St Florian Monastery- Dürnstein
- Live music
- Vienna, the the capital of classical music
Music
Classical Music on the Danube
The Danube
from £1,649 per person2 passengers 7 nights Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £20 if not required
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New holiday
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VIP on selected river cruises
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Full board
Enjoy classical concerts as you sail from Budapest to Vienna
This classical music themed river cruise on the Danube will entertain you with on-board talks from Classic FM Concert host John Suchet, plus live performances both on board and ashore. In Budapest an included culinary-themed walking tour involves strudel making and a visit to the Central Market Hall, or you can choose to see the capital's highlights, such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion, on an included sightseeing tour.
You’ll also be treated to a private classical concert. While in Vienna, the capital of classical music, you’ll see famous sights such as the Imperial Hofburg complex and State Opera House. You’ll also enjoy an evening concert of music by Mozart and the Strauss family in one of the city’s palaces near the Ringstrasse. A visit to Linz provides the opportunity to go to Ansfelden and the birthplace of the composer Anton Bruckner, which is now a museum. This included excursion also features a concert in the elaborate Baroque surroundings of Florian’s Abbey.
Including...
20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board
Cruise Host
Plus…
- Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- All gratuities on board
- Return flights and transfers
Included excursions
- Budapest city tour OR culinary walking tour
- Private concert in Budapest
- Vienna city tour OR culinary walking tour
- Private concert in Vienna
- Florian’s Abbey and concert, and visit to Bruckner’s birthplace
Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration
John Suchet presented the flagship morning show on Classic FM for over ten years and now hosts the Classic FM Concert. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and has written five composer biographies — Beethoven, Mozart, the Strauss Dynasty, Verdi and Tchaikovsky.
View Full Itinerary
Day 1 UK to Budapest
Fly to Budapest and embark Spirit of the Danube.
Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board as you remain moored here overnight.
Day 2 Budapest 🎧
Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube.
East meets west in this fascinating city, as can be seen in the variety of shops and eateries. An included city sightseeing tour will reveal the capital's highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Alternatively, perhaps opt for an included culinary-themed walking tour of the city with strudel making and a visit to the Central Market Hall.
This afternoon enjoy a private classical concert ashore (details will be provided on board ship). This evening you can attend an Opera in Budapest. Spirit of the Danube sails towards Bratislava overnight.
Day 3 Bratislava to Vienna 🎧
Spirit of the Danube continues towards Slovakia's capital, arriving this afternoon for an optional tour or trip up the UFO observation tower to sample locally brewed beer. Originally part of Czechoslovakia until 1993, Bratislava’s old town, ‘Staré Mesto’, with its historic buildings, provides a stark contrast to the 20th-century buildings, some of which serve as a reminder of its communist past.
Later your ship begins the cruise to Vienna.
Day 4 Vienna 🎧
This morning enjoy an included sightseeing tour of Vienna, for 600 years the centre of the Habsburg Empire.
Your tour includes a drive around the Ringstrasse, a wide avenue encircling the old city, taking in famous sights such as the Imperial Hofburg complex built by Emperor Franz Josef, and the world-famous State Opera House. Alternatively, to experience the culture and taste the local specialities opt for an included culinary walking tour instead.
This afternoon an optional excursion visits Schönbrunn Palace and in the evening, after dinner on board your ship, you’ll be treated to a private concert of music by Mozart and the Strauss family in one of Vienna’s palaces near the Ringstrasse (details will be provided on board ship).
Day 5 Vienna to Dürnstein 🎧
Spend a relaxing morning on board your ship cruising to Dürnstein, located in the heart of the Wachau Valley. The now ruined Kuenringer Castle is where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned during the late 12th century. An optional walking tour takes you through the cobbled streets to visit the abbey for an organ concert.
Spirit of the Danube will set sail again late this afternoon.
Day 6 Linz
This morning an included excursion takes you to Ansfelden and the birthplace of the composer Anton Bruckner, which is now a museum. You will also visit Florian’s Abbey where you can enjoy an included concert. Returning to your ship, sail before lunch towards Esztergom.
Day 7 Esztergom to Budapest
Arrive mid afternoon in Esztergom, where you’ll have time to explore at leisure. The nation’s first king St Stephen was born here in 975 and the city was the capital of Hungary until 1249.
This evening Spirit of the Danube continues to Budapest, arriving later this evening.
Day 8 Budapest to UK
Disembark after breakfast and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Budapest Opera
Treat yourself to a performance of Opera in Budapest. Details will be confirmed closer to departure.
Walking Grade 2
Three hours
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Optional on 7 nights itinerary
Beer tasting at the UFO
Beer was first brewed in Bratislava by the Celts 2,000 years ago and has long competed with wine for the most popular drink in the region. This excursion ventures up to the UFO observation tower where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the city and the opportunity to sample a selection of locally brewed beer.
Walking Grade 2
Two hours
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Optional on 7 nights itinerary
Bratislava city tour
Step aboard the miniature Bratislava City Train to explore the many highlights of this historic city. You’ll pass the 18th-century Slovak Philharmonic Hall and impressive National Theatre before your train slowly makes its way around the Old Town, arriving at Bratislava Castle, with its commanding hill-top setting, to admire magnificent views across the city. The train will then continue through Leopold Gate, back to the Old Town where you’ll disembark for a walking tour. A stroll through the narrow, cobbled streets will reveal sights such as the Archbishop’s Palace, St Martin’s Cathedral, the charming Main Square with its fountain and Old Town Hall, and a number of 18th-century palaces.
Walking Grade 2
Two hours
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Optional on 7 nights itinerary
Schonbrunn Palace
Visit the sumptuous Imperial Summer Palace of the Hapsburgs, the centre of royal life in the 18th century, inspired by Versailles. The UNESCO-listed palace is filled with priceless treasures, while the vast grounds feature well-manicured lawns and colourful flower beds.
Walking Grade 3
Four hours
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Optional on 7 nights itinerary
Dürnstein walking tour
Walk from the ship to the historic heart of Dürnstein, where the cobbled streets are home to traditional wineries and quirky little shops. Continue to Dürnstein Abbey with it’s blue and white steeple that can be seen from every angle of the town. After a tour of the historic abbey, owned by the Augustinian Canons of Herzogenburg Abbey, you will be treated to an organ concert featuring classical music composed by the likes of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven.
Walking Grade 3
Two-and-a-half hours
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Optional on 7 nights itinerary
Joining you on board
Trio Appassionato
This Hungarian trio consists of Evelin Hizsnyik playing the flute, Bernadett Brestyanszki playing the Cello and Ilona Bede playing the violin. Their repertoire ranges from the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic through to modern, and they are happy to take requests. Trio Appassionato will be on board for the first half of your cruise.
April Frederick
April is a soprano with a passion for nuance and text which gets to the heart of both music and character. She recently performed with the English Symphony Orchestra in the role of Jane from Jane Eyre. April will join the second half of your cruise.
The Danube
from £1,649 per person2 passengers
7 nights Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £20 if not required
The Danube
from £1,649 per person2 passengers
7 nights Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £20 if not required
