Grand Danube Cruise
Departure dates: 15 May to 18 September 2019
We will sail along the second longest river in Europe, which rises in the Black Forest and flows through numerous Central European countries all the way to the Black Sea. We will admire centuries-old cities, medieval castles, Baroque churches and beautiful palaces, as well as the capitals of the Austro-Hungarian Empire — Vienna and Budapest. A river journey crossing Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, which can begin or end in Prague.
Version A — Linz / Budapest
Day 1 — Linz (Austria)
Monday · Dinner on board
Embarkation at the port of Linz, in the city centre, aboard the "MS Swiss Diamond" (or similar). Accommodation on board.
Day 2 — Linz
Tuesday · Full board on board
Linz is the capital of Upper Austria and a beautiful Baroque city, situated between the Danube Valley and the ancient salt route; since the 19th century it has been the most important port on the middle Danube. Free day to explore the city. We recommend the optional full-day excursion to Salzburg. Welcome cocktail and crew presentation. Night navigation towards Melk.
Day 3 — Melk / Dürnstein / Vienna
Wednesday · Full board on board
Early arrival in Melk, a picturesque town at the foot of a 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, in one of the most beautiful regions of the Danube Valley — the Wachau. At the indicated time we depart for Dürnstein, a village in the heart of the Wachau Valley. It was here, in Kueringer Castle, that Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner on his return from the Crusades. Navigation towards Vienna. Accommodation on board.
Day 4 — Vienna
Thursday · Full board on board
Guided panoramic tour of the Austrian capital: the Opera House, the City Hall, the Parliament, the Museum Quarter and the old historic centre, where we stroll around the surroundings of St. Stephen's Cathedral. Free afternoon for optional activities. Accommodation on board.
Day 5 — Vienna / Bratislava (Slovakia)
Friday · Full board on board
Free time in the morning in the city that evokes the splendour of the Habsburg Empire. At the indicated time, departure for Bratislava. Arrival and visit of this ancient city of imperial coronations, today the young capital of the Slovak Republic. Guided walk with views of the Archbishop's Palace, the National Theatre, St. Martin's Cathedral, Michalska Gate and the Town Hall. Onward to Esztergom. Accommodation on board.
Day 6 — Esztergom / Budapest (Hungary)
Saturday · Full board on board
Stop in Esztergom/Štúrovo and optional excursion to the "Danube Bend": Esztergom Basilica, Visegrád and Szentendre, the "Montmartre" of Hungary. Onward to Budapest. Panoramic tour: the grand boulevards, the Parliament, the Opera House, Heroes' Square in Pest and Fisherman's Bastion in Buda. After dinner, folkloric show on board and a night cruise to admire the illuminated monuments. Accommodation on board.
Day 7 — Budapest
Sunday · Full board on board
Budapest, more closely bound to the Danube than any other capital, former jewel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Free day to explore at your own pace. Gala dinner, ship's entertainment show and dance night. Accommodation on board.
Day 8 — Budapest
Monday · Breakfast on board
Disembarkation.
Version B — Budapest / Linz
Day 1 — Budapest
Monday · Dinner on board
Embarkation aboard the "MS Swiss Diamond" (or similar). Accommodation on board.
Day 2 — Budapest
Tuesday · Full board on board
Morning guided panoramic tour of Budapest: the grand boulevards, the Parliament, the Opera House, Heroes' Square in Pest and Fisherman's Bastion in Buda. Visit to Matthias Church. Welcome cocktail and crew presentation. Folkloric show on board and night cruise to admire the illuminated monuments. Accommodation on board.
Day 3 — Budapest / Esztergom / Bratislava
Wednesday · Full board on board
Free morning in Budapest. Optional Danube Bend excursion available: Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom Basilica. Technical stop and boarding for those who took the excursion. Accommodation on board.
Day 4 — Bratislava / Vienna
Thursday · Full board on board
Arrival in Bratislava. Guided walk: Archbishop's Palace, National Theatre, St. Martin's Cathedral, Michalska Gate and Town Hall. Onward to Vienna, the heart of Central Europe. Accommodation on board.
Day 5 — Vienna
Friday · Full board on board
Guided panoramic tour of the Austrian capital: the Opera House, the City Hall, the Parliament, the Museum Quarter and the old historic centre around St. Stephen's Cathedral. Free afternoon. Accommodation on board. (Night navigation).
