River Cruising

The Blue Danube

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Direction and Year

Select the cruise direction, and the year, you would like to travel.

Days
12
From (per Person)
$10,290 AUD
Journey Type
River Cruising
Time of Year
May - Oct
Cities & Landmarks
Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Regensburg, Salzburg, Budapest
Dürnstein, Austria

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Overview

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

 

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private Imperial Evening at a palace in Vienna featuring a gala dinner and Viennese performers

 

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private aperitif and dinner in Prague at Lobkowicz Palace, Prague Castle

 

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private tour of Prague's Baroque libraries, Strahov Monastery 

 

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

 

All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

 

All private Tauck shore excursions – AUD $5,352 Value

 

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Activity

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On some days, walking extends to 2–3.5 miles (~4,000–7,000 steps), with occasional stairs, hills, or uneven surfaces. Standing periods may last up to 90 minutes, but this level still includes breaks and lower-effort days.

Pace

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A steady daily tempo with 2–3 guided activities. Most days include early departures balanced with rest periods or scenic downtime. Transitions between cities occur every 2–3 days.

View Full Itinerary

Exclusively inclusive river cruising

Along the "river of kings"... medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals... charming riverside villages... the Imperial treasures of the Habsburgs... lush Wachau valley vineyards... the music of Mozart... 

From Prague to Budapest, castles of all descriptions have watched over the landscape from their royal perches for centuries. On this 12-day journey featuring a 9-night Danube cruise, they remain lasting testimony to kingdoms and culture, ready to welcome you… during a private dinner in Lobkowicz Palace… an exclusive evening of Imperial entertainment at a private Vienna palace... in Baroque Salzburg and atop Budapest's Castle Hill... and exploring Vienna's Hofburg or Schönbrunn Palace. It's a Blue Danube cruise to remember! Read Less

The Danube River

Tauck Exclusive – Imperial Evening at Palais Pallavicini

Our gala Imperial Evening at a private palace in Vienna

Built in 1784, the sumptuous Palais Pallavicini is a grand private palace in the heart of Vienna whose magnificent Baroque touches transport you to another time. Join us at the Palais for a gala evening featuring a reception, dinner and classical performances sure to sweep you off your feet... and let you experience firsthand how Europe's cultured classes lived and were entertained centuries ago. And film fans will note that the Palais and its elegant facade served as rogue Harry Lime's postwar Vienna apartment in the Cold War classic "The Third Man."

Everything on our Danube cruise was top notch. The staff went above and beyond to accommodate us; I can't imagine a company that could be more attentive to individual needs!

Ellen Breslow, Ed.D., CCC

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Deck Plans

Welcome Aboard

Sun Deck

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Diamond Deck

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Category 5

Category 7

(Note: All Category 7 cabins are three-guest capacity suites with a pull-out couch)

Ruby Deck

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Category 2

Category 4

Category 5

Category 6

Emerald Deck

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Category 1

Category 3

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Sun Deck

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Diamond Deck

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Category 5

Category 7

(Note: All Category 7 cabins are three-guest capacity suites with a pull-out couch)

Ruby Deck

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Category 2

Category 4

Category 5

Category 6

Emerald Deck

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Category 1

Category 3

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Sun Deck

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Diamond Deck

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Category 3

Category 5

Category 7

Ruby Deck

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Category 4

Category 6

Emerald Deck

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Category 1

Category 2

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Your Journey

Pricing & Availability

About Booking This Tour

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Deposit & Booking Information

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 1800-962-043 to make a reservation.

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan are due at time of booking. Your deposit is AUD $1,100.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:
  • Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
  • Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
  • Traveler's Address(es)
  • Traveler's Phone Number(s)
  • Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
  • Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
  • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
  • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to the Tauck Australia office 90 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Protect Your Travel Investment

Deposit Protection Plan – Tauck provides a "Deposit Protection Plan" at a cost of AUD $89 per person per tour or cruise. The cost is non-refundable and non-transferable and must be paid at the time of booking with your deposit. It only applies when you cancel your tour or cruise prior to final payment date. The deposit held in credit will exclude fees imposed by third parties in relation to air, rail travel, hotels, transfer or applicable cruise cabins. When booking airfares through Tauck (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel), standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In some cases, airfares will be non-refundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. We will only credit the remainder of deposit to a future tour or cruise booking if you book within 24 months of cancellation of the original Tauck tour or cruise. This offer expires after the 24 months. We will only credit the remainder of the deposit to a future tour or cruise booking Balance Due and it can't be used as a credit for the initial deposit of a future tour or cruise booking. The Tauck "Deposit Protection Plan" only covers a Tauck tour or cruise and it does not replace Travel Insurance, which we recommend at the time of booking.

What if I need to cancel?

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit

Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees.

