Depart USA

Munich, Germany
Your Mandy Connell River Cruise begins in the Bavarian capital of Munich, often called the most livable and lovable city in Germany. This mecca of art, advanced technologies, finance, publishing, culture, innovation, education, business and tourism enjoys a high standard of living, making it one of the most prosperous and fastest growing cities in Germany. Join in a toast with your fellow travelers at a beer garden welcome party. Included: Munich city tour

Munich to Passau

Passau, Germany
Passau is a crossroads of three rivers and a mosaic of three cultures. Discover this medieval city on a walking tour along the cobblestone streets to the baroque St. Stephan’s Cathedral, where you’ll have the rare opportunity to hear a concert played on Europe’s largest pipe organ. Or get active with an invigorating riverside hike or bike ride. Spend your second night onboard at the festive Captain’s Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner. Included options: Passau walking tour with St. Stephan’s organ concert, bike ride along Inn River, hike along Ilz River

Linz, Austria (Linz or Salzburg)
Linz may be best known for its famous Linzer torte, but it’s also a center for the arts. See the sights with a local expert, or go behind the scenes at the Linz opera house and taste cider at an apple and pear orchard. Or venture to the UNESCO-designated Austrian border city of Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, where he performed in public for the first time at the age of five and composed his first pieces. You’ll see Mozart’s childhood home and the garden where the famous “Do-Re- Mi” scene from The Sound of Music was filmed. Included options: Linz opera house & cider farm visit or Full-day Salzburg

Melk, Wachau Valley, Dürnstein – Austria
Today, discover the heart of Austria. First, explore the 11th-century Melk Abbey, a stunning 900-year-old hilltop monastery built high above the town that has served as a center of learning over the centuries and home to the famous baroque library that inspired the novel “The Name of the Rose.” Then find a comfortable seat as your ship cruises through the Wachau Valley, where the Danube cut a gorge through the Bohemian Mountains, resulting in a 19-mile stretch of scenery so beautiful that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Landscape. Later, visit Dürnstein in the Wachau region, a well-known wine growing area. Sample the organic wines at Nikolaihof, the oldest winery in Austria, which produces some of the world’s best Rieslings. Included options: Dürnstein “Village Day” with Nikolaihof wine estate visit, saffron workshop with village stroll, Melk Abbey with library visit

Vienna, Austria
Austria’s capital city is a cultural treasure trove and was the home of legendary figures Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. Discover “Morning with the Masters,” an exclusive early opening and art tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, showcasing magnificent works of art by some of the world’s greatest artists including Rembrandt, Velazquez, Rubens, Titian, Tintoretto and Van Eyck. Take a city tour or walking tour and enjoy Viennese essentials such as coffee, sausages, wine, music and public transportation. Or experience the sort of entertainment Empress Maria Theresa once enjoyed herself with a private concert of classical music by Mozart and Strauss performed by chamber musicians in an exquisite Viennese palace. Included options: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna city tour or walking tour, Mozart & Strauss concert at Viennese palace

Bratislava, Slovakia
Just up the Danube lies the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. Surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian Mountains, this pedestrian-only, 18th-century town is known for its lively bars and cafes. Discover this thriving commercial center with a village-like atmosphere and a fascinating mosaic of architectural styles. Included: Bratislava walking discovery tour

Budapest, Hungary
Hungary’s capital city is known as the “Queen of the Danube.” Savor the beauty of both Buda (the hills) and Pest (the flatlands), divided by the Danube. This enchanting city presents a vibrant mix of East and West, medieval and modern. Tour the city by vehicle, on foot, or by bike. Visit its oldest and most beautiful garden, Károlyi, the National Museum, the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Rose and Japanese gardens and more. Included options: City tour, walking tour, bike tour

Budapest, Hungary
Spend an additional day and night right in the heart of Budapest with an included hotel stay, just for our group.

Homeward Bound