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Europe’s second-longest river is without doubt one of the hottest with river cruisers. “A Danube River cruise combines the appropriate historical past and vibrant tradition of European cities like Budapest, Vienna, and Salzburg, all whereas providing breathtaking views of vineyards, rolling hills, medieval castles, and picturesque riverside cities,” in response to Journey + Leisure A-Record journey advisor Mary Ann Ramsey. Austria’s gorgeous Wachau Valley is a spotlight, and friends can take pleasure in native delicacies like Viennese pastries, Hungarian goulash, and schnitzel alongside the way in which.
Impressed? Listed below are 10 of the very best Danube River cruises.
AmaWaterways
Courtesy of AmaWaterways
This family-owned luxurious river cruise line highlights cultural immersion, high quality service, and glorious delicacies. Co-founder and president Rudi Schreiner designed the distinctive AmaMagna particularly for cruising the Danube. Twice the width of conventional European river ships, AmaMagna gives spacious suites, a number of eating places, a solar deck pool, a health middle, Zen Wellness Studio, and a pickleball courtroom. Fora journey advisor Melissa Curtin tells T+L, “We cherished our Danube River cruise with AmaWaterways. We biked throughout Austria within the Wachau Valley, by means of Vienna, and from Germany to Austria with a small group. In different ports, we loved mountaineering to castles, and the strolling excursions gave us wealthy experiences.”
7-night Magna on the Danube
The Magna on the Danube cruise boards in Budapest, the place friends have the choice for a two-night pre-cruise keep in Hungary’s culturally wealthy capital. In Budapest, friends can select a metropolis tour or a extra energetic hike to Fortress Hill. Bratislava is the following port, with excursions that embrace a hike, tasting tour, and metropolis strolling tour. In Vienna, tour choices embrace a motorcycle tour and a go to to Schönbrunn Palace. In Dürnstein, friends can pattern native apricots or wine, and a motorcycle tour and hike are additionally out there. A full-day journey to Salzburg, a motorcycle tour, and a hike are choices in Linz. And in Vilshofen, there’s a Bavarian Oktoberfest celebration with music, beer, and pretzels.
Viking River Cruises
Courtesy of Viking Cruises
Based by Torstein Hagen in 1997, Viking is well-known for river cruises in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Viking’s ships function fashionable Scandinavian type, specifically designed to navigate the world’s rivers. The award-winning Viking Longships supply full-size verandas, al fresco eating, and spacious suites. Onboard actions and excursions are designed for enrichment, consistent with Viking’s concentrate on curious vacationers.
8-day Romantic Danube
The Romantic Danube cruise begins in Budapest, and friends can select a purchasing tour, prepare dinner Hungarian goulash, take a Hungarian language lesson, or tour town. After cruising across the scenic Danube Bend, the ship arrives in Vienna for a day that features a go to to Schönbrunn Palace, a Viennese waltz lesson, dinner in a neighborhood winery, a Mozart and Strauss live performance, or an e-bike tour. Austria’s Wachau Valley’s vineyards, cities, fortress ruins, and forests supply stunning surroundings to admire whereas cruising to Passau, Germany. Right here, tour choices embrace a Bavarian beer fest, a hike, and a German Language lesson. In Regensburg, the final port, friends can discover on a strolling tour.
Adventures by Disney
Courtesy of Adventures by Disney
Adventures by Disney is a perfect alternative for multigenerational teams who need one thing for all ages, from little ones to grandparents. Adventures by Disney makes use of upscale AmaWaterways ships for its European river cruise itineraries, so you may count on luxurious staterooms, superb delicacies, and a variety of shore excursions, plus a dose of Disney magic (and the corporate’s excellent customer support).
8-day Danube River Cruise
The Danube River Cruise aboard AmaLea begins in Budapest with tour choices that embrace a strolling meals tour, go to to Lazar Equestrian Park, and a goulash-making competitors. After the following day in Bratislava, Disney Journey Guides present a night of leisure. In Vienna, friends can select a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, a go to to the Youngsters’s Museum, a marionette present, a motorcycle experience, a strudel-making demonstration, or a Mozart-Schumann live performance. There’s one thing for each age and curiosity every day, like a brewery tour for adults and a rope bridge climb with Journey Guides.
Avalon Waterways
Courtesy of Avalon Waterways
Avalon’s “Suite Ships” function spacious Panorama Suites (which make up 80 % of the staterooms) with broad home windows, balconies, and their trademark Consolation Assortment Beds dealing with the floor-to-ceiling home windows for the very best views. Avalon cruises additionally supply FlexDining, with choices that embrace al fresco lunch on the Sky Grill, an informal meal within the Panorama Bistro, and four-course dinners within the glass-walled Panorama Eating Room.
