Danube Waltz

Bike + cruise | MS My Story *** - Passau - Vienna - Bratislava - Budapest | Self-guided or guided

Pearls of the Danube/ 4 countries - 3 metropolises - 1 ship ...

What an amazing cycling holiday you will have aboard the MS My Story! Reside and dine in luxury during the evenings and during the day get an up close and personal view of the enchanting Danube River while cycling. This bike and boat tour takes you through four of Europe's most enchanting countries - Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. Highlights include the impressive natural environment around the Schlögener Donauschlinge "Great Loop", the spectacular landscape of the Wachau with its vineyards, majestic castles and palaces, the untouched alluvial forests of the Danube National Park, the picturesque Hungarian Danube bend, plus, of course, the thriving metropolises of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna. Take time to explore Budapest's imperial and art nouveau highlights, take a comprehensive tour through beautiful Bratislava with its baroque and gothic buildings and fountains and discover why Vienna is called the 'Waltz Capital'. After a great day of cycling and exploring relax onboard the MS My Story while listening to live music, or you could even head out to do more discovering on foot.

Highlights:
Passau at the intersection of three rivers
the Schlögener Donauschlinge 'Great Loop'
World Cultural Heritage site Wachau
Hungarian Danube bend
the metropolises of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna

Tour profile:
Level 1: The cycle route is completely flat, at times on a gentle downhill slope and is ideal for cyclists with less experience and children. The tour is rated easy and you cycle on mostly flat terrain.

Comfort Relax Package: (Guided tour)
You cycle in a small group guided by a local tour guide. Taste some Austrian delicacies: you'll try sweet cider in a wine tavern in the world-famous Wachau region you will also get to savour a small variety of regional wine specialties. During a guided tour by bike in Vienna and Budapest you will pass by numerous famous sights.

Departure dates:
Every Sunday, April 24 - October 09, 2016 (= first and last tour start)
Comfort Relax package (guided tour):
May 22, June 19, July 17, August 14, September 11, October 02 (further dates upon request - min. 10 participants)

The cruise ship MS My Story ***
The MS My Story is an extremely spacious ship built with traditional shipbuilding skills. The aim of the crew is to provide guests with all the comforts of home and a great atmosphere - in basic terms when you are a guest onboard the MS My Story you are treated like the King and Queen! While onboard you can either make use of the sundeck to enjoy the passing scenery while soaking up the sun or you can just relax in the expansive lounge area. With the beautiful scenery of the Danube slowly passing by you will have ample time for conversation with your new-found cycling friends. The Panorama Restaurant and Lounge not only provide excellent food and drinks, but also a sense of conviviality with old friends and new acquaintances. After the active daytime cycling schedule, you can relax in the sauna or just enjoy a glass of local wine on the deck. The MS My Story also offers Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary, payable locally).

2 passenger-decks: upper deck (windows may be opened) and main deck
Cabins:
89 comfortable cabins (approx. 10-11qm) are equipped with 1-2 low beds (during the day one bed can be fold to the wall), air conditioning/heating (centrally adjusted), private facilities, TV and hairdryer. A few cabins are equipped with an extra bed (folding bed above / bunk bed). For families there are cabins with connecting door available.
2-bed: 2 low beds
2-bed-ECO: 2 low beds, front/rear cabins (engine and docking noises audible)
1-bed: 1 low bed (Upper Deck) or 2-bed cabin single occupancy (Main Deck)
3 bed: in 2-bed cabins on Upper Deck only (fold away upper berth)


Itinerary

Day 1: Passau
Boarding time at 5 p.m. Located at the meeting point of the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers, Passau has numerouss of interesting sites to visit. Use your free time and stroll through the cobblestoned old town centre, listen to the bells of Passau's Gothic Town Hall or have a look at the world's largest Catholic Church organ in the Passau Cathedral.
At 6.30 p.m. we cast off!

Day 2: Great Loop | Engelhartszell - Aschach, approx. 42 km
Your first day's cycling begins with a ride through the classic scenery of the 'Great Loop' Donauschlinge - one of the most beautiful sections of the Danube. Along the way you will encounter tiny villages and cozy cider taverns. In Austria's only Trappist monastery at Engelhartszell you can taste their delicious liquors and cheese. The famous 'Schlogener View' provides a wonderful panorama of the surrounding Austrian countryside. The boat welcomes all cyclists back on board in the charming market town of Aschach.

Day 3: Devin - Bratislava, approx. 18-43 km
You pedal along the former 'Iron Curtain', cross the green line and reach the imposing Imperial Palace of Hof with its beautifully terraced gardens. Follow the bike path through Austria's 'vegetable garden' to the coronation city of Bratislava and the slopes of the Little Carpathians and discover the hidden alleyways and sights of Bratislava on an optional city tour.

Day 4: Budapest | Szentendre, approx. 54 km
The entrance to Budapest, Hungary's capital is stunning. Savour the beauty of Budapest during a coach tour or a guided bike tour (optional) to discover many of the highlights of this handsome city. You can also choose to cycle to the charming town of Szentendre with its Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art scene. You will get a very close experience of Hungarian culture at an evening show with traditional music and dance (optional).

Day 5: Danube bend - Esztergom, approx. 43 km
The wooded hills of Pilis, Visegrád and Börzsöny together with the meandering Danube create a wonderful landscape that has become a nature lover's paradise. Situated in the middle of the Danube River the idyllic isle of Szentendre exudes silent Puszta romance. You cycle via the baroque village of Vác (influenced by the architects of Austria's empress Maria Theresia) to the bishop town of Esztergom with its gorgeous basilica - Hungary's largest Catholic Church.

