Dates & prices

Services

Our price includes

• cruise in the booked cabin-category (only outside cabins, cabins for single use only bookable on request)
fuel surcharge ship 56 €
• full board with three main meals (from dinner on Embarkation Day to breakfast on the last morning)
• coffee / tea for free from 09.00 till 18.00 (self-service)
• coffee / tea or midnight snack in line with the itinerary
• Welcome and Farewell Cocktail with the Captain
• Captain’s Dinner
• services of the nicko tours Cruise Team
• participation in the on-board events programme
• resident musician
• free use of the ship’s sauna, whirlpool and exercise machines
• detailed cruise documents
• all harbour dues
• luggage transfer from the quayside to your cabin and v.v.

Our price does not include

Individual travel to and from Passau, excursions, travel insurance, beverages, gratuities (we recommend a sum of 5-7 EURO per person and day), personal spendings

Excursions

City tour in Vienna (Package)
Today brings a full introduction to this historic city on the Danube. On leaving the ship we drive firstly through „New Vienna“ with the Uno-City and the Donauinsel. We then take the famous Ringstrasse past a series of major buildings – the State Opera, the Parliament, the Burgtheater, the Town Hall, the university and the Votiv Church - into the heart of the city to St. Stephan’s Cathedral.
At Stephan’s Square (Stephansplatz) there is about half an hour’s free time, giving you the opportunity to see the cathedral from the inside. Following this we take around one hour to walk through the Old Town to the Michaeliplatz (Hofburg), and then past the Viennese Riding School, the Albertina and the Kärntnerstrasse. We rejoin our coach at the Schwedenplatz. (Passengers who find walking a problem are able to wait for the rest of the group at Stephan’s Square).

Excursion into the Puszta (optional)
We drive from the ship’s berth through the attractive scenery of the Hungarian Plain, the Puszta, to a Csarda. You visit the stud farm and then take a 25-minute carriage ride across the Puszta. You then are presented with a unique equine performance by the Csiskos (cowboys). The performance demonstrates Hungarian horse breeding and the life of the former Csikos and how, in earlier times, the horse was man’s best friend in the Puszta. A light snack of Hungarian specialities and wine is then served, before you have the chance to visit the shop, where typical souvenirs, salamis, paprikas, wine and schnaps are on sale. We then return directly to the ship. (Very little walking is required)

City tour in Belgrade (Package)
Our ship enters the River Save to disembark participants for this excursion. A brief coach ride takes us up to the huge fortress of Kalemegdan, which you will have seen from the ship. This fortress helped Prince Eugen defeat the Turks. Passing through the fortress we see some items of military history and we then have a splendid view across the confluence of Save and Danube and across New Belgrade. The walk through the complex takes about one hour and those who find walking difficult can sit on a bench in the park to await the group. We then travel to the massive Zarva Church, the largest Serbian Orthodox church, to learn something of its history. The tour then continues with a 10 minute ride to Republic Square, where we stop for some 45 minutes to explore the pedestrian zone. We take some refreshment in one of the hotels before starting on a 60-minute long drive through the city and past the royal palace back to the ship.

Evening excursion in Belgrade (optional)
Enjoy an evening in Belgrade! We take a short coach ride from the ship’s berth to the venue of an evening performance of traditional music and dance. One of Serbia’s best folk music groups offers a 90-minute programme of lively music, dance, traditional costumes and local wine. Serbian folklore has been influenced by Russia and Turkey and has made it so lively and tuneful. Even those who have no real love for folk music will be impressed! After the show we return through the lighted streets of the capital back to the ship. This tour involves very little walking.

City tour in Bucharest (Package)
After lunch we leave Oltenita for a 90 minute coach ride through rural Romania to Bucharest. With its wide boulevards and impressive buildings Bucharest has a certain „French flair“, which has led to the title of „Little Oriental Paris“. Our first stop is the huge People’s Palace, the world’s second largest building. After a short photo stop we drive for another 10 minutes to the Patriarchie. Here we stop for around 25 minutes giving an opportunity to visit a Romanian Orthodox church and to learn something of church history. We then continue to the Village Museum, which houses a collection of farmhouses from all over Romania. The walk through this museum park takes about 45 minutes. Those passengers who find walking difficult are welcome to sit on a bench at the museum entrance and wait for the rest of the group. At the end of the tour we have a 1.5 hour coach journey to Giurgiu, where we rejoin the ship.

