river cruise bucharest to vienna

Danube River Cruise

Tour Itinerary

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AUSTRIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, CROATIA, SERBIA, ROMANIA, AND BULGARIA

Sail down the Danube River stopping at some of Eastern Europe’s most fascinating cities—from Vienna and Budapest to Belgrade and Bucharest. Before setting sail, go sightseeing in Vienna, which features beautiful palaces and modern architecture. Then, depart on the ship to Bratislava, Slovakia where you’ll explore the sights around Old Town. Next, stop down the river takes you into Hungary for a visit to Budapest. You’ll tour the city and then have a full day to discover sights at your leisure. Sail along the picturesque Drava River to Croatia for a day around Vukovar and then set your sights on Serbia, with stops at the charming cities of Novi Sad and Belgrade. Admire the stunning vistas as we cruise to Bulgaria, bringing you to Vidin.

Extend Your Trip!  Enjoy our Danube River Cruise with Dracula’s Castle tour  which includes 2 nights in Brasov where you’ll explore the city and enjoy an excursion to Dracula’s Castle.

Itinerary at a Glance

Tour Itinerary:

• 10-night Danube Cruise to Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Vukovar (Croatia), Novi Sad (Serbia), Belgrade (Serbia), Vidin (Bulgaria)
• 1 night in Bucharest

Tour Highlights

• Hofburg Palace (Vienna)
• St. Martin’s Cathedral (Bratislava)
• Matthias Coronation Church (Budapest)
• Gypsy Concert (On Board – Budapest)
• Walking Tour with Concert (Vukovar)
• Kalemegdan Fortress (Belgrade)
• Authentic Serbian Lunch with plum brandy
• Iron Gates Gorge
• Baba Vida Fortress (Vidin)
• Palace of Parliament (Bucharest)

Your Tour Includes

• 10-night cruise on the Danube River
• One night in a Bucharest hotel
• 30 meals: 11 buffet breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners plus 2 glasses of wine or beer with lunch and dinner on cruise
• All on board activities, themed dinners, and special services including early riser breakfast, afternoon cakes & tea, 24/7 coffee station, late night snacks and entertainment each evening
• Comprehensive sightseeing tours, shore excursions, onboard lectures, folklore performances, and concerts
• Professional English-speaking Cruise Manager and local English-speaking guides throughout

Is this tour right for you? Find out What to Expect

Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.

You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.

Day 1: Arrive Vienna (Austria)

Welcome to Vienna, the splendid capital of Austria and the center of the Hapsburg Empire. Travelers should make their own way to our cruise ship for embarkation. This evening, we'll enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by an orientation briefing and reception and then dinner.

Day 2: Set Sail from Vienna

Today, we'll explore Vienna's glorious past as we embark on an included panoramic tour that takes us along the Ring Boulevard, past Emperor Franz Josef's Hofburg Palace and the State Opera to the Cathedral of St. Stephen's. This afternoon is free for us to explore Vienna independently. Our Cruise Manager can assist us in arranging tickets for an optional concert or cultural performance. We'll set sail from Vienna late this evening.

Day 3: Bratislava (Slovakia)

Welcome to Slovakia! This morning, our walking tour takes us to Bratislava's lovely city center, past St. Martin's Cathedral and the Primate's Palace. Our sightseeing ends with a walk through Old Town where we'll see Michael's Gate, Michael's Tower, the Main Square, Old Town Hall, and the Slovak National Theatre. We'll return to our ship for lunch and then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore Bratislava at our own pace. Our dinner is back on board with the evening free to waltz the night away!

Day 4: Budapest (Hungary)

We'll spend our morning cruising the Danube River to Budapest. This afternoon, our motorcoach tour of this lovely city includes some of the most popular sights: The Parliament Building, St. Stefan Cathedral, the Opera, the Square of Heroes, (the Millennium monument) and the town park with the Vajdahunyad Castle, etc. During our tour, we'll enjoy stops at the Square of Heroes, the Fisherman's Bastion and Gellert Hill. The rest of our evening is at leisure.

Day 5: Budapest (Hungary)

Today, we have a full day at leisure to explore Budapest independently. Consider joining our Cruise Manager for an optional walking tour of downtown Budapest. Prior to dinner we can enjoy a short live concert of Hungarian Gypsy music performed in the lounge. This evening, we'll set sail and begin cruising to our next destination.

Day 6: Vukovar (Croatia)

After breakfast this morning, we can head up to the sun deck to take in the beautiful vistas as we sail into Vukovar, Croatia. This afternoon, after entry formalities, we'll depart on our walking tour. Afterward, we can enjoy free time to explore the city at leisure before returning to the ship for dinner.

Day 7: Novi Sad (Serbia)

Welcome to Serbia! When we wake up this morning, we'll say "hello" to Novi Sad, Serbia's lively university town. We'll be delighted by our walking tour through the town center and its gorgeous pedesrian-friendly nooks and corners dotted with restaurants and people-watching cafés. After our tour, we'll have free time to explore the charming streets or we can join an optional tour to the local winery for a wine, cheese, and honey tasting. This evening, we'll continue sailing towards Serbia's vibrant capital, Belgrade, also known as "White City."

Day 8: Belgrade

We'll witness "new" Belgrade today as it rebuilds and once again warmly welcomes Western visitors. Located on a hill at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, this ancient city dates back to the Roman Empire and was destroyed and rebuilt several times during its tumultuous history. This morning's tour of the city highlights includes the Kalemegdan Fortress, the imposing St. Sava Cathedral and the cobblestone bohemian quarter of Skadarlija. For lunch we will venture to an authentic Serbian restaurant, where you will meet a Serbian multi-generation family and enjoy a wonderful taste of Serbian home-made food, unlimited drinks, live music, and hospitality. We will return to the ship and after dinner, you'll be entertained by a local folklore ensemble featuring dancers and musicians dressed in colorful costumes.

Day 9: Sailing through the Iron Gates (Serbia)

This morning, we'll savor the beautiful vistas while leanring about the fascinating history of the Balkans. After lunch, we'll enjoy one of the highlights of our voyage: passage through the impressive Iron Gates Gorge and the gigantic Djerdap Lock where the Danube surges down from the Carpathian Mountains. The views along the two-mile-long gorge are spectacular! This evening, we'll arrive in Vidin, Bulgaria, and enjoy a festive Captain's Farewell dinner on board.

Day 10: Vidin (Bulgaria)

This morning, we'll embark on a walking tour of this delightful Bulgarian river port highlighted by a visit to the 13th-century fortress named "Baba Vida" ("Grandma Vida"), the best-preserved medieval fortress in the country. Afterward, we'll have some free time for strolling and shopping or we can consider joining the optional Belogradchik Rock excursion.

Day 11: Disembark in Bucharest (Romania)

Today, we'll dock at the Romanian port of Turnu Magurele and journey to nearby Bucharest, the capital of Romania, founded in 1459 by order of Prince Vlad Tepes, the original "Dracula." Over the years, it has gone from times of greatness to periods of grief but especially flourished in the early 20th century when it was known as "Little Paris." The influence of French architecture is still evident throughout, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Enescu Museum and the wide, tree-lined boulevards throughout the city. Our panorama tour includes Revolution Square, and the imposing Palace of Parliament, the second largest building in the world. After check in at our hotel, we'll enjoy time at leisure for independent exploration

Day 12: Depart Bucharest

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today.

Guided Tour Pricing

Plan ahead to maximize your savings!

Rates are per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.

For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern) at 1.800.337.7773 .

Reservations and Payments Reservations can be made online or by phone ( 1.800.337.7773 ) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Full payment is due days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.

Featured Accommodations

Ms river sapphire.

Refurbished in 2020, this 164-passenger premium vessel offers a casual and friendly ambiance. Cabins are spread over three decks with the lower deck featuring windows that do not open, and the middle and upper decks featuring floor to ceiling French balconies. While onboard, enjoy the restaurant, panorama lounge, sun deck, and fitness room. The onboard currency is the Euro and Visa and Mastercard are also accepted.

View Cabins and Deck Plans

Novotel Hotel

Calea Victoriei 37B Sector 1 010061, Bucharest, Romania

Optional Tours

Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.

Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.

Classical Music Concert

Day 2 Evening Tour. €79 per person

Quite rightfully, Vienna is often called the "Musical Capital of the World". Enjoy a concert in the heart of Vienna at Kursalon Wien, an exclusive and splendid building of the 19th century built in the Italian Renaissance style. In the very place where Johann Strauss used to direct his orchestra from the position of first violin, enjoy the essence of Vienna's classical music! The Salonorchester Alt Wien, one of the best-known interpreters of classical Viennese music, presents an evening full of Viennese charm with waltzes, polkas, arias and duets, as well as operetta and piano concerto melodies. Accompanied by excellent opera vocalists and our enchanting ballet soloists, Vienna's classical music reveals itself as a living firework display for all the senses.

Payable by cash only on the ship (Euros)

MUST BE BOOKED IN DESTINATION!

Walking Tour of Downtown Pest

Day 5 Morning Tour. €20 per person

Join your Cruise Director for a delightful stroll down Vaci Utca, the city's main pedestrian promenade full of shops, cafes, and beautiful people! Your stops will include the Great Market Hall and Gerbeaud, the oldest sweet shop in Budapest which opened in 1858! Your tour ends with a delightful ride aboard an old-fashioned tram back to the docking location.

Krusedol Monastery & Wine Tasting

Day 7 Afternoon Tour. €42 per person

Travel by motor coach through the Serbian countryside for a visit to Krusedol Monastery, located on the nearby mountain of Fruska Gora where more than 15 Serbian orthodox monasteries were built in medieval times. Well renowned for its fresco paintings dating from the early 16th century, the monastery is also a burial place for legendary personalities throughout Serbian history, such as King Milan Obrenovic and Duchess Ljubica. On the way back, stop in Sremski Karlovci, center of wine production in the region. Here we'll visit the Zivanovic family whose members have been producing their private label "Bermet" wine for over a century and whose products have been enjoyed by members of the Habsburg Monarchy as well as the Russian Tsars! Our hosts will welcome us to their large garden, including a wine cellar, and the "Museum of Honey". In this lovely ambiance we'll enjoy several varieties of wine including "Bermet", accompanied by their own organic honey!

Belogradchik Rocks

Day 10 Afternoon Tour. €45 per person

Take the tour to the most famous natural phenomena in the region, Belogradchik Rocks. This rocky fairy-tale is spread from west to east and it is 30km long and 3km wide. The most attractive rocks are around the town and named as The Madonna, The Monks, The Rider, The Dervish, The Bear, Adam and Eve, The Castle, The Little Shepherd, The Mushrooms, The Lion and many others. The Belogradchik fortress is situated at an altitude of 610 m above sea level. Experience the memorable view from the top of the fortress.

Important Note: This tour is only recommended for active walkers, as it requires going up steps and slopes for a full experience.

What to Expect

Max group size: 24 travelers, activity level: level 1.

Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 3 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day) on easy terrain with some light stairs. Learn More

Pacing Level: Leisurely

Expect half-day tours most days with a free day in most cities to explore independently. There are few to no early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 4+ nights. Learn More

New in 2025: ETIAS Visa Waiver Required for U.S. Passport Holders

A valid passport is required for international tours. Effective for travel in 2025, U.S. passport holders are required to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.

The ship may dock in uneven terrain. Travelers may encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps, and significant slopes on the shore excursions.

For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit our Before You Depart section.

Other Tours you May Like

Danube River Cruise + Dracula's Castle

Departures: Sep 2024 to Sep 2024

Featuring a 10-night cruise. Ports of call include Vienna, Budapest, Vukovar, Novi Sad, Belgrade, and more. Plus visit Brasov and Dracula's Castle. View Tour ❯

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• River Cruising

Capitals of Eastern Europe - Viking River Cruise review

By Steerpike58 , November 14, 2023 in River Cruising

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Steerpike58

Steerpike58 was awarded the badge 'Great Review'

Cruise date - Oct 2023, Bucharest to Vienna plus pre- and post-extensions. Ship - Viking Rinda. 

Summary - Not the experience we expected.

This was our first river cruise, chosen with Viking after a near-perfect experience on a Viking Ocean cruise last year.  

For us, the ship was clean and functional, and carried the same ‘signature’ look and feel of the ocean ship, which we liked – the Scandinavian ‘minimalist’ design, bright and cheery spaces.   We had a Veranda Stateroom on the 3 rd floor, which was adequate (though there were always insects on the balcony which discouraged us from ever using it or leaving the window open – the bugs easily found their way into the rooms – something we never experienced on the ocean). We are both skinny, and found the shower ‘tight’; I can’t imagine how some of the heavier-set people on the cruise could cope with the tiny shower!   The food was excellent every day – lovely selection of items at breakfast (lots of pastries, fresh fruit, hot items, great toast, and an adequate espresso machine, plus someone to prepare fresh eggs / omelets to order) and the lunches and dinners were perfect. We had fish most nights, and it was always perfectly prepared.   Portion sizes were ideal (not too big).   We did, however, miss the ‘self serve’ / buffet aspect of the Ocean ships; it was quite difficult, when presented with an enticing menu offering first course, main course, and dessert at both lunch and dinner, to limit one’s intake compared to visiting the ‘World Café’ on the Ocean ship and just grabbing a soup / salad or other snack. The desserts in the ‘world café’ were also perfectly sized (small) compared to a full-blown dessert serving from the menu.

There were a tremendous number of people coughing and sneezing from day 1 (getting progressively worse towards mid-cruise), and it was almost impossible to avoid them. People seemed quite content to sit in the crowded pre-dinner ‘port talks’ and at dinner coughing away, making no attempt to cover their mouths, nor leave the crowded spaces until their coughing fit passed. This was quite a shock, with Coronavirus being such a recent memory. We tried to sit away from others at meals, but that’s almost impossible on the Rinda – only two ‘tables for two’ exist on the entire ship (this was the biggest contrast with the Viking Ocean ships). I quickly succumbed to the bug, and tried very hard to not talk to others, but people seem determined to talk. We resorted to ‘reserving’ one of the two ‘tables for two’ in the Aquavit terrace most nights by leaving a coat on the chairs, but we were occasionally beaten to it by others with the same goal.

The tour director Leonard was an amazing character and certainly made the trip memorable. His personal experience in Romania was extremely educational.

Where the trip fell short for us was in the destinations and the excursions. Now, you can’t get blood out of a stone, and you can’t manufacture fairytale picturesque villages out of bombed-out, communist-era cities and towns, but some of the destinations along the way were completely uninspiring and positively grim (imagine a cruise that has Detroit on the itinerary, perhaps).   I grew up learning about the post-war period in eastern Europe, and had some understanding of the post-1989 ‘fall of communism’ situation, and the collapse of Yugoslavia, but this trip was certainly an eye-opener from that perspective, and one that I did thoroughly appreciate (but not the vacation I expected).   Seeing first hand those endless blocks of drab gray concrete apartment blocks everywhere (eg, Bucharest) was educational, and hearing about how things didn’t necessarily get better for people after the fall of communism (eg, Serbia) was also educational. But after two or three such towns/cities, it became quite repetitive and the few traditional ‘sights’ (an old fortress here, a church there) were not exactly dramatic.   I was quite shocked to see the after-effects of the 1999 NATO bombing of Belgrade and Novi Sad (Serbia), and the things we saw in Vukovar (Croatia) – 80% of the city was destroyed by Serbia in 1991 – were dramatic reminders of the horrors of war, and all too recent.   So this was more of a social history lesson than a traditional vacation. Not until we visited Pecs in Hungary (port of Mohacs) did we see what I’d call a classic European town with beautiful buildings and interesting streets to walk around.

I would note that the Danube is not like the Rhine. The Rhine is dotted with hillsides, castles, mansions, vinyards, etc for a good part of its length. The Danube, by contrast, is largely flat and featureless, with simple trees lining both sides for much of its length (the obvious exception was the ‘Iron Gate’, which is a gorgeous mountainous stretch, but that was just for one day). Also, the port-towns we called at were in many cases positively grim, and just served as boarding locations for the excursion busses; not really anywhere to walk around in your free time.   And when you do find yourself docked in a half-decent looking place, chances are your ship it double- or triple-docked with other ships, meaning you open your curtains and look into another ship’s cabins.

