Joy, 7 Night Heart of the Danube: Bavaria to Budapest – Eastbound ex Munich, Germany to Budapest, Hungary

When your road is the Danube, it’s enchanting… Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and Germany are linked by peaceful river landscapes dotted with storybook castles and romantic villages surrounded by stone terraced vineyards, where making world-class wines – and tasting them! – is an art.
A wonderfully preserved medieval castle and town in the Czech Carpathian mountains are as awe-inspiring as the palaces and museums of Imperial Vienna. As you cruise from port to port, explore the cobblestone streets and market squares in the Old Towns of Budapest, Bratislava, Cesky Krumlov, Grein, and Passau, each offering unexpected cultural treasures and culinary pleasures around every bend. And the pièce de résistance – a Tauck Exclusive gala evening with music and dancing at a private palace conjures up elegant Old World Europe just for Tauck guests!

Day 1
Tour begins: 5:30 PM. A transfer is included from Munich International Airport directly to your riverboat, where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Settle in aboard ship and then meet your fellow river cruisers this evening at a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner. Your riverboat sets off along the Danube this evening.

Day 2
Awaken in Passau today for a choice of sightseeing in this riverside town in Germany, or an excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Once a Roman outpost at the confluence of three rivers, Passau is over 2,500 years old, a quintessential Bavarian town of pastel patrician houses, cafés, romantic cobblestone lanes and riverfront promenades, made for walking (many streets are closed to traffic). If you choose to stay in Passau, your walking tour immerses you in its storybook mix of Roman, Italian Baroque and German Gothic architecture. See St. Stephen’s Cathedral; view the hilltop fortress where Passau’s prince-bishops once resided; and peruse the 14th-century Rathaus (Town Hall). Later, if you wish, join your Tauck Director for a brisk walk to a hilltop fortress, or attend a public concert on the famous organ of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, when available or take a 12 mile bike ride along the Danube, meeting up with your riverboat in the town of Enghelhartszell. Alternatively, travel to Cesky Krumlov, an incredibly well-preserved medieval town in a landscape of exceptional beauty. Your walking tour includes Krumlov Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, embracing 40 buildings and palaces of medieval, Renaissance and Rococo designs, plus numerous courtyards and gardens. Return to the riverboat and enjoy the chef’s signature dinner tonight as you cruise to Grein.

Day 3
Arrive in the typically picturesque riverside village of Grein, Austria, for a choice of sightseeing in Grein or a visit to the Mauthausen Memorial. Your visit begins with a guided walking tour of the village, which includes views of the Grein Theatre – since 1791 the oldest operating theatre in Austria – and the historic town square with the adjacent Gothic St. Giles Church, known for its fine altar and stained glass. If you wish, visit Schloss Greinburg, the privately owned castle of the Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, showcasing the history and lifestyle of one of the most significant ruling families in Europe (including Queen Victoria of England). Alternatively, pay a poignant guided visit to the museum and memorial on the site of the infamous World War II-era Mauthausen–Gusen concentration camp, approximately 20 kilometers east of Grein. You’ll tour the camp’s main complex, preserved as a museum and memorial to the victims of the last major concentration camp liberated by the Allies. Back aboard the riverboat, enjoy dinner and local entertainment tonight.

Day 4
This morning, your riverboat docks in Dürnstein, in Austria’s Wachau Valley, which offers you a choice of unforgettable sightseeing excursions. You may choose to explore the picture-perfect Austrian village of Dürnstein on a guided walking tour, with free time on your own – maybe a climb up to the brooding ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle high above the town. Or, a challenging bicycling excursion (not suitable for beginners) through the Wachau Valley, starting and ending in Dürnstein. Rejoin the boat for lunch, and set off on a leisurely, breathtakingly scenic river cruise to Austria’s capital, Vienna.

Day 5
You have a choice of sightseeing today, both preceded by a tour of Vienna’s landmark sights: visit the Imperial Treasury (the Schatzkammer) in the Hofburg, displaying priceless treasures from the House of Habsburg, including the Austrian Crown Jewels and the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire; or alternatively, enjoy a mid-morning music rehearsal. After lunch aboard the riverboat or in town, your afternoon is free to explore more of this amazing city – once the capital of the Habsburgs’ Austro-Hungarian Empire – on your own. Later, join us this evening at Palais Pallavicini for a Tauck Exclusive – a gala evening of dining and musical performances in elegant Viennese style. The sumptuous surroundings of Palais Pallavicini (built in 1784), with its ornate decor and magnificent state rooms, will transport you to another time – in fact, the palace facade is famous in another cultural reference… as the location of Harry Lime’s (Orson Welles) apartment in the classic film The Third Man.

