MS Douce France, 7 Night The beautiful blue Danube ex Vienna, Austria Return

Explore the abundant treasures of Austria and Hungary on a unique cruise to discover the secrets of the Danube. Admire the colorful alleys of Bratislava that twist around each other like in a fairy-tale village, and the Puszta, the true soul and heart of Hungary. Visit the Gellert baths, which are full of a wide range of balneotherapy services, but also the Sisi Museum, which puts in comparison myth and truth. There, you will be able to contemplate many personal effects as well as the most famous portraits of the legendary Empress.

Day 1
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Our ship will depart at 8:00 p.m. towards Melk and sail through the night.

Day 2
Join us on an optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion: Visit the Melk Abbey (only on pre-booking before departure). We'll then cruise up the beautiful Wachau Valley all the way to Dürnstein, passing gothic ruins and picturesque villages along the way. Once we arrive, we'll take a tour of this charming medieval town with our hostess. We'll return on board at the end of the afternoon and continue cruising towards Bratislava.

Day 3
Join us for the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Guided Tour of Bratislava.DISCOVER: Hiking in Bratislava: the Little Carpathians. From Devin Castle, we'll take in the splendid view of Bratislava.The afternoon will be spent cruising.

Day 4
Join us on an optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion: the Puszta, its wonderful landscapes and unusual fauna (including a traditional horse show.) The afternoon will be spent cruising towards Budapest, reaching it in the night.

Day 5
In the morning, optional excursion common to both packages: Guided tour of Budapest.Afternoon at leisure. OR optional excursions not included in the package: the Széchenyi Baths (3) or the Budapest Market Halls.In the evening, optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion: Folklore evening in Budapest, where you will discover traditional Gypsy dances and costumes.Overnight sailing towards Esztergom.

Day 6
Once we arrive, enjoy some free time in Esztergom, one of the oldest cities in Hungary. The afternoon will be spent cruising to Vienna. Tonight is our gala evening. Our ship will sail through the night.

Day 7
Join us for the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Guided visit of Vienna and Schönbrunn Castle (only on pre-booking before departure).DISCOVERY: The high art of Viennese living: Music and Viennese cafes. We'll stroll through the city and visit back stage in the Konzerthaus(2) concert hall. After our tour, enjoy a steaming cup of Vienna Coffee and a delicious pastry.In the afternoon, join us on an optional excursion for both packages: Guided tour of Hofburg Palace, the Hapsburg's winter residence and its Sisi Museum (only on pre-booking before departure).In the evening, join us on an optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion: Concert of Viennese music (subject to availability).

Day 8
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

Completely renovated in 2017 according to the company’s new standards, this ship now offers much more spacious cabins with large bay windows on the upper deck. The soft and feminine decoration mixes shades of pink with aubergine and anise colors in the common areas. The cabins evoke a marine atmosphere. Located on the upper deck, the lounge / bar (at the front) and the restaurant (at the rear) have wide panoramic windows. The cabins are spread over two decks: on the upper deck, they have large windows with French balconies; on the main deck, they have large windows. Do not hesitate to go to the sun deck to relax! It is furnished with armchairs and sun loungers to allow you to relax while enjoying a panoramic view of the landscapes.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat's design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.