Germany/Austria/Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary
Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
Program No. 23683RJ
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Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
11 days
Program Begins
Prague
Program Concludes
Budapest
Meals
24 (
9B, 7L, 8D
)
Activity Level
From
4,499Imagine stepping back in time in Central Europe, where charming cities feel like living museums with cobbled streets and ancient architecture. Your learning adventure along the Danube is an exploration into the heart of authentic Europe. Our local experts are eager to reveal the hidden stories of their cities. Uncover Vienna’s rich music history, lean in to Budapest’s compelling political past and explore Prague’s stunning architectural heritage. You won't just see these cities; you'll experience them like a true insider. Then, connect the past to the present as you discover their modern developments, gaining a profound understanding of Central Europe's evolution. Immerse yourself in these beautiful countries, where ancient traditions beautifully intertwine with contemporary life.
Best of all, you'll...
- Learn about classical music in Vienna during a lecture with the talented musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic.
- Delve deep into history as you explore Budapest, a city that has weathered many storms.
- Study the beautiful architecture of Prague from the Old Town Square to Prague Castle.
General Notes
Please note that on this program, Road Scholar has the entire ship welcoming a maximum of 90 Road Scholars which will be divided into smaller groups, each with their own Group Leader. The small groups may occasionally come together for lectures.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Walter and Julia (Mozart) Auer
Walter Auer is the principal flute of the Wiener Philharmoniker, a position he has held since 2003. Before coming to Vienna, he served as the principal flute with the NDR Radio-Philharmonic Orchestra Hannover with Dresden Philharmonic for one year. Walter began flute lessons at the age of 10, and was awarded first prize in youth competitions several times. He also was a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado. Later, he studied at the University “Mozarteum” in Salzburg and finished his studies at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra-Academy in Berlin. Walter has played numerous concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and frequently appears as a soloist in recitals and concerts around the world. He is in demand as coach and teacher, and teaches master classes in Europe, Australia, Asia and the U.S. As a passionate chamber musician, Walter Auer is also a member of Orsolino Quintett Berlin and Wiener Virtuosen.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Walter and Julia (Mozart) Auer
Walter Auer is the principal flute of the Wiener Philharmoniker, a position he has held since 2003. Before coming to Vienna, he served as the principal flute with the NDR Radio-Philharmonic Orchestra Hannover with Dresden Philharmonic for one year. Walter began flute lessons at the age of 10, and was awarded first prize in youth competitions several times. He also was a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado. Later, he studied at the University “Mozarteum” in Salzburg and finished his studies at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra-Academy in Berlin. Walter has played numerous concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and frequently appears as a soloist in recitals and concerts around the world. He is in demand as coach and teacher, and teaches master classes in Europe, Australia, Asia and the U.S. As a passionate chamber musician, Walter Auer is also a member of Orsolino Quintett Berlin and Wiener Virtuosen.
Jitka Sosova (Art & Arch.- Prague)
Jitka Sosova holds degrees from Charles University and the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design in Prague. Jitka has worked for the National Gallery in Prague, as well as numerous other art institutions, including the Museum of Applied Arts and the Kampa Museum, and specializes in the field of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Petra Bidlasová
Petra Bidlasová has been sharing her knowledge of Prague with lifelong learners from around the world since 1997. With an education in art history, she is currently working on her thesis on contemporary African art and post-colonial theory. For more than 10 years, she has been a lecturer in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery in Prague. In 2013, she became a professor of modern Czech art at CIEE Study Center for American students.
Dagmar Balounova
Dagmar Balounova was born in 1959 in Bratislava, Slovakia. As a licensed educational excursion leader, she enjoys sharing her love for the region with lifelong learners from around the world. She often works for different government and privately run institutions and companies during visits of foreign delegations.
Sándor Striker (Budapest)
Dr. Sándor Striker is the president of The Foundation for Cultural Diversity, Budapest. He holds a PhD in literature and MAs in philosophy and community culture studies. As a former research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Striker worked for the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Education on democratic cultural legislation after the introduction of multi-party parliamentary system in Hungary in 1990. He has been lecturing for Road Scholar groups for over 30 years.
Robert Siuta-Romanowski
Robert Siuta-Romanowski was born in Krakow, the cultural capital of Poland. Surrounded by art and history at a young age, he decided to study art, theology and public relations at Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Robert is now finishing his Ph.D. in medieval symbolism and his research interests focus on the connections between science, faith, and art.
Peter Iván
Peter Iván is a Budapest native who holds a B.A. in cultural management, having participated a study abroad program at SUNY New Paltz in New York. He has over 25 years of professional experience in international cultural and business programs. For many years, he has been working as a group leader for Road Scholar programs in the Central European region, combining his passion for history, culture, and personal storytelling. Peter cherishes time with his wife—also a Road Scholar group leader—and their two grown sons.
Sona Prochazkova
Sona Prochazkova has been working as a licensed leader in the Czech Republic since 1992. She has specialized in sharing her hometown of Prague, leading visitors interested in music and Jewish history in the city. She is fluent in English, German, and Slovak. When not welcoming visitors to Prague, Sonia enjoys learning about history, traveling, and hiking.
Vladan Zmijanovic
Vladan was born in Belgrade, Serbia. During the wars of the 1990s in Yugoslavia, he immigrated to the Czech Republic — now splitting his time between Belgrade and Prague. He has been working as a group leader for almost 30 years and is fluent in Serbian, Czech and English. Recently, Vladan has been leading travelers off the beaten paths through countries of Central and Eastern Europe. In his free time, Vladan is interested in art, food, reading and history.
Dagmar Mikolášková
Dagmar Mikolaskova studied in the travel industry, and has been leading groups since 1988 in English, German and French. She also speaks Russian, Spanish and Chinese. Her other experiences include interpreting and hospitality work.
Andrea Serles
Andrea Serles studied history at the University of Vienna, where she has been a research assistant and lecturer since 2013. She previously worked at the Austrian Academy of Science, editing sources related to the Danube trade, migration processes, and cultural transfer in medieval and early modern times. Her other fields of interest are the history of public finance, administration, and the constitution. Currently, she is researching the historical development of Central European transportation infrastructure. Mrs. Serles has published numerous scientific and popular articles.
Andreas Thaler
Andreas Thaler earned a master’s degree in political science at the Universities of Innsbruck (Austria) and Berlin (Germany), and he took a second master’s degree in religious studies at the University of Vienna (Austria). His main field of expertise is political and religious identities in Austria and Europe. For many years, Andreas has been working for the Austrian Parliament in the department of public affairs, conducting talks about Austrian history and the development of the Austrian political system.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 4 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over uneven sidewalks, cobblestones, and boat ramps. Standing up to 2-3 hours per day. Program will require approximately 40 miles of walking over 11 days. Must be able to use uneven, stone stairs, often without handrails, in order to navigate field trip sites. Due to uneven terrain, unavoidable stairs, and a lack of ADA accommodations, wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters cannot be accommodated on this program.
Suggested Books and Resources
View Full List
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Helpful Links
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.
- Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
- Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
- Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
- Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.
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