Due to low water levels on the Danube, we were unable to join the ship at the Black Sea (Constanta), resulting in an extra day in Bucharest. Bucharest is not a city you want to spend an extra day in (we’d already spent a few nights there as part of our ‘pre-cruise’ excursion to Transylvania).   We were given the option of a coach trip to Constanta, but that was a long coach ride and a short visit so we declined and took the rather mediocre excursion to see a ‘Romanian Villages’ exhibit in Bucharest. We joined the ship after a 3 hour coach ride at some obscure industrial docking point on the Danube (Turnu Magurele), crossed over to Nikopol (Bulgaria) and spent the first night on the ship there, at which point we were back on schedule for the itinerary.

The low water levels hit us again as we approached Budapest. At the port-talk the night before Budapest, we learned that we would not be able to dock in Budapest. The plans changed a few times over the next 24 hours or so, and ultimately we stopped short of Budapest in a port named ‘Kalocsa’. This was a complete non-entity of a port, just a place to dock the ship and load up coaches; nowhere to explore on land. There was talk of the rest of the journey to Vienna being by coach/hotels, as the ship could not pass Budapest. We were given an unplanned ‘included’ excursion to see some horses perform in a field.   This was moderately entertaining, though the food and drinks were pretty pathetic and watching horses perform circus tricks is not a good substitute for Budapest in my opinion. By lunch time we were back at the ship and there was nothing planned for the afternoon, and we spent another boring night in Kalocsa instead of Budapest. After first being told we would get two nights in a hotel in Budapest, we learned at the last minute that we would get only one night at a hotel in Budapest, then we would re-join the ship at Komarom (so the ship was ultimately allowed to sail THROUGH Budapest, empty, but was not allowed to dock).   So we had a long coach ride into Budapest, but instead of dropping us at the hotel immediately (where we were to have our one and only night in Budapest) they insisted on feeding us – all 180 guests – at some random location in Budapest. Getting 180 people (4 coaches) into and out of a restaurant, and feeding them a 3-course meal, takes quite a bit of time and includes a lot of waiting around. The meal was only ‘average’ and I would have much rather been let loose in Budapest to find a cosy lunch spot on our own.

We finally got to the hotel and then had the anticipated ‘panorama’ tour of Budapest, which was fine, and then a mediocre buffet style dinner at the hotel (not up to Viking standards, and again, I would have preferred to head out into the city and find a good restaurant on my own).   The next morning, our luggage had to be ready for pickup by 8am, and the coach departed at 2pm, so we had basically 6 hours to explore Budapest on our own, which is nowhere near long enough to explore what was clearly the best destination so far on our itinerary. We got a taxi to the ‘Fisherman’s Bastion’, which was stunning, then walked around that area, taking the Funicular down to the chain bridge, another taxi to the Grand Market where we had a fantastic lunch, and a taxi back to the hotel – absolutely the highlight of the ‘cruise’ so far, and terribly disappointing to not have had more time there. After rejoining the ship in Komarom (where we had our 4 th pack/unpack event, not what you expect on a cruise) we sailed straight into Vienna – missing the scheduled visit to Bratislava due to the day lost doing nothing in Kalocsa. They did offer a coach trip to Bratislava to make up for it, but that would have eaten into the 2 days in Vienna so we declined.   The Viking excursion to the Schonbrunn palace was OK, but nowhere near as delightful as our own visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Our guide to the Schonbrunn palace was perhaps the worst of the entire trip (overall, the guides were decent with a few outstanding guides).

The highlights of the ‘cruise’ for us were the pre-and post-cruise extensions – Transylvania at the start, and Prague at the end. Transylvania is really a hidden gem, reminiscent of the Alps, with castles and pretty villages all over (though with the ubiquitous communist era apartment blocks and disused factories here and there to remind you where you were). Great food, as long as you like pork!   Prague is by far the most wonderful city I’ve ever seen in Europe, and we spent most of the time on our own exploring.   Annoyingly, we left Vienna at around 10am but instead of going straight to Prague, we spent 2.5 hours in some little village along the way (Mikulov) and were given 90 minutes of free time (it was Sunday and most shops were closed, so we saw all there was to see in about 15 minutes, and killed time having a snack).   I really felt like they were running down the clock, avoiding taking us into Prague directly, perhaps due to hotel check-in requirements. The problem is, we hit Prague at rush hour, and spent forever inching our way through traffic. In Prague, we first got dropped off at the Hilton, where most people were staying, then we got a second coach to our hotel – the Augustine in Mala Strana (which was lovely, and in a fabulous location), and didn’t manage to get out and hit the streets of Prague until almost 6pm, which meant we lost precious time in this most beautiful city (we could have been there at 2pm if they had taken us directly). We took an optional Viking excursion in Prague called the   ‘Prague folklore dinner’. This involved a long coach ride (45 mins) out of Prague to some remote barn, where we ate mediocre food, drank almost undrinkable wine, and watched a small group of performers sing and dance for a while.   The singers were truly second-rate, and the instruments seemed out of tune.   For this, we paid $109 each.   On our own, we found first rate restaurants in Prague that served fantastic food for under $100 for two. Overall, Viking’s excursions that include food are definitely questionable. Viking themselves know how to serve 180 people with a great varied menu but the typical ‘excursion destination’ serves food that is entirely forgettable.  

I should probably note the average age and mobility level of the guests. We are 65/70 and felt like the youngest, most mobile people on the ship. There were several people who for various reasons could barely walk half a mile (some had walking sticks, some were overweight), but they all joined the included excursions every day.   Viking anticipated this and created an ‘L’ version of each excursion, with ‘L’ being for ‘Leisurely’.   The problem is, they initially assigned everyone to groups A, B, C, D on their ‘excursion ticket’, and only casually announced the existence of the ‘L’ option at the last minute, which people had to go out of their way to request/join. So every single day, our ‘A’ group had half a dozen people who really struggled to keep up (with the tour guide having to go back and ‘rescue’ them), while the ‘L’ group was basically empty.   I mentioned this to the tour director, and he said they have to be careful not to insult people by offering them the ‘L’ option …   but my observation was that people just weren’t aware of the option. They need to do a better job of communicating this option and encouraging it’s use. Don’t get me wrong - it’s wonderful to see older people getting out and seeing the world, and we know we’ll be in that state soon enough … but simply make more effort to announce the ‘Leisurely’ option.

So we had some great experiences, but I feel like a lot of the time (and money) was wasted on second-rate destinations and second rate entertainments.   The uncertainties with the water levels   adds another challenge – a huge attraction of a cruise is that you don’t have to pack/unpack, so having to get on coaches and stay at hotels really puts a dent into the experience. We didn’t see the Black Sea (Constanta), we only had a half-day in Budapest, and we missed Slovenia altogether, and had to pack / unpack two days in a row. We know Viking aren’t in control of river levels, but the way they handled Budapest in particular was bad; we’d have preferred to stay on the ship but given that we had to get off, staying in a hotel for two nights rather than just one would have been much better. Budapest is just too fine a city to explore in 6 hours.  

For us, it’s back to Ocean cruising. 

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Host Jazzbeau

Thank you for this comprehensive report, but I must say that this was an odd choice for a first river cruise – absolutely not one that would be recommended by anyone on this forum, and especially unlikely for a first Viking River cruise as it is so different from their ubiquitous PBS commercials of a leisurely afternoon passing beautiful vineyards and castles while enjoying a glass of wine on the top deck.

I take exception to your view of Detroit. Apparently,  you have never been there or haven't been there in a while. I was there with a tour group in September and was amazingly surprised how fantastic it was. Like any city, there are problems, but compared to my hometown of LA, I saw less graffiti,  very few homeless people on the streets,  cleaner streets. Every where we went, I felt safe. 

We also took two river cruises in the spring,  and like you, I  am returning to ocean cruising. 

Canal archive

I’ve been river cruising since 2011 and I know that others on these boards discovered it many years before we did, I really feel for those who’s first try has been this year, somehow or other we’ve missed low/high water levels etc. We’ve had indifferent tour guides but never a bad one mostly good to absolutely excellent. I sympathise with your dislike of the lack of self service but it’s a throwback/ ruling from covid which for river cruise vessels may still be in place. Yes this year we had a couple make a b-line for us with the dreaded cough and snivelling, unluckily I have a heart condition so it didn’t turn out well for me but they insisted that they had tested themselves and were free of Covid - yes but not the sniffles and snuffles. Bonus I could do the cruise for a third time after a few others. We’ve made acquaintances from around the world wonderful people we would never have met otherwise. Afternoon sitting up front with a glass delivered by a very pleasant young person to a group of, okay yes getting on or nearly getting on members of the Commonwealth with a few honorary members from below the border nothing better. I’d say give it another try and enjoy. 

notamermaid

Thank you for your detailed review and your many comments on Eastern Europe. I was fascinated by seeing what was for me the gateway to the former Communist area on my cruise - Budapest. We did a coach ride through the outskirts of the city. The contrast between what was and what they have done since was great, but seeing it five time over may be a bit much for me. I also saw it in Bratislava on the return sail in a different way.

I need to comment on Viking. The demographic you describe matches what people have mentioned here often. Since Viking has been so successful with their ocean ship venture we read here about more and more people coming from there to Viking river cruises. That is fine and works for many people but it is a different kind of holiday.

The combination of company and itinerary may not have been the best for you. There are so many choices out there, give it some time and perhaps you may consider looking at river cruising again.

Again, thank you for your great review.

twototravel

@Steerpike58  Thank you for your detailed review. Hubby and I are on the Rinda taking this same trip in Feb 2025. Viking would not be our first choice in Europe (we love Gate 1) but the itinerary of this trip is exactly what we were looking for. We will be going Vienna to Bucharest to include the post trip to Transylvania. Although the optional excursions for our trip are not available for booking yet, these are the ones we are considering - Schonbrunn Palace, Budapest Thermal Bath, Hungarian Folklore Dinner, Wines of So. Hungary, Town of Ilok and wine tasting, Belgrade Bohemian Quarter, Highlights of Sofia and No. Bulgaria, Wines of So. Romania, and Sights and Flavors of Bucharest. Any comments about these? 

We booked cabin 209 which is a veranda stateroom. 

Just a comment about dining room seating. I think the two person tables are disappearing from most all river cruiselines. While we do enjoy meeting our travelmates over a meal since we don't do the happy hours, our preference (if available) would be to go for the two seat tables. We took one of Vantage's last cruises and the sides of the dining room by the windows were all two person tables, which was wonderful. 

10 hours ago, moodyb1 said: Steerpike, I take exception to your view of Detroit. Apparently,  you have never been there or haven't been there in a while. I was there with a tour group in September and was amazingly surprised how fantastic it was. Like any city, there are problems, but compared to my hometown of LA, I saw less graffiti,  very few homeless people on the streets,  cleaner streets. Every where we went, I felt safe.  We also took two river cruises in the spring,  and like you, I  am returning to ocean cruising. 

I will stand corrected!  I was there, but many years ago.  I personally hail from the post-industrial northwest of England originally (birthplace of the industrial revolution), and I can say with certainty that it's still a dump there, but I doubt many people know the northwest of England so I used Detroit as something of a stereotypical location. 

9 hours ago, Canal archive said: ... I sympathise with your dislike of the lack of self service but it’s a throwback/ ruling from covid which for river cruise vessels may still be in place. ...

Actually, they had a lovely self-serve breakfast setup in the main dining room, and self-service in aquavit at breakfast; I think the problem with self-serve at dinner is, they just don't have enough room to offer that as an option. I've always hated buffets but the World Cafe changed my opinion entirely! 

5 hours ago, twototravel said: ... We will be going Vienna to Bucharest to include the post trip to Transylvania  ... Although the optional excursions for our trip are not available for booking yet, these are the ones we are considering - Schonbrunn Palace, Budapest Thermal Bath, Hungarian Folklore Dinner, Wines of So. Hungary, Town of Ilok and wine tasting, Belgrade Bohemian Quarter, Highlights of Sofia and No. Bulgaria, Wines of So. Romania, and Sights and Flavors of Bucharest. Any comments about these?  We booked cabin 209 which is a veranda stateroom. 

Schonbrunn Palace was OK, but you don't get to see much of it, and you can't take pictures.  We much preferred the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which we visited on our own, riding the metro from the ship and walking a few blocks. Even though it's a museum (with the feature being art and artifacts), the building itself is stunningly beautiful and far nicer to look at than the interior of Schonbrunn.  Plus the art and artifacts are really great, and it has a lovely cafe!  We didn't see the baths but I've heard they are interesting.

We didn't do the 'Hungarian Folklore Dinner', but we did do the 'Prague Folklore Dinner' as I mentioned in my review, and it was one of the worst excursions we've experienced (though many seemed to enjoy it). We aren't big wine buffs so wine tasting wasn't on our list. We did the 'Dine in Belgrade's Bohemian Quarter' excursion and it was OK - basically they take you to a lively pedestrian street in Belgrade full of restaurants, then take you into a 'back room' of one of the bigger restaurants and feed you food and entertain you with a few singers/musicians. Long rows of tables, no chance of any privacy.

We also did the 'sights and flavors of Bucharest'; for this one, a coach takes you to three different restaurants around town where you have essentially an appetizer at the first (plus beer - the place was a brew-pub), main course at the second, dessert at the third. This one gave you some insight into what looked like the local dining scene.

Overall, we are food-lovers, and tend to prefer a personal dining experience at a private table, where we can choose from a menu, rather than being part of a group of 50 seated at long tables and with a set menu. 

The Transylvania extension was great. The drive from Bucharest to Brasov is lovely - you pass through lovely mountain scenery with pretty villages. We stayed at the Radisson, a lovely hotel walking distance to the center. Brasov is nice to explore and we found a fabulous restaurant (Sergiana) close to the hotel where you dine underground, recommended by the guide. Great food! (pork, pork, pork!).  The palaces/castles are good, but the town of Sighisoara was the best - a lovely town to walk around and explore.  Totally different from Bucharest! 

5 hours ago, twototravel said:   Just a comment about dining room seating. I think the two person tables are disappearing from most all river cruiselines. While we do enjoy meeting our travelmates over a meal since we don't do the happy hours, our preference (if available) would be to go for the two seat tables. We took one of Vantage's last cruises and the sides of the dining room by the windows were all two person tables, which was wonderful. 

We shamefully grabbed the two-seaters in Aquavit most nights by leaving our coats on the chairs earlier. Once dinner starts, the lounge is virtually empty and I don't know why they don't allow people to sit at some of the tables in the lounge and eat.  My partner is very hard of hearing so socializing for her is a chore, so we much prefer a table to ourselves. 

CastleCritic

Always interesting to see peoples take on things.

Definitely wouldn't not have been my first choice for a river cruise especially if you want to see "old and beautiful" Europe.

Yes Transylvania is probably a huge highlight of that trip.  I was there in May with AMAwaterways and I really wish we had stayed in that Brasov Raddison they had us out at the Kronwell by the train station, a good enough hotel but it was a LONG way from downtown  But having done cruises to that point in "old" Europe I thought it was a good change of pace.  Yes seeing an ex communist country that is doing its best to modernize (Romania...proably better mobile internet than even France or Germany, did you ever NOT have a connection, even in Carpathians), and one that still wants to be in the 80s (Serbia, our cruise director said she, like most Serbians considers herself Yugoslavian) puts things in perspective  And then yes you get to Vukovar and HOPE that youre looking at Ukraine in 15 years.

Budapest is great, Ive been there to end a cruise in 2019 and start this one and still haven't seen enough of it.  I think I could have done another day in Bucharest as well.  But possibly thats because we didnt get to do the thing we were supposed to, the Parliament building due to protests.

Sad that you got sick, I have ended up getting sick either the day we left (not covid) and the day after I got home (no idea) the last two river cruises.  It definitely happens. It does sound like that cruise missed the one good castle that is right there on the Danube at the start of the iron gates

7 hours ago, twototravel said: Although the optional excursions for our trip are not available for booking yet, these are the ones we are considering - Schonbrunn Palace, Budapest Thermal Bath, Hungarian Folklore Dinner, Wines of So. Hungary, Town of Ilok and wine tasting, Belgrade Bohemian Quarter, Highlights of Sofia and No. Bulgaria, Wines of So. Romania, and Sights and Flavors of Bucharest. Any comments about these? 

Not sure if this is an option for you, but I will give a plug for Hospital in the Rock in Budapest - guided tour through old caves converted into hospital during WW2 and beyond - wax models recreating scenes of its use over time.

