Joy, Blue Danube Eastbound 2022 ex Prague to Budapest – 25 Jul 2022

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Interior Outside Balcony Suite
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Inspirational cruising… and the promise of fun. Cruise travel at its best.

What makes Tauck’s Small Ship Cruising and River Cruising unique is our focus on the destination – in scenic ports of call that connect you with people and places… moving, compelling and heart-warming experiences onboard and ashore… inspiration through Tauck’s cruise travel. We cast anchor in pristine bays, off island beaches and at docks accustomed to personal yachts… in small towns and villages along the great rivers of Europe… and in some of the world’s favorite cities. Our time ashore is enriched by in-depth cultural exploration and insider access that ensures up-close-and-personal connections with the locals and daily life. Our cruise travel adventures include guided sightseeing with local experts such as naturalists, historians, and accomplished lecturers. You’ll dine on regional cuisine on land at aboard ship that showcases specialties of the destination. And after a day of extraordinary sightseeing, we welcome you back onboard our hand-picked vessels for warm camaraderie and lively conversation that’s inherent on every Tauck cruise travel experience. The stories are endless, the memories are timeless and the connections priceless.

Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins, including four dedicated solo traveler cabins

Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Two 2’ by 3’ fixed windows

Marble bath with shower

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

2 chairs

Onboard wi-fi available

Elegantly designed 150 sq. ft. cabins

Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens

Marble bath with shower

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

2 chairs

Onboard wi-fi available

1. One-and-a-half deck window that opens at the top, electronically controlled
2. Loft sitting area
3. 4 steps up to loft area
4. Railing
5. Full-sized bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and a hair dryer
6. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head
7. Closets
8. Storage / drawers
9. Safe
10. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
11. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
12. Padded headboard with reading lamps
13. Storage / drawers (credenza not visible from this perspective)
14. 32” LED TV (on credenza below; not visible from this perspective)

Additional Amenities

Innovatively designed 225 sq. ft. “split-level” loft cabins

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Window (98 inches x 114 inches) can be partially opened

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Elegantly designed 190 sq. ft. cabins

Bed size: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)

400 thread count cotton linenswhite duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens

Bathroom with marble counters, larger showers with rainfall shower heads, enhanced lighting, and under-sink storage space

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobe plus slippers

Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Built-in closet and drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

2 chairs

Onboard wi-fi available

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens
2. 32” LED TV
3. Storage / drawers
4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
5. Padded headboard with reading lamps
6. Safe
7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
8. Large closet
9. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer
10. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amentities

Elegantly designed 190 sq. ft. cabins on the Diamond Deck

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

1. One floor-to-ceiling French balcony (98 inches x 75 inches) with one sliding door that opens
2. 32” LED TV
3. Full-sized window (98 inches x 37.5 inches)
4. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
5. Padded headboard with reading lamps
6. Storage / drawers
7. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
8. Large closet
9. Safe
10. Full-sized bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, additional storage and hair dryer
11. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head

Additional Amenities

Elegantly designed 225 sq. ft. cabins

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

1. Two floor-to-ceiling French balconies, each 98 inches x 75 inches with one sliding door that opens
2. 32″ LED TV
3. Pull-out sleeping couch (triple & quad capacity; quads for children only)
4. Walk-in closet with built-in shelves and a safe
5. Minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, replenished daily
6. Storage / drawers
7. Coffee maker
8. Full-size bathroom featuring enhanced lighting, marble counters, additional storage and a hair dryer
9. Large shower featuring rainfall shower head (note: no bathtub)
10. Pillow top queen-sized bed, 62 inches x 77 inches (with optional twin-bed capacity)
11. Padded headboard with reading lamps

Additional Amentities

Elegantly designed 300 sq. ft. suites

400 thread count cotton linens / white duvets and pillows of mako cotton with hypoallergenic 90% down filling

Molton Brown toiletries – a Tauck Exclusive

Terry-cloth bathrobes plus slippers

Breakfast room service

Iron plus ironing board

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

Joy - Emerald Deck

Joy - Ruby Deck

Joy - Diamond Deck

Joy - Sun Deck

Our new Inspiration Class ships maintain Tauck’s high standards for luxury and comfort… including ms Joy, launching in 2016, which will cruise exclusively on the Danube River. With a maximum of 130 guests, ms Joy and her sister ships ms Grace, ms Savor and ms Inspire continue our tradition of providing the most space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways – we will transport the fewest passengers of any longship (135 meters). Our deck plan for our Inspiration Class riverboats is innovative. With a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest… so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot-suites aboard ms Joy and her sister ships – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open.

