Danube Delights
All-Gay River Cruise 2017

July 29–August 5, 2017
Emerald Waterways Emerald Sky

The Danube is one of the most famous rivers in the world, and the name alone evokes romantic images of fairytale castles, sounds of Strauss, and the delights of some of Europe's most impressive cities. Join us onboard Emerald Waterways’ gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Danube River cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Nuremberg, Germany. An exciting way to experience the beauty of the Danube River during an 8-day all-gay cruise onboard an Emerald Star-Ship.

Immerse yourself in a journey of discovery of "Old Europe", uncovering ancient abbeys, beautiful palaces and historic landmarks. An invitation to a hosted afternoon tea provides a truly authentic insight into Slovakian life and the chance to try traditional fare, while vibrant cities such as Vienna and Budapest fill your European exploration with trips to iconic sights and bustling city streets.

Departing on July 29, 2017, this all-gay river cruise includes your stateroom or suite, all transfers and gratuities, one shore excursion per day, all meals and a Free Premium Drinks Package worth up to $350* per couple, entitling you to unlimited free drinks onboard throughout your trip. Special Guests from the UK include Gaydio Breakfast Show radio hosts Chris Holliday and Emma Goswell, who will be broadcasting live from the ship for three days.

This special gay river cruise offers a diverse insight into many cultures as part of an inclusive community and is sure to be an experience you’ll remember for years to come.

Emerald Star-Ship Emerald Sky

A river cruise is one of the most elegant and worry-free ways to travel. On board your deluxe ship, all your meals are included with beer, wine and soft drinks served during lunch and dinner. Tea and coffee are always available and you’ll have bottled water restocked daily in your cabin. And with capacity for only 182 guests on board our ship, we offer a truly intimate cruising experience. Not only will you enjoy a continuous view of the incredible landscapes along the famous waterways, but you’ll see a different side of Europe - one that can only be experienced on the rivers that have helped shape the history and cultures of the places they weave through.

Emerald Waterways revolutionary ‘Star-Ships’ aren’t like other river cruise ships. They’re designed to impress and inspire with every little detail, exceeding any expectation you have of what a river cruise ship would be like. With its striking minimalistic design, sleek composition and stylish features, an Emerald Waterways ship is comparable to a contemporary designed hotel. Only it’s better, because your hotel travels with you to a multitude of fantastic destinations and offers incredible panoramic views of the stunning scenery you pass along the way.

We don’t want to just meet your expectations; we aim to create spectacular surprises that exceed what you would expect from a river cruise ship. That’s why our new deluxe ships boast a heated swimming pool complete with retractable roof - creating a brilliant onboard oasis for you to relax, whatever the weather. And on selected evenings, the pool area inventively transforms into a cinema showing a collection of films.

Floating perfection. That’s what your Emerald Waterways river cruise feels like: the perfect vacation. Always wanted to enjoy your very own paradise? Emerald Waterways creates a brilliant on board oasis for you to relax in, whatever the weather. Our deluxe Star-Ship feature highlights of ocean cruising in a boutique river cruise setting. Yes, you really can have it all.

In all of our public areas, contemporary, elegant furnishings and modern art create a seamlessly opulent environment. Take in every moment on the river, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of light and reveal a spectacular view in every direction. Our perfectly placed Horizon Lounge opens out onto The Terrace, where, on cooler days or evenings, the outside ceiling heaters retain that summer glow and warm atmosphere.

On our Horizon deck awaits one of our Star-Ships’ most stunning features, an indoor heated pool and lounge area surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, complete with retractable roof. Equipped with comfortable loungers, this contemporary decked area is the perfect place to relax during the day after a morning of sightseeing. With specialty teas and coffees available at all times from the intimate café bar, this tranquil retreat is the perfect place to simply unwind with a good book, or have a refreshing dip.

Pool & Cinema
A new dimension in on-board evening entertainment, you’ll be able to watch classic films and recent releases as you wind down for the night with a drink, in the company of your fellow travelers. So if you’re not in the mood to take advantage of the bar, or ready to retreat to your room, the cinema is a great place to spend your evening.

Sun Deck
When the weather’s nice, The Terrace – located at the bow of the ship – offers a beautiful setting to enjoy al-fresco dining. For the perfect start to your day, you can watch the sun rise with your morning tea or coffee and light breakfast. With a panoramic view, The Terrace is also a lovely place to grab a café-style lunch from a choice of pastas, pizzas, soups, sandwiches and salad. And on selected days, you’ll find us firing up the barbecue on the Sun Deck for a fantastic grilled feast.