Maybe not everyone's thing but I found it very interesting and a nice change from castles, cathedrals, city walks.

5 hours ago, CastleCritic said: Always interesting to see peoples take on things.   Definitely wouldn't not have been my first choice for a river cruise especially if you want to see "old and beautiful" Europe.   Yes Transylvania is probably a huge highlight of that trip.  I was there in May with AMAwaterways and I really wish we had stayed in that Brasov Raddison they had us out at the Kronwell by the train station, a good enough hotel but it was a LONG way from downtown  But having done cruises to that point in "old" Europe I thought it was a good change of pace.  Yes seeing an ex communist country that is doing its best to modernize (Romania...proably better mobile internet than even France or Germany, did you ever NOT have a connection, even in Carpathians), and one that still wants to be in the 80s (Serbia, our cruise director said she, like most Serbians considers herself Yugoslavian) puts things in perspective  And then yes you get to Vukovar and HOPE that youre looking at Ukraine in 15 years.   Budapest is great, Ive been there to end a cruise in 2019 and start this one and still haven't seen enough of it.  I think I could have done another day in Bucharest as well.  But possibly thats because we didnt get to do the thing we were supposed to, the Parliament building due to protests.   Sad that you got sick, I have ended up getting sick either the day we left (not covid) and the day after I got home (no idea) the last two river cruises.  It definitely happens. It does sound like that cruise missed the one good castle that is right there on the Danube at the start of the iron gates  

Golubac Fortress…. Stopped there on my Viva cruise after visiting Lepenski Vir.  It was blazing hot but the fortress was a sight to behold with a clear blue sky.

5 hours ago, CastleCritic said: Always interesting to see peoples take on things.   Definitely wouldn't not have been my first choice for a river cruise especially if you want to see "old and beautiful" Europe.

Lesson learned 🙂  It was our first river cruise, but we've been to Europe 'on land' many times, so we were looking for something different, and different it was!  If the river itself had been more scenic, that would have helped, I guess (again, excepting the Iron Gate, which was truly spectacular).  

5 hours ago, CastleCritic said: Yes Transylvania is probably a huge highlight of that trip.  I was there in May with AMAwaterways and I really wish we had stayed in that Brasov Raddison they had us out at the Kronwell by the train station, a good enough hotel but it was a LONG way from downtown   

Actually, Prague was the biggest highlight, but Transylvania was a close second. Stepping out of the hotel and being close to downtown is really vital, in my view.  Viking moved us around a few times with our hotel, and we didn't seem to have any say in the matter, but we landed a good location in both cities (Radisson's in both cases). 

The Bucharest Marriott Grand Hotel was a super-fancy hotel, but not close to much so we were quite isolated. 

5 hours ago, CastleCritic said: ...  And then yes you get to Vukovar and HOPE that youre looking at Ukraine in 15 years.

That's a great way to look at it. 

5 hours ago, CastleCritic said: ...  I think I could have done another day in Bucharest as well.  But possibly thats because we didnt get to do the thing we were supposed to, the Parliament building due to protests. ...  

Viking offered an excursion to the Parliament Building but we didn't sign up for it. I ended up going on my own and getting in without any reservation.  Online, I couldn't get a ticket. I called, and got nowhere. So I went in person (a long walk!), and at first was told there were no openings, but I hung around and soon, the guy behind the desk asked me ... 'do you have your passport?' - I did, and he said I could join the next tour. Apparently a lot of people with reservations show up without their passport so get rejected, creating last minute openings. No-one seems to care whether you get in or not - they're not big on customer service.  I will say that the Viking tour sounded longer - seemed to be a few hours long, compared to my 'public' tour, which was about an hour and quite limited. So maybe Viking got a custom tour compared to the public. Not a bad tour. The next day we also did our own visit to the Causescu residence.  I couldn't get a reservation on my own but one of the Viking guides showed me how to find an opening, somehow (side-note - the Causescu mansion outside and inside is featured in a recent movie called "Protege"). 

@UDChE89 , what a beautiful day! When we were there, it was a bit overcast. But maybe a little nicer than when @CastleCritic  was there.

12 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: Actually, Prague was the biggest highlight, but Transylvania was a close second.

Agree! We loved Prague! And while I was also not a fan of the Kromwell, The Brasov extension was worth it.

Speaking of Vukovar.

We visited in 2005. And here's a comparison to 2023:

My full trip review if you're interested:

sigh...yes I strongly dislike you both for your better weather luck at Golubac considering how much I love castles, yes we did the entire tour in the rain, then it was just dismal and overcast until we left.

Also yes Prague rocks, we were just outside old town at the cosmopolitan when I went in 2021.

Bucharest we were at the intercontinental right across from the art museum, it was a pretty good spot.

@Steerpike58 , sorry your first river cruise was so disappointing.  I did a Bucharest to Budapest cruise on Uniworld, and Eastern Europe is definitely different than Western Europe.  It's not the same as visiting Germany, France, Switzerland, etc.  You have to adjust your expectations.  50 years of Communist rule did them no favors.  They're still trying to catch up with the West.

I grew up in a large northern city with Croats, Slovaks, Serbs, Czechs, Poles, Hungarians, and other Eastern Europeans.  I would hear people talk about their families still there and how they could never visit them, and in some cases, didn't even know if they were still alive.  I assumed I would never get to see these fascinating, hidden countries.

You have to take things at face value and not compare Eastern Europe to other parts of Europe.  A half day in Budapest isn't nearly enough time and I'm sorry you didn't get to experience more of what it has to offer.  I've been there twice, both times on a river cruise. 

I think a Budapest to Passau itinerary would have offered you more of what you were looking for. 

For our March 2025 trip Transylvania extension, our paperwork says we are in the Radisson Blu in Bucharest and the Kronwell in Brasov.

The Kronwell isnt bad, its just...weird and a little outside of town and keep in mind I had walked PAST the Radisson at the time I wrote what I said and that factored into the tone....

I had a lot to say about it on my cruise thread at the bottom of the first page.

(for the most part you would think RobinMN and I were the same person on the same trip..we weren't we just came to similar conclusions weeks apart).

40 minutes ago, twototravel said: For our March 2025 trip Transylvania extension, our paperwork says we are in the Radisson Blu in Bucharest and the Kronwell in Brasov.

Uniworld used the Radisson Blu in Bucharest.  Stayed there for 2 nights and really enjoyed it.  Fabulous breakfast buffet.  Where else can you get eggplant salad for breakfast?  

On 11/16/2023 at 9:11 AM, twototravel said: For our March 2025 trip Transylvania extension, our paperwork says we are in the Radisson Blu in Bucharest and the Kronwell in Brasov.

Looking at the map now, I would say Radisson Blu is a MUCH better location than the JW Marriott in Bucharest, if you are the type to want to go out walking on your own and explore.  For me, the second I get checked in, I want to go out and explore the surroundings, and every evening after dinner I like to walk for a while. The Marriott is on a massive road interchange, with nothing really to see other than the new cathedral being built and the ugly parliament building behind it. The Radisson seems to be in a bustling neighborhood of bars and restaurants, and about a 15 minute walk to 'old town'.  I would probably have formed a better opinion of Bucharest had I stayed there!  

However - when we booked our cruise a year before, we were also assigned to the Radisson Blu, but it changed later to the Marriott - so you never know.  Also, I THINK we initially got assigned to a different hotel in Brasov and only ended up at the Radisson Blu quite late in the process.   I don't know if Viking give you any say whatsoever in the choice; it would be fantastic if they did. I'd happily pay a premium to have a say in the matter.  Now, the room at the Marriott was awesome - big, comfortable, etc - but location is almost everything to me.  I guess they want everyone in one location so they can corral everyone for the excursions.  As an aside, the day we were to arrive at the Marriott, Zelenskyy was making a surprise visit to Romania and was staying at the Marriott. So our 'transfer' from the airport was not allowed to drop us at the hotel (massive security operation in progress) - we were dropped around the corner and had to haul our luggage on the street! We were wondering why there were police at every single intersection as we approached the hotel! His motorcade was pulling out just as we arrived! 

tobique33040

17 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: Looking at the map now, I would say Radisson Blu is a MUCH better location than the JW Marriott in Bucharest, if you are the type to want to go out walking on your own and explore.  For me, the second I get checked in, I want to go out and explore the surroundings, and every evening after dinner I like to walk for a while. The Marriott is on a massive road interchange, with nothing really to see other than the new cathedral being built and the ugly parliament building behind it. The Radisson seems to be in a bustling neighborhood of bars and restaurants, and about a 15 minute walk to 'old town'.  I would probably have formed a better opinion of Bucharest had I stayed there!     However - when we booked our cruise a year before, we were also assigned to the Radisson Blu, but it changed later to the Marriott - so you never know.  Also, I THINK we initially got assigned to a different hotel in Brasov and only ended up at the Radisson Blu quite late in the process.   I don't know if Viking give you any say whatsoever in the choice; it would be fantastic if they did. I'd happily pay a premium to have a say in the matter.  Now, the room at the Marriott was awesome - big, comfortable, etc - but location is almost everything to me.  I guess they want everyone in one location so they can corral everyone for the excursions.  As an aside, the day we were to arrive at the Marriott, Zelenskyy was making a surprise visit to Romania and was staying at the Marriott. So our 'transfer' from the airport was not allowed to drop us at the hotel (massive security operation in progress) - we were dropped around the corner and had to haul our luggage on the street! We were wondering why there were police at every single intersection as we approached the hotel! His motorcade was pulling out just as we arrived! 

I stayed at the JW Marriott last year and I walked up to the town. It was about a half hour walk. There’s a lovely big park on the way, where I stopped and sat on a bench for awhile. I visited the Stavropoleos Church, which was very interesting, and just got a feel of the town. The Peoples Salvation Cathedral, across from the hotel, was over the top in my opinion, but there were a ton of people visiting. Yes, the Marriott isn’t in the middle of town, but for me, the walk over was informative. And the hotel itself was great for me because I was traveling alone and there were several restaurants onsite so I felt more comfortable eating there. 

On 11/13/2023 at 5:52 PM, Steerpike58 said: Cruise date - Oct 2023, Bucharest to Vienna plus pre- and post-extensions. Ship - Viking Rinda.    Summary - Not the experience we expected.   This was our first river cruise, chosen with Viking after a near-perfect experience on a Viking Ocean cruise last year.     For us, the ship was clean and functional, and carried the same ‘signature’ look and feel of the ocean ship, which we liked – the Scandinavian ‘minimalist’ design, bright and cheery spaces.   We had a Veranda Stateroom on the 3 rd floor, which was adequate (though there were always insects on the balcony which discouraged us from ever using it or leaving the window open – the bugs easily found their way into the rooms – something we never experienced on the ocean). We are both skinny, and found the shower ‘tight’; I can’t imagine how some of the heavier-set people on the cruise could cope with the tiny shower!   The food was excellent every day – lovely selection of items at breakfast (lots of pastries, fresh fruit, hot items, great toast, and an adequate espresso machine, plus someone to prepare fresh eggs / omelets to order) and the lunches and dinners were perfect. We had fish most nights, and it was always perfectly prepared.   Portion sizes were ideal (not too big).   We did, however, miss the ‘self serve’ / buffet aspect of the Ocean ships; it was quite difficult, when presented with an enticing menu offering first course, main course, and dessert at both lunch and dinner, to limit one’s intake compared to visiting the ‘World Café’ on the Ocean ship and just grabbing a soup / salad or other snack. The desserts in the ‘world café’ were also perfectly sized (small) compared to a full-blown dessert serving from the menu.   There were a tremendous number of people coughing and sneezing from day 1 (getting progressively worse towards mid-cruise), and it was almost impossible to avoid them. People seemed quite content to sit in the crowded pre-dinner ‘port talks’ and at dinner coughing away, making no attempt to cover their mouths, nor leave the crowded spaces until their coughing fit passed. This was quite a shock, with Coronavirus being such a recent memory. We tried to sit away from others at meals, but that’s almost impossible on the Rinda – only two ‘tables for two’ exist on the entire ship (this was the biggest contrast with the Viking Ocean ships). I quickly succumbed to the bug, and tried very hard to not talk to others, but people seem determined to talk. We resorted to ‘reserving’ one of the two ‘tables for two’ in the Aquavit terrace most nights by leaving a coat on the chairs, but we were occasionally beaten to it by others with the same goal.   The tour director Leonard was an amazing character and certainly made the trip memorable. His personal experience in Romania was extremely educational.   Where the trip fell short for us was in the destinations and the excursions. Now, you can’t get blood out of a stone, and you can’t manufacture fairytale picturesque villages out of bombed-out, communist-era cities and towns, but some of the destinations along the way were completely uninspiring and positively grim (imagine a cruise that has Detroit on the itinerary, perhaps).   I grew up learning about the post-war period in eastern Europe, and had some understanding of the post-1989 ‘fall of communism’ situation, and the collapse of Yugoslavia, but this trip was certainly an eye-opener from that perspective, and one that I did thoroughly appreciate (but not the vacation I expected).   Seeing first hand those endless blocks of drab gray concrete apartment blocks everywhere (eg, Bucharest) was educational, and hearing about how things didn’t necessarily get better for people after the fall of communism (eg, Serbia) was also educational. But after two or three such towns/cities, it became quite repetitive and the few traditional ‘sights’ (an old fortress here, a church there) were not exactly dramatic.   I was quite shocked to see the after-effects of the 1999 NATO bombing of Belgrade and Novi Sad (Serbia), and the things we saw in Vukovar (Croatia) – 80% of the city was destroyed by Serbia in 1991 – were dramatic reminders of the horrors of war, and all too recent.   So this was more of a social history lesson than a traditional vacation. Not until we visited Pecs in Hungary (port of Mohacs) did we see what I’d call a classic European town with beautiful buildings and interesting streets to walk around.   I would note that the Danube is not like the Rhine. The Rhine is dotted with hillsides, castles, mansions, vinyards, etc for a good part of its length. The Danube, by contrast, is largely flat and featureless, with simple trees lining both sides for much of its length (the obvious exception was the ‘Iron Gate’, which is a gorgeous mountainous stretch, but that was just for one day). Also, the port-towns we called at were in many cases positively grim, and just served as boarding locations for the excursion busses; not really anywhere to walk around in your free time.   And when you do find yourself docked in a half-decent looking place, chances are your ship it double- or triple-docked with other ships, meaning you open your curtains and look into another ship’s cabins.   Due to low water levels on the Danube, we were unable to join the ship at the Black Sea (Constanta), resulting in an extra day in Bucharest. Bucharest is not a city you want to spend an extra day in (we’d already spent a few nights there as part of our ‘pre-cruise’ excursion to Transylvania).   We were given the option of a coach trip to Constanta, but that was a long coach ride and a short visit so we declined and took the rather mediocre excursion to see a ‘Romanian Villages’ exhibit in Bucharest. We joined the ship after a 3 hour coach ride at some obscure industrial docking point on the Danube (Turnu Magurele), crossed over to Nikopol (Bulgaria) and spent the first night on the ship there, at which point we were back on schedule for the itinerary.   The low water levels hit us again as we approached Budapest. At the port-talk the night before Budapest, we learned that we would not be able to dock in Budapest. The plans changed a few times over the next 24 hours or so, and ultimately we stopped short of Budapest in a port named ‘Kalocsa’. This was a complete non-entity of a port, just a place to dock the ship and load up coaches; nowhere to explore on land. There was talk of the rest of the journey to Vienna being by coach/hotels, as the ship could not pass Budapest. We were given an unplanned ‘included’ excursion to see some horses perform in a field.   This was moderately entertaining, though the food and drinks were pretty pathetic and watching horses perform circus tricks is not a good substitute for Budapest in my opinion. By lunch time we were back at the ship and there was nothing planned for the afternoon, and we spent another boring night in Kalocsa instead of Budapest. After first being told we would get two nights in a hotel in Budapest, we learned at the last minute that we would get only one night at a hotel in Budapest, then we would re-join the ship at Komarom (so the ship was ultimately allowed to sail THROUGH Budapest, empty, but was not allowed to dock).   So we had a long coach ride into Budapest, but instead of dropping us at the hotel immediately (where we were to have our one and only night in Budapest) they insisted on feeding us – all 180 guests – at some random location in Budapest. Getting 180 people (4 coaches) into and out of a restaurant, and feeding them a 3-course meal, takes quite a bit of time and includes a lot of waiting around. The meal was only ‘average’ and I would have much rather been let loose in Budapest to find a cosy lunch spot on our own.   We finally got to the hotel and then had the anticipated ‘panorama’ tour of Budapest, which was fine, and then a mediocre buffet style dinner at the hotel (not up to Viking standards, and again, I would have preferred to head out into the city and find a good restaurant on my own).   The next morning, our luggage had to be ready for pickup by 8am, and the coach departed at 2pm, so we had basically 6 hours to explore Budapest on our own, which is nowhere near long enough to explore what was clearly the best destination so far on our itinerary. We got a taxi to the ‘Fisherman’s Bastion’, which was stunning, then walked around that area, taking the Funicular down to the chain bridge, another taxi to the Grand Market where we had a fantastic lunch, and a taxi back to the hotel – absolutely the highlight of the ‘cruise’ so far, and terribly disappointing to not have had more time there. After rejoining the ship in Komarom (where we had our 4 th pack/unpack event, not what you expect on a cruise) we sailed straight into Vienna – missing the scheduled visit to Bratislava due to the day lost doing nothing in Kalocsa. They did offer a coach trip to Bratislava to make up for it, but that would have eaten into the 2 days in Vienna so we declined.   The Viking excursion to the Schonbrunn palace was OK, but nowhere near as delightful as our own visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Our guide to the Schonbrunn palace was perhaps the worst of the entire trip (overall, the guides were decent with a few outstanding guides).   The highlights of the ‘cruise’ for us were the pre-and post-cruise extensions – Transylvania at the start, and Prague at the end. Transylvania is really a hidden gem, reminiscent of the Alps, with castles and pretty villages all over (though with the ubiquitous communist era apartment blocks and disused factories here and there to remind you where you were). Great food, as long as you like pork!   Prague is by far the most wonderful city I’ve ever seen in Europe, and we spent most of the time on our own exploring.   Annoyingly, we left Vienna at around 10am but instead of going straight to Prague, we spent 2.5 hours in some little village along the way (Mikulov) and were given 90 minutes of free time (it was Sunday and most shops were closed, so we saw all there was to see in about 15 minutes, and killed time having a snack).   I really felt like they were running down the clock, avoiding taking us into Prague directly, perhaps due to hotel check-in requirements. The problem is, we hit Prague at rush hour, and spent forever inching our way through traffic. In Prague, we first got dropped off at the Hilton, where most people were staying, then we got a second coach to our hotel – the Augustine in Mala Strana (which was lovely, and in a fabulous location), and didn’t manage to get out and hit the streets of Prague until almost 6pm, which meant we lost precious time in this most beautiful city (we could have been there at 2pm if they had taken us directly). We took an optional Viking excursion in Prague called the   ‘Prague folklore dinner’. This involved a long coach ride (45 mins) out of Prague to some remote barn, where we ate mediocre food, drank almost undrinkable wine, and watched a small group of performers sing and dance for a while.   The singers were truly second-rate, and the instruments seemed out of tune.   For this, we paid $109 each.   On our own, we found first rate restaurants in Prague that served fantastic food for under $100 for two. Overall, Viking’s excursions that include food are definitely questionable. Viking themselves know how to serve 180 people with a great varied menu but the typical ‘excursion destination’ serves food that is entirely forgettable.     I should probably note the average age and mobility level of the guests. We are 65/70 and felt like the youngest, most mobile people on the ship. There were several people who for various reasons could barely walk half a mile (some had walking sticks, some were overweight), but they all joined the included excursions every day.   Viking anticipated this and created an ‘L’ version of each excursion, with ‘L’ being for ‘Leisurely’.   The problem is, they initially assigned everyone to groups A, B, C, D on their ‘excursion ticket’, and only casually announced the existence of the ‘L’ option at the last minute, which people had to go out of their way to request/join. So every single day, our ‘A’ group had half a dozen people who really struggled to keep up (with the tour guide having to go back and ‘rescue’ them), while the ‘L’ group was basically empty.   I mentioned this to the tour director, and he said they have to be careful not to insult people by offering them the ‘L’ option …   but my observation was that people just weren’t aware of the option. They need to do a better job of communicating this option and encouraging it’s use. Don’t get me wrong - it’s wonderful to see older people getting out and seeing the world, and we know we’ll be in that state soon enough … but simply make more effort to announce the ‘Leisurely’ option.   So we had some great experiences, but I feel like a lot of the time (and money) was wasted on second-rate destinations and second rate entertainments.   The uncertainties with the water levels   adds another challenge – a huge attraction of a cruise is that you don’t have to pack/unpack, so having to get on coaches and stay at hotels really puts a dent into the experience. We didn’t see the Black Sea (Constanta), we only had a half-day in Budapest, and we missed Slovenia altogether, and had to pack / unpack two days in a row. We know Viking aren’t in control of river levels, but the way they handled Budapest in particular was bad; we’d have preferred to stay on the ship but given that we had to get off, staying in a hotel for two nights rather than just one would have been much better. Budapest is just too fine a city to explore in 6 hours.     For us, it’s back to Ocean cruising. 

