip airfare from New York (JFK)
- Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- 6-night cruise aboard the MS Vivienne
- Ground transportation in air-conditioned motor coach
- 17 meals: 6 buffet breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 6 dinners
- 2 glasses of wine, beer, or soda with dinner onboard
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees as indicated in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking Cruise Manager, and local English-speaking guides throughout
Tour Itinerary A - Budapest to Vienna
Budapest (Hungary)
After breakfast this morning, we’ll explore Budapest with a panoramic tour of Budapest we’ll see some of the city’s most popular sights including the Parliament Building, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Opera, Heroes’ Square, and the town park with the Vajdahunyad Castle. We’ll visit the Fisherman’s Bastion which offers a panoramic view of Budapest, and Gellért Hill overlooking the Danube. After lunch back on the ship, you’ll have free time to explore Budapest independently, peruse the local markets for gifts and souvenirs, or join an optional…
Bratislava (Slovakia)
After breakfast, enjoy some time to relax as we cruise down the Danube this morning to Bratislava. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Bratislava, the pedestrian-only capital of Slovakia which is uniquely situated on the border of three countries. We’ll see the Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the Old Town and the Danube. Their traditional Christmas Markets are considered a must-see filled with live music, tantalizing aromas, and Slovakian handcrafted goods. Eat your way through this one-of-a-kind market, sampling Trdelniks (Chimney Cakes), Bratislavske rozky, and the well-known…
Melk (Austria)
This morning, enjoy breakfast and relax on the ship during our scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley, an Austrian region known for its charming villages, rolling hills, vineyards, and ancient ruins and fortresses. This afternoon, we’ll visit the beautiful Melk Abbey which not only has spectacular views overlooking the Danube, but also contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and several other members of the house of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty. While originally founded in 1089, the stunning baroque abbey standing before you was built in the 18th-century…
Linz (Austria)
After breakfast this morning, enjoy a walking tour of Linz, the capital of Upper Austria known for its stunning architecture, traditional bakeries, and non-traditional shopping experiences. Linz rose to prominence under the Hapsburg Empire and today it’s a vibrant cultural center. Our walking tour takes us through the Old Quarter where we’ll see the Market Hall, the Mozarthaus (birthplace of the Linz Symphony), the magnificent Renaissance Landhaus Tower, and the elegant facade of the Landestheater. If the church schedule permits, you may step inside the New Cathedral,…
Vienna (Austria)
This morning enjoy a motorcoach city tour of Austria’s Imperial City, Vienna, including the Hunderwasser, the Ringstrasse, the Parliament, the State Opera, Hofburg (Imperial Palace), and Belvedere Palace, one of Austria’s most important baroque buildings. After a typical Viennese lunch in the city, enjoy a guided walking tour of one of the two most popular Christmas markets—the Rathouse or the Old Market at Freyung. Taste the local pastries, sample hot drink specialties, and experience the magic of story-reading on the Celestial Stage. During your free time, you may wish to…
Tour Itinerary B - Vienna to Budapest
Vienna (Austria)
This morning enjoy a motorcoach city tour of Austria’s Imperial City, Vienna, including the Hunderwasser, the Ringstrasse, the Parliament, the State Opera, Hofburg (Imperial Palace), and Belvedere Palace, one of Austria’s most important baroque buildings. Belvedere Palace is made up of two buildings which are connected by a beautiful garden. Upper Belvedere offers views of Vienna’s first district and houses the largest collection of paintings by Gustav Klimt in the world including “The Kiss” and “Judith”. After a typical Viennese lunch in the city,…
Melk (Austria)
This morning, enjoy breakfast and relax on the ship during our scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley, an Austrian region known for its charming villages, rolling hills, vineyards, and ancient ruins and fortresses. This afternoon, we’ll visit the beautiful Melk Abbey which not only has spectacular views overlooking the Danube, but also contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and several other members of the house of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty. While originally founded in 1089, the stunning baroque abbey standing before you was built in the 18th-century…
Linz (Austria)
After breakfast this morning, enjoy a walking tour of Linz, the capital of Upper Austria known for its stunning architecture, traditional bakeries, and non-traditional shopping experiences. Linz rose to prominence under the Hapsburg Empire and today it’s a vibrant cultural center. Our walking tour takes us through the Old Quarter where we’ll see the Market Hall, the Mozarthaus (birthplace of the Linz Symphony), the magnificent Renaissance Landhaus Tower, and the elegant facade of the Landestheater. If the church schedule permits, you may step inside the New Cathedral,…
Bratislava (Slovakia)
After breakfast, enjoy some time to relax as we cruise down the Danube this morning to Bratislava. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Bratislava, the pedestrian-only capital of Slovakia which is uniquely situated on the border of three countries. We’ll see the Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the Old Town and the Danube. Their traditional Christmas Markets are considered a must-see filled with live music, tantalizing aromas, and Slovakian handcrafted goods. Eat your way through this one-of-a-kind market, sampling Trdelniks (Chimney Cakes), Bratislavske rozky, and the well-known…
Budapest (Hungary)
After breakfast this morning, we’ll explore Budapest, Hungary’s capital city divided into historic Buda and vibrant Pest by the Danube River. During our panoramic tour of Budapest we’ll see some of the city’s most popular sights including the Parliament Building, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Opera, Heroes’ Square, and the town park with the Vajdahunyad Castle. We’ll visit the Fisherman’s Bastion which offers a panoramic view of Budapest, and Gellért Hill overlooking the Danube. After lunch back on the ship, you’ll have free time to explore…
Guided Tour Pricing
There are currently no future departures for this tour.
