New adventures for all of us. From DC, Philly and London, we gathered two days before the cruise at a well-located and comfortable hotel on the Pest side of Budapest. We took advantage of two separate guided walking tours to learn the history and explore this beautiful and vibrant Hungarian city. Traditional restaurants featuring local fare were plentiful, and we enjoyed two very full days prior to beginning the cruise. We even did a one- hour Segway tour. It was fun but difficult on the Pest side because of the crowds, easier to navigate on the Buda side at the lower elevations by the river. The Var was conveniently located and transferring from our hotel to the ship couldn't have been easier. We quickly learned all the offerings and nuances of our ship. The food was wonderful throughout, and the chef and staff never disappointed with a variety of delicious cuisine. The highlight at the beginning was a beautiful nighttime Danube cruise where we were able to experience the beauty of Budapest from the river under the lights. The rest of the ports and excursions were equally as exciting from romantic Vienna, scenic cruising through the Wachau valley, charming Passau and Regensburg, traversing the many interesting locks, and bustling Nuremberg. Following our wonderful cruise, we spent three exciting days in Prague which included an outstanding city guided tour and a fascinating day spent at Terezin, used as an internment camp during WWII.

We all agreed that it was a fantastic trip and we look forward to doing something similar on one of the many opportunities in Europe.