Thanks, @Steerpike58, for this detailed report! I'm thinking of going on this river cruise, but I'm also considering going on a trip to the Czech Republic only. You seem to really like Prague, and it seems there wasn't enough time to enjoy Prague during the river cruise. I was also reading up on Prague, and it seems like there is so much to see https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism-in-czech-republic-statistics-2023-the-ultimate-guide-5565 😮 however, seeing a ton doesn’t always mean it’s a good thing. 😅 I wish to see Prague’s highlights at a relaxed pace, not just ticking off what’s already included on the tour. I know you already mentioned you’ll go back to ocean cruising, but if given the chance, would you go on a trip to Prague only?

1 hour ago, JourneyJim said: it seems there wasn't enough time to enjoy Prague during the river cruise

There is never enough time to see Prague during a river cruise, since it's only a gateway city.  But you are free to add as many days in Prague on your own pre-cruise (or post- as the case may be).  Same deal with Budapest on the other end.  The tricky one is Vienna, since it tends to be in the middle of cruises – unless you loop back from Budapest before flying home.

12 hours ago, JourneyJim said: Thanks, @Steerpike58, for this detailed report! I'm thinking of going on this river cruise, but I'm also considering going on a trip to the Czech Republic only. 

We did 9 days precruise in Czech Republic last November, highly recommend.

We spent 3 nights in Karlovy Vary, a beautiful old spa town, then 3 nights Pilsen and 3 nights Prague.  A nice triangle using a train/bus/airport transfer.  Plenty on Youtube about all three.

Bucharest:  Vantage put us up at the JW Marriot.  As other pointed out, it's a walk to the 'downtown'.  The old part being very small, as so much was destroyed for the Parliament and just because.

BUT, what a neat, huge hotel.  All the rich shops, weddings going on with people all dressed up.  Our CD was from Bucharest so it was nice hearing of what all the parties were.  

We later took the train to Brasov, and the Bucharest train station was the only place we felt creeped out.  That was in 2016, no idea of now.

• 4 weeks later...

On 11/13/2023 at 7:52 PM, Steerpike58 said: Cruise date - Oct 2023, Bucharest to Vienna plus pre- and post-extensions. Ship - Viking Rinda.    Summary - Not the experience we expected.   This was our first river cruise, chosen with Viking after a near-perfect experience on a Viking Ocean cruise last year.     For us, the ship was clean and functional, and carried the same ‘signature’ look and feel of the ocean ship, which we liked – the Scandinavian ‘minimalist’ design, bright and cheery spaces.   We had a Veranda Stateroom on the 3 rd floor, which was adequate (though there were always insects on the balcony which discouraged us from ever using it or leaving the window open – the bugs easily found their way into the rooms – something we never experienced on the ocean). We are both skinny, and found the shower ‘tight’; I can’t imagine how some of the heavier-set people on the cruise could cope with the tiny shower!   The food was excellent every day – lovely selection of items at breakfast (lots of pastries, fresh fruit, hot items, great toast, and an adequate espresso machine, plus someone to prepare fresh eggs / omelets to order) and the lunches and dinners were perfect. We had fish most nights, and it was always perfectly prepared.   Portion sizes were ideal (not too big).   We did, however, miss the ‘self serve’ / buffet aspect of the Ocean ships; it was quite difficult, when presented with an enticing menu offering first course, main course, and dessert at both lunch and dinner, to limit one’s intake compared to visiting the ‘World Café’ on the Ocean ship and just grabbing a soup / salad or other snack. The desserts in the ‘world café’ were also perfectly sized (small) compared to a full-blown dessert serving from the menu.   There were a tremendous number of people coughing and sneezing from day 1 (getting progressively worse towards mid-cruise), and it was almost impossible to avoid them. People seemed quite content to sit in the crowded pre-dinner ‘port talks’ and at dinner coughing away, making no attempt to cover their mouths, nor leave the crowded spaces until their coughing fit passed. This was quite a shock, with Coronavirus being such a recent memory. We tried to sit away from others at meals, but that’s almost impossible on the Rinda – only two ‘tables for two’ exist on the entire ship (this was the biggest contrast with the Viking Ocean ships). I quickly succumbed to the bug, and tried very hard to not talk to others, but people seem determined to talk. We resorted to ‘reserving’ one of the two ‘tables for two’ in the Aquavit terrace most nights by leaving a coat on the chairs, but we were occasionally beaten to it by others with the same goal.   The tour director Leonard was an amazing character and certainly made the trip memorable. His personal experience in Romania was extremely educational.   Where the trip fell short for us was in the destinations and the excursions. Now, you can’t get blood out of a stone, and you can’t manufacture fairytale picturesque villages out of bombed-out, communist-era cities and towns, but some of the destinations along the way were completely uninspiring and positively grim (imagine a cruise that has Detroit on the itinerary, perhaps).   I grew up learning about the post-war period in eastern Europe, and had some understanding of the post-1989 ‘fall of communism’ situation, and the collapse of Yugoslavia, but this trip was certainly an eye-opener from that perspective, and one that I did thoroughly appreciate (but not the vacation I expected).   Seeing first hand those endless blocks of drab gray concrete apartment blocks everywhere (eg, Bucharest) was educational, and hearing about how things didn’t necessarily get better for people after the fall of communism (eg, Serbia) was also educational. But after two or three such towns/cities, it became quite repetitive and the few traditional ‘sights’ (an old fortress here, a church there) were not exactly dramatic.   I was quite shocked to see the after-effects of the 1999 NATO bombing of Belgrade and Novi Sad (Serbia), and the things we saw in Vukovar (Croatia) – 80% of the city was destroyed by Serbia in 1991 – were dramatic reminders of the horrors of war, and all too recent.   So this was more of a social history lesson than a traditional vacation. Not until we visited Pecs in Hungary (port of Mohacs) did we see what I’d call a classic European town with beautiful buildings and interesting streets to walk around.   I would note that the Danube is not like the Rhine. The Rhine is dotted with hillsides, castles, mansions, vinyards, etc for a good part of its length. The Danube, by contrast, is largely flat and featureless, with simple trees lining both sides for much of its length (the obvious exception was the ‘Iron Gate’, which is a gorgeous mountainous stretch, but that was just for one day). Also, the port-towns we called at were in many cases positively grim, and just served as boarding locations for the excursion busses; not really anywhere to walk around in your free time.   And when you do find yourself docked in a half-decent looking place, chances are your ship it double- or triple-docked with other ships, meaning you open your curtains and look into another ship’s cabins.   Due to low water levels on the Danube, we were unable to join the ship at the Black Sea (Constanta), resulting in an extra day in Bucharest. Bucharest is not a city you want to spend an extra day in (we’d already spent a few nights there as part of our ‘pre-cruise’ excursion to Transylvania).   We were given the option of a coach trip to Constanta, but that was a long coach ride and a short visit so we declined and took the rather mediocre excursion to see a ‘Romanian Villages’ exhibit in Bucharest. We joined the ship after a 3 hour coach ride at some obscure industrial docking point on the Danube (Turnu Magurele), crossed over to Nikopol (Bulgaria) and spent the first night on the ship there, at which point we were back on schedule for the itinerary.   The low water levels hit us again as we approached Budapest. At the port-talk the night before Budapest, we learned that we would not be able to dock in Budapest. The plans changed a few times over the next 24 hours or so, and ultimately we stopped short of Budapest in a port named ‘Kalocsa’. This was a complete non-entity of a port, just a place to dock the ship and load up coaches; nowhere to explore on land. There was talk of the rest of the journey to Vienna being by coach/hotels, as the ship could not pass Budapest. We were given an unplanned ‘included’ excursion to see some horses perform in a field.   This was moderately entertaining, though the food and drinks were pretty pathetic and watching horses perform circus tricks is not a good substitute for Budapest in my opinion. By lunch time we were back at the ship and there was nothing planned for the afternoon, and we spent another boring night in Kalocsa instead of Budapest. After first being told we would get two nights in a hotel in Budapest, we learned at the last minute that we would get only one night at a hotel in Budapest, then we would re-join the ship at Komarom (so the ship was ultimately allowed to sail THROUGH Budapest, empty, but was not allowed to dock).   So we had a long coach ride into Budapest, but instead of dropping us at the hotel immediately (where we were to have our one and only night in Budapest) they insisted on feeding us – all 180 guests – at some random location in Budapest. Getting 180 people (4 coaches) into and out of a restaurant, and feeding them a 3-course meal, takes quite a bit of time and includes a lot of waiting around. The meal was only ‘average’ and I would have much rather been let loose in Budapest to find a cosy lunch spot on our own.   We finally got to the hotel and then had the anticipated ‘panorama’ tour of Budapest, which was fine, and then a mediocre buffet style dinner at the hotel (not up to Viking standards, and again, I would have preferred to head out into the city and find a good restaurant on my own).   The next morning, our luggage had to be ready for pickup by 8am, and the coach departed at 2pm, so we had basically 6 hours to explore Budapest on our own, which is nowhere near long enough to explore what was clearly the best destination so far on our itinerary. We got a taxi to the ‘Fisherman’s Bastion’, which was stunning, then walked around that area, taking the Funicular down to the chain bridge, another taxi to the Grand Market where we had a fantastic lunch, and a taxi back to the hotel – absolutely the highlight of the ‘cruise’ so far, and terribly disappointing to not have had more time there. After rejoining the ship in Komarom (where we had our 4 th pack/unpack event, not what you expect on a cruise) we sailed straight into Vienna – missing the scheduled visit to Bratislava due to the day lost doing nothing in Kalocsa. They did offer a coach trip to Bratislava to make up for it, but that would have eaten into the 2 days in Vienna so we declined.   The Viking excursion to the Schonbrunn palace was OK, but nowhere near as delightful as our own visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Our guide to the Schonbrunn palace was perhaps the worst of the entire trip (overall, the guides were decent with a few outstanding guides).   The highlights of the ‘cruise’ for us were the pre-and post-cruise extensions – Transylvania at the start, and Prague at the end. Transylvania is really a hidden gem, reminiscent of the Alps, with castles and pretty villages all over (though with the ubiquitous communist era apartment blocks and disused factories here and there to remind you where you were). Great food, as long as you like pork!   Prague is by far the most wonderful city I’ve ever seen in Europe, and we spent most of the time on our own exploring.   Annoyingly, we left Vienna at around 10am but instead of going straight to Prague, we spent 2.5 hours in some little village along the way (Mikulov) and were given 90 minutes of free time (it was Sunday and most shops were closed, so we saw all there was to see in about 15 minutes, and killed time having a snack).   I really felt like they were running down the clock, avoiding taking us into Prague directly, perhaps due to hotel check-in requirements. The problem is, we hit Prague at rush hour, and spent forever inching our way through traffic. In Prague, we first got dropped off at the Hilton, where most people were staying, then we got a second coach to our hotel – the Augustine in Mala Strana (which was lovely, and in a fabulous location), and didn’t manage to get out and hit the streets of Prague until almost 6pm, which meant we lost precious time in this most beautiful city (we could have been there at 2pm if they had taken us directly). We took an optional Viking excursion in Prague called the   ‘Prague folklore dinner’. This involved a long coach ride (45 mins) out of Prague to some remote barn, where we ate mediocre food, drank almost undrinkable wine, and watched a small group of performers sing and dance for a while.   The singers were truly second-rate, and the instruments seemed out of tune.   For this, we paid $109 each.   On our own, we found first rate restaurants in Prague that served fantastic food for under $100 for two. Overall, Viking’s excursions that include food are definitely questionable. Viking themselves know how to serve 180 people with a great varied menu but the typical ‘excursion destination’ serves food that is entirely forgettable.     I should probably note the average age and mobility level of the guests. We are 65/70 and felt like the youngest, most mobile people on the ship. There were several people who for various reasons could barely walk half a mile (some had walking sticks, some were overweight), but they all joined the included excursions every day.   Viking anticipated this and created an ‘L’ version of each excursion, with ‘L’ being for ‘Leisurely’.   The problem is, they initially assigned everyone to groups A, B, C, D on their ‘excursion ticket’, and only casually announced the existence of the ‘L’ option at the last minute, which people had to go out of their way to request/join. So every single day, our ‘A’ group had half a dozen people who really struggled to keep up (with the tour guide having to go back and ‘rescue’ them), while the ‘L’ group was basically empty.   I mentioned this to the tour director, and he said they have to be careful not to insult people by offering them the ‘L’ option …   but my observation was that people just weren’t aware of the option. They need to do a better job of communicating this option and encouraging it’s use. Don’t get me wrong - it’s wonderful to see older people getting out and seeing the world, and we know we’ll be in that state soon enough … but simply make more effort to announce the ‘Leisurely’ option.   So we had some great experiences, but I feel like a lot of the time (and money) was wasted on second-rate destinations and second rate entertainments.   The uncertainties with the water levels   adds another challenge – a huge attraction of a cruise is that you don’t have to pack/unpack, so having to get on coaches and stay at hotels really puts a dent into the experience. We didn’t see the Black Sea (Constanta), we only had a half-day in Budapest, and we missed Slovenia altogether, and had to pack / unpack two days in a row. We know Viking aren’t in control of river levels, but the way they handled Budapest in particular was bad; we’d have preferred to stay on the ship but given that we had to get off, staying in a hotel for two nights rather than just one would have been much better. Budapest is just too fine a city to explore in 6 hours.     For us, it’s back to Ocean cruising. 

