Enchanting Danube River Cruise
May 12 to 22, 2012

The Danube River is calm and peaceful, yet with a beauty and grandeur all its own – not unlike a river cruise ship gliding down the majestic river. Our Blue Danube cruise begins in Passau, Germany, where we’ll embark aboard CroisiEurope's MS Symphonie, and continue south to Budapest with ports of call that include Melk, Durnstein, Vienna, Esztergom, and Budapest. This fascinating journey takes us past carefully cultivated vineyards of Austria’s Wachau district and the gently undulating countryside that eventually merges into the incredible wide-open spaces of the great plains of Hungary. We'll enjoy private sightseeing in Melk Abbey, Vienna, and the Hungarian Plain.

Before we begin our cruise, we'll have two nights in Salzburg to tour such highlights as Mirabell Palace, the Mozart Conservatoire, Old Town, and 12th century Benedictine St. Peter's Abbey. After we disembark the MS Symphonie in Budapest, we'll tour the city of Budapest beginning in "Buda's" Castle District where we'll see the Royal Palace and the seven-hundred year-old Matthias Church. From here, we'll cross the Chain Bridge to modern day "Pest" and visit the neo-Gothic Parliament, St. Stephen's Basilica, and Heroes' Square, a World Heritage Site. An additional day in Budapest will give you plenty of free time to explore this mystical city on your own. The Hungarian capital is one of the most attractive cities in Europe and is often described as the "Paris of Eastern Europe" for its beautiful evening illumination.

Trip includes:

• Round-trip airfare from Chicago
• Accommodations and ground transportation
• Nine breakfasts, four lunches and seven evening dinners
• Two nights in Salzburg, five nights cruising, and two nights in Budapest

Please call Pat Anderson at (815)753-1512 for availability.