Day 6 — Dürnstein / Melk
Saturday · Full board on board
Arrival in Dürnstein, in the heart of the Wachau Valley — where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner in Kuenringer Castle. At the indicated time, departure for Melk, a picturesque town at the foot of the 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey in the Danube Valley. Gala dinner, ship's entertainment show and dance night. Accommodation on board.
Day 7 — Linz
Sunday · Full board on board
Linz, capital of Upper Austria, a beautiful Baroque city. Free day to explore. We recommend the optional full-day excursion to Salzburg and the lake region. Accommodation on board.
Day 8 — Linz
Monday
Disembarkation.
Extensions
Prague (Czech Republic) to/from Linz — from 190 €
Prices per person, double room basis (4★ sup. hotel, bed & breakfast).
— 1-night extension: 190 €
— 2-night extension: 290 €
Includes: 1 or 2 nights B&B + airport-hotel transfer (or return) + panoramic tours of Prague and Český Krumlov + bus transfer Linz/Prague (or return).
Budapest — from 120 €
Prices per person, double room basis (4★ sup. hotel, bed & breakfast).
— 1-night extension: 120 €
— 2-night extension: 180 €
Includes: 1 or 2 nights B&B + airport-hotel-port transfer (or return).
Cruise timetables
Version A — Linz / Budapest
| Day | City | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Linz | boarding 18:00 | — |
| Tuesday | Linz | — | 21:00 |
| Wednesday | Melk / Dürnstein / Vienna | 04:30 / 13:30 / 22:30 | 12:00 / 17:30 / — |
| Thursday | Vienna | — | — |
| Friday | Vienna / Bratislava | — / 17:15 | 13:15 / 23:15 |
| Saturday | Esztergom / Budapest | 18:15 / 13:00 | 09:30 / — |
| Sunday | Budapest | — | — |
| Monday | Budapest | disembarkation 09:00 | — |
Version B — Budapest / Linz
| Day | City | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Budapest | boarding 18:00 | — |
| Tuesday | Budapest | — | — |
| Wednesday | Budapest / Esztergom | — / 19:30 | 14:00 / 20:00 |
| Thursday | Bratislava / Vienna | 07:30 / 19:30 | 13:30 / — |
| Friday | Vienna | — | 23:59 |
| Saturday | Dürnstein / Melk | 07:30 / 13:00 | 12:00 / 21:30 |
| Sunday | Linz | 07:30 | — |
| Monday | Linz | disembarkation 09:00 | — |
Cruise prices (€ per person)
| Date | Version | Cabin B2 | Cabin B1 | Cabin A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15A | 1,255 | 1,340 | 1,530 | |
| May 22B | 1,255 | 1,340 | 1,530 | |
| May 29A | 1,335 | 1,420 | 1,615 | |
| Jun 5B | 1,485 | 1,570 | 1,765 | |
| Jun 12A | 1,525 | 1,615 | 1,810 | |
| Jun 19B | 1,580 | 1,665 | 1,860 | |
| Jun 26A | 1,560 | 1,645 | 1,840 | |
| Jul 3B | 1,340 | 1,425 | 1,615 | |
| Jul 10A | 1,375 | 1,455 | 1,645 | |
| Jul 17B | 1,375 | 1,455 | 1,645 | |
| Jul 24A | 1,375 | 1,455 | 1,645 | |
| Jul 31B | 1,510 | 1,590 | 1,780 | |
| Aug 7A | 1,510 | 1,590 | 1,780 | |
| Aug 14B | 1,510 | 1,590 | 1,780 | |
| Aug 21A | 1,475 | 1,560 | 1,750 | |
| Aug 28B | 1,445 | 1,530 | 1,720 | |
| Sep 4A | 1,510 | 1,590 | 1,780 | |
| Sep 11B | 1,445 | 1,530 | 1,720 | |
| Sep 18A | 1,350 | 1,430 | 1,610 |
Supplements
| Item | € |
|---|---|
| Double cabin single use supplement: +70% | |
| Single cabin supplement (type B2): +60% | |
| Mini-suite supplement (over B1 cabin price p.p.): 550 | |
| Drinks package with meals: 105 | |
| All-inclusive drinks package (8am–midnight): 240 | |
| Port taxes: 48 | |
| AXA insurance (cancellation and other) — from: 29 |
Air transport and transfers
Return flights Spain/Vienna/Spain + transfers (min. 10 passengers)
| Item | € |
|---|---|