We can't tell you how much we appreciate you taking the time to write this excellent review. We took our first Viking river cruise in October, the Rhine, and though we enjoyed the entire trip (we spent time in Lake Como, Lucerne, and Amsterdam) we felt the river cruise itself was definitely lacking. We found the room (especially the bathroom) to be very small.  Even on that itinerary, some of the ports were uninspiring and we had to spend a lot of money to book our own guides to take us to more interesting cities that were nearby.

We've had the Eastern Capitals cruise booked for 2025 but have decided that it really isn't one we're interested in taking. The eastern bloc countries do provide a good history lesson but a day or two of that would be enough.  Your description of the Viking demographic is spot on (the L group!!). The only other river cruise we've taken was Gate 1 (Prague to Budapest) and it was quite good and the demographic was definitely younger. 

We returned from our Rhine cruise and said, just as you did, we think we need to stick to ocean cruising. We double booked ourselves with this Eastern Capitals cruise and then, just a week later, an Oceania cruise around South America. Your review makes our decision so, so much easier. Thanks so very much!

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Bucharest to Vienna

Journey highlights.

On one incredible Journey, travel along the legendary Danube River, through the powerful landscapes of the Iron Gates and into the serene refinement of the Schönbrunn Palace. Be amazed by the “Paris of the East,” Bucharest before embarking on a river cruise through five world-famous capitals. From Bulgaria to Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia, you will stand among the most beautiful and some of the oldest cities and landmarks in Europe before ending in exquisite Austria.

Browse the highlights and map on the cards below by swiping or pressing the arrows.

Peleș Castle, Romania

Admire one of the most stunning palaces in all of Europe. With spectacular landscapes, magnificent collections of art, stained glass and weapons, Peleș Castle in Romania is absolutely divine. A Neo-Renaissance castle set in the Carpathian Mountains, wander through the elaborately decorated and fairytale-like royal palace.

Equestrian Show

A highlight of Hungary, stop in Kalocsa, known as the “paprika capital of the world”, and take a short ride to a traditional ranch on the Hungarian Puszta. Here, stand in awe as the Magyar cowboys parade, race and demonstrate tricks used during wartime. A magnificent demonstration, take the time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the gorgeous Puszta.

Belgrade, Serbia

Discover the “white city” where the Sava and Danube Rivers kiss. One of the oldest cities in Europe, saunter through the unique city of Belgradeto see Kalemegdan Fortress, Terazije Square, the Serbian parliament, and the magnificent St. Sava Church. Belgrade is an intriguing place where the old world comes to meet the new world.

Budapest, Hungary

Roam through Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube”. A city built in the ‘golden age,’ marvel at the remnants of the past found around each corner. From the Great Market Hall to the views from Castle Hill, and the exceptional evening cruise to see the Hungarian Parliament, discover the dramatic splendour of Buda and Pest.

Vienna, Austria

Explore the masterpieces on display around Vienna. Drive along the grand Ring Boulevard and stroll through the city center. Known as ‘the city of music,’ engage in the extraordinary experience of listening to the marvelous sounds of a classical music performance at Golden Hall. With an legacy shaped by residents such as Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud, Vienna is a magical city.

The Iron Gates

Utterly entrancing, the Danube, also known as the “river of kings” is lined with mysterious medieval castles, idyllic lush hillsides and beautiful ancient villages. Drift along the romantic blue waters into a narrow gorge surrounded by towering cliffs and cross the iconic Iron Gates that separate Serbia and Romania.

Journey Itinerary

Depart for bucharest, romania.

Enjoy your private car home pick up service. Guests departing from the Toronto airport are assisted with their check-in. Meet your Journey Manager and fellow guests, and board your flights to Bucharest, Romania. Our Journey Manager travels with you to take care of all the details throughout the journey, enabling you to concentrate on your experience.

WELCOME TO BUCHAREST

Bucharest, Romania’s capital and largest city, has an exciting heritage of mixed cultures, influenced by the ancient Romanian aristocracy and the communist society. After arriving at Bucharest airport, we meet our friendly local guide who introduces us to the city before we transfer to our hotel. This evening join your fellow guests for a casual welcome dinner.

We travel on the road to Romania’s North, through the very scenic Valley of Princes to the 19th-century Peleș Castle. Take in the spectacular views and tour its magnificent collections of art, stained glass, and weapons before we continue to Azuga to learn about the Prahova Valley’s historic cellars. At Rhein-Azuga Wine Cellar, enjoy a selection of champagne and a delicious lunch. Admire the stunning mountain vistas on a beautiful drive to our hotel in Brasov. After settling in, we enjoy dinner  at the hotel.

TRANSYLVANIA: BRAN & BRASOV

Transylvania is arguably Romania’s most famous and picturesque region. We begin the day with a road trip to the village of Bran to the famous “Dracula Castle,” which earned this designation because of its medieval look and past owner, Count Vlad the Impaler.

After hearing the legendary tales, visit one of the main cities in Transylvania, Brasov, to wander its medieval city centre and marvel at the imposing Gothic architecture of the Black Church. We return to our hotel for dinner.

CANTACUZINO CASTLE

Today we visit the Cantacuzino Castle. The Cantacuzino Castle is situated in Bușteni, Romania. The building, whose construction was completed in 1911, was conducted by the architect Gregory Cerchez at the request of Prince George Grigore Cantacuzino. With the Bucegi Mountains as a backdrop, stroll the 3,000-metre estate before discovering portraits of the Cantacuzino family. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow passengers of the MS Amadeus Riva.

After breakfast, explore Bucharest’s capital city, fondly known as the “Paris of the East.” See the Opera House, the Triumph Arch, and the Main Square. Marvel at the impressive Palace of Parliament, the second-largest building in the world. Enjoy lunch, then meander along the Strada Lipscani and through the ancient streets in Bucharest’s Old Town. See the majestic National Museum of Romania and the lavish CEC Palace and visit the Romanian Orthodox Stavropoleos Monastery and Church.

Following a full day of discovery, depart for the port city of Fetesti, and board the Amadeus Riva, your home for the next nine days. This evening, enjoy a welcome cocktail, followed by a specially prepared welcome dinner.

DANUBE DELTA

The Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a sanctuary for around 300 different bird species. This morning, board a small delta safari boat for an intimate exploration of the delta’s shimmering lagoons and narrow channels to witness the largest pelican colony at Sahalin lagoon. Return to the Amadeus Riva.

HIRȘOVA & CONSTANTA

Embark on a leisurely visit to the small Romanian town of Hârșova. Cross the Black Sea’s golden sandy beaches as we head for a guided tour of Constanta. A walk into the city’s Old Town features sights of its prominent and historic buildings, including the Great Mosque, the Casino Constanta, and the Genovese Lighthouse. A short visit to the National Museum of History and Archaeology further reveals the city’s rich history and unique blend of cultures.

VELIKO TARNOVO, BULGARIA

Pay a visit to Giurgiu before we cross the Danube to Ruse, where we begin our day excursion towards Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s oldest town. Upon arrival, pass by the fortress Zarewez, visit the 13th-century church of St. Peter and Paul, and enjoy some free time to explore this medieval city. Before returning to the boat, we continue to the nearby small town of Arbanassi, famous for its ornately painted churches, stopping at a typical Bulgarian restaurant along the way. We meet up with the Amadeus Silver II in Svishtov this afternoon.

Utterly entrancing, the Danube, also known as the “river of kings” is lined with mysterious medieval castles, idyllic lush hillsides and beautiful ancient villages. Spot the face of Chief Decebalus carved onto the cliffs of the Romanaian side. Drift along the romantic blue waters into a narrow gorge surrounded by towering cliffs and cross the iconic Iron Gates that separate Serbia and Romania.

BELGRADE, SERBIA

Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Embark on a city tour and enjoy the impressive views over the river at the Kalemegdan Fortress. See such highlights as the National Museum, Terazije Square, and the Serbian parliament and marvel at the massive St. Sava Church. After a refreshment break at the Hotel Majestic, spend some free time exploring at your leisure.

MOHÁCS & KALOCSA, HUNGARY

Let the sights, sounds, and tastes of Hungary fill your senses. Enjoy a leisurely morning of river cruising and take in the beauty of the Danube. After departing the tiny harbour town of Mohács following lunch, we drive into the Hungarian Puszta or Great Hungarian Plain. View the passing scenery dotted with villages and farmland. Stop to see local handicrafts and a demonstration of a local dance before visiting the House of Paprika. Our exploration of the Puszta continues with a visit to a traditional Hungarian ranch, where we enjoy a glass of local wine and watch a fantastic equestrian show. We join the ship late this afternoon in Kalocsa.

The Danube flows through the heart of the city, dividing it into two parts: Buda on the western banks and Pest on the eastern. First, explore Pest, including its Great Market Hall, the splendid Hungarian State Opera, and the famous Heroes’ Square. Continue across into Buda, and take in the unforgettable view from Castle Hill before stopping at St. Matthew’s Church and Fisherman’s Bastion. After lunch, visit the Royal Palace of Gödöllö and see the spectacular ballroom with its beautiful marble stucco details. This evening, enjoy a traditional Hungarian folklore show on board while cruising down Budapest’s illuminated skyline.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA

A full morning of sailing brings us to Bratislava, the capital of the young Slovakian Republic, by midafternoon. Our excursion passes St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Grassalkovich Palace before continuing up the hill to admire stunning, panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. Afterwards, a guided walking tour leads us through the gorgeous Old Town to such sites as the Primatial Palace, the Academia Istropolitana, the Opera House, and Maximilian Fountain. Late this afternoon, we return to the boat and prepare for the Captain’s Gala Dinner.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

With an artistic and intellectual legacy shaped in part by former residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud, Vienna is a magical city and capital of Austria. After arriving into Vienna this morning, we say goodbye to our lovely staff and bid farewell to the Amadeus Silver II. Today, we embark on a panoramic city tour and see Vienna’s top sights as we drive along the grand Ring Boulevard and stroll through the beautiful heart of this historic city. Dine at a local restaurant before checking into our hotel and enjoying an afternoon at leisure to rest or explore. Following dinner at the hotel, experience one of Vienna’s greatest performances: a classical music concert by the Vienna Mozart Orchestra at the Golden Hall in Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This is sure to be a night of magic you won’t soon forget!

SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE

Our final full day in Vienna begins with a visit to the famous 18th century Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs’ former summer residence. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the Museum of Fine Arts and discover the Kunstkammer Wien. In the evening, join your fellow travellers one last time and enjoy a farewell dinner at a typical Viennese Heurigen, famous for their comfortable atmosphere and fine wines.

Today we bid “auf wiedersehen” to our new friends and make our way to the airport for our flights home. Enjoy our private car to your home. (B)

Signature Inclusions on This Journey

In addition to our essentials, your journey includes our following signature inclusions:, 24/7 professional journey manager.

• Will travel with you from Canada and handle every detail In addition to knowledgeable local guides

Memorable Private Excursions

• Private excursions crafted by our team
• All sightseeing & entrance fees included

Private Car Pick-up Service

• Within a 200-kilometre radius, let your Journey begin in elegant comfort with a private chauffeured car to the airport

Generous Tips & Gratuities

• For the porters, local guides, hotel staff & many more, paid by us on your behalf

Our essentials included with your Journey:

• 9 nights on the MS Amadeus Riva II
• 6 nights in outstanding hotels
• All meals included (15 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 15 dinners)
• Wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch & dinner on board
• Round-trip airfare from Toronto with Air Canada & Lufthansa
• All taxes as well as port & service charges
• “Whisper” radios included for use during excursions
• Flights from select Canadian gateways for only $100
• Other gateways & travel classes available
• Porterage for one piece of luggage per person
• Complete information & assistance leading up to your departure
• Branded overnight carry-on or backpack

Discover the MS Amadeus Riva

Fares & Staterooms

C4 — Haydn Deck

Located on the Haydn deck, these well-appointed cabins are the perfect place to relax following a day of exploring the Danube River.

• Small Panoramic window
• Choice of bed configuration (double or twin)
• Flatscreen television
• Spacious wardrobe
• Private bathroom with spacious shower
• Hair dryer, climate control & in-room safe

Double Occupancy

Single occupancy, c1 — haydn deck.

B4 — Strauss Deck

Located on the Strauss deck, these cabins are the perfect combination of incredible panoramic views of the Danube River, as well as inspiring interiors.

• Drop-down Panoramic window

B1 — Strauss Deck

A1 — mozart deck.

Located on the Mozart deck, these cabins are the perfect combination of incredible panoramic views of the Danube River, as well as inspiring interiors.

Mozart Suite — Mozart Deck

The leisurely pace to river cruising reaches a new height when you stay in the Mozart suite. Whether you are lounging on the corner couch or walk-out balcony enjoy the pristine views of the Danube without having to leave the comfort of your own room.

• Comfortable corner sofa
• Walk-out exterior balcony
• Walk-in wardrobe
• En-suite bathroom & bathrobe

Prices are per guest in CAD, all taxes included.

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Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest

SAGA presents this spectacular 9-day itinerary along the scenic Danube river, stopping at ports between Vienna and Bucharest.

Along the way, guests enjoy a wealth of shore excursions including; sightseeing tours, guided visits and historical demonstrations.

After each day of adventuring, guests return to the glamorous Spirit of the Danube – one of SAGA’s meticulously crafted river vessels. From on-board, guests enjoy access to a variety of modern comforts and stunning interior modifications.

Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest Cruise Prices

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Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest Cruise Itinerary

Embark from Vienna to Bucharest on this 8-night itinerary along the wonderful Danube; complete with Old Towns, opera houses, castles, fortresses and temples. Enjoy a range of guided tours and excursions to scenic locations and tourist hotspots.

• Vienna (EMBARK)

Travel to Vienna and embark your river ship.

This afternoon, you’ll embark on an included excursion around the city’s highlights: including the Ringstrasse and Opera House.

Spend the day exploring Bratislava’s Old Town on foot. Pay a visit to the impressive Bratislava castle and gothic-style cathedral.

Explore the UNESCO-listed Budapest castle and enjoy a guided tour of the city.

Sailing Day

Spend a leisurely day on board as we cruise through scenic riverside towns and natural scenery.

This morning an included excursion will conduct you through Belgrade’s must-see attractions – including St Sava Temple and the Kalemegdan fortress.