7-day Christmastime on the Danube
Avalon’s Christmastime on the Danube cruise boards in Vienna and spends a full day in Austria’s capital the place friends can select a tour of town or spend time on the Christmas market, amongst different excursions. In Melk, friends can see the frescoes of the Benedictine abbey or stay onboard for an Austrian cookie tasting. The cruise additionally contains stops in Passau, Regensburg, and Nuremberg, the place cruisers can admire extra German Christmas markets and store for festive souvenirs.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise
Uniworld is thought for attentive service, premium all-inclusive facilities, curated experiences, and chic ships embellished with unique artwork and antiques. They provide Danube River cruises ranging in size from eight to 19 days, together with a 24-day cruise that additionally contains the Rhine and the Predominant Rivers. Along with European rivers, Uniworld cruises the rivers of Egypt, Southeast Asia, and Peru in all-inclusive luxurious.
8-day Capital Cities of the Danube
The Capital Cities of the Danube cruise begins in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, the place friends can select to discover town by bicycle or bus. In Croatia, tour choices embrace a go to to a cultural museum or an agrotourism lunch. A strolling tour of Budapest or a visit to Fortress Hill acquaint cruisers to the Hungarian capital. Bratislava is the following port, with experiences together with a cathedral go to, a live performance, and a hike to Bratislava Fortress. The itinerary ends with a day in Vienna earlier than friends depart.
Tauck River Cruises
Courtesy of Tauck River Cruise
This century-old, family-owned firm launched their first European river cruise in 1992. They take delight in providing private service by means of native guides and Tauck Administrators who come from greater than 40 nations and collectively converse a complete of 52 languages. Tauck’s Danube River cruises vary from eight days to their Grand European Cruise that is 25 days and sails by means of 9 nations.
12-day Blue Danube River Cruise
The Blue Danube River Cruise is Tauck’s hottest, in response to their web site, and it is an incredible choice for first-time river cruisers. Company embark in Budapest aboard MS Pleasure or MS Savor, every ship accommodating 130 passengers. In Budapest, Braitslava, Vienna, and extra ports of name, friends can select from excursions starting from bike excursions to wine tastings. Two nights in Prague supply a number of alternatives to discover town.
Scenic River Cruises
Courtesy of Scenic River Cruises
Scenic “Area-Ships,” with as much as 163 friends, are designed for ultra-luxury river cruising, with plush lounging, eating, and wellness areas. There’s butler service for each suite, and Freechoice excursions embrace cooking lessons, wine and beer tastings, e-bike excursions, and guided strolling excursions, designed for all ranges of vitality, from relaxed to energetic.
10-day Danube in Depth
The Danube in Depth cruise embarks in Nuremberg and disembarks in Budapest with stops in Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Durnstein, Krems, Vienna, and Bratislava. There are 27 included Scenic Freechoice excursions, together with actions like making German sausages, metropolis excursions, and extra.
Emerald Cruises
Courtesy of Emerald Cruises
Emerald’s award-winning “Star-Ships” function luxurious ambiance and distinctive improvements just like the heated indoor pool that transforms right into a cinema area. They provide an included tour at practically each port, plus elective particular actions at further value, giving friends the chance to do what they select and pay for less than what they wish to do. The ships additionally function a solar deck, placing inexperienced, and strolling observe.
5-day Christmas Time on the Danube
Emerald’s Christmas Time on the Danube cruise embarks in Budapest and disembarks in Vienna with a cease in Bratislava. Guided excursions and Christmas market visits supply loads to do off the ship, however the cruise additionally brings the enjoyable onboard with dwell native leisure.
CroisiEurope
Courtesy of CroisiEurope
This family-owned French firm is headquartered in Strasbourg, and it is identified for intimate ships, gourmand eating, and budget-friendly voyages. Along with European locations, CroisiEurope gives cruises alongside the rivers in Asia and Africa, too.
12-day Alongside the River Danube, Budapest, and the Balkan Peninsula Cruise
This Danube and Black Sea cruise covers eight nations in 12 days, specializing in music, tradition, gourmand eating, and dramatic surroundings. Boarding in Budapest, the ship stops in Hungary, Serbia, and Croatia with choices for strolling or biking excursions. The ship passes by means of the Iron Gates (a gorge on the Danube) after which proceeds to Bulgaria and Romania. After crossing the Danube-Black Sea Canal, there’s a full-day tour to Constanta, the oldest metropolis in Romania, based in 600 B.C.E., and the cruise finally disembarks in Bucharest.
Riverside Luxurious Cruises
Courtesy of Riverside Luxurious Cruises
Owned by German hotelier Seaside Assortment, Riverside Luxurious Cruises relies in Hamburg. Their luxurious ships have been previously owned by Crystal Cruises, and their Danube cruise ship, Riverside Mozart, options all-suite staterooms, marble baths, a gymnasium, an indoor pool, and butler service. Riverside’s three- to 14-day cruises are all-inclusive with versatile itineraries, and so they additionally supply an elective a la carte plan for vacationers who wish to pay for less than what they want.
4-day A Sprint of the Danube
Supreme for vacationers quick on time, this four-day cruise embarks in Vienna and disembarks in Budapest, stopping in Esztergom, Hungary on the way in which. There, friends can take a look at fortress ruins and go to the Basilica of Esztergom.