Introduction to The Danube

This Citiescapes River Cruise combines 4 nights, 3 cities, Vienna, Bratislava & Budapest and one beautiful river – the Danube, into one easy way to have a much needed break and do the Christmas shopping at the same time.

Itinerary

DAY 1. VIENNA

On arrival in Vienna you will be transferred to the port for boarding. This may vary depending on flight timings. Embarkation at in Vienna . Welcome cocktail, crew presentation . Austrian themed finner onboard. Overnight stop.

DAY 2. VIENNA – BUDAPEST

Buffet breakfast on board. Morning at leisure for sightseeing or exploration of the delightful Viennese Christmas Markets. Back to the boat for lunch. Departure of the cruise for Budapest. Afternoon sailing on the Danube, a river rich in history and immense heritage. Dinner on board, followed by an evening’s dancing. Arrival in Budapest during the night. Overnight stopover.

DAY 3. BUDAPEST

After breakfast, there is time at leisure for to discover the Budapest Christmas Markets, one of the biggest in Europe, or to take an optional sightseeing tour of the city. Explore this astonishing city, cut in half by the Danube: Buda with its hills and valleys and Pest with its flat plain, whose panoramic view over the banks of the Danube is listed as part of the world’s cultural heritage by UNESCO. Back to the boat for lunch. Free afternoon. Explore the unquestioned marvels of the city at your own pace. Dinner on a “Hungarian theme” followed by an evening of entertainment. Departure of the boat around midnight heading for Bratislava.

DAY 4. BRATISLAVA

Morning’s sailing. Breakfast on board. For the more courageous, an aerobics session is offered in the lounge in the company of our hostess. Games and pre-prandial drinks. Lunch during the cruise. Arrival in Bratislava around 16h. Experience the Slovakian Christmas Markets, which are noted for the quality of the craft items available, or take the optional guided tour of the Slovakian capital. Dominated to the north by the slopes of the southern point of the Small Carpathians, irrigated by the Danube, the city occupies a privileged geographical site. The charm of Bratislava lies in its old city: splendid Baroque palaces, churches and pleasant squares. Back on board. Dinner and gala evening. Departure of the cruise during the night heading back to Vienna.

DAY 5. VIENNA

Arrival in Vienna early in the morning. Buffet breakfast on board. Disembarkation at 9 am. Your luggage will be stored safely onboard the boat during your free day in Vienna, while you enjoy a few more hours hunting for souvenirs and gifts in the Markets. Return airport transfer in the evening for your return flight to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Direct Flights to Vienna with Aer Lingus.
• Transfers form Airport to the quay to board your river cruiser
• 4 nights on the river cruiser, based on 2 sharing a lower deck cabin
• Meals onboard on a full board basis, with wine at dinner
• Transfer from the quay to the airport
• Return flight to Dublin
• Taxes and charges included
• 1 bag prepaid per person 20kgs

Booking remarks

• Optional insurance €25 (conditions apply)
• Single supplement €165
• Upper Deck supplement €150 per cabin
• A non refundable, non transferable booking deposit of €100 per person is required.
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if  balance is paid by credit card
• Holidays & offers are subject to availabilty at time of booking

Accommodation details

River Cruiser

WELCOME ONBOARD…

Our crew will welcome you when you come aboard and will accompany you to your cabin. A welcome drink will be served in the lounge bar when the crew is introduced. We will also give you full information on the cruise and present the various excursions which punctuate the journey at our ports of call.

Host(ess)

This person is present throughout the cruise. S/he will organise pre-meal games, the evenings and the aerobics sessions, and will provide you with information on the places we travel through. S/he will accompany you on your “exploratory” walks in certain towns. We call upon local guides, however, during excursions and tours.

Entertainment

Apart from the various ports of call which punctuate your cruise, a certain number of events and entertainments will be available depending on the duration of your cruise: pre-meal games, aerobics, evening with the crew, gala evening, dancing.

Shop

Here you will find postcards, stamps, souvenirs and practical items.

Cabins

All of our cabins have a large picture window and are air conditioned. They are fitted with a bathroom with shower, washbasin and WC. Bath towels are provided. For your comfort, they also have satellite television, radio, a hairdryer and a safe. Depending on the boat, our cabins have twin beds, a double bed or 2 beds which can be separated. The voltage on board is 220V. A telephone allows you to call other cabins, reach reception or programme your wake-up call, but you cannot call or be called from outside the boat.

Do not forget to leave your keys at reception at the end of your cruise.

Drinks Card

Aboard our boats, your drinks purchases (during meals and at the bar) are made using drinks cards worth € 15 or € 50. These can be purchased at the bar during the cruise. When you order drinks, the value of your order is ticked off. At the end of the cruise, any value remaining on the card will be refunded.

Captain

This person is responsible for navigation and the crew (sailors, helmsmen). In the event of climatic variation, the captain alone is entitled to decide to modify the itinerary of the cruise. He will also allow you to visit the bridge.

Purser

This person is responsible for catering and accommodation aboard the boat. In a sense, he is the boat’s conductor and is in direct relation with the passengers. Efficient and discreet, he will be ever-present and helpful during your cruise.

Excursions

The excursions offered are optional. If you did not book them when booking your cruise, you may do so on board (find out about all of the excursions offered on this river at the end of this document).

Smoking / Non Smoking

The entire boat is no smoking (cabin, dining room, corridors, reception, etc. The lounge bar is the only place where a distinction is made between smoking and no smoking areas.

Doctor

There is no doctor on board. If needed, the Purser will contact the closest medical service.

Sun Deck

The ideal place to enjoy the fresh air and a wonderful view of the landscape. It is laid out with armchairs and deck chairs provided free of charge.

Tipping

Tipping is left to the discretion of the customer.

Reception

Reception is manned every day, morning and afternoon (except on boarding and disembarkation days). You will be informed of this on board.

Dates and Prices

Date	Price
05 Dec 2010	€869
09 Dec 2010	€869
13 Dec 2010	€869
17 Dec 2010	€869