The Decebalus Face / Iron Gates Gorge (scenic cruising)

Enjoy a day of sightseeing from the comfort of your floating hotel as she passes through the spectacular wonders of the Decebalus face and Iron Gates Gorge.

• Rousse (DISEMBARK)

After a hearty breakfast, disembark your ship in Rousse and transfer to Bucharest for an overnight stay at a centrally located hotel.

Check out of your hotel and begin your journey home.

Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest Cruise Ships

Spirit Of The Danube

As our second purpose-built river cruise ship, this vessel promises comfort and elegance during your stay on board. With the addition of the latest engine technology, this ship is also one of the greenest cruising the rivers.

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• Decebalus Face / Iron Gates Gorge (Scenic Sailing)

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Spirit of the Danube

Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest Cruise Review

“Every port was fantastic; all the tours were so fun and informative. I really enjoyed getting to know the tour guides and other passengers – there was a really pleasant environment from start to finish.”

Other Danube River Cruise Deals

Join us on Europe’s second longest river, the Danube. Pass through 10 different countries lined with bicycle trails and historical hotspots. Choose your Danube delight!

Grand Danube

Our 14-night Grand Danube Cruise is the perfect blend of architectural heritage, culture, fascinating history and regional cuisine – let’s not forget the wine!

Prague and the Delights of the Danube

Take to the iconic Danube and explore some of Europe’s most historic culture and architecture with the Prague and the Delights of the Danube Cruise.

Christmas Markets on the Danube

Enjoy Christmas European style at the enchanting Christmas Markets and savour the tastes and sophistication of the season with handcrafted gifts and toys, hot mulled wine and tasty gingerbread and roasted chestnuts.

Blue Danube Discovery

Travel from Budapest to Vienna, Passau and Regensburg with majestic castles, cathedrals and Baroque abbeys for company whilst savouring delicious regional cuisine – this cruise is a feast for the tastebuds and the eyes!

Magna on the Danube

Enjoy seven nights of luxury and wander the historic ports and towns, famous vineyards and iconic riverside attractions.

Celebration of Classical Music River Cruise

Follow the inspirational route of some of the world’s most famous classical composers and hear their melodies harmonising with the current of Europe’s leading waterway.

Authentic Danube

Take to the world-renowned Danube River and discover the treasures she has to offer on your luxury boutique cruise.

Great Cities of the Danube: Vienna to Bucharest FAQ

Find answers to some of the most common questions about river cruising here.

Is there an option for travel insurance?

Optional travel insurance may be included in your booking price – a reduction of £56 may be granted if not required.

What’s included in the price?

Included in your booking price; 7-nights all inclusive aboard the Spirit of the Danube and one night half-board in a hotel, all flights and transfers and 4 excursions.

Is there a reverse itinerary available?

Available for booking, is a reverse itinerary with slightly different ports: Great Cities of the Danube: Bucharest to Vienna.

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Vienna River Cruise Guide: A Warning, And 6 Best Boat Trips

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[todaysdate format=”F Y”]    Vienna River Cruise : Much like choosing a restaurant, cruising the Vienna Danube opens up a confusing choice. Do you prefer lush scenery over contemporary architecture? Enjoy the thrill of high speed transport or rather an elegant cruise ship, or chilling in a tiny ‘Zille’? One thing is for sure: You need to be selective to enjoy a boat ride on Donau.

Why Not All Vienna River Cruises Tick The Box

Contrary to Johann Strauss’s Danube waltz and most boat tour operators, the Danube river in Vienna isn’t always as scenic as you may expect, let alone of blue color. Unlike in Budapest, the Danube does not cross the city center. Instead, it separates the 2nd district Leopoldstadt from the 21st district of Floridsdorf. This means that a city cruise on the Danube usually introduces guests to the industrial charms of Handelskai in Leopoldstadt, and the contemporary high-rise buildings of Donau City on the Floridsdorf side. Hence, most city cruises include the more central Danube Canal, which highlights more landmarks. If you consider a Vienna river cruise, just adapt your expectations and go for a short evening cruise with soft light.

If you ask me, the best location for a truly scenic Danube river tour is UNESCO World Heritage site Wachau Valley. A top alternative is to travel to Bratislava, where you can choose between a majestic Danube cruise along the whole Vienna stretch to Bratislava, and an exciting high speed catamaran whizz. Here is my boiled down guide to the best boat trips on the Donau.

1. City Evening Cruise

Along the Danube canal, Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s Kunsthaus adds fun, and the most relaxing sites are the Prater woodlands and Danube Island. Do also watch out for Otto Wagner’s modernist Schützenhaus, and the Zaha Hadid-designed university library. On top, you’ll get to try the Otto-Wagner designed lock at Nussdorf!

2. Private Yacht Trip On The Danube

Far from the experience of a large cruise ship, this 3-hour yacht ride connects you more deeply with the surroundings of the Danube. At a pier in the 19th district you’ll step aboard. As you glide along the river, you’ll navigate the historical Nussdorf lock and enter the Danube canal, until you reach Schwedenplatz in the heart of the city. During the standard three-hour tour your round trip on the Vienna Danube and the Danube Canal will cover all the key sights. Perfect for a group of up to 7 people you can book this ride for a minimum of three and up to six hours. Read more.

3. Electric Sofa Boat On The Old Danube

Not only are these electric boats quiet and sustainable their quirky designs and large sofas make them extremely comfortable, and an easy platform to take a plunge into the waters on a hot summer day. Read my review.

4. Kayaking On The Old Danube

One of the best ways to experience the Old Danube along with tiny Gänsehäufel island, a lake shore café and the weekend log cabins of local residents is kayaking. During this private tour your certified open-water lifeguard will take you to the best spots. Between May and September the water is perfect for a swim, so do take your swimsuits with you. Find out more.

5. Wachau boat trip

6. Quick Vienna To Bratislava Boat Ride

Definitely, we found we had more than enough time in Bratislava to do sightseeing. Read my story about our catamaran ride and mini danube cruise .

Vienna to Budapest

Note: The Vienna river cruise hydrofoil service has been suspended. There is a six hour Danube cruise   that takes you from Vienna to Budapest and back on a high speed hydrofoil. This is the fastest of all boat trips between the two cities. It is a good option for people who want a day cruise on the Danube and visit Budapest. Added benefit: You are free to explore both cities at your own speed and taste. Go here for a review and more information on the  hydrofoil Vienna – Budapest .

About The Danube River

In Vienna, the Danube was regulated in the 1870ies to prevent Austria’s capital from being flooded. The original Danube bed was transformed into the Old Danube (Alte Donau), now a lake. South of it, the new Danube river bed was created. The long and narrow Danube Island (Donauinsel) separates the Danube from the New Danube (Neue Donau). Explore the best places on the Wiener Donau in my Vienna Danube insider guide.

Map Of Vienna Danube From Wachau To Budapest

The river danube map below highlights the area  between the Wachau Valley and Budapest . Click on the placemarks below for more information about the marked cities and areas.

go to Wachau Valley Tour  Review – Wine And Danube visit  Wachau Tour  – Wine Tasting And Danube Biking find out about a  Burgenland Wine Tour – Wine Tasting Near Vienna check  Vienna Wineries   – Heuriger Guide and Map by Two Natives go to Seegrotte Tour  Review – Europe’s Largest Underground Lake for easy sightseeing go t   Vienna Sights   by Car – What To See On A Private Sightseeing Tour explore  Vienna Travel Planning – Trip Planning and Travel Consulting by Vienna Unwrapped

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In Bucharest

• Guided transfer from the ship to Bucharest
• City tour of Bucharest with lunch
• Transfer to and overnight in a 4-5 stars hotel in Bucharest; farewell dinner and continental breakfast in the hotel
• Transfer to Bucharest airport

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• Coffee and tea available 24 hours a day in the Amadeus Club
• Welcome and Farewell Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner and Captain’s Gala Dinner

Voyage of Discovery

• Personalized service of an experienced, multilingual AMADEUS Cruise Director 
• AMADEUS digital audio system for all guided excursions 
• Variety of enriching onboard programs, including fascinating lectures, cooking demonstrations, local cultural performances, and music by our onboard musicians 
• Complimentary use of onboard bicycles for independent exploration 
• Complimentary Wi-Fi onboard
• Onboard fitness center open 24 hours a day
• Massage services and hair salon
• All port taxes, embarkation, disembarkation and lock fees included in your cruise fare 
• All gratuities on board are included in your cruise fare

Excursions and excursion packages

Cruise your way and choose from a carefully curated selection of immersive and inspiring excursions and adventures! Select one of our packages offered at a discounted rate when purchased in advance or book individual shore excursions at regular rates on board your cruise.

Package A | for only $ 236 per person

Enjoy a package of these pre-selected excursions for a discounted rate when purchased in advance.

Package B | for only $ 445 per person

Package c | for only $ 651 per person.

Vienna – Bucharest

Prices per person if excursions are purchased on board.

You're in good hands with us from the start: Let us book you a transfer from the airport or train station to the ship port and back. The following prices apply per person per transfer:

Vienna (Austria)

Train Station - Port $ 38

Airport - Port $ 45

Vienna City Centre - Port $ 38

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Wizz Air introduces additional routes linking Bucharest and Cluj to major European cities

Radu Dumitrescu

Like this article? Share it with your friends!

Low-cost airline Wizz Air recently announced the introduction of new routes from Bucharest to Milan Malpensa, Stuttgart, and Trieste, as well as from Cluj-Napoca to Stuttgart and Lisbon. Additionally, travelers will have flights available from Cluj-Napoca to Vienna and Lyon starting in October. 

Starting in October 2024, Wizz Air will operate flights from Bucharest to Milan Malpensa daily, to Stuttgart on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and to Trieste on Tuesdays and Saturdays, according to  News.ro . 

All the cities mentioned are major tourist destinations. Milan is renowned for the stunning Duomo di Milano, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, and the Sforza Castle, both offering a rich historical experience and breathtaking views. Stuttgart hosts the impressive Mercedes-Benz Museum, showcasing the city's automotive heritage, and the expansive Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden, providing an urban retreat. Trieste, located on the Adriatic Sea, delights with its grand Piazza Unità d'Italia and the historic Miramare Castle.

From October 2024, residents of Cluj-Napoca and the surrounding region can access direct flights from Cluj-Napoca to Stuttgart every Thursday and Sunday and to Lisbon every Monday and Friday. 

In addition to the attractions in Stuttgart, Lisbon, the vibrant capital of Portugal, is famous for its historic Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage site offering stunning views over the Tagus River, and the Jerónimos Monastery, a masterpiece of Manueline architecture. 

Also, this fall, two additional routes from Cluj-Napoca will be scheduled, complementing the options available to passengers – the one to Vienna starting on October 1, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and the one to Lyon starting on October 28th, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

"Wizz Air remains committed to expanding its network to meet the needs of its passengers. We are excited to introduce new routes from Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca to four diverse and vibrant cities in Europe. These new flights not only provide Romanian citizens with more affordable travel options but also open up incredible opportunities to explore the cultural richness of Milan, Stuttgart, Lisbon, and Trieste," says Valeria Bragarenco, corporate communications manager at Wizz Air. 

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2024-2027 RIVER CRUISE AND AIR FARES:  Offer applies to bookings made from July 1-31, 2024. Terms & conditions for select promotions may vary. $25 deposit is applicable to all River itineraries. Special fares plus up to FREE International airfare valid on select departures of Grand European Tour, Lyon Provence & the Rhineland, European Sojourn and Capitals of Eastern Europe, Paris to the Swiss Alps, Cities of Light, London DDAY & Paris, Rhine & Main Explorer. Airfares may vary on other gateways & departures. Airfare does not have to be purchased to get cruise\cruisetour offer. All prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Additional restrictions may apply. 2024 : Pay in full by July 31, 2024 or at time of booking if within 120 days of departure. 2025 : Pay in full by September 30, 2024. 2026 : Pay in full by March 31, 2025. 2027 : Pay in full by November 30, 2025. Offers expires July 31, 2024.

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8-Day Danube River Cruise from Germany to Budapest (Itinerary Guide)

A re you considering a Danube River Cruise and wondering what the experience will be like? We’re here to tell you, it’s a wonderful way of traveling that makes the journey as fun and interesting as the destination.

One of the things we loved about our first European river cruise was the ability to visit multiple destinations in multiple countries.

We recently partnered with Avalon Waterways on their 8 Day Legendary Danube Cruise which typically goes from Nuremberg, Germany to Budapest, Hungary, passing through Austria, with the option of visiting the Czech Republic for a day!

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Our cruise in late June was altered slightly as the Danube River was unusually low (hello global warming), which meant the ship could not get into Nuremberg. We departed instead from Vilshofen, about 2-hours southeast of Nuremberg.

Avalon were excellent about this unexpected itinerary change, compensating everyone by offering the opportunity to take the optional excursion to Salzburg or Czech Republic at no additional cost and giving everybody 30 Euro to spend in Regensburg.

Making sure you’re happy is something I’ve seen time and time again with Globus’ range of brands.

In our previous posts we shared what the Avalon Waterways experience is like onboard the ship, and why it was a great European river cruise for families and thoughts from our tween and teen on the river cruise.

In this post, we are going to dive more into detail for each day of the 8-day itinerary, sharing the different excursions we did and experiences we had.

• A Note on Land Excursions

With each stop on the cruise, you can choose from 2-3 excursions ranging from traditional guided city tours, to hiking and biking adventures, and more specific optional experiences like food and wine tours.

Traveling as a family of four was great as we could split up and choose activities to suit all our interests. For kids over the age of 16 , they can also go off and do tours on their own. It was great as it gave us different dinner conversations as we each shared our experiences and could live vicariously through each other. 

This also meant, as content creators, we could gather even more insights to share with you which will help you make a better decision about which tours will be best for you!

See our Danube River Cruise expereince in our video:

Morning yoga, afternoon tea, free time in vilshofen, guided tour of regensburg, free time in regensburg, sausages and beer at historische wurstküche, onboard: live entertainment with lindsey hamilton, guided city walk, hiking in passau with hristo, sky grill on the deck, scenic sail, evening drink in linz, the sound of music in salzburg, cesky krumlov, a medieval beauty awaits, live entertainment with brett reid, power walk to melk abbey, melk abbey tour, icon of a millennium, scenic sail through wachau valley, cornhole tournament on the skydeck, classical music concert in vienna: the royal waltz, watch our video of this cruise: (then keep reading), treasures of vienna’s ringstrasse, biking in vienna with hristo, skydeck grill, optional excursion: bites and highlights of vienna, onboard entertainment: pressburger duo entertainment. popular slovakian duo, farewell dinner and tunes (and fun dancing game), tour budapest: queen of the danube, hike to the citadel & buda castle, optional excursion: bites and highlights of budapest, optional tour: wine tasting in the hungarian countryside, onboard: farewell cocktail, illumination sailing, day 8: disembarkation, why cruise on the danube river.

The Danube River is often referred to as the “Queen of Europe’s Rivers.” At over 2,800 kilometers, it is the second largest and longest river in Europe, connecting ten countries as it waves its way from Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea.

A river cruise along the Danube is a journey filled with history, culture, and stunning landscapes . It will transport you to charming medieval towns, spectacular valleys and gorges, and vibrant cities bursting with architectural wonders and fascinating history. Not to mention great food, wine, art, and music!

Sailing the Danube River is a cultural experience to remember, and Avalon Waterways run several cruises along the Danube River of varying lengths, and in both directions, year-round. 

You can cruise it on an 8-day itinerary like we did, on shorter 4-day cruises, or longer 14-day cruises that go from Amsterdam to Budapest and include cruising on the Rhine River.

Daily Events on the Avalon Ship

Instead of repeating myself for each day of this river cruise itinerary with Avalon Waterways, I’ll describe the daily activities here.

Some days we missed Afternoon tea (shattered children) because we were out wine tasting or exploring Cesky Krumlov and Salzburg for the day – but they will still have it for those who can make it!

Your adventure host will run a 30-minute morning exercise class, usually yoga. Check the schedule each day for the time, but it was normally 7am for us.

It was a relaxing way to get ready for each day, and a good opportunity to stretch those tired muscles from days of exploring. As with all yoga classes you can adapt poses to suit your ability level. Our yoga class was in the premium lounge; I would have loved it to be on the top deck!