Excursion to the Danube Delta (optional)
Covering an area of some 4.340 km² the Danube Delta has a unique character with exotic flora and fauna. One can find here over 300 species of bird and 110 different types of fish. We travel in a series of motor boats along the waterways of the Delta to explore this natural paradise but do not travel to the confluence of the Danube into the Black Sea. The excursion does not involve much walking but we cannot guarantee to see the wild life in all its diversity.

Coach tour and guided walk in Rousse (optional)
Rousse is Bulgaria’s fifth largest city and has a large inland port. It was founded by the Roman emperor Vespasianus and bore the Latin name of Sexaginta Prista, city of the sixty ships. You will see facades from different periods – including Baroque and Renaissance styles. We drive first to the Ivanovo rock churches with its beautiful frescos and after this to the former city centre before passing the station to the Pantheon, a monument to national heroes. Our next ports of call are the Alyosha Monument, the concert hall and the Central Square. Here we visit the Orthodox Trinity Church, before starting a short walk (30 minutes) through the city centre, to view the Freedom Monument, the Opera House and the Court of Justice. We then drive to the Ethnographic Museum, which gives an insight into local life in the 19th Century. In the museum we attend a short piano recital. Although this tour involves a fair amount of walking, there is always the alternative of sitting on a bench or waiting in the coach.

Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo (optional)
If you want to see more of Bulgaria we offer a tour to Veliko Tarnovo as an alternative to Rousse. We arrive in the former capital after a 90 minute drive through splendid scenery. In the Middle Ages the city was home to a lively political and cultural culture. For over 200 years in the Middle Ages Veliko Tarnovo was the centre of a powerful Bulgarian nation, which was greatly respected in other European courts. The city, with its residential and artisan districts, its many churches and monasteries, has been built on terraces along the steep slopes of three hills. A 30-minute break gives the opportunity to walk through the artisan district and purchase some souvenirs of Bulgarian craftsmanship before we drive to the castle, once home to the Bulgarian Czars, on the top of one of the hills for a photo stop.
We then drive for about 10 minutes to Arbanassi, a small village in the hills surrounding Veliko Tarnovo. We have an hour to stroll through the village and savour its special flair, along with its centrepiece the Church of the Ascension. The church houses a rich collection of frescoes, carvings and icons. The many 17th – 19th Century villas are an added attraction. In the „House of von Konstanzaliev“ and the „House of Hadschiiliev“ we see a fortified exterior and intricately carved inside rooms. The original furnishings, pots, embroideries and metal items reflect 19th Century life. (This excursion is not suitable for passengers who find walking difficult).

Excursion to Novi Sad (Package)
We drive first to the city’s landmark – the Fortress of Petrovaradin, one of Europe’s largest defensive complexes, built in the 18th Century by the French architect Vauban. From the fort we have a splendid view across the river to the city and its surrounding area. We spend roughly one hour in the fort before re-joining the coach for the 15 minute transfer to the city centre. Here we alight for a 30 minute stroll through the Old Town. The centre has been renovated with much colour. Enjoy the modern flair of the pedestrian precinct. This tour is not suitable for those who find walking difficult.

Excursion to Pecs (optional)
In Mohacs, Hungary’s southernmost city, we start a one hour coach ride through the splendid scenery of the Hungarian Plain to Pecs, one of Hungary’s loveliest cities. The city lies on the slopes of the Mecsek Hills and has a mild climate, southern European flair and many impressive buildings and monuments as well as art treasures. Pecs has been nominated as European City of Culture for 2010. In the city centre is the beautiful Szechenyi Square with the Plague Column. A 90-minute walk takes us to the Basilica and the Szsami Mosque, which was skilfully rebuilt as a church, retaining some of original elements of the mosque. We visit the Zsolnay Fountain with its magnificent ceramic decorations, which withstand all weathers to remain on view all year round. We then take a short refreshment break in the Palatinus Hotel, before re-joining the coach for the 1- hour return journey to Kalocsa.
(For those who find walking difficult there is always the opportunity to sit on one of the many benches).