Ship Profile & Stats

  • Length: 135 metres
  • Maiden Voyage: 2016
  • Passenger Capacity (dbl): 130
  • Crew Nationality: European
  • Officer Nationality: European
  • Dining Staff Nationality: European

Ship Facilities

  • Arthur’s Lounge
  • Compass Rose Open Seating Dining Room
  • Jacuzzi
  • Al fresco dining on Sun Deck, weather permitting
  • Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks
  • Onboard entertainment includes enrichment lectures, piano music nightly, in-room movies, culinary demos, local entertainment and “themed” fun
  • Fitness Centre
  • Massage Room
  • Putting Green on Sun Deck
  • Bicycles available aboard for use ashore
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry service available


Cruise Itinerary

DateActivityArriveDepart
25 Jul '22
Prague, Czech Republic
Hotel
26 Jul '22
Prague, Czech Republic
Hotel
27 Jul '22
Vilshofen, Germany
Embark
28 Jul '22
Engelhartszell, Austria
29 Jul '22
Linz, Austria
30 Jul '22
Durnstein, Austria
31 Jul '22
Vienna, Austria
01 Aug '22
Bratislava, Slovakia
02 Aug '22
Bratislava, Slovakia
03 Aug '22
Budapest, Hungary
Disembark Hotel
04 Aug '22
Budapest, Hungary
Hotel
05 Aug '22
Budapest, Hungary

All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

7 Night Cruise sailing from Vilshofen to Budapest aboard Joy. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Prague and post-cruise in Budapest.

NOTE: Itinerary shown is for 2021. Itinerary for 2022 is still to be finalised and subject to change including possible changes to start and end cities. Please check for full details at time of enquiry/booking.

Day 1 Arrive Prague & Lobkowicz Palace evening
Tour begins at 5:30 PM at the Hotel. Those arriving early may join your Tauck Director for a walk to this historic city’s Old Town Square. Begin your amazing Blue Danube river cruise adventure early this evening with a Tauck Exclusive – a royal welcoming reception, tour and dinner at 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. Immerse in an evening of classical cultural treasures – music and art played an important role in the aristocratic world of the Lobkowicz family.

Day 2 The legacy of many centuries in Prague
Start your exploration of Prague this morning with a choice of walking tours through Prague’s ethereal Old Town, choosing between a “walk through the centuries” including a visit to St. Agnes Convent, or the city’s poignant Jewish sites in Josefov, the historic Jewish Quarter (ask at booking about dates that cannot visit inside the Jewish Heritage sites as they are closed Saturdays and on Jewish holidays; in those cases, alternate sightseeing will be offered). This afternoon, explore the ancient Hradcany (Castle) district on a guided excursion that takes you to 1,000-year-old Prague Castle’s complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens; the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus; and the grand Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery, where a private tour is a Tauck Exclusive. Sample the culinary pleasures of Prague on a free night to spend as you wish; the city’s many fine restaurants and cafés feature a wide range of cuisines… and some of the best schnitzels, goulashes, strudels, dumplings and beer the region has to offer. Tomorrow – your Danube river cruise begins.

Day 3 Explore Regensburg & embark in Vilshofen
Drive this morning to the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to Roman days, enjoying a little free time upon arrival. The best way to explore this treasure-trove of history is on foot, as our local guide leads you on a walking tour that includes the Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge over the Danube; the 15th-century town hall; and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Depart Regensburg and continue on to Vilshofen, where you’ll board your riverboat to launch your 7-night Danube cruise. Join your shipmates and crew at a welcome reception followed by dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.

Day 4 Engelhartszell & cycling along the Danube
Take in the views from your riverboat’s sun deck, lounge, or the windows of your outside cabin as your ship glides along the mighty Danube this morning. Your first port of call on your cruise is Engelhartszell, a pretty town on the Danube in Upper Austria. After a visit to a local private home (and a taste of local cake, sweets and coffee), you’ll have a choice of a walking tour of town including 18th-century Engelhartszell Abbey and Danube World, or a guided tour of the Jochenstein Lock on the Danube, through which ships navigate through the Wachau Valley. Following lunch aboard the riverboat, you may, if you wish, join us for an optional bicycle excursion along the Danube to Aschach (a fairly rigorous bike ride, for experienced cyclists only) before continuing your cruise this afternoon, bound for Linz. Enjoy the Chef’s signature dinner this evening; after the riverboat’s arrival in Linz, the musical trio Donau3Klang entertains onboard tonight.