Breakfast is generally 7am-9am each morning in the restaurant. There is a buffet with every breakfast food you can imagine from baked beans, to pancakes, omelets, sausages, cereal, yogurt and even vegemite! You can get sparkling wine also if you’re in the mood.

Or there are options you can order from a menu like Belgian waffles or eggs benedict. If you want a lazier morning staring at the view from your suite, you can order a continental breakfast in bed.

If you are having lunch on the ship, it is typically a more casual style buffet in the Panorama lounge with a variety of choices.

On some days when the weather and views were fantastic, the chefs prepared us a wonderful BBQ lunch on the SkyDeck. Lunch always comes with complimentary beer and wine!

The daily event on board Avalon Visionary our girls ensured they never missed was afternoon tea. In the panorama lounge was a large selection of cakes, sandwiches, and yummy sweets.

The girls would pile their plates with black forest cake, cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and macarons – perfect after a day of exploring.

New on Avalon river cruises in 2023 is a complimentary Happy Hour every afternoon about an hour before dinner. Head to the panorama lounge for selected cocktails, beer, and wine to enjoy views and conversations.

It was a great way to interact with other passengers. Kids can also get mocktails, which our girls really enjoyed.

One of the best things to love about an Avalon Waterways river cruise is the four course, fine dining experience every evening in the restaurant on eye level with the river and fantastic service. It was some of the best food we had on our 4-week Europe trip.

Each dinner course has about 4 selections – to suit all tastes and diets – some will be regional, some will be Avalon specialties, and some will be regular appearances like steak and grilled chicken for those with plainer taste buds.

The wines also change every evening, and they are mostly from the region that you are traveling through.

Dinner is usually at 7pm every evening . And if you are somehow still hungry, there are 24-hour snacks like mixed nuts, cookies, and cakes in the club lounge as well as an espresso machine (including hot chocolate). Kids will love raiding these!

Worried about keeping on top of the Danube river cruise itinerary and daily activities? Your cruise director will hold a port talk each evening before dinner and give you all the information you need for the following day on board the ship and on land. 

8-Day Danube River Cruise Itinerary

Day 1: vilshofen, germany.

Day one is all about embarkation: Getting checked in to your room, unpacking, exploring the ship, getting to know the crew and fellow passengers, and enjoying a welcome drink and dinner.

Another important task to attend to is informing the chef of any dietary requirements. There is an afternoon meeting, but you can still talk to them if you miss it. As mentioned in our things to love about our Avalon Visionary cruise , I was thrilled to be taken such great care of with my gluten free requirements.

Our flight arrived early in the morning from Verona ; thankfully we were allowed to board the ship and enjoy the amenities.

It gave us plenty of time to explore, take photos, and eat a delicious light lunch (the first indication food on this Danube River cruise was going to be awesome).

Vilshofen is a small village located on the Danube, you can explore at leisure while you’re waiting for the cruise to start. I took Kalyra and the girls up to the village for a mani pedi. After three weeks of walking 10 – 15 miles a day my feet needed it.

After, the Captain of our cruise, Captain Thijs, was kind enough to take us to a small swimming beach on the cruise dinghy. We never pictured we’d be swimming in the Danube River on this trip.

It was a cool experience and a great way to experience a little German culture with groups of friends and jet skiers milling about at the beach bar. 

Day 2: Explore Regensburg, Germany

We began our half day in Regensburg on a guided tour with a local guide, Mattea. He led us over the oldest stone bridge in Germany to the old historical part of the city, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Regensburg is one of the best-preserved cities in Germany as it was not bombed during the Second World War.

This city has a history of feast and famine which Mattea shared as we wandered the cobblestone streets and looked at the architecture of the buildings and squares. He told an interesting story of the wealth and prestige that was once a part of Regensburg due to its position on the Danube River and the Spice and Silk Road.

But, by the 1950s and 60s, it was an ugly and poor city without any industries (a reason it was not bombed). The city changed this around by bringing a university into Regensburg and a BMW factory in the 80s. The city is now one of the top 10 wealthiest cities in Germany.

The other important thing they did was invest a lot of money to refurbish the buildings, which is why now you see a tapestry of colored buildings throughout the city.

After our guided tour, we had free time in Regensburg to explore the city on our own. We decided to walk along the river, sample some German pastries and coffee at a bakery, and walk inside the impressive St Peter’s Cathedral, which is very similar to the cathedral in Prague and Vienna.

Probably our favorite spot – at least Craig’s – was enjoying bratwurst (that’s German for sausage), sauerkraut, and a German beer at, what is said to be the oldest sausage kitchen in the world! Historische Wurstküche is located on the banks of the river, right near the stone bridge.

Perhaps the sausage kitchen started to feed the hundreds of hard-working people who built the bridge in a span of 11 years. Avalon gave us all vouchers for the sausage and beer experience!

We were not expecting such an incredible evening of entertainment on the ship after dinner on our second night.

Lindsey Hamilton is an English Broadway singer who once performed as Fontaine in Les Mis and Eva Peron in the West End London. She flawlessly sang several big hits from Broadway.

But it was also part comedy show. Lindsey was quick witted and hilarious with her jokes and storytelling. She even invited our 11-year-old Savannah to sing along with her on her final song, “This is Me.” Savannah LOVED this show and asked to buy her CD and have a photo with her. 

On day two of this Danube cruise, we sailed overnight to Passau, Germany

Read more: Best Places to Visit in Germany With Family

Day 3: Passau, Germany

One bonus of having our itinerary changed is that we all got to experience Passau and the stunning afternoon scenic sail.

Originally on this day, Craig was going on a day trip to Cesky Krumlov, and I was going to stay with the girls to enjoy the included Avalon excursions. Instead, the Cesky Krumlov and Salzburg day trips were pushed back to the following day.

Our family split up for the morning’s exploration of Passau, with Craig and Savannah doing the guided hike, and Kalyra and I doing the City Walk.

The Bavarian city of Passau is known as the City of Three Rivers , due to its unique location at the confluence of the Danube, Ilz and Inn Rivers.

The Ilz is dark in color because it travels through the marshland of the Bavarian forest while the Ilz is green because of the glacial melt water from its source at St Moritz, Switzerland and you can get a good view of these two colors meeting from the castle on the hilltops above.

Kalyra and I joined Maria, a local from Passau who guided our small group through the cobblestone streets of this small hilly town.

Firstly, we passed down the cute Art Alley with brightly painted rainbow stones leading to the various art studios along it. She stopped to share the history of the town including the great fire of 1662 which destroyed most of it and the constant flooding the town must deal with, the last big one in June 2013. We stopped to look at the high flood marks that went way above our heads.

We learned more about the Church’s control for power during the Middle Ages, the Royal family including beloved Princess Sissy who stayed here – we would go on to hear a lot about her in Vienna and Budapest. We also learned more about Bavarian culture , life today in Passau including schools and coffee culture and interesting facts, like Germans can drink beer at 16!

Like Regensburg, Passau was filled with pastel-colored buildings, alleyways, and large squares. My favorite view was this one looking back on what they call the Mother Church at the end of a hilly street lined with cafes.

All roads in Passau lead to the cathedral – St Stephen’s Cathedral is home of the 5 th largest organ in the world and the largest Catholic church organ. It has 17,974 pies, with the biggest at 36ft. The other claim to fame is that Arnold Schwarzenegger once played it. News from Maria is that Vienna copied their St Stephen’s Cathedral from them. Although they do look quite different!

We had free time after, so Kalyra and I wandered around a few more cobblestone streets and stopped for a coffee and an affogato (hers for the first time!) 

I’ll let Craig share his adventure activity in Passau experience. I was very jealous seeing his photos! 

I love morning hikes and cities with rivers flowing through them so was easily inspired to get my steps in and get a panoramic view of the old town and the three-rivers from above, with our ultimate target being the Veste Oberhaus, a hilltop fortress dating to 1219.

Hristo, our enthusiastic adventure guide, gathered our group of about 15 eager passengers including young Savannah who was up for a walk with dad, then we headed off along the pedestrian pathway that straddles the river, then across the Schanzlbrücke bridge that spans both sides of the Danube. Here we paused for our first of many photos with an elevated view of the river and views back towards our Avalon Visionary cruise ship and the old town.

Once on the northern side of the river, we started our climb up the steps through the forest passing some residential buildings and the higher we went the more the views started to open up.

The path up was a combination of concrete steps with a handrail and then natural surface, and Hristo was respectful of everyone’s physical ability, with plenty of stops for drink breaks and walking at a pace so we all stayed together and he could share his commentary of the area as we progressed.

Reaching a certain elevation, we then headed east on more of level trail parallel to the Danube below towards the fortress, with points along the way offering views above the treetops of the Passua below.

Arriving at the Veste Oberhaus fortress was a time for a bathroom break, then a brief walk through the grounds taking in some of the displays and Hristo sharing more commentary of the history of the fortress.

The fortress was built in 1219 by Ulrich II, the first prince-bishop of Passau. The intention was to express the military strength of the bishopric and support the bishop’s status as an elector of the Holy Roman Empire, granted in 1217, and also to protect against both external enemies and internal threats.

It is currently the site of a museum, a youth hostel, and a restaurant, as well as an open-air theatre dating to 1934.

The views from here of old town Passau and the three rivers is spectacular, a view worth seeing and worth the climb! Savannah was reveling in the adventure, chatting with the other passengers, and taking her own photos.

The walk back down was gentle, and we crossed back over the Danube this time crossing the Prinzregent-Luitpoldbrücke bridge. Once back on the city side of the river, we walked around to the point where the three rivers converge for more photos, and then strolled through the cobblestone streets of the city center taking in the beautiful architecture of the buildings, and a morning market.

I loved this start to the day, it was a great combination of adventure and exercise to walk off all the delicious cruise food, learning about the history of Passua, and great photo opportunities.

What a treat we were given when we all returned to the ship. The Chef’s team decided to take lunch up on the SkyDeck so we could enjoy the beautiful sunny weather and the views of Passau – the pastel pink Mother Church on one side and the castle perched on top of the hill on the other.

Lunch was a fantastic BBQ spread of burgers, minute steak, salads, paired with regional wine and beer and finished with ice cream! How to make the kids happy after a day exploring on land! 

It was time to bid farewell to Bavaria as we departed after lunch for our scenic sail to Linz, Austria.

It was gorgeous sailing away from Passau as we got to see the three rivers converging from behind the boat. The river then turned green for most of the afternoon.

It was spectacular sitting up the front of the boat with an expansive one-eighty-degree view of the gently sloping tree-covered mountains and river in front of us.

Cruise Director, Csaba shared commentary along the way to help us learn more about the river. And one time, he had us all lined up at the edge of the boat to throw coins at a statue on a small island as we came out of a lock for good luck! It was loads of fun and only one of us on the ship hit the target for luck.

I loved how the smaller nature of the river cruise gave us the opportunity to do things like this as if we became a group of friends, not just separate passengers.

We also used this time to enjoy the lounge chairs on the top deck and play a game of giant draughts/checkers together. It was a good bonding time and allowed me to teach Savannah a few strategic moves.

As we were leaving Linz the next day for a full day excursion, Craig and I decided to head into Linz after dinner to walk around the square, soak up a bit of the buzzing, young atmosphere, and have a drink at a pub.

The girls decided to stay in their room for some quiet teen time. There was also a movie and popcorn happening in the Club Lounge. Since it was Elvis and we’d all seen it before, we decided to skip it. 

Day 4: Linz / Salzburg / Cesky Krumlov (Austria & Czech Republic)

Today you could choose to join a guided tour of Linz in the morning and a hike to Postlinbnerg viewpoint in the afternoon or take one of the optional excursions to Salzburg Australia or Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic.

It is a difficult decision to make. Kalyra decided to come with me to Salzburg, and Savannah went with Craig to Cesky Krumlov. You can read our guide on Salzburg vs Cesky Krumlov (vs Passau) for an in-depth look at which one you should choose!

Part of me wishes I stayed in Linz, as I heard so many great things about the tour and city. But alas, the Hills are alive with…

Yes, Maria was calling me to this pretty little town in Austria.

Literally, Maria from Salzburg was our local tour guide. She joined us in Linz for the 75-minute bus ride to Salzburg where she shared with us about the town and people, and of course, the Sound of Music – the true story of the Von Trapp Family .

Surprisingly, not many Austrians, especially those from Salzburg have seen the Sound of Music. After the war, Austrians wanted to move on and forget about what happened. They did not want to be reminded and see Nazis once again marching across their Residenzplatz Square.

Salzburg did not belong to Austria until the 19 th Century , so they have a very different background and personality and are proud of it. The town is small, easy for walking, and colorful like the previous towns visited on this river cruise along the Danube.

We visited several historical locations in the tour starting in the picturesque Baroque gardens of the Mirabell Palace , which was originally built by the bishop Wolf Dietrich for his beloved mistress (and he also had 16 children!)

Maria pointed out several spaces that were used in the filming of the Sound Of Music including Pegasus Fountain in front of the palace Maria and the children danced around, and the steps in front of the Rose Hill where they sang Do Rei Me. I decided to embarrass my teen daughter, Kalyra, by doing the same thing!

Not only is Salzburg famous for the Von Trapp family and the Sound of Music, but also Mozart . He was born here so we visited the outside of his house of birth, learned more about his geniuses and rebellious personality (which I loved) and his premature death.

No thanks to the blood-letting practices of this time, Kalyra and I later had an apple strudel and coffee at Cafe Tomaselli , a café he would often frequent.

Unfortunately, right as our tour finished and free time started, it poured with rain. Kalyra and I were going to head to the fortress for views but instead had a sausage plate in a small restaurant to escape the rain. It did dampen our time in Salzburg a little – something that no one can control or help.

But our spirits picked up on the journey home when the sun came out and we stopped in at Mondsee (Mond Lake), this stunning lake popular for holidayers only 30-minutes outside of Salzburg.

We visited Basilika St. Michael , which is the church Maria got married in the Sound of Music. This is a Basilica Minor given that title by a pope for its beauty – and it was!

The town here was beautiful with its row of colorful buildings and restaurants and stunning lake. Kalyra and I finished off a good day together with a bowl of Austrian ice cream – it was as good as the long lines indicated – and a walk down to the lake.

Here’s Craig with insights into Cesky Krumlov.

I first heard of Cesky Krumlov 25 years ago when a friend visited who said if you can’t get to Prague, a great alternative on a smaller scale is here, so I was excited when I noticed Cesky Krumlov as an option on our cruise itinerary.

This is a full-day guided optional excursion to the picturesque medieval and bohemian town, Savannah was keen ti join me and our day started with a 90-minute bus ride while our guide shared fascinating commentary as we admired the scenery.

Upon arrival at Cesky, we enjoyed a 90-minute guided walking tour with a local expert who shared interesting historical facts and stories as we wandered the cobblestone streets and across bridges taking in the town’s architecture and top attractions such as the Castle, once the home to the Rosenberg dynasty for 300 years beginning in the early 1300’s, walked across the Lavka pod Zamkem (a picturesque wooden bridge connecting the castle grounds and the city), and the historic city square.

Our guide pointed out recommended foods to try and places to eat and drink, and what I love about Avalon is the ample free time we got to explore on our own, and with that knowledge in hand Savannah and I had a further two hours to explore on our own.

We relaxed and recharged over a coffee and sweet treat at a local cafe, then climbed the steps to the top of the castle tower (small fee) for fantastic views out over the city, I highly recommend you do this if able.

For lunch we took one of our guides recommendations and headed to Papa’s with a wonderful view of the river from the outdoor terrace. I went with the local suggestion of Confit duck leg , red cabbage, and dumplings and thoroughly enjoyed it, washed down with a local beer. While Savannah kept it safe and simple and ordered a pizza!

We then stretched our legs and took in some more stores and cobblestone streets, before finishing off with a local ice cream, Trdelnik, in a cinnamon coated cone that Savannah devoured.

This evening, an Australian singer Bret Reid, who lives in Austria, came onboard with his guitar to sing a variety of catchy tunes we all danced to. We loved being able to share some Australian banter with him. A highlight was when he played Land Down Under and brought up Aussies and kiwis – including myself – to shake the clappers and tambourine and sing along with him!

So much fun! Thank you, Brett, for that lovely taste of home.

Sail overnight to Melk, Austria.

Day 5: Melk – Vienna, Austria

It was pretty waking up to serene Melk this morning. We had two activities to choose from, this time Savannah and I went for a power walk with Hristo to Melk Abbey, and Craig and Kalyra joined the guided tour to the Abbey, which included a look inside.

