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 (entrance fee included), 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 (subject to confirmation)
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 (subject to confirmation).
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 (entrance fee included), one of Europe's largest castle complexes
Lunch on your own at local restaurant (not included)
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 (subject to confirmation)
Return to the ship for lunch (included in the cruise package rate)
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 (entrance fee included), 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 (included in the cruise package rate).
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 (entrance fee included)
Enjoy a break for lunch in town on your own with some free time (not included)
Depart Salzburg to visit Maria Plain Shrine
Celebrate Mass at Maria Plain Basilica (subject to confirmation)
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 Linz, rejoin the ship and have a free time
Dinner on the ship (included in the cruise package rate).
Ship departs Linz for Emmersdorf
Overnight on the ship (B, D)
Day 7: Emmersdorf (Melk) – Durnstein – Vienna
Breakfast on the ship
08:00 AM Ship arrives Emmersdorf
Board the coach for Melk Abbey
Celebrate Mass at Melk Abbey (subject to confirmation)
Enjoy a guided tour of Melk Abbey (entrance fee included), 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 (included in the cruise package rate).
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 (on your own, not included)
Ship departs Durnstein.
Dinner on ship (included in the cruise package rate).
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 (subject to confirmation)
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 to include Donners′ Fountain, Belvedere Palace Gardens, Hofburg Palace, Spanish Horses training place and St. Stephen′s Cathedral (entrance fee included)
Lunch on your own in the city (not included) or come back to the ship to have lunch on board (included in the cruise package rate)
After lunch enjoy free time at leisure
Return to the ship for a dinner (included in the cruise package rate)
Departure for classical music concert
Enjoy Strauss and Mozart concert at one of the concert halls at the Kursalon (included).
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 (subject to confirmation)
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 (not included) or come back to the ship to have lunch on board (included in the cruise package rate)
After lunch we will enjoy a beer tasting (included). 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 (included in the cruise package rate)
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 (included in the cruise package rate).
Board the coach and start our exploration of this beautiful city with a tour of the Buda Castle Hill.
Celebrate Mass at Matthias Church (subject to confirmation).
Enjoy a guided tour of Budapest starting from Matthias Church (entrance fee included), and the Fisherman’s Bastion (entrance fee included). 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 (included in the cruise package rate).
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).