Cruise & Rail: Grand Alpine & the Jewels of Veneto

This grand adventure by cruise and train will take you from the glittering Venetian lagoon to the pristine lake towns of the Alps.

Begin your journey in the stunning cities of Budapest and Vienna, from which you’ll ascend into the idyllic wonderland of the Alps via a luxury overnight train. Your days will be filled with unbelievable mountain scenery, picturesque lakes, and unforgettable experiences. Enjoy lunch on Lake Como, sample Swiss fondue in Zürich, head into Slovenia’s Postojna caves on a private visit, and more.

Then travel to romantic Venice and treat yourself to the ultimate Venetian vacation, perfected by one unique quality: your stay onboard our floating boutique hotel. Not only will you benefit from an enviable location in Venice, but you’ll also find that your hotel transports you to hidden gem towns nearby.

May 3 - 18, 2025
From $29,998 CAD per person 

Day 1:  Budapest

Arrive at the airport in Budapest. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the Four Seasons Gresham Palace hotel (or similar).

Day 2: Budapest (Embark), Vienna

This morning, you will check out of your hotel and transfer to the Golden Eagle Danube Express for a departure into Vienna. Settle into your cabin, then enjoy lunch as the train makes its way to the capital of Austria, where you’ll have the opportunity to visit the lively Naschmarkt, home to over 100 food and antique stalls, or the famous Schönbrunn Palace.

In the evening, we will enjoy a private concert featuring the Vienna Supreme Orchestra.

Day 3: Lake Achen, Innsbruck

Today will be one of the real highlights of the journey as we depart from Vienna in the morning and travel across central Austria and into the Alps on an incredibly scenic route. Keep your cameras at the ready as we climb over the Semmering Pass with its 16 viaducts and 15 tunnels, through the famous skiing village of Kitzbuhel to Jenbach, where we’ll take a scenic drive to the picturesque Lake Achen for a cruise on the water.

From here we travel by bus the short distance to Innsbruck, the capital of Austria’s western state of Tyrol and an Alpine city that has long been a destination for winter sports. Innsbruck is also known for its Imperial and modern architecture.

Day 4: Vorarlberg, Zürich

Sit back, relax, and watch the scenery of the Vorarlberg unfold in front of your eyes this morning as we pass through St. Anton before crossing through Liechtenstein and then into Switzerland, where we run along the whole of the Lake of Zürich before arriving in the city.

The city of Zürich, a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zürich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus (Town Hall). While we are in the city, we will enjoy a traditional Swiss fondue tasting.

Day 5: Lake Como

Upon leaving Zürich, we’ll pass along the shorelines of Lakes Zug and Lucerne before starting the very scenic climb to the St. Gotthard Pass. Once through the old St. Gotthard tunnel, we’ll descend through Lugano towards Lake Como in Italy, where we stop for a beautiful lunch on the lake. After lunch, set sail on a boat cruise around Lake Como and visit the lakeside town of Bellagio.

Day 6: Verona, Trieste

This morning, after running along the south shore of Lake Garda, we arrive in Verona, where you’ll set out on an informative walking tour of Verona’s famous sites.

Enjoy lunch onboard as the train threads its way to Trieste. Our brief tour here includes a stop at the imposing Miramare Castle and also a visit to the vast Piazza Unità d’Italia, the main town square. Standing on a hill overlooking Trieste is the famous Church of San Giusto. We will go inside the church for a close-up view of its splendid Byzantine-style architecture, enriched with precious mosaics.

Day 7: Lake Bled, Ljubljana

You may wish to wake up early this morning to catch the incredible scenery outside your window as our train climbs away from Trieste and heads over the border into Slovenia, continuing its ascent through the Julian Alps to Lake Bled.

From here we travel onto Ljubljana as we have lunch on board and discover a delightful combination of ancient architecture and a youthful culture. Our afternoon tour includes visits to Preseren Square, the Three Bridges, and Dragon Bridge.

Day 8: Postojna, Venice (Disembark)

This morning, you’ll be treated to a private visit to the Postojna Caves before re-boarding the train to head south towards Venice, where we’ll say farewell to our train crew and check into the Kempinski San Clemente Palace (or similar) for one night. This magnificent, five-star retreat is set on its own private island, just minutes away from Piazza San Marco by private boat. You’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy Venice at your leisure.

Day 9: Venice (Embark)

Check out of your hotel and embark the S.S. La Venezia today to begin your 7-night stay on the gorgeous Venetian Lagoon.

Day 10: Venice

With your early morning arrival at Doge’s Palace, you’ll be able to marvel at the estate in total peace. Wander through a Venetian neighborhood and experience daily life in an authentic Venetian residential quarter. Later in the evening, cap the day off with a private once-in-a-lifetime experience at an after-hours lighting ceremony inside St. Mark’s Basilica without the crowds.

Day 11: Venice, Mazzorbo (Burano)

Start your morning in one of two of the Veneto region’s UNESCO World Heritage cities, Vicenza or Padua. In the afternoon, you'll reboard the ship for scenic sailing across the lagoon as we head towards Mazzorbo and Burano. In the evening, you may wish to take your free time to stroll into town to appreciate this charming island when most of the tourists have left for the evening. Burano’s brightly painted fishermen’s cottages are an artist’s dream —hot pink, chartreuse, orange, lemon yellow, and more.

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 12: Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia

Spend the day exploring the northern lagoon of Venice and its captivating islands. Start with a visit to Torcello's famous basilica with an art historian, then stroll through the agricultural island of Mazzorbo and the rainbow-hued island of Burano during your free time after lunch. Alternatively, you can take the afternoon to see the renowned glassblowing artisans of Murano at work.

Day 13: Chioggia

Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market.

Day 14: Chioggia, Venice

This morning, join a sailing excursion where you’ll explore the Po Delta where the Po River and the Adriatic Sea meet. Later, during lunch, we sail back to Venice.

Day 15: Venice

As your water taxi glides past narrow side canals and the Canal Grande, you’ll arrive in style at the Rialto Bridge. The iconic stone arch bridge sits at the narrowest point of the Canal Grande and holds numerous shops and restaurants.

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Reach out to your Uniglobe Travel professional to book this outstanding boutique cruise and rail experience!