Luxury and Exclusive River Cruise for Passover
11 Days • Aboard the New and Luxurious Amadeus Nova River Ship
Featuring singers and cantors Udi Ullman, Chaim Stern, and Or Shevach
Departure: April 11, 2025
€200 discount for early registration
A wonderful cruise to the capitals of the Danube: Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava
Charming cities that, in all their splendor, serve as jewels along the Danube necklace
Please note that this cruise is for Israelis who live in Eretz YisraelThe schedule and minhagim will not fit Beney Chutz Laaretz!
(we will celabrate only one Seder and we will disembark on second day of second yom tov)
Celebrate Passover on a Kosher Cruise along the Danube River
11 days • On the new Amadeus Nova riverboat
The best way to explore the landscapes and stories of the Danube is through an elegant and high-quality river cruise ship that serves as a floating hotel. A river cruise offers participants a wonderful experience that combines travel with a peaceful and relaxing vacation.
During the Danube river cruise, which begins its flow in the Black Forest of Germany and empties after 2,850 km into the Black Sea in Romania, we will exposed to the fascinating historical stories of the cities that have grown on both of its banks.
We will pass through stunning landscapes in different countries and historic capitals such as Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest. We will learn about love and wars, the royal houses that ruled along their course throughout different periods, and meet kings and queens, princes and princesses, nobles, and common folk.
A River cruise is a captivating experience that offers travelers the chance to experience European cultures in a unique way.
Amadeus Nova
The riverboat Amadeus Nova of the company Lüftner Cruises was launched in the spring of 2024. During the cruise, you can enjoy a panoramic restaurant and bar, a café, a gym, a swimming pool on the upper deck, and spacious rooms. In the following link, you can find details about it and illustrative photos:
https://www.senior.co.il/amadeus-nova//?from-trip=1
The price of the trip includes
- Full board throughout the cruise, including unlimited water during meals and wine with dinner.
- Fresh kosher meals cooked on board under the supervision of a kosher supervisor.
- Kosher kitchen with kosher certification supervised by Rabbi Oren Dovadavni, Head of Kashrut Organization.
- Regular prayers, Torah scroll on board, and electronic Sabbath candles.
- Fresh meals - buffet for breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee and tea, dinner.
- Welcome dinner, captain's festive dinner, and crew performance.
- Daily music performances by the onboard music team.
- 24 - hour free coffee/tea and water station for guests.
- Shore excursions at each port of call (some on foot and some by bus).
- Air-conditioned tourist buses for tours.
- Experienced guides from "Bishvil Hazahav" team.
- Personal audio system for each passenger during shore excursions.
- song and music hosted by singers and cantors Udi Ulman and Chaim Stern, singer Or Shevah, with musical direction and accompaniment by Miki Rosenbaum.
During the cruise, enjoy an unforgettable musical experience with live performances:
Udi Ullman, one of the most successful singers in Jewish music, celebrated for his five hit albums that have sold widely in Israel and abroad. Udi has been honored with numerous "Singer of the Year" awards and regularly performs at major events across Europe and the U.S. Known for his unique style, Udi is a highly sought-after cantor and has served for the past 15 years as the cantor for one of Miami's largest Jewish communities.
Chaim Stern, a cantor with a distinctive tenor voice, who will enrich the cruise with his performances and Shabbat prayers. Chaim, a descendant of the renowned Eisenbach cantorial family of Jerusalem, is currently the chief cantor of the Jewish community in Munich.
Or Shevah, a graduate of the IDF Rabbinate Choir, who will join the cruise with his versatile vocal talents. Or performs at cultural and private events worldwide, blending musical styles such as Chassidic, Israeli, and Mizrahi.
The musical direction for the cruise will be led by Miki Rozenbaum, a composer, artist, and pioneer of original Jewish music. His expertise and creativity promise to bring a unique and inspiring atmosphere to the journey.