Optional Tours Customize your trip with these optional tours.
To make your cruise more even more memorable, we’ll offer several optional tours and cultural/dining evening activities. These are subject to change (and others will likely be added), and the prices are approximate. They are payable by cash (euros) or by credit card with a surcharge. Note that optional tours are non-refundable.
Featured Accommodations
Refurbished in 2020, the MS Vivienne features 2 decks with French Balconies and offers an upscale experience. All 73 cabins feature a PIN-coded safe, internal telephone, flat-screen television offering several European channels, an individually controlled air conditioning and heating system, Vanity desk and chair, hair dryer, and private bathroom with glass-enclosed shower. Cabins are distributed over three decks with the main deck featuring smaller upper windows that do not open (Category D), middle deck featuring panoramic windows that do not open (Category C) or floor-to-ceiling windows…
Before You Depart
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Your flights from New York’s JFK Airport to Europe are on the following airlines with the corresponding schedules. We recommend that you arrive at the airport at least 3 ½ hours before the scheduled departure.
| Departure Date | Airport | Airline | Depart | Return |
| 2020: Nov. 22 | New York (JFK) | Austrian Airlines / Lufthansa Airlines | 6:00 PM | 8:30 PM |
| 2020: Nov. 28, Dec. 7 | New York (JFK) | Swiss Airlines / Lufthansa Airlines | 9:00 PM | 8:30 PM |
Please make sure to allow sufficient time for clearing immigration and customs if you are planning a connecting flight. We recommend at least 3 ½ hours. Please keep in mind that flight schedules are always subject to change.
ADVANCE SEAT ASSIGNMENT
Please note that the above airlines do not assign seats in advance. Seat assignments can only be arranged upon check-in at the airport. Please note that smarTours is not involved in your seat assignment. It is between you and the airline!
LAND-ONLY TRAVELERS
International flights to/from the U.S. are not included. Land-only travelers are responsible for arranging the entry and exit flights, as well as their arrival and departure transfers. smarTours cannot be held responsible for any damage caused by air schedule changes and delays. Unused land services are non-refundable.
Main Tour: Land-only services start upon ship embarkation on Day 2 of the itinerary listed on our tour page. Land-only services end after breakfast on the boat on Day 8 of the itinerary. Please be sure to schedule your departure flight in the afternoon to accommodate disembarkation.
PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION
You must be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. American citizens do not require a visa to enter the countries visited. Non U.S. citizens should check with the respective consulates of the countries visited on this tour as to the most current visa requirements. Please remember that it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary travel documents before the trip.
TICKETS AND FINAL DOCUMENTS
Your airline tickets along with final instruction and some additional travel tips will be sent to you 10 – 7 days before the scheduled departure of your tour. Please advise us in writing should your address change.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Immunizations are NOT currently required; however, you may wish to consult your personal physician or local public health authorities as to their suggestions.
CLIMATE
In December you can expect daytime highs in the upper 30’s with nighttime lows in the upper 20’s. It is the winter and many walks will be outside so please pack and dress accordingly.
CREDIT CARDS AND LOCAL CURRENCY
The currency used aboard the ship is the Euro! You will have an opportunity to exchange US dollars to Euros at the beginning of your trip. You may also purchase Euros in the USA before departure. The ship does not have currency exchange facilities. Traveler’s checks are not accepted aboard the ship nor are they widely accepted in the smaller towns and villages along the route. For incidental expenses onboard (excluding optional tours) you may also use Visa or Mastercard but a small service fee will apply. During visits to major cities and onshore excursions, you will find that many of the small souvenir vendors may accept US dollars or Euros as payment.
BAGGAGE
Each passenger may bring one piece of checked-in luggage (suitcase) max. 44 pounds and one carry-on piece. Carry on must not exceed 18”x10”x8”. We recommend that you do not over-pack and that you take a variety of separates with climate and comfort in mind.