City sights an anchor away
YOU’RE on the way from Budapest to Vienna, so the natural thing to do is pop into the classical city of Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. The magical thing about travelling on the Danube is the mix of grand places you get to visit. And an A-ROSA cruise makes the most of them.
The six-day Danube Highlights cruise concentrates on all three cities. There’s an overnight stop in Budapest, with plenty of time to walk along the river past the parliament building and climb the steps to the lofty Fisherman’s Bastion viewpoint.
You’ll still be able to buy strings of chillies and pots of local honey from the buzzing indoor market and see the signs of Communism that receded little more than two decades ago.
There’s a day in Bratislava, with the Old Town and its medieval towers, the town hall complex of three buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries, home to Bratislava City Museum, and Michael’s Gate from ancient fortifications.
There’s also a day and night in Vienna, where you can visit Schönbrunn Palace, a baroque dream with 1,441 rooms and expansive grounds, pop into the Viennese Riding School to see elegant horses training, and try Sachertorte, the chocolate delight, in the polished coffee house of the Hotel Sacher.
In the evening walk to the fairgrounds of the Prater amusement park, with one of the world’s oldest Ferris wheel, built in 1897.
If the places are a dream, so too is the ship. A-ROSA DONNA carries 242 people in elegant style, with facilities including a restaurant with flexible, buffet dining (with a Mediterranean influence, and usually with a Bavarian, Austrian and Hungarian night), a spa, sauna, and a heated pool on the sun deck.
You’ll not only get your meals but all your drinks, free wi-fi and a spacious cabin, many with Juliette balconies and queen-sized beds.
AN AROSA cruise booked with Cosmos Tours & Cruises also includes flights, transfers and private VIP Home Pick-up Service. The value is extraordinary, with prices from £799pp. Excursions are optional extras so choose what suits you.
A range of A-ROSA mini-cruises are available, ideal for those who have never experienced river cruising and for those who love European city breaks as calls concentrate on the cities along the route, with longer stays and overnight calls.
There are several on the Danube as well as others on the sunny Rhône in southeastern France (such as the six-day Rhône Route Rendez-Vous, from £799pp) visiting places such as Lyon and historic Avignon. Here you’ll travel on A-ROSA STELLA, a smaller ship, carrying 174 passengers.
An A-ROSA river cruise with Cosmos is a holiday with a difference at an amazing price. INFORMATION: 0800 440 2797/cosmos toursandcruises.co.uk