The Music of the Danube

Arrive at Munich Airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and transfer you to the ship in Passau.

Passau is a crossroads in more ways than one — three rivers meet here and three nations nearly do, making for a fascinating cultural mosaic. The town is home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, housed in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and sits at the confluence of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz. Choose between four carefully curated excursions running at the same time.
Passau Three Rivers: A walking tour of Passau’s top sites, taking in the meeting point of the three rivers and the historic Old Town, followed by a drive to the Kloster Mariahilf for sweeping views of all three rivers from above.
Let’s Go: Hike along the Ilz River: Hike with a local nature expert along the banks of the Ilz River, following a nature trail that climbs to a viewpoint above the river and woodlands before looping back along this pristine Bavarian tributary of the Danube.
Passau Scavenger Hunt: An immersive discovery of Passau’s secrets through a series of clues, puzzles and photo challenges through the City of Three Rivers, with a local guide on hand to share stories throughout.
Treasure Hunt Trek: A geocaching-style discovery of Passau’s historical and hidden spots, following clues and hints from one station to the next, with special activities at each stop.

Mozart’s birthplace of Salzburg nestles in a glorious alpine setting, while Linz has evolved from a trading city into a hotbed for the arts. Choose between three carefully curated excursions running at the same time.
Full-Day in Salzburg with Sound of Music: A full day in the city that inspired The Sound of Music and gave the world Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A walking tour takes in the baroque architecture and picturesque squares, Maria’s church in Mondsee, the gardens where the children sang Do Re Mi, and the house where Mozart was born, followed by a lift up the Mönschberg mountain for an unforgettable view of the city.
Linz Town and Country: Linzertorte and Cider Farm Visit (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER): Get to know Linz on foot from Mozart’s apartment to the old Jesuit Cathedral, with a stop at Konditorei Jindrak for coffee and the Original Linzer Torte. Continue to an organic cider farm in the countryside for lunch with house-made cider, immersed in rural Austrian life and scenery.
Salt Mine Adventure: Journey by open-air train deep into the oldest working salt mine in Germany, a subterranean world of fascinating light displays, thrilling wooden slides and remarkable engineering, followed by a relaxing afternoon by the scenic lake.

Two extraordinary ports of call in the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley. Begin with a visit to Melk Abbey, then continue to enchanting Dürnstein. Choose between five carefully curated excursions.
Melk Abbey with Library Visit (included): The Benedictine monks of Melk transformed a castle given to them by the medieval Babenberg ducal family into the greatest centre of learning in Central Europe, with a library now containing 100,000 volumes including 80,000 works printed before 1800. A masterpiece of Baroque art and architecture, with spectacular views from the terrace and a Marble Hall ceiling fresco depicting Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI bringing his people from darkness to light.
Let’s Go: Biking the Wachau: Wheel along a 20-mile stretch of the Danube bike path between Dürnstein and Melk, through vineyards, wooded mountains and charming villages on Europe’s most celebrated river cycling route.
Dürnstein Village and Saffron Talk (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER): Meet Bernard and Alexandra Kaar, who have spent years cultivating the world’s only biodynamically certified saffron in the Wachau Valley, reviving a 700-year-old tradition. Explore Dürnstein’s narrow streets past 16th, 17th and 18th-century houses, and take in the famous blue Baroque tower and the ruined castle where, legend has it, Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned until found by his faithful bard, Blondel.
Dürnstein Wine Estate Visit with Tasting (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER): Taste organic wines at Nikolaihof, arguably the oldest winery in Austria and the first in the country to produce biodynamically certified wines. The 1995 Riesling Vinothek scored 100 points in The Wine Advocate, the first Austrian wine ever to rank that highly.
Melk Abbey and Gardens: A family-friendly tour of Melk Abbey’s beautiful gardens and celebrated library.
Icons of Dürnstein: An invigorating hike to the ruined castle above the town for views of the Wachau Valley, followed by a visit to the famous blue tower of Stift Dürnstein.

Dürnstein is a small town on the Danube river in the Krems-Land district, in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the Wachau region and also a well-known wine growing area.

