Activities & Entertainment
This trip is rated Easy
Many of your included sightseeing tours involve walking — occasionally on cobbled or uneven streets, or along unpaved vineyard paths. If you wish to extend your walks, your Cruise Director or local guide can suggest scenic routes nearby. At the same time, there is plenty of time to relax aboard ship, and should you wish to forego any activity, you are always at liberty to do so. For the fullest enjoyment of this trip, we recommend that you be in reasonably good health, and able to walk at least a mile unassisted.
Let's Go Biking!
Biking is not only a wonderful way to get some exercise, it is also a great way to explore the best of Europe. Your Deluxe river ship has complimentary bicycles on board for use during your free time, so just speak to your Cruise Director onboard to reserve one. Your Concierge will even lead some tours upon request! Click the links below for maps of suggested pathways. Your Cruise Director can point you in the right direction, which includes the routes below and those from www.bikemap.net. Vantage provides you maps, helmets, locks, and safety instructions.
Please note that cycling tours are on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to weather conditions. They will operate for your safety at the discretion of your Concierge or Cruise Director.
Maps
View the Biking Route Map: Budapest: Picturesque round trip
Length: 5 miles
Difficulty level: easy & flat
This route will show you most magnificent sites of Budapest, including Freedom Bridge, Chain Bridge, and the Hungarian Parliament Building. From your ship, head to the Green Bridge (Freedom Bridge); make sure to take a look at Market Hall on your way, an excellent example of late 19th century Functionalist architecture. Between the White (Elizabeth) Bridge and Chain Bridge, you’ll enjoy excellent photo opportunities of the Parliament Building (designed by Gustav Eiffel studios). Then, continue to Margit Island Bridge for an extended biking opportunity in the heart of Budapest. Cross the Danube on the Budapest side to for excellent pictures of Buda Castle and Gellert Hill. Then, continue towards the Chain and White bridges, where your ship is docked.
View the Biking Route Map: Bratislava: Traces of “Iron Curtain”
Length: 6.5 miles
Difficulty level: easy & flat
This bike trip will take you to the place where between the years 1948 and 1989 the infamous Iron Curtain ran through, to the border of today’s Slovakia & Austria. From the ship, head to the Green Bridge and cross the Danube. From the bridge you have excellent view of Bratislava Castle and the Danube, as well as your ship docked there. After crossing the bridge continue to the right on the marked bike path toward the Austrian border. Just before you reach the border crossing, you will see in the trees on the right hand former military bunker. This is one of the bunkers that were build along the entire border of former Czechoslovakia to protect it against Nazi German aggression; however, they never got used. In the area of bunker, there is also a short section related to the Iron Curtain, which was in this place before 1989. You can return back to the ship by crossing the Danube over the Lafranconi Bridge and then continue along the Danube all the way to the ship’s docking place.
View the Biking Route Map: Vienna: Leisure & relaxation area of Vienna: Danube Island”
Length: 8 miles
Difficulty level: medium & flat
This bike tour is the perfect opportunity to explore spots where local Viennese go to relax. You can extend this route as much as you wish. Once off the ship, cross the Danube on Friedrich’s Bridge. Then, simply follow the marked paths on the island (either left or right). Along this bike route, you’ll enjoy panoramic sights of sky carpers. The lower carpers belong to the seat of the United Nations in Vienna.
View the Biking Route Map: Linz: Mauthausen & Concentration camp
Length: 32 miles
Difficulty level: medium & few up & down hill
History lovers will enjoy an emotional experience at the memorial site of the former concentration camp of Mauthausen in Austria. The bike route leads you along the Danube to the small town of Mauthausen. There is a short incline. You can return to Linz on the other side of the Danube (not quite as scenic) for a shorter bike ride.
View the Biking Route Map: Passau: Along the beautiful Ilz river
Length: 10 miles
Difficulty level: medium & few up & down hill
As the smallest contributory of the Danube in Passau, Ilz river originates in the Bohemian forest along the border area of the Czech Republic and Germany: the Sumava Mountains. Just few miles outside of Passau, you’ll already get a pastoral feeling and cruise long the bike path that winds nicely along the small river. There are many stops for pictures. More adventurous bikers may enjoy bringing a swimsuit along for a dip in the mountain water. The return is downhill.
Let Us Entertain You
Throughout your Danube River journey, you’ll enjoy local arts and entertainment, both on shore and aboard ship. On this journey, you’ll enjoy classical music at a private concert in Vienna’s famed Kursalon and delight to warm-up dancers in Linz.
Back on the ship, you can relax, enjoy a drink with friends, or join us for Movie Night — a great way to unwind after a day of discovering the treasures of the Danube.