After a couple of days of consuming a lot of information on guided city tours, I decided to have a break and appreciate the beauty of Melk Abbey in a different way.

Our walk took us along the river and into the forest where we walked for about an hour with nothing but the sound of birds. The trail took us to the bottom of the hill with views of the Abbey sitting above the town. Hristo was fantastic at taking photos of Savannah and I as we walked.

We then walked through the cute and colorful village before heading up the stairs into the abbey. Our tour did not give us permission to go inside the abbey, but we could enjoy the beauty of the outside and inside the church to see its elaborately decorated ceiling.

I’ll let Craig tell you more about the Abbey itself as they dove a little deeper. I was very happy with this relaxing and pretty hiking experience to Melk Abbey.

Kalyra and I joined the guided tour of Melk Abbey. Founded in 1089, this is a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop with a gorgeous location overlooking the Danube and adjoining the Wachau Valley.

Starting off in the grounds outside, we enjoyed a guided tour of the interior ( no photos allowed ) and was impressed with the artifacts on display and the architectural beauty including the Imperial Staircase and Imperial Corridor.

The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty.

It is a spiritual, intellectual, and cultural center, and the school which was returned to the abbey after the Second World War, now serves nearly 900 pupils of both sexes.

The highlight was definitely spending time inside the incredible library, one of the best I’ve seen, with countless medieval manuscripts, including a famed collection of musical manuscripts, and frescos by Paul Troger. I wish I could show you proof with my images, but you’ll just have to go and see it for yourself!

Now came one of my favorite parts of our Danube River cruise – the afternoon scenic sail through the Wachau Valley, known for its vineyards and cycling trail . As it was right after lunch, we could enjoy it with a glass of wine. (You can also buy your own drinks outside of complimentary hours).

The Wachau Valley in Austria lies between the towns of Melk and Krems and stretches for 36 kilometers . There’s no better place to take in its beauty than aboard a cruise ship with panoramic views. It is also renowned for its wine production, particularly the Grüner Veltliner and Riesling varieties.

We were all excited to finally see our first castle as we entered the valley. The stunning scenery continued with more castle ruins, rolling hills, and terraced vineyards. What I loved most were the charming colorful villages on the river’s edge that looked as if they were painted on.

It was so picturesque, and I was envious of the many cyclists we saw riding the river path. I made a mental note that perhaps that would be a fun adventure in the future.

Once again, Csaba gave us commentary as we sailed along the Wachau. 

After the most scenic part of the cruise, Hristo hosted a cornhole competition for the passengers. It is a fun way to come together for an hour and play with beautiful views. Savannah put up a good fight and narrowly lost to Craig! As I threw a corn sack as good as I roll a bowling ball, I sat out asthe photographer! 

After dinner, we had the most unexpected highlight of the Avalon cruise: a classical music concert in an elegant Viennese hall performed by a costumed cast of top European singers and the Original Vienna Salon Orchestra.

It was Kalyra’s favorite experience, which I was a little surprised about. Although, she does love music and listens to it all day long so I can understand why she was enamored. Note: we couldn’t take photos or video during the performance, but our memories are fond! Vienna is a European destination teens will want to visit .

Firstly, we were all a little taken aback at how grand and impressive Vienna looked from outside the bus windows. It made me immediately change my decision from the bike ride to the city tour for the next day. I had to see more of this stunning capital of Austria.

As I’m sure you all know, Vienna is home to the Royal Waltz and classical music with the rock stars of the time, Mozart, and Strauss, living and performing here. 

Vienna was the City of Music because musicians were freelance so you’re always asking for work or looking for jobs. As it was a wealthy city this is where the money was. And the famous musicians already here attracted young people to learn from or hang out with.

I was worried it wouldn’t be good as classical music can be a little dry, and dare I say boring. When I’m wrong, I’ll say I’m wrong. Many agreed that this was one of the best things we did on the trip. And can you believe it, it was funny?

It was lovely to hear so many of these world-famous songs like The Merry Widow and the Blue Danube Waltz played in the place where they were originally created.

We were given a CD of the songs as a souvenir after the concert.

Avalon had an evening snack ready for anyone who was still hungry after the performance. I wish I was after sampling some of the Hungarian goulash! You will never go hungry on an Avalon River cruise!

Day 6: Vienna, Austria

As mentioned, I decided to join the guided city tour last minute and I’m so glad I did. I was on my own as the girls decided to join Craig for the scenic bike ride. Others went to Kunsthistorisches Museum.

On this full day in Vienna there were also optional excursions you could take after lunch. Some chose to visit Schonbrunn Palace, cultural gem of Austria and summer residence of the Habsburg family.

As our family are lovers of food tours, we joined the Bites and Highlights food tour of Vienna. 

Vienna is stunning with an incredible history that we learned on this city tour with our exceptional guide, which began with a drive around Vienna’s Ringstrasse – or Ring boulevard. This 3.5-mile circle road was once the old Roman fortification walls.

Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the dismantling of it to build an impressive boulevard. He also had to create more space and jobs in the city but also to show off Vienna’s wealth and power. All Vienna’s important buildings are here, including its many museums and impressive Parliament buildings.

I loved learning all about the Royal Habsburg family , one of the most prominent and important dynasties in European history, as we wandered through the Hofburg palace, which is now an area that hosts many museums and beautiful public gardens.

I especially loved hearing about Princess Sissy , someone I never heard about until this river cruise. Her life was very similar to Princess Diana, beautiful and adored, but a little rebellious and thrown into a life and spotlight she didn’t want. But unlike Sissy, Dianna was an exceptional Mother.

We also learned about the arranged marriage by-proxy of Napoleon to Marie Louse, daughter of Emperor Francis II who was Napoleon’s arch enemy (that’s what they did back then, strategy marriages).

And about Queen Maria Therese who was one of the best leaders (and only female) of the Austrian empire. And I learned that her daughter was Marie Antoinette!

You learn so much history in Europe, it’s quite fascinating to follow the threads of these stories from country to country and put it all into place.

After the tour, thanks to our guide’s suggestion, I climbed up the 348 narrow stone spiral stairs of St Stephen’s cathedral spire . I’m so glad I did as the views were extraordinary. It was one of my favorite things to do in Vienna.

I then had time to wander on my own and soak up the beautiful architecture of the city. Before this cruise, Vienna was never on my radar, now it’s a place I’d love to come back to and experience more. It’s regularly voted as one of the best places to live, has a lot of green spaces, and a thriving arts and music scene.

I (Craig) and the kids joined guide Hristo and another Australian couple for an adventurous two-hour bike ride in and around Vienna. Besides walking, bike riding is my favorite way to explore a city and Vienna has a fantastic bike path system.

With over 1600 kilometers of bike trails, Vienna is one of the most bike friendly cities in the world and perfect for families like ours who love to explore on two wheels.

We started our tour by cycling along the path that runs parallel to the Danube River, stopping at viewpoints for some photos while hearing interesting commentary from Hristo.

There’s several bridges that cross the river to the island side of Vienna that make for interesting vantage points, including one of the lock systems which was fascinating to get a close up look of.

About half way in to our ride we crossed the river to the 21 kilometer long Danube island, a favorite recreational region of the local Viennese, and an expansive network of trails invites the adventurous to hike, jog, cycle and skate.

We biked past bathing areas with flat beaches, as well as natural bathing sites, a water slide park, water ski area and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and drink with river views – this side of the river looked like a place you could spend an entire day with more time!

From here, we headed back into the city and followed a short section of the designated city path trail, taking a look at the HUGE amusement park, the Prater , before our legs called it quits and we headed back to the ship.

Whether you join the city tour or this bike tour, Vienna is best explored with two feet, whether you use them walk or cycle is up to you!

We returned to the ship for another SkyDeck grill for lunch. It was a sunny day and the views of Vienna with a glass of white wine after a morning exploring were wonderful! 

Time for tasting the delights of Viennese cuisine.

Our local guide Tom met us on the ship and took us on the train to our first stop right near St Stephen’s Cathedral – a wine bar. While not our kids favorite stop, we certainly enjoyed tasting wine from a nearby Viennese winery. There are several about 30 kms outside of the city.

The rest of the food tour was perfect for the girls. Our next stop was to experience some Vienna fast food – a sausage stand . Tom bought out two different varieties: pork and beef; and cheese paired with sweet and spicy mustards.

We also learned a little history as we walked through the city, passing by the building Mozart first performed when he was six years old, and Marie Theresa heard him and invited him to the palace; and the Jewish Square with an interesting monument to the 65,000 Jews killed in the Second World War. It’s designed to look like a library to represent the knowledge that was lost.

The next two stops were the girl’s favorites.

First, sampling the famous Sacher cake , a chocolate cake invented by Austrian Franz Sacher for the Prince. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties. You can visit the famous hotel where the original was made for a hefty price. But it’s commonly made everywhere now, and we were trying a version from a small bakery.

We also tried a cake that was a little moister as it had been drenched in rum – but fake rum as the bright pink icing attracts the attention of kids.

More chocolate was needed, so we headed to a chocolatier that transforms different Austrian desserts into chocolates. One was a red currant flavor representing the Linzer cake, and the other was apricot dumplings – a Viennese comfort food.

We finished our food tour in one of Tom’s favorite tapas style restaurants with authentic Austrian food for some delicious spinach dumplings . They tasted like my Maltese aunties’ spinach triangles that I would devour as a child.

It was fitting that as we sailed away from Vienna to Budapest in the afternoon, a popular Slovakian duo played some classical tunes for us in the Panorama lounge. They were a lot of fun and demonstrated some of their own Slovakian instruments. 

While we did not stop in Slovakia on this Avalon river cruise, other ones do, we did pass through it on our sail and even stopped quickly in Bratislava to drop them off at home!

And, for our farewell gala evening, we had a fun song and dance party competition, which Savannah ended up winning.

It was a wonderful evening of dancing with the other passengers and some of the crew. I think Csaba said we were the best dancing passengers he had seen! We may have all had a little too much good wine that evening – except for Savannah of course!

Overnight sail to Budapest.

Day 7:  Budapest, Hungary

Our early morning sail into Budapest was exceptional.

If there is one morning not to sleep in, it’s this one. We woke up just in time to see us sailing into Budapest. It was quite special It is an impressive skyline that we’ll see more of in the evening on this day of the river cruise.

Budapest is actually named after the two cities lying on either side of the Danube. The Buda side is the hilly part to the city, and the Pest the flatter part.

Like Vienna this was a full day exploring Budapest that involved a choice of included excursions in the morning and optional activities in the afternoon. On this day, Craig explored Budapest with the girls, and I had a full day on my own!

I (Craig) and the kids did the city bus tour with a local guide to get acquainted with the city, which started on the PEST (flat) side of the river and headed towards Heroes Square via Andrássy Avenue, a major thoroughfare through the city lined with impressive architectural buildings.

Heroes Square is noted for its iconic Millennium Monument with statues featuring the Seven chieftains of the Magyars and other important Hungarian national leaders, as well as the Memorial Stone of Heroes, often erroneously referred as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Next stop was a cafe in City Park to taste Kürtőskalács , a chimney-shaped pastry made from sweet yeast dough, which is cut into strips, brushed with melted butter, and wrapped around a cone-shaped baking roll. It is then rolled in granulated sugar and spit-roasted on a rotisserie until golden brown. 

We then headed across to the BUDA (hilly) side of the city, and took in exterior views of the Buda Castle, and distant views across the river to the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge (which was currently closed to traffic at time of visit in July 2023).

Once again, we had some free time to explore on our own and this bus tour was a nice introduction to the city, to get our bearings, and to see what we might like to go back and explore more in-depth at the end of our cruise.

I was glad I decided to choose the adventure activity for this day in Budapest: Hike to the Citadel. I was feeling a little dusty after our fun dance party the evening before, so hiking in the heat sweated it all out of me quickly and I felt great by lunch time back on the ship.

It was just Hristo and myself, and again he made sure to capture lots of photos for me. I’m set for Instagram for the rest of the year.

As it was just us, we could extend our hiking tour, which usually goes to the Citadel on top of the hill on the Buda side for views.

The Citadel is the fortification located upon the top of Gellért Hill, which once held strategic importance in Budapest’s military history. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987.

There are many walking trails up there as well as a monument – Statue of Liberty – which is currently closed for renovation. You can see this statue from almost anywhere in Budapest.

We continued over to Buda Castle to explore the ground and see more beautiful views. After three weeks exploring many cathedrals and castles in Europe, I was happy just to walk around the grounds and see the view!

We then crossed the river and walked through town and the central market before returning to the boat. 

One of the best ways to get to know a culture is via its food, and we always sign up for food tours wherever we go. A bites and highlights tour of Budapest introduced us to foods and knowledge I would not have experienced otherwise.

I (Craig) and the kids headed off with our group and tour leader to the Great Market Hall , one of the largest indoor markets in Budapest and boasts beautiful neo-Gothic architecture. Here, you’ll find lots of fresh produce, fish, meat, spices, cured meats, and dairy products.

Here we started off by trying several types of local honey. I love honey, I eat it every day at home and if there’s one thing with honey, the key is to source it as close to your home as possible when thinking of the health benefits and allergies.

Next up we tried various cuts of meat, from regular salamis to pork fat, tongue, and even horse meat, which was a first for me. When in Hungary…

From here we walked down some lovely pedestrian streets to Central Cafe and Restaurant 1887 where we tried a deep fried flatbread, Lángos, a common street food served warm with sour cream and grated cheese and onions – very filling!

Of course it’s no food tour without a chocolate shop, and the kids were happy our next destination was Impact Shop , a special design and gourmet shop offering ethical, sustainable, natural goods made by social enterprises and NGOs from all corners of Hungary.

Lastly, we jumped on the tram and headed to our final treat of the tour, strudels. Savannah went with an Apple Strudel which capped of our great two hours of tasting Budapest.

I snuck away from Craig and the girls for the wine tasting tour in the Eteyk wine region located just outside Budapest, known for its chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and sparkling wines.

Don’t worry if, like me, you did not know Hungary had wines as most of their wine is not exported. Why? Hungarians love wine, and they can’t keep up with production for their own countrymen, let alone have enough to export.

I loved this wine tasting tour. Our guide Michael was engaging, friendly and informative. We visited two small, family-run Hungarian wineries and sat in their tasting rooms and cellars with the owners to sample four generous servings of their different wines that ranged from chardonnay to pinot noir.

It was exactly the kind of local wine experience you want. Fantastic wine, friendly service filled with laughter and rich conversations. As you do with any great wine, we chatted about Hungarian lifestyle and culture, the importance of wine and how they grow and make their wines, language differences, politics, religion, climate change, and many other topics.

I loved getting to know, not just the Hungarians, but also the other cultures on our tour – Australians, Canadians, Serbian.

When it all became a little too heavy for us, the owner of one of the vineyards would say, “As my father says, son, at least we have wine to drink.” And he would top up our glasses. Cheers to that. 

The farewells continue with a glass of complimentary sparking wine and some hors devourers. The crew came out to celebrate a great cruise, I love how time was taken to acknowledge the outstanding service of all staff.

A special surprise treat on our last night on the Avalon river cruise was a night sail of Budapest to see its evening illumination glory. Budapest is quite magical at night. It was wonderful sailing past Parliament House and Buda Castle sparkling as they stood guard over the Danube River.

It was the perfect, quiet evening to end a fantastic Danube River cruise with Avalon Waterways.

The drizzly weather matched our sadness this morning at having to leave the ship. For disembarkation, you have to check out of your rooms by 9am but could stay on the boat until 3pm. So, relax and make use of the amenities or explore Budapest.

Final Thoughts

A river cruise in Europe is a memorable and effortless travel experience that I would do again in a heartbeat. 

We visited places I never would have thought to visit before, learned fascinating history about the area, discovered great new food and wine, and met a lot of wonderful people we cruised alongside. 

The travel blues hit straight away as we walked off the ship and back into managing luggage, researching places to eat, and playing tour guide as we finished out the final few days of our Europe trip in Budapest and the Loire Valley, France . 

The blues hit even harder when we arrived back in Raleigh and had to cook and clean. There is just no match for the delicious food and service we experienced on board Avalon Waterways . 

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a lover of art and music, or simply seeking a relaxing getaway, a river cruise along the Danube promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you spellbound at every turn.