Day 6
A choice of activities await this morning in or near Bratislava, Slovakia’s visually intriguing capital city. One is a walking tour of the cobblestoned, vehicle-free historic center of Bratislava; medieval, Baroque and modern architecture mix as you visit sites that include the 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, St. Michael’s Gate, St. Martin’s Cathedral, and the Primate’s Palace, where you’ll view rare 17th-century British tapestries. Your other excursion takes you on a drive along the Small Carpathians wine route from Bratislava into the Slovakian countryside, lush with vineyards, for a visit to historic Cerveny Kamen Castle in the Little Carpathian Mountains followed by a stop at a local falconry. Continue on to the town of Modra in the foothills of the Little Carpathians for a traditional lunch featuring local cuisine. Prior to departure this afternoon, our local expert offers inside information and anecdotes on Bratislava. Back aboard ship, settle in for an afternoon at leisure. Join us this evening for dinner as your riverboat heads to Budapest.

Day 7
Your cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. A guided tour of the city begins with the Pest side and a drive along Andrassy Avenue to Heroe’s Square and a drive by Parliament and other sites. Explore the Buda side with a drive up Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion with its Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services). After lunch, spend the rest of the day and evening pursuing what interests you most in this historic, and artistic, city. Join us this evening for a farewell toast followed by dinner as your Danube cruise comes to a close.

Day 8
Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport; you should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Our new Inspiration Class ships maintain Tauck’s high standards for luxury and comfort… including ms Joy, launching in 2016, which will cruise exclusively on the Danube River. With a maximum of 130 guests, ms Joy and her sister ships ms Grace, ms Savor and ms Inspire continue our tradition of providing the most space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways – we will transport the fewest passengers of any longship (135 meters). Our deck plan for our Inspiration Class riverboats is innovative. With a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest… so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot-suites aboard ms Joy and her sister ships – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open.

Inspirational cruising… and the promise of fun. Cruise travel at its best.

What makes Tauck’s Small Ship Cruising and River Cruising unique is our focus on the destination – in scenic ports of call that connect you with people and places… moving, compelling and heart-warming experiences onboard and ashore… inspiration through Tauck’s cruise travel. We cast anchor in pristine bays, off island beaches and at docks accustomed to personal yachts… in small towns and villages along the great rivers of Europe… and in some of the world’s favorite cities. Our time ashore is enriched by in-depth cultural exploration and insider access that ensures up-close-and-personal connections with the locals and daily life. Our cruise travel adventures include guided sightseeing with local experts such as naturalists, historians, and accomplished lecturers. You’ll dine on regional cuisine on land at aboard ship that showcases specialties of the destination. And after a day of extraordinary sightseeing, we welcome you back onboard our hand-picked vessels for warm camaraderie and lively conversation that’s inherent on every Tauck cruise travel experience. The stories are endless, the memories are timeless and the connections priceless.

Select the Deck to view detail.

Joy - Emerald Deck

Joy - Ruby Deck

Joy - Diamond Deck

Joy - Sun Deck

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Category 6 Cabin

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens
2. 32” LED TV
3. Full-sized window (98 inches x 37.5 inches)
4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
5. Padded headboard with reading lamps
6. Storage / drawers
7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
8. Large closet
9. Safe
10. Full-sized bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer
11. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amenities

Elegantly designed 225 sq. ft. cabins

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 7 Suite

1. Two floor-to-ceiling French balconies, each 98 inches x 75 inches with one sliding door that opens
2. 32″ LED TV
3. Pull-out sleeping couch (triple & quad capacity; quads for children only)
4. Walk-in closet with built-in shelves and a safe
5. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
6. Storage / drawers
7. Coffee maker
8. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, marble counters, additional storage and a hair dryer
9. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head (note: no bathtub)
10. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed capacity)
11. Padded headboard with reading lamps

Additional Amentities

Elegantly designed 300 sq. ft. suites

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

Breakfast room service

Iron plus ironing board

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 1 Cabin

Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins, including four dedicated solo traveler cabins

Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Two 2’ by 3’ fixed windows

Marble bath with shower

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

2 chairs

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 3 Cabin

1. One-and-a-half deck window that opens at the top, electronically controlled
2. Loft sitting area
3. 4 steps up to loft area
4. Railing
5. Full-sized bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and a hair dryer
6. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head
7. Closets
8. Storage / drawers
9. Safe
10. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
11. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
12. Padded headboard with reading lamps
13. Storage / drawers (credenza not visible from this perspective)
14. 32” LED TV (on credenza below; not visible from this perspective)

Additional Amenities

Innovatively designed 225 sq. ft. “split-level” loft cabins

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Window (98 inches x 114 inches) can be partially opened

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 2 Cabin

Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins

Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens

Marble bath with shower

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

2 chairs

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 4 Cabin

Elegantly designed 190 sq. ft. cabins

Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens

Bathroom with marble counters, larger showers with rainfall shower heads, enhanced lighting, and under-sink storage space

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet and drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

2 chairs

Onboard wi-fi available

Category 5 Cabin

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens
2. 32” LED TV
3. Storage / drawers
4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
5. Padded headboard with reading lamps
6. Safe
7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
8. Large closet
9. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer
10. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amentities

Elegantly designed 190 sq. ft. cabins on the Diamond Deck

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available