Vienna is a cultural treasure trove revered for its art, music and sinfully rich pastries. The City of Waltzes was home to Klimt, Mozart, Beethoven and Freud, and today its extraordinary artistic heritage is on full display. All excursions included.
Morning with the Masters at the Vienna Art History Museum (included): The doors of the Kunsthistorisches open early especially for Uniworld guests. Join an art historian for a private tour of masterpieces assembled by the Habsburgs over centuries, including works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Vermeer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Rubens, Titian, Tintoretto and Van Eyck. The tour concludes in the magnificent Cupola Hall.
Vienna Imperial City Highlights (included): A panoramic drive along the great Ring Street past Parliament, City Hall and the Vienna State Opera, followed by a walk along Kärntner Street to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, past the elegant shops of the Graben and Kohlmarkt.
Also choose from: Magical History Tour with Time Travel Vienna and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Schönbrunn Royal Experience at the former summer residence of the Habsburg rulers.
Nights Out: House of Strauss Concert (included): Step back in time at the last surviving music hall where all four Strauss composers once performed. Begin with a tour of the exhibits before an immersive audio-visual experience of Strauss compositions. Note: on rare occasions an alternative concert venue will be arranged.

Get acquainted with Vienna’s treasure trove of imperial gems with a city tour or visit Prince Eugene’s Winter Palace. If you prefer to experience the city’s artistic gems,you can join an art tour, featuring a Gustav Klimt exhibit at the Belvedere.

Sail from Vienna toward Bratislava, once hidden from the world behind the Iron Curtain and today a city full of surprises, straddling the Danube and rich in centuries of political and cultural history. Choose between three excursions.
Bratislava Small but Precious Walking Tour (included): Walk through the loveliest part of Bratislava from the Danube promenade to Coronation Square, past the Slovak National Theater and Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, where 19 Habsburg rulers were crowned. Pass through Michael’s Gate into the historic Old Town, with its blend of Gothic, Baroque and Art Deco structures, and visit the stately 18th-century Primatial Palace — site of the 1805 Pressburg peace treaty with Napoleon.
Let’s Go: Hike to Bratislava Castle: Hike to the brilliantly white castle commanding the Bratislava skyline, with incredible views of the city below, then stroll through the beautiful Old Town past the Presidential Palace, UFO Bridge, the House of the Good Shepherd and the famous statue of Čumil the sewage worker.
Bratislava Walking Tour with Multium Mirror Gallery: A walking tour through historic Bratislava’s Old Town and narrow alleyways to Michael’s Gate, followed by a visit to the one-of-a-kind Multium gallery, a mind-bending collection of illusions created using artfully arranged mirrors.

Budapest is an enchanting city presenting a vibrant mix of medieval and modern, with Buda and Pest facing each other across the Danube. On this Music of the Danube sailing, the day begins with a landmark visit to the Franz Liszt Academy. Choose between four excursions.
Budapest Panoramic Highlights with Franz Liszt Academy Visit: Hungary has been home to a great number of accomplished musicians, and none more celebrated than Franz Liszt, who established his university for music in Budapest in 1875. Take a guided tour of the academy, culminating in an orchestra performance by current students, followed by a panoramic drive with scenic stops overlooking the city.
Budapest Walk with Local Treats: A tram ride to the House of Parliament, coffee at the First Strudel House of Pest, a walk to St. Stephen’s Basilica and a visit to the Great Market Hall to sample traditional Hungarian salami, sausages and cheese with a local expert.
Budapest Rock Hospital: Tour the subterranean Hospital in the Rock, a secret nuclear bomb shelter and Cold War hospital carved beneath Buda Castle Hill, haunted by original equipment and more than 200 wax figures representing its wartime staff. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Margaret Island Discovery: Explore the tranquil green island in the heart of the Danube, a peaceful oasis between Buda and Pest.
This evening, the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner.

Disembark the ship and transfer to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport for your flight home — or extend the journey with an optional post-cruise extension. Options include Budapest: Pearl of the Danube (2 nights at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest with foodie tour, Rock Hospital visit and wine tasting at Etyek), Athens (3 nights), or Athens and Santorini (5 nights). Speak with a Cruiseabout consultant for availability and details.
A pre-cruise extension is also available: Prague: History and Culture (2 nights at Fairmont Golden Prague with Old Town and Castle District tour). Ask a Cruiseabout consultant for details.