Joining the cruise are Gila and Eyal Cohen, a dynamic duo of musicians and singers who will captivate you with a celebration of Israeli music.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Friday): Tel Aviv – Munich – Linz – Embarkation – Songs and Festive Shabbat Dinner
In the morning, we will fly directly to Munich with El Al Airlines. Upon arrival, we’ll drive to the port in Linz, Austria, where the river ship will serve as our "floating hotel" for the next few days. After boarding, we’ll prepare for Shabbat, gathering in the Panorama Bar for a traditional Kabbalat Shabbat with songs and blessings, followed by a festive Shabbat dinner at the ship’s restaurant. Overnight: River Ship
In the morning, we will fly directly to Munich with El Al Airlines. Upon arrival, we’ll drive to the port in Linz, Austria, where the river ship will serve as our "floating hotel" for the next few days. After boarding, we’ll prepare for Shabbat, gathering in the Panorama Bar for a traditional Kabbalat Shabbat with songs and blessings, followed by a festive Shabbat dinner at the ship’s restaurant. Overnight: River Ship
Day 2 (Saturday – Shabbat HaGadol): Linz Walking Tour – Seder Night Celebration
Optionally, participants may take a short walking tour in Linz. We’ll explore the medieval marketplace turned café-filled square, admire the colorful Renaissance houses, and visit landmarks like the Trinity Column and the Brucknerhaus concert hall. After the tour, we’ll return to the ship to rest and prepare for the evening's festivities. At night, we’ll gather to recite the Haggadah and enjoy a celebratory Passover Seder. Overnight: River Ship
Day 3 (Sunday – First Day of Passover): Linz Exploration
Between holiday prayers, songs, and Torah insights, we’ll continue exploring Linz’s picturesque streets. Highlights include Renaissance houses, the castle of Upper Austria, the university where Johannes Kepler taught, and the house where Mozart composed the Linz Symphony. After the tour, the ship will set sail for Vienna in the late evening.
Overnight: River Ship
Day 4 (Monday – Passover Chol HaMoed): Danube Cruise to Vienna
Enjoy a relaxing morning cruising to Vienna. After lunch, we will dock in Vienna and set out on a tour of Austria’s capital—a city of music and joy, the city of Strauss’s waltzes, and a place that, in the Middle Ages, was home to a flourishing Jewish community, considered one of the largest and most significant in Europe. Many renowned rabbis taught and worked in Vienna, making it an important center of Jewish scholarship.
Our tour will take us along the Ringstrasse, passing through Schwarzenberg Square and past Vienna’s stunning Opera House, the Parliament building, and other notable landmarks. We will stop for a tour of the Jewish Quarter, where we will view the Great Synagogue from the outside and visit the square where the "Bookshelf Memorial" stands in remembrance of Austrian Jews who perished in the Holocaust. In the evening, the ship will depart from Vienna and continue sailing overnight toward Esztergom. Overnight: River Ship (sailing to Esztergom)
Day 5 (Tuesday – Passover Chol HaMoed): Esztergom – Szentendre – Budapest – Hungarian Folklore & Night Cruise
In the morning, we will dock in Esztergom, formerly the ancient capital of Hungary, the residence of Hungarian kings, and the seat of the archbishop. After a prayer and breakfast, we will drive to the artists' town of Szentendre, known for its beautiful and picturesque alleys lined with colorful boutiques. We will visit the Marzipan Museum, a unique museum dedicated entirely to artworks made of marzipan. The museum showcases stunning exhibitions of sculptures, miniatures, and historical figures, all meticulously handcrafted by the famous marzipan artist Károly Szabó, who founded the museum in 1994. Among the exhibits, you can find impressive models of historical Hungarian buildings, well-known figures from history and local culture, and even giant cakes designed in the shape of famous landmarks.
We will then continue our drive to Budapest, where we will meet our river cruise ship around midday. After lunch, we will embark on an introductory tour of the beautiful city of Budapest. If possible (subject to the synagogue's opening for tourist visits during the holiday), we will visit the impressive Neolog synagogue on Dohány Street, the largest in mainland Europe and the fifth largest in the world, and see the Weeping Willow Memorial, dedicated to Holocaust victims. We will continue our tour of the Jewish Quarter, and if conditions allow, we will visit the Rumbach Synagogue (subject to its opening for tourist visits during the holiday), which now serves as a museum.
After dinner, we will enjoy a vibrant performance by a Hungarian folk dance troupe, followed by a spectacular night cruise through illuminated Budapest. The cruise will pass by the city's magnificent, spotlight-lit buildings on both sides of the river and beneath its impressive bridges: the Chain Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, and the Margaret Bridge, all glowing with a dazzling array of lights.Overnight stay on the river cruise ship.
Day 6 (Wednesday – Passover Chol HaMoed): Budapest
After breakfast, we will embark on a tour of the city, which is divided into two parts connected by the Danube River: Buda and Pest. Buda is the older and more charming part, featuring cobblestone streets and medieval architecture, while Pest serves as the administrative and commercial center, boasting wide boulevards and impressive modern buildings. During our tour, we will admire the magnificent Parliament Building, often referred to as the "whipped cream cake of Budapest." We will then visit the poignant Shoes on the Danube memorial, explore Heroes' Square, and ascend Gellért Hill for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.After lunch, we will visit Vörösmarty Square, known for its cafés and shops, before strolling along the famous Váci Street, a lively pedestrian promenade lined with souvenir shops, cafés, and grand buildings from the Austro-Hungarian era.In the evening, the ship will set sail for Bratislava.