Onboard Bicycles
New for 2017 is our Emerald Active hiking and bicycling experiences. Take a guided bike excursion from Melk to Dürnstein or, if you want to challenge yourself over more rugged European terrain, join a guided hike in the Black Forest. You should be physically fit to enjoy these excursions.

Dining on Emerald Sky

On an Emerald Waterways river cruise, you can expect great dining experiences from start to finish. Our cruises begins with a Welcome Dinner where you’ll meet other guests, and ends with a Farewell Dinner where you can share memories with new-found friends.

Our experienced chefs take great pride in preparing your dishes to the highest quality standards, and ensuring our menus showcase the fantastic regional cuisines of Europe. Every day, enjoy a breakfast and lunch buffet with an array of hot and cold appetizers and main course choices, as well as a dessert table with a collection of fine sweets. In the evenings, we invite you to be our special guest at a four-course dinner serving delicious international and regional specialties.

Fine Dining: Reflections Restaurant
Reflections is our ship’s main restaurant, offering an informal setting for you to enjoy our delightful cuisine. Every day, you can enjoy a buffet breakfast or for something a little more special, take advantage of our resident Egg Chef’s fabulous selection of freshly prepared morning meals. At lunch, you can choose from a full hot and cold buffet or delicious à la carte menu. In the evenings, you’ll enjoy a four-course dinner carefully prepared by our amazing chefs.

Go al-fresco: The Terrace
With a panoramic view, The Terrace at the ship’s bow is a beautiful setting for fair-weather outdoor dining. Watch the sunrise with your morning tea or coffee and a light breakfast. In between excursions? Grab a café-style lunch from your choice of pastas, soups, sandwiches and salads. On select days, find us firing up the barbecue on the Sun Deck for a fantastic grilled feast.

Keeping your glass topped off
Having an amazing vacation can be thirsty work, so remember that complimentary tea and coffee are available at all times throughout your cruise. To accompany lunch and dinner, we’ve carefully chosen a special selection of European red and white wines, local beers and soft drinks for you to enjoy with your meal - all of which are included in the price of your vacation.

Authentic onshore dining
Extend your high quality on board dining experience with authentic onshore regional dining excursions that offer you deeper—and more delicious!—insight into your destination’s culture and people. For example, in Bratislava, you’ll have a truly rewarding opportunity to taste traditional fare and learn more about everyday local life during a hosted afternoon tea, in the company of a local Slovakian family.

Emerald Sky Accommodations

Each contemporary, boutique hotel-style room in our wide range of cabin options is designed to really enhance your river cruise experience, with elegant, hand-picked furnishings right down to the smallest, thoughtful detail—like carefully placing mirrors in the best positions to help you get ready for the day ahead. Enjoy your own en suite bathroom, hotel-style bed, flat screen TV and infotainment system, individual climate control, complimentary WiFi, bottled water restocked daily, personal mini-bar fridge, and of course, plenty of storage and living space.

All cabins on our Vista and Horizon decks are equipped with our revolutionary open-air system, designed to ensure all-weather enjoyment while taking in Europe’s beautiful landscapes.

Saturday, July 29, 2017
Budapest, Hungary
On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by our representative and transferred by coach to your award-winning ship. Here, you’ll have the chance to unpack, relax in your room and explore all of the ship’s fantastic facilities, like the on board heated pool and bar, and the spacious Sun Deck which offers panoramic views of your surroundings. Conclude the day with an evening cruise and see the heart of the city lit up at night while enjoying a traditional Hungarian dinner, complete with a folklore show.

EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Hungarian folklore show and Danube River evening cruise.

Included Meals: Welcome Buffet Dinner

Sunday, July 30, 2017
Budapest, Hungary
Widely known as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Budapest is home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes’ Square and the Millennium Underground Railway – the second oldest underground electric metro system in the world.

Today we take a tour to either Fisherman’s Bastion situated on Castle Hill, where you’re free to admire the most breath-taking panoramic views of the city, or to see Matthias Church and the iconic Chain Bridge that links Buda and Pest. This evening, you have an extra special invite to the Captain’s Welcome reception followed by dinner.

Included excursions: A guided tour of Budapest.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Captain’s Farewell reception and dinner.

Monday, July 31, 2017
Bratislava, Slovakia
Today you’ll experience the bustling pedestrian plazas and stylish street cafés of Bratislava, including a sightseeing tour of the Old Town – home to many historical buildings, including the magnificent Mirbach Palace and the Gothic cathedral of St. Martin.

