including a Danube River cruise to Hungry, Austria, Slovakia & Germany. Plus stays in Salzburg & Munich and experiencing the Passion Play
To be Rescheduled
Join Father Tom on this special journey that will start with a cruise on the Danube River with stops and Masses in Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Melk & Passau. After our 6-day cruise, we will be visiting Salzburg and Munich along with a special production of the Oberammergau Passion Play which is performed once every 10 years.
Our journey starts in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, where we board our Danube River cruise ship. Embarkation won’t be until 6pm, so we’ll have lunch and a city tour before we are welcomed onboard. The next day we have time in Budapest for Mass before we set sail for the Republic of Slovenia and to Bratislava, a Medieval and Gothic old town featuring a mosaic of illustrious history. Continue cruising to Vienna, Austria’s capital. In addition to our city touring, we will have a Mass in St Stephen’s Cathedral. This monolithic structure stands proud in the Stephensplatz and is the most important church in Vienna. Then we continue on the Danube to Melk with its Benedictine Abbey that has been at its site since 1089. Our last cruise stop is Passau, a beautiful little town on the Danube with a University and the outstanding St. Stephen’s Cathedral, named for the first Christian Martyr and known for the world’s oldest organ. We disembark our cruise ship in Passau, and continue to Salzburg, the “Sound of Music” city for a tour and special Mozart Concert in a setting overlooking the city. Our tour ends in the capital of Bavaria, Munich. Between Salzburg and our stay in Munich, we will be in Oberammergau to witness the special Passion Play that relives the last moments in the life of Jesus.
Note: We only have a limited number of cabins for the cruise and seats for the Passion Play. Once booked, the tour will be Sold Out. We urge early reservations so as to not have to wait another 10 years to experience one of Christianity’s most remarkable events.
A word about the Passion Play
A play of life and death, promised in a moment of mortal threat. So began the history of the Oberammergau Passion Play. In 1633, in the middle of the Thirty Years War, and after months of suffering and death from the plague, the citizens of Oberammergau made a sacred pledge that every 10 years they would perform a “Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” if God would protect them from the plague. Legend has it that after the vow was made, there was not even one further case of Bubonic Plague in the village and those town members who already were afflicted, recovered. In the year 2020, the Community of Oberammergau will again perform the Passion Play, which they have preserved throughout the centuries with singular continuity. Since 1634, it has been performed every 10 years without interruption for over 380 years, (except during World War II). As per special local law, all the actors of the world’s largest amateur dramatic performance come from the village. All participants, from actors playing the big speaking parts such as Jesus, Mary or Judas, to members of the choir, orchestra members and ushers, must have been born in Oberammergau or lived there for at least 20 years.
Our Danube River Cruise ship
Our 6-day cruise on the Danube will be onboard the MS Symphonie. This perfect size river cruising ship was built in 2009 and recently was refurbished.
Our accommodations are in cozy outside staterooms. Like all river cruise ships, which are small, they still are very comfortable and feature the experience of French, German & Austrian hospitality with twin beds, air conditioning, private bathroom, hair dryer, TV and safety deposit box. They are designed to be the ideal personal space and the cabin stewards with their flawless personalized service, make sure we have everything we need.
ITINERARY
1st day: Sunday, July 26: Depart JFK Depart Monday this afternoon for JFK and our connecting flights to Budapest
2nd day: Monday, July 27: Arrive Budapest. Board our cruise ship (L/D) We arrive in Budapest from our connecting flight and clear Immigration and Customs. As boarding for our ship will not be until the late afternoon, we will have lunch at a local restaurant followed by panoramic tour of the “Queen of the Danube”. We will drive along magnificent boulevards and through quaint streets, while exploring Budapest’s highlights. We’ll pass the richly decorated, colossal Parliament, the Chain Bridge with its ancient triumphal arches, the Heroes’ Square, the Millennium Column towering high in the sky, the Opera House – one of the world’s most beautiful – and the magnificent Buda Castle along the way. Then to the pier to board our cruise ship, have a welcome cocktail and dinner followed by a well-deserved rest. Overnight onboard our cruise ship.
3rd day: Tuesday, July 28: Morning in Budapest. Afternoon cruise to Bratislava (B/L/D) After breakfast we are off to the Matthias Church, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we will have mass with Father Tom followed by the rest of the morning free. Return to our ship on our own for lunch followed by a relaxing cruise on the Danube to Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital since the country’s independence in 1993. Bratislava is a mosaic of illustrious history. A Medieval and Gothic old town with baroque palaces commissioned by Hungarian nobles, and crowning castles, rebuilt to Renaissance finery. Overnight in Bratislava onboard our cruise ship.
