The Blue Danube - MS Swiss Corona

Seven nights from only £1,099 per person, departing October 2012

Stepping aboard the MS Swiss Corona, you will appreciate the superb surroundings of your floating luxury hotel for the next seven nights with spacious and well-appointed cabins or suites, private bathrooms and meticulously prepared fine cuisine.

From Budapest, we slip our moorings and head on our journey north to Esztergom spending the morning exploring it’s historic centre, which once was Hungary’s capital, before continuing westwards to the beautiful old town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Navigating through Lower Austria we then reach the romantic town of Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned, having been shipwrecked on his return from the crusades. After we visit the remarkable monastery in Melk, with its 200m long Emperor’s Gallery, lined with portraits of Austrian emperors.

Soon we arrive in Linz from where we take the short drive to Salzburg. During the guided tour of the old town we will see the imposing fortress Hohensalzburg towering over the city and of course the birthplace and residence of Mozart, Salzburg’s most famous citizen.  On our way back eastwards we will reach classical Vienna, home of Strauss and many great composers. This city offers up so much wonderful architecture as well as a host of other things to see including the Spanish riding school.

Finally, cruising into Hungary, we arrive back in imperial Budapest, straddling the picturesque Danube. After a guided tour of this palatial city we spend the evening on board, where the Captain hosts another spectacular dinner, an excellent finale to this most exceptional and relaxing cruise.

The price includes:

• Return flight from London Heathrow, Manchester, London Gatwick or London Luton
• Guided tour of Vienna, city of Strauss and home of the Hapsburgs
• Visit to baroque Bratislava, capital of Slovakia
• Cruise through the scenic Wachau, Austria’s premier wine region
• Visit to Melk Abbey, central Europe’s most spectacular baroque monastery, and one of its premier academic institutions
• Visit to medieval Dürnstein where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned whilst returning from the Crusades
• Tour of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and one of Austria’s most beautiful cities
• Explore the amazing basilica at Esztergom, Hungary’s oldest cathedral
• Tour of Budapest, Pearl of the Danube
• Price includes full-board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day
• No single supplements for cabins on the Emerald Deck
• The services of our experienced tour manager

Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin with a limited number of single cabins, subject to availability on the Emerlad (lower) deck with no supplement, the Ruby (middle) deck at a supplement (date dependant) of £999 to £1,299 per person, and the Diamond deck at a supplement (date dependant) of £1,299 to £1,599 per person. The price includes full board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day; morning/afternoon tea and coffee; all visits and excursions as mentioned, airport transfers, coach travel as mentioned, travel to and from port of embarkation and services of a Riviera Travel Tour Manager.

Terms and conditions:

The code must be quoted at time of booking to receive offer prices

Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to availability. Operated by Riviera Travel Atol 3430 protected, Abta V4744, a company independent of Independent Print Ltd. Single rooms are subject to availability and at a supplement. Optional insurance available at a supplement. When you respond to offers we may use your information to contact you with offers/services that we believe will be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive offers by sms or email. We will not give your data to other companies without your permission; please let us know if you are happy for us to to so. Prices are correct at the time of publishing. Please call or email for details. 0844 calls charged at 5ppm from BT landlines

Supplier info: Riviera Travel

Since their inception 25 years ago, Riviera Travel have endeavoured to exceed the expectations of the discerning traveller, on their fascinating and innovative European and Worldwide escorted tours.

They have passion for quality and looking after all their guests in the most personal manner possible and really ‘go the extra mile'. Over the years they have received many commendations from many household names in the publishing industry. They have recently been voted by the members of one of the country's most respected consumer organisations in their biannual survey of travel companies, as one of the UK's top two Tour Operators and the most outstanding of all in terms of value for money - by some considerable margin.

Riviera Travel offers European and Worldwide Escorted Tours by Eurostar and by Air.

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Call: 0844 571 1980

Offer Code: The Independent website

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independent@rivieratravel.co.uk