11 Day Pilgrimage to Prague With A Classical Danube Cruise
Day 1: Depart USA
Day 2: Prague arrival
Arrive at the Airport, meet your tour escorts and board the coach for drive to the hotel.
Check in into the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel in Prague (D).
Day 3: Prague
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy a half day of sightseeing in Prague focusing on Hradcany Castle District, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Castle, St. George’s Basilica and the Church of Our Lady Victorious where you see the Statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague.
Celebrate Mass at local church.
Later, cross the Charles Bridge visiting the Old Town, the Market Square, “Astronomical Clock”, Wenceslas Square and Josefov, the Jewish quarter.
Lunch on your own.
Free afternoon for relaxing and shopping.
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel in Prague (B, D).
Day 4: Prague – Prachatice and Cesky Krumlov - Passau
Breakfast at the hotel and check in.
Board the coach and drive to Prachatice, birthplace of Johann Nepomuk.
Celebrate Mass at local church in Prachatice or at Cesky Krumlov.
Board the coach and drive to Cesky Krumlov. Join an excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Cesky Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city's picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe's largest castle complexes.
Lunch on your own at local restaurant.
Drive to Passau.
Embark the ship.
Balance of the day at leisure.
Welcome cocktail followed by a specially-prepared Welcome Dinner on the ship (included in the cruise package rate).
Overnight on the ship (B, D).
Day 5: Passau – Altotting – Passau
Breakfast on the ship.
After breakfast we board our coach and drive through the beautiful Bavarian countryside to Altotting, often called “The Lourdes of Germany” due to the thousands of pilgrims coming here every year for healing. Here we see the “Black Madonna of Altotting,” a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. We also visit the Basilica of St. Anna, the Holy Chapel, the Collegiate Church, and the treasury, housing the gifts donated to the Basilica (tour to be provided by tour escorts).
Celebrate Mass at the parish church (Stadtpfarrei) of St. Philip and James.
Return to the ship for lunch.
Afternoon we will have guided tour of Passau, the ′Bavarian Venice′, beautifully situated at the confluence of the Danube, Ilz and Inn rivers. We will visit the magnificent St. Stephan’s Cathedral, containing the world’s largest church organ (17,774 organ pipes, 233 stops and 4 carillons). Our tour will also include the Museum of the Treasure of the Cathedral, which shows the treasures of Passau’s past when it was the capital of the largest diocese of the Holy Roman Empire.
Return to the ship.
Dinner on the ship.
Ship departs Passau for Linz.
Overnight on the ship (B, L, D).
Day 6: Linz: full day excursion to Salzburg and Maria Plain (by bus) – Emmersdorf
Ship arrives Linz.
Breakfast on the ship.
Board the coach and depart for Salzburg.
Enjoy a guided tour of Salzburg Old Town. View the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Gardens and Salzburger Dom.
Enjoy a break for lunch in town on your own with some free time.
Depart Salzburg to visit Maria Plain Shrine.
Celebrate Mass at Maria Plain Basilica.
Maria Plain Basilica is hosting the miraculous painting of the "Virgin with Child" by an unknown painter. It miraculously survived a fire in the Bavarian town of Regen undamaged.
Board the coach and depart for Linz riding through the picturesque lake region Salzkammergut.
Arrive in Linz. Rejoin the ship and have a free time.
Dinner on the ship.
Ship departs Linz for Emmersdorf.
Overnight on the ship (B, D).
Day 7: Emmersdorf (Melk) – Durnstein – Vienna
Breakfast on the ship.
Ship arrives Emmersdorf.
Board the coach for Melk Abbey.
Celebrate Mass at Melk Abbey.
Enjoy a guided tour of Melk Abbey, the Baroque style structure is surrounded by a gorgeous town with Renaissance homes and winding streets reminiscent of the Middle Ages. The Abbey is the setting for Umberto Eco′s ′The Name of the Rose′. Among the treasures housed here are paintings, sculptures, and decorative art from the 9th to 15th centuries.
Come back to the ship for lunch on board.
Ship departs Emmersdorf.
Spend time on deck as you cruise through the picturesque heart of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Austria.
Ship arrives Durnstein.
Visit the town on your own. During your walk, taste special apricot treats from a local boutique.
Ship departs Durnstein.
Dinner on ship.
Ship arrives in Vienna.
Overnight on the ship in Vienna (B, L, D).
Day 8: Vienna (Classical Music Concert)
Breakfast on the ship.
Board the coach and depart for visiting.
Celebrate Mass at Votivkirche or other local church.
Panoramic tour of Vienna. Meet our local English speaking guides and enjoy tour of Vienna Old Town between the University and Opera House, passing major monuments including Donners′ Fountain, Belvedere Palace Gardens, Hofburg Palace, Spanish Horses training place and St. Stephen′s Cathedral.
Lunch on your own in the city or come back to the ship to have lunch on board.
After lunch, enjoy free time at leisure.
Return to the ship for a dinner.
Departure for classical music concert.
Enjoy Strauss and Mozart concert at one of the concert halls at the Kursalon.
Return to the ship after the concert or stay in the city center for a while and return on your own.
Sailing from Vienna to Bratislava.
Overnight on the ship (B, L, D).
Day 9: Bratislava
Breakfast on the ship.
Ship arrives in Bratislava.
Depart for a city tour.
Celebrate Mass at St. Martin’s church.
After Mass, meet your local guide for 1.5-2 hrs visiting of Bratislava. Walking down to the Old Town, pass by St. Martin's Cathedral, Michael´s Gate, Academia Istropolitana historical building, Main Square, Primatial (Archbishop in the past) Palace, churches, palaces of famous families, Slovak National Theatre, and Bratislava Castle on the hill with a panorama view on Bratislava (exterior views).
Lunch on your own in the city or come back to the ship to have lunch on board.
After lunch, we will enjoy a beer tasting. It’s brewed by traditional recipe of pilsner style beer, following the standards of this beer strictly contains only water, malt, hop and brewing yeast.
Balance of the day free for your own activities and exploration.
Return to the ship.
Dinner on the ship.
Sailing from Bratislava to Budapest.
Overnight on the ship (B, L, D).
Day 10: Budapest
Breakfast on the ship.
This morning, spend time on deck as you cruise one of the most beautiful section of the river – the Danube Bend. This area offers a picturesque journey through Central Europe, showcasing stunning landscapes, historic towns, and cultural landmarks.
Ship arrives Budapest.
Have lunch on board.
Board the coach and start our exploration of this beautiful city with a tour of the Buda Castle Hill.
Celebrate Mass at Matthias Church.
Enjoy a guided tour of Budapest starting from Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion. Explore the unbeatable views of the Danube and Pest. Cross the bridge and pass by St. Stephen’s Basilica (outside view) and Hungary’s ornate Parliament building (outside view) prominently situated on the opposite bank. Have a stroll in Central Market Hall.
Farewell dinner on the ship with folklore show.
Overnight on the ship (B, L, D).
Day 11: Budapest departure
Breakfast on the ship.
Disembark.
Transfer to the Airport for your flight back home (B).