MS France, 10 Night The beautiful blue Danube from Passau to Budapest ex Passau, Germany Return

Embark on a cruise to the heart of Germany, Austria and Hungary and take advantage of 11 days to discover cities with historic and authentic cultural treasures. Between the Artsetten Castle and the Gödöllö Palace, enjoy a royal journey that will take you back in time. Visit the Sisi Museum for a peek into her private life highlighted by her poems, and the Imperial Capuchin Crypt.

Day 1
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 4:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins. At 5.00 p.m. we'll set off cruising along the Danube towards the border between Austria and Germany through the attractive region of Engelhartszell. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail and evening.

Day 2
Join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Visit the Melk Abbey (only on pre-booking before departure). We'll return to the ship and cruise on to Dürnstein. Enjoy some free time exploring this picturesque village, and its Baroque-style church - the most famous in the Wachau region thanks to the legend of King Richard the Lionheart. We'll return on board in the afternoon before cruising on to Vienna. After our arrival, join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Tour the illuminated sights of Vienna by night.

Day 3
Join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Visit Vienna and the Schönbrunn Palace (only on pre-booking before departure).Enjoy a free afternoon to explore this marvelous city at your own pace or take part in our optional excursion (not included in packages): Horse-drawn carriage ride though Vienna. We'll return to the ship and cruise to Budapest, passing Bratislava on the way.

Day 4
Enjoy some time on your own exploring Esztergom, the former capital of Hungary. We'll then spend the afternoon cruising to Budapest. The Hungarian capital lies along the banks of the Danube and is one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Enjoy some free time sightseeing the city before returning to the ship. After dinner, join us for an optional excursion of Budapest by 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.

Day 6
Enjoy this day as you please (lunch not included) or join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : the Puszta. We'll return to the ship early evening.

Day 7
Enjoy this morning at leisure in Budapest or join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Tour to Gödöllö Royal Palace, summer residence of Sissi Empress. We'll then return on board and cruising at towards Bratislava. Enjoy an evening of onboard entertainment.

Day 8
We'll arrive in Bratislava in the early morning, join us for the optional excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Guided Tour of Bratislava and Tasting of Local Delights.DISCOVERY: Hiking in Bratislava: The Little Carpathians. From Devin Castle, we'll take in the splendid view of Bratislava.Our ship will cruise to Vienna.In the evening, join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Concert of Viennese music (optional and subject to availability.)

Day 9
Enjoy some free time this morning for individual sightseeing around Vienna, the imperial city, or join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Vienna, the Capuchin Church, and the Austrian National Library. Enjoy a free afternoon, or join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion to Hofburg Palace, the Hapsburg's winter residence and its Sisi Museum (only on pre-booking before departure).Our ship will cruise to Melk.

Day 10
This morning will be spent cruising along the most beautiful stretch of the Wachau region. Then enjoy some free time in Melk. In the afternoon, join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : to Arstetten Castle, last residence of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand and his wife. We'll return to the ship in Ybbs before cruising off towards Passau. Tonight's our gala dinner and evening.

Day 11
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

Partially renovated in 2016, the ship takes on a sparkling and vintage look with its anise and chocolate colors. The houndstooth-type patterns recall the elegant outfits of ladies from the sixties. The cabins display retro photographs representing Parisian monuments. The common areas are located on the upper deck and the cabins are spread over two decks and 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.