Get a taste of the treasures of the Danube River on this 4-day European river cruise. Sail through the natural beauty of Austria’s Wachau Valley, with stops in quaint towns and iconic cities. Board your ship in Vienna and set sail for Melk, and visit Austria’s majestic Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest, and where Benedictine monks still stroll within the sacred walls. From the Abbey’s terrace, take in the breath-taking views of the Danube River and the surrounding countryside. Visit Dürnstein in the heart of the picturesque Wachau Valley, a charming town that’s best known for its beautiful Stiftskirche with its blue façade in the town below the castle ruins where England’s Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. Continue your Danube River cruise to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia and a dynamic city at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Enjoy sightseeing with a local expert and visit the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, which served as Hungary’s coronation church during the 16th to 19th centuries. Continue on to Budapest, Hungary, where your Danube river cruise holiday ends. What a perfect introduction to the beauty, history, and culture along the Danube River!

Day 1
Welcome to Austria. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Vienna must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Spend free time today by relaxing, exploring, or strolling through the streets of Vienna before boarding.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK (D)

Day 2
Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below
Visit the Adventure centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host
ACTIVE - Explore Melk by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Melk's 11th-century Benedictine Abbey. Explore its frescoes, statues, library, and spectacular pipe organ in the monastery's lofty perch above the Danube. Take a relaxing break on the Sky Deck as you sail through awe-inspiring views of the Wachau Valley and the wine region.
DURNSTEIN: A King's Ransom and Castle Ruins
Spend free time at your leisure, perhaps biking through the vineyards in the Wachau Valley. Later, enjoy onboard entertainment by local musicians.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA (B,L,D)

Day 3
Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle
ACTIVE - Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a scenic walk to Bratislava Castle, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Old Town's cobblestone streets to Town Hall. Visit the gothic halls of St. Martin's Cathedral-Hungary's centuries-old coronation church
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BUDAPEST (B,L,D)

Day 4
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Budapest airport before 10 am. (B)

The Avalon View is the newest addition to the 2020 Avalon Suite Ship fleet. With the youngest fleet of ships on Europe's waterways, Avalon Waterways continues our outstanding commitment to comfortable luxury and excellence with the View. Passengers can choose from two full decks of award-winning Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling Panoramic Windows that transform your living space into a unique Open-Air Balcony. The 200-square-foot Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, with Avalon's incomparable window-facing "Beds with a View". Onboard amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi access, a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, an Adventure Center for bikes and active gear, and an Avalon Adventure Host to assist with active excursions and activities. Enjoy exceptional onboard cuisine, including Avalon Fresh menu options, premium coffee and spirits, and versatile FlexDining venues, including the casual Panorama Bistro, al fresco Sky Grill, or elegant glass-walled Dining Room. Library books, cards, and board games are favorites in the Club Lounge, and our Observation Lounge affords the perfect vantage point to watch the world go by. The expansive Sky Deck beckons with a whirlpool, premium lounge chairs, shade system, and deck games-against a backdrop of Europe's most spectacular scenery.

You've always forged your own path...with your own distinct perspective of looking at the world. Avalon Waterways presents a river cruise experience with your unique style in mind-offering expansive views and wider perspectives. With river cruising's only Open-Air BalconySM, these wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows open wider than any other in the industry, blurring the line between outside and in, forming a spacious seating area for six, and creating an open invitation to discover and dream. Even if you're a seasoned traveler, you've never seen Europe like this.

Whether you'd like a romantic mini-break, an extended exploration, or something in between, with Avalon Waterways, you get to choose the river cruise that reveals the very best of Europe, Asia or South America.

What defines luxury? Is it the enjoyment of the good things in life, or is it simply having things just the way you prefer them? At Avalon Waterways, we navigate with both elegance and ease to deliver a "just right" experience - one that transports you at just the right pace, with just the right amenities, and just the right views. Along the legendary waterways of Europe, we balance enriching activities, included excursions, mouthwatering cuisine, and unmatched service to offer the perfect degree of relaxed indulgence. We call this the Avalon difference.