 

If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit

Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in costly penalties and fees from hotels, ship operators and other travel providers. Therefore, the per person fees listed below will apply:

 

Land Tours

 

Cancellation penalties for land tours apply as follows:

60 days or more before departure

Loss of Deposit.

 

8 days before departure

25% total cost of tour

 

7 days or less before departure

50% of total cost of tour

 

Cruises & Train Tours

 

120 days or more before departure

Loss of Deposit.

 

60 days before departure

Loss of 50% of tour cost, not including air (if applicable)

 

59-1 day before departure

Loss of 100% of tour cost, not including air (if applicable)

 

Please note -  Airfares included on On-Tour Flights required with any of Tauck tours may be subject to different cancellation fees not outlined above.

* For services included in your booking that are not provided by Tauck, additional cancellation fees may be incurred

* Travel Professionals may impose their own cancellation fees.

 

Time of cancellation is when notice is received in Tauck's Wilton, CT office.

 

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

 

Tour Interruption Fees: If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund for the unused land portion if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply. Such refunds are based upon the number of overnights missed less a fee of AUD $50 per person per day for unused transportation and other fixed expenses.

Partial Room Cancellation: A person who cancels or leaves a tour while a roommate remains constitutes a cancellation of one type of accommodation and rebooking of another type of accommodation. The price charged to the remaining person is the new, higher price for the new accommodation.

 

Trip Prep & Essentials

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Are there any health considerations I should be aware of?

Because you will be cruising on a river and not on the open sea, you are never far from land and, therefore, there is no doctor on board. In case of emergency we can easily dock the boat and call for an ambulance or medical assistance.

Your riverboat is registered in Basel, Switzerland. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly. 

Vaccinations: 

If you are a resident of the U.S., no other vaccinations are currently required for travel to the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia or Hungary. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

If you are a resident of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia or Hungary to determine whether additional vaccinations are required for your travel. 

Mobility on tour:

To fully enjoy your Tauck river cruise, you should be in good health and comfortable walking reasonable distances over unpaved and uneven surfaces, as some of the most memorable sightseeing takes place on foot along cobblestone streets, through historic town centers, and at landmarks where stairs and uneven pathways are common. You should be able to walk one to two miles at a time, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and navigating cobblestones, uneven pavement, or groomed paths, and at certain sites standing for up to an hour or more may be required. While there is a moderate to significant amount of walking during included excursions, participation is always at your discretion.

Riverboat accessibility:

Your riverboat features four decks: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, and Sun.

  • On the Esprit, Treasures, Emerald and Sapphire, the elevator travels between the Ruby Deck and Diamond Deck only. There is no elevator access to the Emerald Deck on these ships.
  • On the Grace, Joy, Savor, Inspire, Lumière, Serene and Andorinha, the elevator travels between the Emerald Deck and Diamond Deck.
  • On all ships, the elevator does not access the Sun Deck.
  • Elevators provide access to the Reception area and the Compass Rose dining room.
  • There is no chair lift between any decks.

Because this is a river cruise and you are never far from land, there is no doctor onboard. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the ship can dock promptly and local medical assistance will be arranged.

Wheelchairs, motorized scooters and individual mobility needs:

We regret that this itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters, and we are unable to provide individualized assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The Tauck Director's responsibility is to the group as a whole and they cannot provide ongoing personal assistance. Guests who require such support must travel with an able-bodied companion who can assist them as needed.

For medical and legal reasons, service animals are not permitted on Tauck river cruises.

Dietary requests:

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

Smoking:

On board the riverboat, smoking is permitted in a limited area of the Sun deck. Smoking (including e-Cigarettes) is not permitted in any cabin, the restaurant, the lounge or any other interior space.

What travel documents are needed?

Passport:

U.S. citizens: You will need a passport valid for at least six months beyond the completion of your tour to enter the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. A visa is not required for this journey.

Non-U.S. citizens: Please contact the appropriate embassies or consulates to confirm entry requirements.

Before you travel:

  • Provide your passport information to Tauck as soon as you book. This is required for embarkation.
  • Your passport will be briefly collected onboard to comply with port regulations.
  • Make two photocopies of your passport's photo page. Keep one with you (separate from your passport) and leave one at home.

Traveling with children: If a child is traveling without both parents, carry a notarized letter of consent from the non-traveling parent(s) authorizing travel and emergency medical treatment. Some countries strictly enforce these requirements. Tauck is not responsible for disruptions due to incomplete documentation.

If you are extending your stay abroad, additional documentation may be required.

Note: The Czech Republic requires proof of medical insurance covering hospitalization and medical treatment during your stay. A health insurance card or an internationally recognized credit card that includes medical coverage is generally accepted. Please confirm your coverage prior to departure.

 

The Tauck Experience

Tauck's River Cruise Guide

Danube River Facts

First Timer's Guide

Why Take A Tauck River Cruise

Choosing The Best European River Cruise For You

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Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

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