City tour in Budapest (Package)
Budapest is known as the „Queen of the Danube“ and is one of Europe’s loveliest cities. The river flows through the heart of the city, dividing it into two - Buda and Pest. We start with a 30-minute drive through the city centre to Heroes’ Square to see the Millenium Monument and other monuments to Hungarian monarchs. We then drive for a further 30 minutes to the castle for a walk (1 hour) on Castle Hill. Here we pass St. Matthias Church (where Hungarian monarchs are crowned) to reach the Fisherman’s Bastion.
Then follows a 15-minute drive to Gellert Hill for a short photo stop to admire the lovely view across the river, the buildings lining its banks and the many bridges, before returning to the ship. (Although this tour involves a fair amount of walking it is also possible to remain in the coach).

St. Stephan’s Cathedral and Margaret’s Island (optional)
As an alternative to the Puszta tour we offer a visit to St. Stephan’s basilica, one of the loveliest and best-known sights of Budapest. In 2005 it celebrated its 100th anniversary: on 9. November 1905 the building was dedicated and given over to the congregation 10 days later. The Basilica contains statues and portraits by a range of Hungarian artists. We then continue to Margaret’s Island, where a small tourist train takes us around the site. This green island houses a wonderful park with over 10 000 plane trees and offers opportunities either to stroll round or sit down. There are also large flower displays and well-tended lawns. The earliest monuments on the island date back to the 11th Century – for example the remains of an ancient monastery, in which the king’s daughter St. Margarethe lived and the ruins of two religious houses from the same period. There is also St. Michael’s Church, a musical fountain and a UNESCO listed water tower. After the train trip there is time for a walk through the Japanese garden.

Evening tour in Budapest (optional)
We drive from the ship to a traditional evening entertainment. First up is a lively performance (abt 45 minutes) by a folk group with their passionate music. During the performance a goulash soup and a dessert are served. We are also able to taste the local wines. After a stay of some 90 minutes we drive for some 20 minutes through Budapest at night with its illuminated buildings and monuments. On our arrival at Castle Hill we view the lights of both parts of the city, including the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Parliament and the city bridges (including the magnificent Chain Bridge). After a short stop we return to the ship (very little walking is involved in this tour).

Guided walk in Bratislava (Package)
Bratislava lies in the fertile Danube Plain, to the south of the Carpathians and very close to the border with Austria and Hungary. „Small and nice“ is an apt description of the Slovak capital. The Old Town has been lovingly restored. Our tour takes us for about one hour on a small tourist train through the diplomatic quarter and up to the castle, which dominates the city. Here we have a photo stop and a magnificent view over the city and, with good weather, across into Austria. There follows an account of the castle’s lively history, which includes a period as the residence of Hungarian kings, before Empress Maria Theresia settled here and brought a time of great spledour. We then travel down to the Old Town, where we leave the train to start a 90-minute walk to see testimonies to the Austro Hungarian monarchy - the Redoute, the National Theatre, the Town Hall, several Baroque palaces and the city gates. You will also meet Bratislava’s most famous citizen – the „Gullimann“. We then go back to the ship – which is anchored some 10 minutes walk away from the Old Town.

Beauty of the Wachau Valley (Package)
The excursion starts in Melk, which became famous for its Benedictine monastery which one can see
Built in the Baroque style the huge abbey has always been a religious and cultural centre. A tour lasting about one hour through the abbey demonstrates its former importance. There is then a chance to sample the excellent local wines in an informal atmosphere in the Abbey Cellar, before returning to the ship. (This excursion is not suitable for those passengers who find walking difficult).