4th day: Wednesday, July 29: Morning in Bratislava. Afternoon Cruise to Vienna (B/L/D) This morning we arrive in Bratislava. After breakfast, we start our day with Mass at the old St. Clara’s Church. Then we will enjoy a combination of the Old Town tour and Castle Tour. First to Bratislava Castle with it’s beautiful baroque garden, views of Petržalka, Austria and the Old Town. On the way we will see the Slovak National Theatre – Opera House and home of the Philharmonic, magnificent churches, the upside down Pyramid, Grasalkovich palace and St. Martin’s Coronation Cathedral. Then we will come back to the Old Town with its unique historical monuments. We will see the Main Square, Roland Fountain, the oldest fountain in the city, St. Michael’s Gate, the last medieval city gate and the Archbishop’s palace before returning to our ship for lunch and the rest of the afternoon to relax before we set sail for Vienna. Overnight onboard our cruise ship.
5th day: Thursday, July 30: Full Day in Vienna. Depart in the evening for Melk (B/L/D) We start the day by visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral where Father Tom will say Mass. Then… are you ready for a journey through history? On this tour, we will get to know Vienna’s most historically significant sights. We will begin with a drive along the Ringstrasse with its magnificent buildings, such as the State Opera, the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History, the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament Building, the city hall, the university, the stock exchange and past numerous palaces and monuments of famous composers, poets and artists. You will then continue to travel along the Prater with its famous Giant Ferris Wheel to the Hundertwasser house, to St. Charles’s Church before returning to our cruise ship for lunch. The afternoon is free for independent exploration of Vienna. Or take an Optional tour of the famous baroque Schönbrunn Palace that was built in 1713 and was generally used as the summer residence of the Habsburgs. Emperor Francis Joseph, who was born here in 1830, spent the last years of his life entirely in Schönbrunn. Owing to its historical importance, (it has been a world cultural heritage site since 1996), beautiful location, magnificent architecture and the splendid layout of its gardens, this palace is considered the top sight in Vienna. A special gem is the baroque style park surrounding the palace. After our visit, what better way to be introduced to Vienna than with some Applestrudel in the “Schönbrunn Old Bakery”, an old time romantic cellar. Here you have the chance to watch first-hand an original professional sugar baker making the world famous and delicious “Viennese Apple Strudel”, followed by a tasting. Then return to our MS Symphonie Cruise Ship for dinner. Overnight onboard our cruise ship.
6th day: Friday, July 31: Morning in Melk. Afternoon Cruise to Passau (B/L/D) Morning cruising on the Danube as we pass old castles and small villages situated in the beautiful Wachau Valley before arriving in Melk, best known as the site of a massive baroque Benedictine monastery named the Melk Abbey. The town is first mentioned as Medilica in 831 at the coronation of Louis the German. Afternoon arrival in Melk. After lunch, we tour the Abbey founded in 1089 as a Benedictine Abbey where monks continue in this tradition for over 900 years. No tour of monasteries in Austria or Middle Europe for that matter, would be complete without a visit to the magnificent Melk Abbey. Abbot Berthold Dietmayr and his architects Jakob Prandtauer and Joseph Munggenast left no stone unturned in their quest from 1701 to 1736 to construct a sacred palace upon the foundations of a medieval monastery. The library is a treasure in itself, due to its valuable manuscript collection and to the beauty of its architectural design. Hopefully we will be able to have a Mass at the Abbey before returning to our cruise ship as we continue to Passau. Overnight onboard our cruise ship.
7th day: Saturday, August 1: Disembark our Cruise Ship and onto Salzburg (B/L/D) Continue our cruise into Passau, once described as “one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world” due to its remarkable position on the confluence of three rivers. After breakfast, we disembark our cruise ship and board our coach to the “Sound of Music” city, Salzburg. Lunch is on our own. We meet again for an afternoon walking sightseeing tour of the UNESCO-protected Old Town seeing landmarks including the Cathedral, Mozarteum and St. Peter’s Cemetery, whose colonnades famously provided hiding for the Von Trapp family in the 1960 Sound of Music musical. We walk along the cobbled Getreidegasse shopping street and learn about Salzburg’s most famous former resident, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as we pause outside the composer’s house. See the Mirabell Palace and its gardens, the backdrop to the famous ‘Do Re Mi’ scene in The Sound of Music, and take in the views of the Hohensalzburg, the hilltop fortress looming over the city. Return to our hotel where after a time to refresh ourselves, we will take a small local train up the mountain overlooking Salzburg for dinner followed by a wonderful Mozart concert. Overnight in Salzburg.
8th day: Sunday, August 2: To Oberammergau. Afternoon & Evening Passion Play (B/D) Depart Salzburg in the morning for the village of Oberammergau and our reserved accommodations in one of the many nearby villages. We have lunch on our own before being shuttled to the Passion Play theater. In 1633, the residents vowed that if God spared them from the bubonic plague, they would produce a play thereafter depicting the life and death of Jesus. Performed during years ending in zero, it is considered as one of the grandest in the world. The production involves over 2,000 performers, musicians, and stage hands–all residents of the village. They rehearse for over six months and present the play over 100 times during a performance year. The open-air theater adds to the magic of the show. The play begins at 2:30pm. We will have dinner during the 3-hour interval between Part # 1 and Part #2 in a restaurant in Oberammergau or the local area, before returning to the theater and the conclusion of the Play which will end about 10:30pm. Return to our hotel for our overnight.
