Cruise The Danube

Leading the list of CIE’s new river cruises is The Legendary Danube, a 9-day/7-night vacation that starts in Prague and includes a 7-night cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest. Prices start at $1,499 for land only. A quick price comparison shows this is quite a discount compared to other European river cruise companies. And, with CIE, you know you won’t have to compromise on quality or service.

The itinerary, which includes all meals on board the ship, meanders through medieval Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Melk, Vienna, and ends at Budapest. Highlights of this Danube River cruise include folklore dances, lectures, theme dinners, on board music performances, and afternoon and evening piano music, as well as crossing the Continental Divide, a Benedictine Abbey Tour in Melk, the Main/Danube Canal, Wachau Valley cruise, an optional excursion to Salzburg and an optional evening concert in Vienna. Try to say that all in one breath.

A longer 12-day version of this Danube River cruise is also able from $2,074. Reverse itineraries of both cruises are also available. This is just one of the many exciting and relaxing river cruises CIE is now offering. For more information on any of their cruises visit www.cietours.com.

The Best of Austria and Germany

There is a lot to see and do in Austria, and for the first time traveler the options can be daunting. If you’re not a college student on summer break you probably don’t have months to explore and stumble across everything you’ll wish you’d seen. For the traveler that wants to see it all but doesn’t have the entire summer, a guided tour is the way to go.

Of course you want to book with a company that has a comprehensive itinerary, experienced guides and a good reputation. That’s why I recommend Trafalgar. Trafalgar’s ‘best of Austria and Germany’ tour shows you everything from the castles along the Rhine to Berlin and all the way to Frankfurt stopping to explore every point of interest along the way.

The Itinerary is unrushed, the accommodations are top of the line and Trafalgar’s guides are notable for their friendly demeanor, knowledge of tour subjects and professionalism. One tour organizer stays with you the entire trip to ensure that all your needs are met. If you want to get to know Austria and Germany, Trafalgar’s “Best of Austria and Germany” 15 day tour is a great way to do just that.

River Cruise in Austria by Viking

Here’s what one guest on a Viking cruise had to say about their experience:

“We were both very happy with our first river cruise. Not knowing what to expect and unable to find only a few reviews, we did extensive research of the various offerings. Needless to say, there exist a great variety of cruise lines, from budget to expensive. We were particularly pleased with the crew of the Viking Star. They are young, energetic and without exception, personable, eager to please and very competent.”

Vikings reputation often precedes them. Their innovative ship design allows their cruises to dock right in the heart of most cities. You can disembark right in the center of town and head to the best sites in a matter of minutes. Viking was recently voted in the top ten by Conde Nast, with reasons cited including their itineraries and service.

One of those Itineraries that probably helped them earn their Conde Nast rating was the Grand European tour. As the name implies, this is not just an Austrian tour but a tour of several countries with ports of call in Amsterdam, Bamberg, Bratislava, Budapest, Cologne, Dürnstein, Linz, Main-Danube Canal, Mainz, Melk, Nuremberg, Passau, Regensburg, Rothenburg, Rüdesheim, Vienna, Wertheim and Würzburg. Absolutely, this tour is grand.