Music Cruise Danube 2018

Aboard the deluxe Ms Amadeus Silver

Festival of Classical Music

Only one departure  

1 Sep 2018 Passau to Budapest

For Lovers of Classical Music this is a  very special itinerary!

Enjoy classical music performances in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, as well as a first-class music program on board. This journey takes you through 4 countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany) and you admire the most magnificent, fascinatingly varied scenery (ranging from the loop of the Danube at Schlengen, the picturesque Wachau region, home of many a legend, and to the charming Knee of the Danube at Esztergom). A cruise full of outstanding music program, art and history.

This cruise is a must for lovers of classical music!
Members of the noted ensembles will enchant you with works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven  and Schubert complemented by performances on land with works of Liszt, Dvorak and Brahms in the music cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. A knowledgeable lecturer will enhance the experience by providing you with a new understanding of the world of music. We can add optional Opera performances, opera schedule will be available in April.

ITINERARY 2018

Day 1 PASSAU, Germany
Independent arrival at Passau. Let us know if you wish to book airport transfer from Munich airport or railway station to the ship. Embarkation in Passau starts at 4 p.m. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and welcome dinner followed by a musical performance on board after. The welcome concert today features Haydn's Violin Concert 2, Schubert's String Trio and Beethoven Romance in F major.We sail toward Linz. Austria at 9 p.m.

Day 2 LINZ
Arrival at Linz, Austria's second largest city an old trading town and birthplace of Anton Buckner. The city was also frequented by Mozart who eternalized the city in musical world by his Linz Symphony. This morning we offer a full day excursion to the city of Mozart, Salzburg with visit to the Mozart House and lunch as well as an exclusive concert for our group at the Residence Place. Today's concert will feature Mozart's string Quintet no 4, Violin Concerto no1 and the Overture to the Marrige of Figaro. Return and join the ship again in Linz. Dinner, then sailing to the next ports of call: Emmersdorf.

Day 3. EMMERSDORF - DURNSTEIN
Morning arrival at Emmersdorf in the charming Wachau Valley region a World Heritage site.  Today we have a guided visit of Melk Abbey, a Benedictie Abbey dating back to 1089, a UNESCO World Heritage building overlooking the Danube river and the town below. We will also attend a concert at the Abbey's famous St. Koloman Hall (Mozart Divertimento in Fmajor, Clarinet Quintet in A major) after which we return to the ship for lunch. Later join an optional excursion at a nearby town of Durnstein famous for its castle ruins where the English king, Richard the Lionhearted was held in captivity after his return from the Holy Land. During this walking tour you will have the possibility to try some of the local Danube Valley wines. Dinner on board, then continue cruising towards Vienna.

Day 4. VIENNA
Arrival Vienna, the city of music and joie de vivre whose specialties of Sachertorte and Heurigen dinners are just as famous as St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Imperial Palace. You can see Vienna's most important sights on the morning city tour followed by a concert at one of the city's palaces, or explore this historic city on your own. In the afternoon we offer an optional tour to visit the sumptious Scoennbrunn palace, the summer residence of the emperors, After dinner you could attend an optional performance at the Vienna State Opera or at Vienna Volksoper, Subject to availability at the time of booking. This evening's optional music choice will also features attending the classical music concert “Sound of Vienna”, where the “Alt Wien” Salon Orchestra will surprise and entertain you with lively Viennese classics

Day 5. Vienna
This morning free time in Vienna to discover the imperial city on your own.  Do not forget to visit one of the historic cafe houses for people watching and to try one of the famous pastries or strudels of Vienna. You can also join a guided tour of the Belvedere Palace a stunning Baroque building, former residence of the Princes of Savoy. Today the palace is a renowned art museum with the largest collection of Gustav Klimt's painting. Return to the ship for lunch. Dinner on baord followed by a private concert on board. A quartet from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will perform pieces from Mozart (Divertimento in D major)  and Schubert(String Quartet no 10). Later tonight, your cruise ship departs Vienna and continues along the Danube River towards Bratislava, capital of Slovakia.

Day 6. BRATISLAVA
Arrival in the 2000 year old city of Bratislava at 8 a.m. It used to be the capital of Hungary during the middle ages, now it is the capital city of Slovakia. The morning sightseeing tour will cover the city's major sights, including breathtaking views from Bratislava's 13th-century castle over the countryside where the 3 countries Austria, Hungary and Slovakia meet. The city tour includes a concert as well at the Moyzes Hall by the Slovak Quartet featuring Beethoven's String Quartet no 5 and Dvorak's String Quartet no12. Tonight we have the Captain's Gala Dinner on board.

Day 7. BUDAPEST
In the morning join our city tour of the Buda part of the twin city Buda-Pest, called the Paris of the East, or you can look around Budapest on your own. With its cobbled streets and medieval architecture, Buda is the older and more historic  part, while Pest, with its wide avenues and impressive 19th-century public buildings, is the administrative and commercial center. East meets West in this fascinating city, which has an amazing variety of shops and restaurants. In the afternoon we attend a concert at the Duna Palace followed by a sightseeing tour of the Pest side of the city. The concert program includes Liszt's Hungarian Rhpasody and Two Concerts Etudes as well as Brahms Hungarian Dances no 6, and Mozart's PIano Sonata  in F major.  Dinner on board, then in the evening enjoy an optional opera performance at the Budapest State Opera House. (subject to availability at the time of you booking the cruise).

Day 8. BUDAPEST
Breakfast and disembarkation or stay longer at one of Budapest's renowned hot springs spas. or continue on an other cruise to the southern part of the Danube river.

All cabins are outside and have two beds that can be linked together or set up separately, as per your choice.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT C-4 & C-1: 15%· B-4: 30% B-1: 50% · A-1: 60% · Suite: 100% from the cruise rate.

Limited numbe of C-4 and B-4 cabins:
(with big round panoramic windows, cannot be opened)

Music Cruise includes:

• 7 night cruise on 5 star ship all cabinsare large and outside. Cabins with large windows, French balconies or walk out balconies

• Specially selected music program ashore and on board

• Introductory onboard talks on the composers and theirs works by the renowned British author and fourtime
  Emmy winner Hr. Humprey Burton

• Shore excursions in Celebration of the Great Masters to Salzburg, Melk Abbey, Vienna, Bratislava, Pest

• Wireless Audio-Guide for all excursions

• Quality red & white wines from Europe's great wine regions are free-flowing with dinners

• Complimentary bicycles for those interested

• Superb dining with all meals included (buffet breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee & tea, dinner and midnight snack) in the elegant Panorama-Restaurant, which accommodates all guests in one seating

• 24 hour coffee, tea and hot chocolate station

• Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner and Captains Gala Dinner,

• English language on board in a non-smoking environment (smoking allowed only on the Sun Deck)

• Services of an experienced cruise director throughout the cruise

• All port taxes included

Not included:
Optional opera performances in the opera houses of Vienna (State Opera or Volksoper) and Budapest
Tips, cancellation insurance
Personal expenses

Optional tours:

Durnstein walking tour with wine tasting: Euro 24
Guided tour of the Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna: Euro 45
Sound of Vienna Classical conert: Euro 55 (category B ticket)
Belvedere tour in Vienna: Euro 55
Buda tour in Budapest: Euro 33

Arrival and departure Transfers:

BUDAPEST (HU)
Airport to Port Euro 41,-
Budapest City Center to Port Euro 18,-
Train Station to Port Euro 23,-

PASSAU (D)
Passau Train station  to Port Euro 20,-
Airport Munich to Passau Port Euro 59,-