9th day: Monday, August 3: To Munich (B/D) An early morning departure for Munich. After checking into our hotel, we have a bit of time to have lunch on our own before departing for our afternoon city tour. We will start at the old St. Peter’s Church, where Father Tom will perform Mass, then continue to enjoy an orientation tour through this lovely city We will travel past Prinzregentenstrasse, Maximilianstrasse, the exclusive shopping street built in the Neo-Gothic style. Then onto the ‘medieval’ part of Munich with the Old and New City Hall and the Viktualienmarkt. Continue to the Opera house, the Royal Square in Neo-Greek style, and the Alte Pinakothek, Munich’s most famous art gallery which contains one of the largest Ruben’s collection in the world. Then drive through the Olympiapark, site of the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. This evening, we will have dinner at a real German Pub, the“Bratwurst Glockel am Dom.” Overnight in Munich.
10th day: Tuesday, August 4: In Munich (B/D) This morning we have a tour to uncover the history behind the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. Outside the town of Dachau, a memorial site stands on the grounds of the former concentration camp. Dachau was the first Nazi concentration camp in Germany during the Holocaust, and it was the originator and training ground for the vast order of brutality that spread over half of Europe in the wake of the armies of the Third Reich, and which ultimately culminated in history’s greatest crime. On this half-day tour, you’ll spend around three hours exploring the memorial site with your guide. Tour the exhibition center and former compound, and learn about the history of Dachau, World War II, and the Holocaust. See reconstructed barracks, guardhouses, cells, crematorium, and administration headquarters, and take a moment to reflect at the site’s memorials. While each camp was responsible for its own particular form of barbarism, what distinguished Dachau is that almost everything that happened in the system as a whole happened at some level there. Return to Munich for a free afternoon. Our farewell dinner will be at Munich’s famous Ratskeller restaurant in the town’s old City Hall that opened in 1867 and has treated guests in its rooms with Bavarian specialties for many years. Overnight in Munich.
11th day: Wednesday, August 5: In Munich. Depart JFK (B) We transfer to the airport for our connecting flights to JFK and then back to Montauk
The Price Includes:
● Round-trip transportation from the East End to JFK
● Round-trip air from JFK to Budapest and returning from Munich
● Airport transfer to and from hotels
● 10 nights accommodations in First Class & boutique style hotels
● Hotel taxes and service charges
● Breakfast every day
● Lunch as per itinerary
● Dinners every day except Days 8 and 10
● Sightseeing as per itinerary including entrance fees
● Deluxe coach transportation throughout the tour
● 6-day/5 night Danube cruise in outside cabins with window
● Oberammergau Passion Play Performance & program
● Special Masses with Father Tom in some of the most beautiful churches in Europe
Cruise Features:
● Main Deck Outside Cabins with a water-view window
● Breakfasts every day
● Lunches every day
● Dinners every day
● Gala farewell dinner
● Welcome cocktail
● Drinks included at meals
● Free Wi-Fi in lounge and bar
● Onboard entertainment
Oberammergau Package Features:
● 1st Class accommodations in Oberammergau or vicinity
● Hotel service charges and taxes
● Shuttle to and from the Passion Play Theater
● Breakfast
● Dinner
Our Accommodations (or similar)
● Onboard our cruise ship – 5 nights in Outside Cabins
● In Salzburg – 1 night @ the Imlauer & Brau Hotel
● In Oberammergau – 1 night @ a 1st Class hotel in Oberammergau or vicinity
● In Munich – 2 nights @ the Hotel Excelsior
Cabin Allotments
Upper Deck Twin/Double Cabin – Two (2) – Sold Out
Main Deck Twin Cabin: Ten (10) – 6 Cabins Available
Main Deck Single Cabin – Four (4) – On Request
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PRICE PER PERSON
IN MAIN DECK CATEGORY CABIN & TWIN-BEDDED ROOM AT HOTELS Per Person in Double Occupancy Cabin $3,985 via check or money order, $4,195 via credit card
IN UPPER DECK CATEGORY CABIN & TWIN-BEDDED ROOM AT HOTELS Per Person in Double Occupancy Cabin $4,149 via check or money order, $4,369 via credit card
IN MAIN DECK SINGLE CABIN & SINGLE ROOM AT HOTELS Per Person in Single Occupancy Cabin $4,469 via check or money order, $4,699 via credit card
Add to above costs: U.S. airline facility, security, taxes and Surcharge & port fees: $880 ($919 via credit card)
Prepaid Gratuities to escorts, drivers and cruise crew: $120 ($129 via credit card)
Optional afternoon tour to Schoenbrunn Castle in Vienna: $79 ($84)
INITIAL DEPOSIT $750 ($789 by credit card) due on or before October 25 to hold space. Thereafter reservations are on request.
FINAL PAYMENTS: Due on or before April 20, 2020
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Travel Insurance RMC Travel highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.
