Explore More - 2019

Romantic DANUBE This

Romantic DANUBE This voyage from Budapest to Nuremberg is a feast of experiences along the prettiest stretches of Europe’s second-longest river, discovers travel writer Jeannine Williamson One day I was being swept up in a Viennese whirl as I listened to the unmistakable sounds of the “Blue Danube” waltz, the next I was listening to the resonant tone of a mighty church organ and then a colorful troupe singing folk songs and operatic arias on board. And that was in between visiting wonderful sites in Hungary, Austria and Germany, or simply relaxing and watching the world drift by as we cruised past picture-postcard villages, lush terraced vineyards and dramatic castles perched on high cliffs. Our Romantic Danube voyage of discovery started in the delightful Hungarian capital, Budapest. One of the beauties of river cruising is that you moor right in the heart of towns and cities so you can make the most of your time as you never have to travel far to see the sights. Viking owns the best docking locations right next to Budapest’s landmark Chain Bridge—which spans the Danube between Buda and Pest, the two halves of the Hungarian capital. Designed by British civil engineer William Tierney Clark, it opened in 1849 and was Budapest’s first permanent bridge across the river. We spent our first afternoon strolling along Budapest’s Andrássy Avenue, the main boulevard; the next day, we enjoyed a fascinating guided tour (one of the daily excursions included in the price of the cruise) which took in imposing Heroes’ Square and other highlights before crossing the river to the charming Buda side of the city. Our home for the week was one of the sleek new Viking Longships, decked out in stylish and contemporary Scandinavian style from top to toe, or I should probably say bow to stern. With surprisingly roomy staterooms and plenty of cleverly designed storage to stow all our things, it was an elegant, floating hotel. Our journey continued to Vienna with an excursion to see its wonderful palaces and grand buildings including Hofburg 48 VIKING.COM | EXPLORE MORE 2019

Palace, home of the ruling Hapsburgs for more than 600 years. For an afternoon at leisure, we opted to sit in one of the city’s renowned coffeehouses and delight in a slice of indulgent chocolate Sachertorte before taking an easy metro ride back to the ship. In the elegant German town of Passau, situated at the confluence of the Danube, Ilz and Inn Rivers, one of Europe’s largest church organs can be found. A visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a highlight of the walking tour and includes tickets to the stirring lunchtime organ concert that takes place during select months of the year. It is an unforgettable experience listening to the range of sounds produced by the organ that has more than 17,000 pipes and 233 stops. And who can forget medieval Regensburg, where you can visit the world’s oldest sausage tavern, sample the local sweet mustard and take photos by the quaint 12th-century stone bridge, the oldest in Germany? Unlike oceangoing cruise ships, Viking is happy for people to buy local wines and drinks to enjoy on board; although with complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, there is always an included local offering on board. Each night we would invariably swap tales of the river with our fellow guests over mouthwatering meals that were often themed to Clockwise, from facing page: Budapest’s historic Chain Bridge; the Johann Strauss monument in Stadtpark; the best strudel in Vienna our destination, such as schnitzel and apple strudel in Austria and local sausages washed down with regional beer in Germany. While it is undeniably steeped in romance, the Danube is also a major historic working waterway that has shaped its adjoining countries socially and economically, making this cruise a wonderfully scenic journey and a truly captivating cultural experience. GETTING THERE: Enjoy the 8-day Romantic Danube itinerary in 2019. Go online: Watch a video of the Romantic Danube cruise at vrc.com/videos EXPLORE MORE 2019 VIKING.COM 49