| From Madrid and Barcelona: 290 | |
| Supplement from rest of mainland Spain and Balearics (via Mad/BCN): 40 | |
| Supplement from Canary Islands (via Mad/BCN): 140 | |
| Flights with Prague and/or Budapest extension (Spain/Prague–Budapest/Spain or return): 290 | |
| Mid-season supplement (10 Jun – 8 Jul): 75 | |
| High season supplement (9 Jul – 15 Sep): 145 | |
| Airport taxes: on request |
Planned visits (both itineraries)
Optional excursions (€ per person):
| Excursion | € |
|---|---|
| Salzburg, full day (without lunch): 75 | |
| Salzburg with lunch: 95 | |
| Melk (Abbey visit): 35 | |
| Vienna: Concert at Kursalon Hall: 60 | |
| Vienna: Concert at Musikverein, Opera and KonzertHaus: 85 | |
| Vienna: Belvedere Gardens + Schönbrunn Palace: 40 | |
| Danube Bend (Esztergom / Szentendre / Visegrád): 45 | |
| Budapest: Basilica, Opera and Gellért Hill: 35 |
Excursions require a minimum of 25 participants. Prices are approximate. Booked and paid on board.
What's included / not included
Included
— 7 nights aboard the MS Swiss Diamond (or similar), standard air-conditioned double exterior cabin with shower and WC.
— Full board on board (first service dinner, last service breakfast).
— Guided visits of Vienna, Dürnstein, Bratislava and Budapest; night cruise and folkloric show in Budapest.
— Accompanying guide throughout the journey.
— Travel insurance, bag, pocket guide.
Not included
— Optional excursions.
— Drinks with meals, tips, local taxes and any other service not specified.
Drinks packages:
— Drinks with lunches and dinners (wine, beer, soft drinks, water): 105 €
— All-inclusive unlimited drinks 8am–midnight (except champagne): 240 €
Discounts / Offers
— Groups of 10–20 people: 10% discount on cabin price. Please enquire for larger groups.
— Families or groups of 7 or 9 people: 1 single cabin will not pay the 50% supplement.
— 3rd adult in a triple cabin: 20% discount.
— Children aged 2–12: 50% discount in a triple cabin (upper bunk) sharing with 2 adults.
— Children under 2: Free! (sharing cabin with 2 adults; cot subject to availability).
Cancellation fees
AXA Exclusive cancellation insurance recommended (from 29 €).
Ship information — MS Swiss Diamond
Technical data
River category: four anchors
Year built: 1996 · Last refurbishment: 2006
Length: 101.40 m · Beam: 11.40 m · Draft: 1.30 m
Engines: 1,500 hp · Cabins: 61
Crew/Passengers: 31/123 · Voltage: 220 V · Flag: Swiss
Cabin (12.5 m²)
Bed · Window · Minibar · TV · Safe · Shower · Washbasin · WC · Mirror · Desk · Wardrobe
Facilities
2 passenger decks, reception, boutique, panoramic lounge and bar, sauna, large outdoor jacuzzi, reading room, air conditioning, lift between main and upper deck. Access between decks via steep staircase (passengers with limited mobility are advised).
Cabins
58 double cabins (12.5 m²), 4 with additional bunk · 1 single (11.5 m²) · 1 triple (15.5 m²) · 1 Mini-Suite (18.5 m²). All exterior with panoramic window, twin beds (except Mini-Suite with double bed), radio, TV with Spanish-language channels, minibar, safe, hairdryer, AC and independent shower/WC.
Services included on board
Pocket guide, welcome drink, full board (drinks not included), high-quality cuisine with buffet, complimentary coffee and tea after meals, Spanish-speaking accompanying and local guides, musician on board. Laundry and ironing service (charged to account).
Credit cards: accepted (except optional excursions).
Language on board: Spanish and multilingual.
Tips: not included (6–8 € per person/day recommended).
