Cruise Day 3 - Vienna, Austria 1

Last night, our cruise director, Christopher, gave us a lively and informative introduction to Austrian history and culture, preparing us for our two days in Vienna.

I already knew Austria had a rich and powerful past—centuries of empire, art, music, and influence—but I didn’t realize just how central it was to European history. At the heart of the Habsburg Empire, Austria dominated large parts of Central Europe for centuries. Rather than expanding through conquering new territories and war, Austria used strategic marriages to grow their empire. One surprising fact - Archduke Maximilian of Austria became Emperor of Mexico in the 1860s. As they say, you’re never too old to learn something new.

Our ship docked in Vienna shortly after breakfast. A bus took us into the historic city center, where we started a guided walking tour. The weather wasn’t the best—cloudy and a bit windy—but thankfully, it stayed dry. We passed by many grand old buildings, monuments, and wide boulevards that reminded us just how majestic this city once was (and still is).

One of the highlights of the day was a stop at the famous SLUKA Coffee House, where our friend Hans treated us to hot chocolate and a slice of classic Sacher Torte - delicious.

Back on board, we had a light lunch, then spent the afternoon unwinding on the upper deck, enjoying the peaceful view until it was time for dinner.

A leisurely evening walk along the Danube riverbank completed our first day in Vienna.Read more