Journal

About the Pilgrimage

We took our first pilgrimage in 2005 so we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary. Picture of our first group ever!!

Steve & Janet Ray and their company Footprints of God Pilgrimages have led untold thousands of pilgrims through the story of salvation history in Catholic and Biblical Lands.

This Danube Cruise is our big celebration event of the year! We hope you can join us.

First registrants will receive a copy of the Ray’s conversion story “Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historic Church” and other gifts and opportunities along the way.

To view the ship and check out the cabin options please click here: https://www.lueftner-cruises.com/en/our-amadeus-fleet/detail/amadeus-nova.html

Lots of Pictures and Videos by Terry Allan
https://www.facebook.com/allan.terry.16?mibextid=wwXIfr

ITINERARY

Day 1 Tuesday, June 17  | Departure

Depart on overnight flights to Budapest

Day 2 Wednesday, June 18  | Arrive in Budapest – Begin 20th Anniversary Celebration!

Upon arrival in Budapest, meet Steve and Janet Ray, along with 3 of their favorite Catholic tour guides. Celebrate Mass at a local church. Depart for cruise port to begin our 7-night cruise and enjoy time on the ship at leisure. This evening, join Steve and Janet Ray for a Welcome Cocktail, followed by a Welcome Dinner. After dinner, enjoy a spirited Folklore Show of local Hungarian artists. Overnight on the ship.

Day 3  Thursday, June 19  |  Budapest – Esztergom

This morning, breakfast aboard the ship before boarding the motorcoach for a day of touring. Celebrate Mass at Matthias Church. Explore the beautiful city of Budapest with a tour of the Buda Castle Hill, and the Fisherman’s Bastion. Enjoy the views of the Danube and Pest, cross the bridge and pass by St. Stephen’s Basilica and Hungary’s ornate Parliament building. Return to the ship for lunch. Board the motorcoach and depart Budapest to visit the artists’ village of Szentendre, home to many generations of Hungarian artists since the early 20th century. Continue to the imposing ruined fortress of Visegrád. Our next stop is Esztergom, the former residence of the Hungarian kings and seat of the Archbishop. Visit the domed basilica, built in the early 19th century. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight aboard the ship as it cruises through the night.

Day 4 Friday, June 20  |. Bratislava

Breakfast aboard the ship. Port in Bratislava then depart for a city tour. Celebrate Mass at St. Martin’s Church. After Mass, meet your local guide. Walk down to the Old Town and pass by St. Martin’s Cathedral, Michael’s Gate, Academia Istropolitana, Main Square, Primatial Palace, Slovak National Theatre, and Bratislava Castle on the hill with a panorama view on Bratislava. Enjoy lunch on own in the city or return to the ship. After lunch, enjoy a beer tasting in a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon is free for activities and exploration at leisure. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight aboard the ship as we cruise to Vienna.

Day 5 Saturday, June 21  |  Vienna | Classical Music Concert

Enjoy views of Vienna as you have breakfast aboard the ship. Afterwards, board the motorcoach to begin your panoramic tour of Vienna. Celebrate Mass at Votivkirche. Meet your local, Englishspeaking guide for a tour of Vienna Old Town between the University and Opera House, passing major monuments to include Donners’ Fountain, Belvedere Palace Gardens, Hofburg Palace, Spanish Horses training place and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Lunch on own or back aboard the ship. Afternoon at leisure. Return to the ship for dinner. After dinner, enjoy Strauss and Mozart concert at one of the concert halls at Kursalon. Return to the ship for overnight, as we sail to Durnstein.

Day 6 Sunday, June 22  |  Durnstein – Spitz – Emmersdorf (Melk Abbey)

Breakfast aboard the ship as we arrive in Durnstein, Austria. Upon arrival, board the motorcoach and depart for Spitz. Savor the region’s renowned wines while enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Drive back to Durnstein and return to the ship. Lunch aboard the ship while cruising toward Emmersdor. Upon arrival, depart for Melk Abbey. Celebrate Mass at Melk Abbey followed by a guided tour. Depart back to Emmersdorf to board the ship for dinner and overnight as we cruise to Linz.

Day 7 Monday, June 23  |  Linz Excursion to Salzburg and Maria Plain

As the ship arrives in Linz, enjoy breakfast. Board the motorcoach and depart for Salzburg. Enjoy a guided tour of Salzburg Old Town. View the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Gardens and Salzburger Dom. Lunch on own and free time in town. Depart Salzburg to visit Maria Plain Shrine. Celebrate Mass at Maria Plain Basilica which hosts the miraculous painting of the “Virgin with Child” by an unknown painter. It miraculously survived a fire in the Bavarian town of Regen, undamaged. Depart back to Linz riding through the picturesque lake region Salzkammergut. Return to the ship for free time before dinner and overnight, as we cruise to Passau, Germany.

Day 8 Tuesday, June 24  |  Passau – Altotting

This morning, breakfast aboard the ship. Upon arrival in Passau, board the motorcoach and drive through the beautiful Bavarian countryside to Altotting. See the “Black Madonna of Altotting,” a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. Visit the Basilica of St. Anna, the Holy Chapel, the Collegiate Church, and the treasury. Celebrate Mass at the parish church of St. Philip and James. Return to the ship for lunch. Enjoy a guided tour of Passau, the ‘Bavarian Venice,’ beautifully situated at the confluence of the Danube, Ilz and Inn Rivers. Visit the magnificent St. Stephan’s Cathedral, containing the world’s largest church organ. The tour concludes with a visit to the Museum of the Treasure of the Cathedral. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight aboard the ship in Passau.

Day 9 Wednesday, June 25  |  Pilsen – Brewery Tour – Prague

Breakfast on the ship before disembarking and ending the cruise portion of our journey. Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral in Passau before departing for Prague via motorcoach. Stop en route in Pilsen with a panoramic tour of this beautiful city. Enjoy a beer tasting at Pilsner Urquell Brewery. Lunch on own before continuing on to Prague. Check-in to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 Thursday, June 26  |  Prague

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before a full day of sightseeing in Prague. See the Loretto Shrine, Hradcany Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Castle, St. George’s Basilica and the Church of Our Lady Victorious where you see the Statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. Celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Victory.

After lunch on own, cross the Charles Bridge to visit the Old Town, which is considered to be one of the best historical city centers in Europe. Visit the Old Town Square, the Town Hall with is famous Astronomical Clock. Visit the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Prague. Enjoy a 20th Anniversary Celebration Farewell Dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Prague.

Day 11 Friday, June 27  Return Home

Check-out of the hotel, bid farewell, and transfer to the airport for your return flights home.