Twitter & Instagram Tour: Adventures By Disney Danube River Cruise – Inaugural Holiday Sailing

By
Dave Parfitt
– December 30, 2016Posted in: Austria, Cruises, Destinations, Europe, Family Travel, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Travel Type

Earlier this month I swapped the Family Truckster for a river boat, and my daughter and I headed to Adventures By Disney Danube River Cruise for a European Christmas Vacation. This was Adventures By Disney’s inaugural holiday Danube River cruise after a summer season of tours with AmaWaterways. Continue reading for tweets and Instagram photos along the way, and click here for a review of the cruise.

1-chevy-chase-oktoberfest

December 14 Travel Day – New York to Munich

A long day of travel flying from Rochester, New York to Munich, Germany.

December 15 Embarkation – Vilshofen, Germany

We nearly landing in Munich before diverted to Frankfurt, Germany due to fog. In Frankfurt we sat on the tarmac for four hours while technicians repaired the autopilot before we could return to Munich. We arrived just in time to catch Adventures By Disney’s shuttle to the ship docked in Vilshofen, Germany. A two hour bus ride brought us to the AmaViola.

Where we were welcomed with our own private Oktoberfest in December.

December 16 Passau, Germany

Morning activity – a tour of the medieval village of Passau at the confluence of three rivers, the Danube, Inn, and Ilz. The native Pittsburgher in me loved being in a three rivers city again.

Afternoon activity – we climbed through the tree tops at Baumkronenweg in Kopfing, Austria.

December 17 Linz, Austria

Our closest stop to Salzburg included a day long excursion to the city of Mozart’s birthplace.

Morning activity – a tour beneath the Austrian Alps into one of the world’s oldest salt mines. We rode a train, zoomed down a mineshaft slide, and floated on a raft throughout the mine — all while learning the rich history of Austria’s “white gold.”

Lunch in one of the oldest restaurants in Europe, St. Peter’s Stiftskeller that included the region’s famous Sacher Torte.

Afternoon activity – on our own time to explore the Christmas Markets and shop in Salzburg. Christmas carolers 🎄 in the City of Mozart 🎶

December 18 Melk, Austria

Morning activity – I toured the Melk Benedictine Abbey while my daughter caught up on sleep on the ship.

Following the Abbey tour, it was on to the Landhotel Wachau to learn the “Stories of the Danube” including fishing, apricot marmalade and wine tasting, and traditional Austrian dancing.

Afternoon activity – we sailed through the Wachau Valley, a protetected UNESCO World Heritage Site, before docking at Krems where we were escorted to Dürnstein for a hike to the castle ruins that once held England’s King Richard the Lionhearted (in the 1100’s).

December 19 Vienna, Austria

Morning Activity – A tour Schönbrunn Palace including historic marionette show and strudel making demonstration.


Lunch – we dined on goulash and dumplings in one of Vienna’s oldest restaurants, Griechenbeisl established in 1500.

Afternoon Activity – free time to explore Vienna’s world famous Christkindlmarkt.

Evening Activity – attended a private reception and performance at the Spanish Riding School, home of the world-famous Lipizzaner Stallions. Followed by a private backstage visit to the riding arena, stables, and tack room. Yes, the photo below is a riding arena not an opera hall.

Spanish Riding School, Vienna, Austria

December 20 Bratislava, Slovakia

Morning activity – I strolled through the historic center of Bratislava while my daughter recovered from the full day in Vienna.

Afternoon activity – we skipped over the border back into Austria to tour Schloss Hof, the “hunting lodge” of the Hapsbergs. During our visit we met rare animals such as 3 & 4 horned goats and white donkeys, learned a Viennese Waltz, and tasted chocolate and schnapps.

Schloss Hof Schnapps Tasting, Austria

Schloss Hof Schnapps Tasting in Austria

December 21 Budapest, Hungary

From Slovakia we sailed on to our final destination – Budapest, Hungary.

Morning Activity – quick stop at the Budapest Central Market for some shopping before heading to the Lazar Equestrian Park to make our own goulash, visit the farm animal, watch spectacular horsemanship, and eat… so much to eat.

Afternoon Activity – final visit to one last Christmas market to pick up remaining gifts and souvenirs.

Evening Activity – a spectacular Illuminations Cruise on the Danube with the buildings of Budapest lit before us.

And as quickly as it started, it was time to head for home.

DISCLOSURE: Dave Parfitt was hosted by Adventures by Disney for the purposes of experiencing this inaugural Adventures By Disney Danube River Cruise.  However, all opinions expressed are those of the author.  For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.

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About Dave Parfitt

Married, father of two girls, and living in the heart of the Finger Lakes. I'm a runner with a PhD in neuroscience and a passion for travel.