The excursion package includes the following:
- City tour in Vienna
- City tour in Budapest
- City tour in Belgrade
- City tour in Bucharest
- Excursion to Novi Sad
- Guided walk in Bratislava with a train ride to the castle
- Excursion through the Wachau Valley

The following optional excursions can be booked on board:
- Excursion to St. Stephan’s Cathedral and St. Margaret’s Island
- Evening tour in Budapest
- Excursion to Pecs
- Evening tour in Belgrade
- Coach tour and guided walk in Rousse or excursion to Veliko Tarnovo
- Excursion into the Danube Delta
- Excursion into the Puszta

The Excursion Package can be booked in advance. However, excursions can also be booked on board either as a package or individually. The optional excursions are not included in the package and can be booked only on board. Please note that on-board bookings are subject to availability and that they must be paid for in cash (Euros).

Every excursion is subject to a minimum of 30 passengers.
Bookings for excursions, which are paid for either in advance or locally and then not taken up, are not eligible for refunds – unless nicko tours are forced to cancel the tour due to river levels or where the minimum number of participants is not achieved.

We recommend you to attend the on-board briefings about the excursions and life on board. In order to ensure a prompt start to the excursions, we ask anyone who has booked but is now unable to take part to report this to the Cruise Team.

Please note that exceptional water levels or lengthy waiting times at locks can lead to alterations to the programme of excursions and to the points of embarkation / disembarkation.

We reserve the right to alter the printed itinerary and excursion schedule.

Your ship

Important travel information

Important Travel Information

Dear Partner:
We are delighted that you are interested in offering one of our river cruises and you are now starting the planning for the holidays of your customers. We would like to offer some suggestions for this process, to help you on your way. Each means of travel has its own peculiarities - things that are worth knowing. We have tried here to select some of the most important items.

 Travel Documents
nicko tours will not provide travel documents to you. As you are a tour operator you have to use your own documents and vouchers. You also have to provide nicko tours with a sample copy of the travel vouchers valid for the cruise. This will be forwarded to the Cruise Director to assure boarding of your group.
 
EU Safety Certificate
The cost of your tours includes an EU guarantee of set standards of care. This certificate will be sent with your letters of confirmation.

 Passports and Visas
You are responsible for the Visa arrangements of your customers. Please ensure, that they check in good time that all necessary papers and documents needed for the cruise are valid and correct.
May we draw your attention to the fact that you as the Operator are responsible for all official travel documents for your clients and (where needed) visas and for organizing any necessary inoculations.

Failure to follow these regulations may result in a refusal to allow your clients to undertake all or parts of their journey and thus involve considerable extra expense for your clients. Should the lack of appropriate documentation lead to a refused permission to travel, there can be no refund of payments already made. It is not part of nicko tours service to obtain entry visas. This remains the responsibility of the Operator and the clients.
 
Insurance
May we draw your attention to the fact that you and your passengers are responsible for travel insurances. Unfortunately you cannot book insurance directly with nicko tours.

 Travel to/from port
Travel to/from port of embarkation/disembarkation needs to be organized by yourself. Please note that should flight or train delays occur, the vessel cannot wait in the port of embarkation. In such cases the transfer to the next port, where embarkation is possible, must be arranged by yourself. Please contact the emergency hotline as soon as possible (0049-163 765 68 60). To book transfers between the airport or main station and the port of embarkation please contact us at sales@nicko-tours.com

Baggage Handling
If arriving by plane, please check the baggage regulations of your airline in advance.

 
Ship’s berth
Details of the ship’s berth you will get from our product managers.
Every vessel is officially assigned a harbour berth. Occasionally it is necessary to moor alongside another vessel. This means that the view from the cabins window may be restricted to the neighbouring vessel and that there may be a certain amount of additional noise and smell. While going ashore it might be necessary to pass through or across another vessel. Anchorages are subject to change.

