Caroline Swift

Ports Visited: Budapest (2 Days), Vienna (2 Days), Krems, Passau, Regensburg (2 Days)

Budapest (Embark)

This enchanting and exotic capital of Hungary straddles the banks of the Danube and is divided into two distinct parts, traditional Buda and more modern Pest. Budapest is aptly called "Paris of the East," for its beautiful evening illumination and reflected lights in the Danube's waters.

Budapest

This enchanting and exotic capital of Hungary straddles the banks of the Danube and is divided into two distinct parts, traditional Buda and more modern Pest. Budapest is aptly called "Paris of the East," for its beautiful evening illumination and reflected lights in the Danube's waters.

Vienna

A wealth of treasures await you in Vienna - one of Europe´s most dynamic cities. A center of classical music, art, theater, and history, Vienna is the city of the waltz, the Spanish Riding School, Sacher Torte, and the famous Vienna Boys´ Choir. A number of excursions allow you to capture the spirit of this elegant city.

Vienna

A wealth of treasures await you in Vienna - one of Europe´s most dynamic cities. A center of classical music, art, theater, and history, Vienna is the city of the waltz, the Spanish Riding School, Sacher Torte, and the famous Vienna Boys´ Choir. A number of excursions allow you to capture the spirit of this elegant city.

Krems

Krems an der Donau is the eastern gateway to the Wachau Valley, one of Europe's loveliest river landscapes. It is also one of the oldest cities in the land. This history extending back more than a thousand years is evident everywhere - in the streets and squares, in the old monasteries and churches, in the town houses and fortifications. The historical center of Krems is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Over the centuries, builders and architects have created a unique city'scape here that has been lovingly cared for and preserved. These efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 1975 Krems was singled out as a "Model City for Historical Preservation" and in 2000 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. With all this history, you might think that the city is dominated by the past. In reality, Krems is very open to modern life: Contemporary art and culture play an important role here, adding variety and energy to public areas throughout the city.

Passau

One of Germany´s oldest and most beautiful cities, Passau is ideally located at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube rivers. This city, with its charming cobblestone streets and graceful arcades, is perfect for exploring. Begin with the impressive St Stephan´s Cathedral. Beneath its lavish interior is one of the largest pipe organs in the world.

Regensburg

Regensburg (German Ratisbon) is a city in Bavaria in the southeast of Germany at the confluence of the Danube and the Regen Rivers. For a time, Albertus Magnus was the bishop of Regensburg. The fourteenth-century Reichssaal in the town hall was the site of the Imperial Diet between 1663 and 1806. But Regensburg was devastated by French troops in 1809, and was ceded back to Bavaria in 1810. Regensburg's impressive medieval architecture survived the French assault, however, and much of it still stands, including the twelfth-century Steinerne Brcke (stone bridge) across the Danube and the Cathedral of Saint Peter (1275-1524). St. Emmeram's, a ninth-century Romanesque church, was significantly remodeled in the eighteenth century. St. Emmeram's Abbey in 1812 became the palace of the princes of Thurn and Taxis.

Regensburg (Disembark)

Regensburg (German Ratisbon) is a city in Bavaria in the southeast of Germany at the confluence of the Danube and the Regen Rivers. For a time, Albertus Magnus was the bishop of Regensburg. The fourteenth-century Reichssaal in the town hall was the site of the Imperial Diet between 1663 and 1806. But Regensburg was devastated by French troops in 1809, and was ceded back to Bavaria in 1810. Regensburg's impressive medieval architecture survived the French assault, however, and much of it still stands, including the twelfth-century Steinerne Brcke (stone bridge) across the Danube and the Cathedral of Saint Peter (1275-1524). St. Emmeram's, a ninth-century Romanesque church, was significantly remodeled in the eighteenth century. St. Emmeram's Abbey in 1812 became the palace of the princes of Thurn and Taxis.