Linda Young
Cruising on the Danube in a beautiful riverboat is indeed a treat, but Tauck makes it even more special with a great itinerary
and awesome tours & events!
We began our tour in the lovely city of Prague in the Czech Republic. Our city tour included the Old Town, the Prague Castle
and the famous Strahav Monastery's grand libraries. We ended our stay in Prague with one of our favorite events on the trip -
a Gala evening of dinner & music with members of the Czech nobility at the Renaissance-era Nelahozeves Castle.
The next day, we traveled to Regensburg, Germany, the oldest city on the Danube, for a city tour & lunch. Built in the 12
century, the stone bridge into the town is a marvel of medieval construction still in use today. Then we boarded our
riverboat, the Swiss Emerald, and set sail on our Danube adventure.
Passau, Germany was our first port destination and we enjoyed our tour of this Baroque city. The Cathedral of Saint Stephens
was particularly interesting since it houses Europe's largest organ with 17,774 pipes.
Our full day excursion to Salzburg, Austria was a cruise highlight. Salzburg, Mozart's hometown, has many lovely sights. We
enjoyed the Mirabelle Gardens and the historic district before having lunch in an authentic Austrian restaurant, Café Tomaselli.
That evening onboard the Emerald, Austrian musicians and dancers entertained us.
The cruise continued through the Wachau Valley with its well-preserved medieval landscapes. We enjoyed a walking tour of
Durnstein, Austria, with its 16th Century houses, a former Monastery, & the Castle ruins. After a wine tasting in the village,
we went back to the boat for another fabulous dinner.
Vienna...our next stop...