Day 5 Salzburg, Cesky Krumlov or Linz
Your boat stays docked in Linz today, with a choice of how you spend your day – full-day excursions to Salzburg (Austria), or Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, or remaining in Linz. A setting for The Sound of Music, Salzburg is enticing with Baroque architecture, painted wrought-iron signage, ornate church towers, and grand palaces. Our walking tour explores Old Town, Mirabell Gardens, and Mozart’s birthplace with time on your own to have lunch and experience the sights as you wish. Alternatively, travel with us through beautiful landscapes to Cesky Krumlov, which has been called a living gallery of elegant Renaissance-era buildings with a well-preserved medieval heritage and charming ambiance. A walking tour takes you to part of Krumlov Castle; it’s worth climbing the many steps to see firsthand the medieval, Renaissance and Rococo design found inside, along with the stunning views of the town below. A third option today provides an opportunity to remain in Linz for time explore as you please on your own before returning to the riverboat for dinner.

Day 6 Wachau Valley cruise to Dürnstein
Continue cruising through the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes. Dock in Dürnstein for a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church on a walking tour along cobblestone streets; or join us for a bicycle ride in the Wachau Valley. If you wish, visit the Augustinian Monastery. Enjoy some free time in this charming riverside town – perhaps taking an invigorating climb up the steps to the ruins of Kuenringerburg, a hilltop castle above the town where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades, from which the views of the river and valley are glorious – and sample the fruits of the Wachau Valley vineyards during a wine tasting at an authentic Austrian tavern. The riverboat departs early evening for Vienna.

Day 7 Choices in Vienna
Your riverboat arrives overnight in Vienna, Austria, where an introductory tour of this former capital of the old Habsburg Empire – and its grand boulelvard, the Ringstrasse – precedes a walking tour focusing on your choice of either medieval Vienna or the Jewish district of old Vienna, or on a bike ride in the city. The afternoon is yours to explore this famous city as you please. Later, nothing compares to the royal treatment and pageantry you’ll experience tonight at our private Imperial Evening in the Palais Pallavicini, an opulent, private Viennese palace that played a role in the 1940s film noir classic The Third Man. Welcome cocktails and dinner precede an unforgettable spectacle of beautiful ball gowns and a musical performance celebrating the legacy of Mozart.

Day 8 Vienna sightseeing & on to Slovakia
A choice of sightseeing this morning features either a tour of the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace, an architectural masterpiece and Austrian cultural treasure, or the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, one of the world’s most acclaimed art museums located in a palatial building on the historic Ringstrasse. Then, shuttles are at the ready to bring you back to the riverboat before an afternoon of cruising to neighboring Slovakia. Dinner tonight introduces you to a glimpse of daily life in Slovakia with a taste of regional cuisine and an onboard performance by a talented troupe of Slovak dancers.

Day 9 Baroque in Bratislava
Begin the day with a Tauck Exclusive – a presentation by our local guide that takes you inside contemporary Slovakia and Bratislava for a look at politics, the economy, religion, the social order, preservation and emergence of the arts, and much more prior. Then, it’s your choice of a walking tour of this cobblestoned, vehicle-free city, where you’ll see 17 centuries of history eloquently chronicled in sites including its 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall and St. Martin’s Cathedral – or a guided bicycle excursion through the “Iron Curtain Area” of Bratislava. Back aboard ship, get ready to celebrate tomorrow’s arrival in Budapest and the end of your Danube riverboat cruise with a farewell reception and dinner onboard.

Day 10 Disembark in Budapest & explore Buda
Your cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. After disembarking your riverboat and bidding the crew farewell, explore the city’s Buda side with a visit to the historic Covered Market and a walking tour of Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; see Fishermen’s Bastion with its Neo-Romanesque design, and admire the stained glass windows and centuries of history in Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services). After lunch at a local café, transfer to your city-center hotel or, if you wish, you may take a scenic walk to the hotel through the Castle complex and over Szechenyi Bridge. Spend the rest of the day and evening pursuing what interests you most in Budapest.

Day 11 Discover Pest & party at the Akadémia Club
Budapest is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. This morning, explore the Pest side of the city on a tour including a special visit to the opulent State Opera House, opened in 1884, with its royal boxes, gilded vaulted ceiling, exquisite murals and three-ton chandelier – and stops at City Park and Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary. Later, you have a choice of a themed walking tour that focuses on the Hungarian Revolution and includes the Parliament building, the Embassy and St. Stephen’s Basilica; a guided visit to Dohány Synagogue; or a guided bicycle tour through the city. Budapest has acquired quite an excellent reputation for its cuisine; tonight’s special farewell dinner is at the grand Akademia Club in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences – a fitting finale to your Danube River cruise experience.

Day 12 Homeward bound
Tauck’s delightful Danube River cruise ends in Budapest, Hungary.

vid: 14044 | cfid: 92026-cruise

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