 
Changes to the itinerary and to the programme
Cruise itineraries are weather-dependent – for example a long period of rain or drought could have a detrimental effect on water levels. It may on occasions be necessary to change the itinerary, as a result of abnormal water levels or delays at locks or bridges. On the rare occasion that a section of the river is closed, we will transfer passengers to alternative means of transport, which may result in cancellation of, or changes to planned visits. We also reserve the right to alter the order in which we visit the planned destinations.

 
Joining and leaving the vessel
You will get embarkation details from our product manager. However, since there are occasional changes to the ships’ berth, we ask your customers to check the information boards on the quayside, to find the exact location of the vessel. Please take special note of the embarkation times. Even though the vessel may already be at its berth, the crew need the available time to prepare the ship for its next cruise. Please understand that it is not possible to embark before the time specified, nor can we accept your luggage until this time.

 
Excursions / Going ashore
Excursions ashore organised by nicko tours offer a general view of the most important sights in the various ports of call. Your clients may also wish to explore the area on their own.
We ask your clients to wait for an announcement of official clearance of the vessel, before going ashore. Return times on board are published in the daily journal. Since our berths and our passage through locks have to be arranged in advance, we are not able to wait for passengers who return late.

 
Excursions
For each cruise we offer a package including interesting excursions, which we specially recommend.
Excursion packages for international groups are operated with English speaking guide. Therefore a minimum of 10 persons is required. nicko tours can also arrange excursion packages for other languafe groups. Please let us know.

It is, of course, possible to book these excursions on board as well, usually at a higher price and subject to availability, especially because of the language. Usually these optional excursions are subject to a minimum number of participants. Theatre performances depend on local schedules, which are sometimes subject to last minute alterations. Should your clients not take part in a pre-booked excursion (either as part of a package or booked individually on board), we are not able to issue a refund. Also please note that abnormal water levels or extended waiting times at locks may lead to delays and alterations to the planned excursion schedule or to a change of disembarkation or embarkation point.

 
On-board facilities
On board our ships your customers will find a Panorama Lounge offering excellent views of the passing scenery. Live music is played during the evening for dancing, whilst during the day the Lounge is used for lectures. Some ships have, in addition, smaller lounges for reading or board games or for small group meetings. On most of our ships there are fitness facilities, which you clients may use free of charge. On the Sun Deck they will find sunshades, chairs, tables and, in many cases, deck-chairs.

The on board language for all nicko tours vessels is German. However, if you are a inernational tour operator and arranging a closed group and an accompanying tour guide, we will provide all announcements, menus, daily programs etc. also in English (other languages on request).

 
Payment on board
The on-board currency depends on our route (Central Europe = Euro). Drinks taken and excursions booked on board can be paid for at the end of the cruise, either by credit card (see the cruise description for details) or in cash. Cash payments must be made in the on-board currency, as exchange is not permitted or not possible on board (except in China). Please be aware that your bank or Credit Card Company may impose fees for credit card payments.

 
Cabins
Normally you receive the cabin numbers with the booking confirmation. We will try our best to assign you the cabin you have specified with your booking, but this is not a contractual requirement on our part. A certain amount of noise from the ship’s engines, air-conditioning plant or ventilation systems is noticeable in some parts of the vessel. Those cabins marked “aft” are in the rear section of the vessel and here the noise may be noticeable when the vessel is underway. Occasionally there is noise from the bow propellers when manoeuvring or moving through locks. This mainly affects the forward cabins. On our Russian and Ukrainian ships the bathroom is rather more basic. The shower is drained through a drain in the bathroom floor and the shower head is extendable from the wash basin.

 
Multi-berth cabins
Some twin-berth cabins can be arranged to accommodate three or four occupants, but please note that these cabins are usually the same size. The third and fourth bed in these cabins is usually a fold away upper berth.


Drinking water
Because the fresh water supply comes from an on-board tank, we recommend drinking bottled water obtainable from the ship’s bar or restaurant. The water from the ship’s taps is perfectly safe for cleaning teeth etc.

 
Meals
All our cruises include full board – details are given in the brochure. We try to source the meals with local produce. On all ships we serve a buffet Breakfast. Lunch is usually served at table and Dinner is always table service. Meals on board are served at a single seating. Please refer to the tour information for further information. If one of your customers have special diet requirements, we ask you to inform us when making the booking, although this may present difficulties in Russia, Ukraine, China and Egypt.

