The Fine Art of River Cruising
Destination of the Week -- the Heart of Europe
To enjoy as many different artistic experiences as you can on vacation, consider a river cruise through the heart of Europe; where paintings, sculpture, handicrafts, architecture, music, and theater collide with some of the most dazzling scenery in the whole world. Also, a river cruise is reasonably-priced, easy to do (you only unpack once or twice) and you can maximize your sightseeing time since your “floating hotel” moves at night.
European waterways, after hundreds of years of development, have become so sophisticated that you can actually cruise all the way from the North Sea to the Black Sea. To fit in as much as possible in a two-week vacation, however, the most popular itinerary is a Danube River cruise from Nuremberg, Germany to Budapest Hungary (or the other way around).
While there are many wonderful river cruise companies, for this article I’m going to focus on an Avalon Waterways itinerary because they have a brand-new ship, bigger rooms, and more inclusions (such as wine with dinner and excursions) than some of the others.
You actually begin your artistic adventure with a 3-day stay in Prague, Czech Republic. This 1,000-year-old city is a work of art in itself, full of cathedrals, castles, theaters, and stunning old-world charm. After that, the cruise begins in Nuremberg, famous for its toy-making and metal-working arts.
From there, the medieval city of Regensburg (highlighted in the book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die) is explored in depth. It is considered to be the finest architectural and cultural center of the Bavarian region of Germany. Then, it’s on to beautiful Linz, Austria, where an optional Sound of Music excursion to Salzburg is recommended.
The next day, you arrive in the breathtaking port of Melk, home of the magnificent Benedictine Abbey. In the evening, the ship glides into the port of Vienna – Europe’s magical “City of Music.” There is no shortage of cultural attractions here! Probably a place you’ll want to return to for a longer stay, you can nevertheless enjoy many museums, cathedrals, and musical opportunities all day in this spectacular city.
Finally, the ancient burgs “Buda” and “Pest” come into view, connected by 7 interesting bridges. In addition to the fine arts and architectural wonders of Budapest, you can find exquisite embroidery and porcelain handicrafts.
So there you have it – a perfect, amazing “extravaganza of the arts” vacation encompassing 4 European countries.
Janet McLaren has been booking travel professionally for 5 years and can be contacted at 972-231-0066.