Day 6: Vienna (day of rest)
Discover Vienna's most beautiful attractions. During a city tour by bike or bus (optional) you will experience Vienna's most famous examples of architecture: the imperial Hofburg, St. Stephens Cathedral, the gorgeous 'Ring'-boulevard and the State Opera House, the Burgtheater and town hall and, of course, the colorful "Hundertwasserhaus". Take time to relax in one or more of Vienna's famous cafés, while the evening ends impressively at a classical concert (optional) in one of Vienna's most famous palaces.

Day 7: Wachau | Krems - Melk, approx. 37 km
Your last biking day is a special highlight! A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Durnstein, while the blue spire of the monastery church is a landmark of the renowned Wachau. Amidst dreamy towns, apricot trees, vineyards and castles, this hilly landscape enchants everybody who visits ... you will be biking on cloud nine! In Weißenkirchen (possibility to do a wine-tasting - optional) you will find comfortable wine taverns along the bike path.

Day 8: Passau
Enjoy the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley on deck. Take a last look at the Schlögener Schlinge ('Great Loop') before you arrive relaxed in Passau. Disembarkation is at approx. 9.30 a.m. We recommend arranging connecting trips from 10.30 a.m. onwards.


Excursions:
The following optional excursions (not included in the tour price) can be booked separately or as a package directly and only onboard.
Bratislava: City tour by city express (scenic train) + walking tour
Budapest: City tour by bike or HOP ON HOP OFF bus, Traditional Hungarian folklore show at a Csarda
Vienna: City tour by bike or HOP ON HOP OFF bus, Classical waltz & operetta concert in one of Vienna's famous palaces
Wachau: Krems City tour by excursion train, Wine tasting with a local wine grower

Prices 2016 per person in EUR: Main deck / Upper deck
2-bed-ECO: 670 / 750
2-bed: 770 / 850
1-bed(1) or 2-bed single occupancy(2): 1.155(2) / 999(1)

Add Night Passau in EUR: ***+ / ****
Double: 55 / 62
Single: 80 / 87

Parking (incl. transfers, payable on-site): garage EUR 74, Open terrain 63
Transfer Munich-Passau: one way EUR 61, round trip EUR 103

Rental bikes & equipment:
7 speed Unisex hybrid bike with coaster and caliper brake
21 speed Unisex hybrid bike with caliper brake
Electrically assisted bike / pedelec
Child seat, child trailer or tagalong bike
All rental bikes are equipped with panniers
Helmets available for purchase onboard

General information:
One the one hand, a riverboat is a "holiday hotel", while on the other, it is also a means of transport that moves with motor power and must always be operated, even at night (partially with lock and bridge passages and the retractions and extensions of the structures caused as a result). Faults can happen with lock passages. This is the case for all Danube journeys and cannot be avoided. Please bear in mind that riverboats are restricted (bridge passages, locks) in size (length, height, width) and therefore cannot be compared with sea-going vessels.
The cabins are limited in space but are nevertheless comfortable and furnished. In the event of extremely high or low water, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge stages by bus or even to cancel the trip at short notice without any legal claim arising therefrom (water levels are force majeure). The same applies for officially decreed repairs to locks or bridges, not announced in advance, or in the event of motor or propulsion damage to the ship without attributed fault.
Errors, changes in prices and availability accepted. Tariffs as of July 2015.
All sales prices listed in this document correspond with the prices 2016 published in the RAD + REISEN catalogue. The prices in your offers may NOT fall below.
Please forward your final publications for error checking before publishing/printing.

Helmets are mandatory in Austria for children up to 12 years! Please bring your own fitting helmet.
Minimum of participants: 50 people (has to be reached at the latest 4 weeks before cruise start)
Guided Comfort Relax Package: Minimum 10 people (max. 22)

Characteristics:

Participants:
from 10 up to 22
Tourtype:
guided
Children:
yes
Regions:
Countries:

Benefits:

  • 7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities and air conditioning
  • Program according to itinerary from/to Passau
  • Captain's greeting and welcome cocktail
  • Daily cabin cleaning, towels and bed linen
  • Full board: rich breakfast, lunch onboard (non-cyclists) or packed lunch (cyclists), afternoon coffee break, dinner (2/3 dishes to choose), late night snack
  • Gala dinner with farewell cocktail
  • Farewell crew show
  • Daily live music
  • Tour guide onboard (does not cycle with the group)
  • Daily information meeting
  • Detailed road book per cabin
  • Comfort Relax Package additional
  • Cycling tour guide
  • Tasting of homemade cider at a cider producer in the Upper Danube Valley
  • Ferry rides
  • Guided city tour by bike in Vienna & by HOP ON HOP OFF bus in Budapest
  • Wine tasting in the Wachau region
Start date: on request
End date:
Duration:
Price:
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Startdate
Middate
On request

Additional costs:

  • Cabin prices and additional nights see tour description
  • Season Surcharge MAY/AUG: EUR 70
  • Season Surcharge JUN/JUL/SEP: EUR 110
  • Port charges: EUR 59 (mandatory age 12 and older)
  • Comfort Relax Package: EUR 215
  • Bike rental (7/21 speed): EUR 65
  • Electrically assisted bike: EUR 147
  • Using own bike: EUR 10 (payable on-site)

Discount:

  • 2-bed-ECO see tour description
  • Reduction children/3rd adult: 0 - 2,99 years: free of charge (in 2 bed cabin with 2 full paying adults)
  • 3 - 12,99 years: -50% (in cabin with min. 1 full paying adult)
  • 13 - 99 years: -20% (bunk bed in 2 bed cabin with 2 fullpaying adults)

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