zBlue Danube Discovery Jewish Heritage Cruise 2013

Enjoy a free morning in Budapest or join us on an optional Puszta excursion, where you will experience the revival of a 100-year-old tradition of Hungarian horsemanship. In the afternoon, transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship docked in the center of the city. Tonight, gather on board for a Welcome Cocktail and Dinner as your ship cruises overnight to Bratislava. Meals B,D

This afternoon, a Jewish Heritage tour is highlighted by a visit to the tomb of Chatam Sofer, Bratislava’s most famous Rabbi. In the alternative, you may choose to join a walking tour of Bratislava. You will see such landmarks as the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace and Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. As you walk through town, admire some of the unique sculptures lining the Main Square and the historical National Theater. Yet a third option is to join the Bratislava Communist Tour. Discover the bizarre architecture of the “Slovenský Rozhlas,” (Slovak Radio) also known as the inverted pyramid, which is the national public-service radio broadcaster. Also visit Liberty Square and the memorial and cemetery for fallen soldiers of the Russian Army that helped liberate the city of Bratislava during WWII. (B,L,D)

This morning, the Jewish Heritage tour includes the Jewish Museum, Judenplatz, Sigmund Freud’s House, Jewish Cemetery and the Jewish Quarter in Vienna’s 2nd District. You may choose instead the city tour of Vienna, with highlights such as the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, and the awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The afternoon is free to stroll along the Kärtnerstrasse or sample Vienna's famous pastries. This afternoon, consider joining the optional tour of the Schönbrunn Palace, a fine example of Baroque architecture. Built originally as the summer residence of the Hapsburg Emperors, it became one of their favorite homes. Your tour will include the Imperial Apartments, still containing the furnishings of the Emperors. This evening join an optional Mozart & Strauss Concert. The concert will be held in one of the great formal concert houses of Imperial Vienna, such as the Hofburg Palace or Palais Auersperg. This unforgettable evening will be a mixture of both Mozart & Strauss; the most popular compositions of each. Following the concert, there will be an illumination tour of the Ringstrasse before returning to the ship. Meals B,L,D

This morning reach the Wachau Valley for your walking tour of Dürnstein, one of the prettiest towns along the Danube. Marvel at the magnificent blue facade of the Baroque Stiftskirche and see the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns and includes a wine tasting at a local vintner. After lunch, enjoy your scenic cruise to Melk. Here, you will tour the magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest Baroque monasteries. Another option is a guided bicycle tour through Austria’s Wachau Valley (capacity controlled). Meals B,L,D

After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to fascinating Salzburg, setting for the “Sound of Music.” In the alternative, remain on board and cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany. Located where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube, a walking tour will lead you through this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Meals B,L,D

After lunch, arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. Your Jewish Heritage tour will explore the oldest Jewish Ghetto in Germany, visiting the site of the Regensburg Synagogue, Jewish Cemetery “Judenau” and Oscar Schindler’s House. Another option is to join the Regensburg walking tour. You will see the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria - gates to a Roman fort built in 179 AD. Marvel at beautiful churches, the famous towers of the wealthy medieval families, and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. An afternoon tour of the Audi Museum is also available as a third option. Meals B,L,D

Enjoy a morning of scenic cruising through the Main-Danube Canal and the beautiful Altmühl Valley. In the afternoon, arrive in Nuremberg, where you can choose between two different tours. The Jewish Heritage tour visits infamous landmarks of the Third Reich, such as the Zeppelin Field and Party Rally Grounds. Visit the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946, including the famous Court Room 600. The other available tour explores the medieval history of Nuremberg. Highlights include the storybook 900 year-old ramparts that surround the city and the Imperial Castle. Meals B,L,D

This morning, depart Nuremberg after breakfast and drive through the pastoral countryside to Karlovy Vary, better known by its German name, Carlsbad, and most famous for its Bohemian spa. Meals B