 
Medical treatment and health issues
For urgent medical needs there is a doctor on board our ships in Russia, the Ukraine and China, as well as on board MS DONAUSTAR, MS DELTASTAR, MS MOLDAVIA and MS DNEPR. Otherwise it is normally easy to reach a doctor on shore. Medical treatment on board is charged for and medicines are also to be paid for locally. Please be aware that our on-board staff (eg at the Reception) are not allowed to dispense medicines. If your clients are taking prescription drugs, please ensure that they have a sufficient supply with them. We recommend international health insurance.

 
Dress
During the day on board and on the excursions your passengers may dress how they please, with the emphasis on comfort and practicality. We recommend wearing non-slip shoes on the outside decks and that they have warm clothes for cooler evenings and sound, comfortable footwear for trips ashore. Although there is no formal dress code, we ask to dress smartly for Dinner. Your customers should please remember to pack a hat, sun glasses and rainwear and please bear in mind that the countries to be visited have dress codes different to ours, often based on religious precepts. Churches, monasteries, temples and mosques are primarily places of contemplation and reverence. We therefore ask to dress accordingly – shorts, short skirts and sleeveless tops are not welcomed.

 
Mail
Your clients may hand in cards and letters for posting at Reception. Normally the mailbox is cleared at the next port of call. Postcards and stamps are available from the Reception Desk. Please be aware, though, that on-board prices are generally higher than those ashore.

 
Smoking
Smoking is permitted only outside and normally on the open Sun Deck. Smoking is not permitted in enclosed areas of the vessel, such as restaurants, lounges, cabins, corridors etc. The only exception is on board the MS CENTURY DIAMOND, where smoking is permitted in the Cigar Lounge.

 
Gratuities
Tips are not included in the tour price. They are a personal way of showing appreciation for good service. The amount is at the passenger’s discretion, but our recommendation for ships on the rivers Volga, Dnieper, Danube and on rivers in Germany is € 5-7 per passenger per night on board. As we recognise that European passengers often have difficulties with local scales of gratuity in China and Egypt, we offer a service whereby the recommended gratuities are collected at the start of the cruise by the Tour Leader, who then distributes appropriate amounts to the ship’s crew, local guides and coach drivers. Please refer to the cruise information for recommended scales of gratuities. In the case of cruises in Egypt with MS NILE EXCELLENCE the gratuities are included in the tour price.

 
Telephone
It is normally possible to call from cabin to cabin (except on the Russian and Ukrainian ships). On many ships your passengers can phone ashore using a satellite link. However, the charges for this service are high and we recommend your customers useing their own mobile phone. Your service provider can advise on tariffs.

 
TV
Those ships that offer on-board TV rely on satellite reception, which is operative over large parts of the itinerary. However, there can be unforeseen interruptions of transmission when passing under bridges or lock chambers as well as on certain stretches of the river.

 
Electrical appliances
For reasons of safety, electric irons and similar appliances are not allowed in the cabins. There is no hair dryer in the cabin on the Russian or Ukrainian ships. The electrical supply in the cabins is at 220 V. Please note that, as all electrical sockets on the vessels are German standard, your passengers might need to bring a suitable adaptor.

 
Items of Value
On board our ships there is either a deposit box at the Reception Desk (sometimes for a small fee) or a small safe in the cabins. Please use these to deposit items of value. However, we do recommend that your customers leave items of value (eg expensive jewellery) at home, if possible. Some of our tours take your clients to places where minor items are considered as wealth and where wearing expensive items can lead to covetousness or theft.

 
Children
For children we offer a discount of 30% up to the age of 11. Please note that this discount will be deducted at a later stage. The booking confirmation shows the full amount.


Should you have further questions please contact us on our Infoline +49 (0) 711 – 24 89 80 0

We wish your customers a splendid time on board, cruising some of the world’s most beautiful rivers.