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a hosted afternoon tea with a local Slovakian family, providing you with a truly authentic insight into Slovakian culture. You’ll sample traditional fare in the company of new friends and discover what everyday life is like in a Slovakian village.

EmeraldPLUS: A hosted afternoon tea with a local Slovakian family.

Included excursions: A sightseeing tour of Bratislava.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Vienna, Austria
Today, we take you on a coach tour along the Ringstrasse where you’ll see Vienna’s world-famous Opera House, Burgtheatre, Town Hall and Hofburg Imperial Palace before hopping off to explore on foot.

You’ll then head to the center of Vienna where St. Stephen’s cathedral stands proud and majestic in the main square and can take in the city’s fabulous sights from a truly unique vantage point.

Alternatively, you can book a Discover More visit to Schönbrunn Palace – Empress Sisi’s former summer residence, complete with an enchanting park. As you explore the grounds of the palace your guide will divulge the secrets that surround you.

This evening, you have the choice to book an exclusive Discover More excursion to enjoy a Viennese concert. This is an exclusive event performed only for Emerald Waterways guests.

Included excursions: A sightseeing drive along the Ringstrasse and a walking tour of Vienna.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Discover More: Schönbrunn Palace and/or exclusive Viennese Concert.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Melk / Dürnstein, Austria
Your tour of Austria’s wine-growing region begins in Melk – a pretty town situated on the south bank of the Danube River.

Here you’ll explore a 900-year-old Benedictine abbey overlooking the town on a rocky outcrop. Boasting the finest Italian architecture, elaborate gold leaf walls, a 640ft Imperial Corridor and fabulous fresco ceilings, Melk Abbey is a beautiful sight.

Later, you’ll sail to Dürnstein through the great Wachau Valley – home to the 12th-century castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned after returning from the crusades.

Included excursions: A guided tour of Melk Abbey

Emerald Active: Biking tour between Melk and Dürnstein or guided hike to Dürnstein Castle.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Thursday, August 3, 2017
Passau, Germany
On this morning’s walking tour, you’ll stroll through the cobblestone streets and narrow alleys before emerging to find the perfect view of the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress.

As an alternative you may book a Discover More full-day excursion (including lunch) to Salzburg in Austria – one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps and a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with dreaming spires, green hills and many romantic gardens.

Or you may prefer to book a Discover More visit to Ceský Krumlov – a small town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Built around a 13th-century castle with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements, it’s an outstanding example of a small Medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact over more than five centuries.

However you choose to spend your morning, you’ll return to your ship for lunch on board and an afternoon of leisurely sailing.

Included excursions: A walking tour of Passau.

Discover More: Salzburg, Austria, or Ceský Krumlov, Czech Republic.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Friday, August 4, 2017
Regensburg / Kelheim, Germany
On your guided walking tour you’ll have the chance to admire one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube as well as the city’s architectural highlights.

Before your guided tour of Regensburg, you can book a Discover More tour to a local brewery for a tour and beer tasting. This evening enjoy a Captain’s Welcome reception followed by dinner where you’ll be able to meet the other guests, crew and Captain, and acquaint yourself with life on the river.

Entertainment comes courtesy of a traditional Bavarian Band, playing a selection of fantastic folk music into the night while you relax with a drink.

EmeraldPLUS: Evening entertainment with a traditional Bavarian Band.

Included excursions: Tour of Regensburg.

Discover More: Tour & beer tasting at alocal brewery

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Captain’s Farewell reception and dinner.

Saturday, August 5, 2017
Nuremberg, Germany
After a delicious buffet breakfast to prepare you for the day ahead, it’s time to say your goodbyes to your fellow guests, the crew and your Captain before you’re transferred to the airport and your journey home begins.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Please note: Discover More optional excursions may be booked prior to departure or may be booked once onboard. These tours are available at an additional charge and are subject to availability.

What's included?

• 7 nights in a Stateroom or Suite of your choice
• 6 shore excursions, either on foot or by motor coach, including 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• 4 EmeraldPLUS activities including a home-hosted afternoon tea with a local Slovakian family
• 2 EmeraldACTIVE activities, including a biking tour between Melk and Durnstein
• 20 on-board meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners including Captain's Welcome & Farewell dinner
• Complimentary bottled water in your Suite or Stateroom, re-stocked daily
• A customized line-up of on board evening entertainment
• First-class service from English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides
• Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
• Complimentary bicycles on board
• Airport transfers to and from your ship
• All tips and gratuities included!
• PLUS unlimited drinks with our FREE Premium Drinks Package*

*FREE Preimum Drinks Package does not include Champagne, wine by the bottle and cabin mini-bar.