Overnight stay on the river cruise ship.
Day 7 (Thursday – Passover Chol HaMoed): Bratislava – The Chasam Sofer’s Grave
Arrive in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, where the renowned Chasam Sofer lived and taught. If permitted, we’ll visit his gravesite, a place of pilgrimage for many. A tour of the Old Town includes sites like the Slovak National Theatre and Holocaust Memorial. The ship will then sail to Dürnstein. Overnight: River Ship
Day 8 (Friday): Dürnstein – Wachau Valley – Melk –
Festive Shabbat & Passover Dinner Explore the medieval town of Dürnstein and hear the story of Richard the Lionheart. Sail through the Wachau Valley, renowned for its vineyards and apricot orchards, to Melk. Tour Melk Abbey's botanical gardens before returning to the ship for Shabbat preparations and a festive dinner. Overnight: River Ship
Day 9 (Saturday): Melk Walking Tour – Havdalah
Enjoy a serene Shabbat in Melk. After prayers and Kiddush, take a walking tour of this historic town, known for its Renaissance and Baroque architecture. End the day with a Havdalah ceremony and a musical performance. Overnight: River Ship
Days 10–11 (Sunday): Aschach – Munich – Tel Aviv
Disembark and travel to Munich for a panoramic city tour, visiting landmarks like Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt. Afterward, we’ll head to Munich Airport for our return flight to Tel Aviv, landing after midnight.
Rates & Details
CABIN A-1, Mozart Deck (upper deck) with drop-down panoramic window
The room has a large panoramic window (opening downwards) and includes either a double bed or twin beds of your choice, a mini-bar, a wardrobe, a television, air conditioning, a bathroom with a shower and toilet, a hairdryer, a telephone, and a safe. The approximate room size is about 17.5 square meters.
The price per person in a double room on the upper deck, Mozart Deck, with a large panoramic window A1- (opening downwards) and a size of 17.5 square meters, is 6,600 €
Additional charge for a single occupancy in the room: 5,173 €
Total price for a couple: 13,200 €
Total price for a single room: 11,773 €
AMADEUS Suite with walk-out exterior balcony
A suite with a balcony you can step out onto, a sofa, a mini bar, a wardrobe, a choice of either a double bed or twin beds, a television, air conditioning, a bathroom with a shower and toilet, a bathrobe, a hairdryer, a telephone, and a safe.
Room size: 26.4 square meters.
The price per person in a double suite on the upper floor Mozart Deck with a balcony of 26 square meters is 7,350 €
Additional cost for a single occupancy in the room is 3,000 €
Therefore, the total price for a couple is 14,700 €
And the total price for a single room is 13,273 €
Important to know:
- The tour price does not include tips for the tour guide (€5 per person for a day) and the kosher supervisor (€20 per person for the entire tour).
- The cruise company and "Bishvil Hazahav" reserve the right to change the tour route in cases of malfunctions in the riverboat, changes in river levels, malfunctions or blockages at river crossings (locks), weather conditions that do not allow the tour route to be carried out as published. In these cases, deviations from the published route may occur, and there may be overnight stays in hotels instead of on the boat. Alternative transportation means may also be used, including alternative boats or vehicles such as buses, to conduct the tour instead of cruising on a boat. In cases where cruising is part of the tour, changes in cruising may affect the performance of the entire tour, both in terms of the route to be taken and changes to be made in it, hotels, transportation means, and so on.
- Our tour route is suitable for travelers who can walk for a minimum of 30 consecutive minutes. Within ancient cities where buses cannot enter, the tour is conducted on foot. Those who find it difficult to walk can sit and wait in a café and join the group later. Additionally, we mostly travel in ancient cities where the streets are paved with stones, and sometimes stairs need to be climbed or descended, therefore, wheelchairs or walkers cannot be used.
- Room assignment, location, and number will be determined by the cruise company according to the category booked. It is not possible to select a specific room in advance. We will do our best to accommodate your special requests regarding room location, but we cannot guarantee their fulfillment.
- During certain dockings along the route, it is possible that two or more river ships may dock side by side. In such cases, the view from your cabin window may be temporarily obstructed by the adjacent ship. Additionally, when the ship is docked next to other ships, disembarkation may be through the adjoining ship. In such instances, the exit might involve climbing up and down stairs.
- The visit to the Dohány Neolog Synagogue and the Rumbach Synagogue is subject to their availability for tourist visits during Passover Chol HaMoed.
- Cabins in category B-4 are located on the middle deck at the rear of the ship. These cabins may experience vibrations and/or noise when the ship accelerates, docks, or maneuvers on the river.