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The Classic Blue Danube

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You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
8 days From £1,495 per person
4.8 stars(12 reviews)
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Fly & Cruise

Relax and explore on a breathtaking cruise along one of Europe’s most diverse rivers as we sail through natural beauty, majestic cities and picturesque towns.

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Free cabin upgrade worth up to £600pp on July & August 2024 sailings, when you book by 2nd April 2024. This is a Call Only Offer, quote CABIN at time of booking.

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2024 Tour code: DDZ24

About the tour

Fly to Munich and join our luxurious cruise in Passau down the stunning Classic Blue Danube River, taking in the majestic beauty along its banks. We delve into the rich history of the Ottoman and Habsburg empires and wander among inspiring architecture in Budapest. From the vibrant city of Cologne, where we marvel at the impressive Gothic cathedral, to the enchanting cities of Regensburg and Vienna - we embrace the diverse cultures that the Danube has to offer.

Sailing the beautiful Wachau Valley, we visit charming Dürnstein and are captivated by Melk Abbey. Arriving in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, we discover the city's hidden treasures before cruising towards Budapest.

Our journey ends with an unforgettable evening cruise along the Danube, taking in the illuminated sights of Budapest, known as the 'Pearl of the Danube'. Relax onboard, explore fascinating cities, and let the natural beauty of the Danube take your breath away.

Interested in this tour but haven't found a date that works for you?
You might also like our similar tour Delights of the Danube!

Unforgettable experiences

Budapest
Budapest
Immerse yourself in the sensational ‘Pearl of the Danube’ - Budapest - with a guided tour of its striking castle, stunning buildings, and impressive monuments.
Vienna
Vienna
Discover the Baroque streets and imperial palaces of Vienna as well as the impressive Opera House on a sightseeing tour.
Melk Abbey
Melk Abbey
Sail through the verdant valleys and vineyards of the beautiful Wachau Valley before visiting the 11th-century Melk Abbey with beautiful views across the Danube.
Salzburg
Salzburg
Explore the spectacular Austrian lakes or the creative culture of Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart.
Bratislava
Bratislava
Admire ornate buildings, fascinating museums, and interesting galleries on a guided tour of Bratislava, the Slovakian capital.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - To Passau where we board our luxurious ship

Your holiday begins as you fly* from Heathrow Airport to Munich and then head to Passau. Our luxurious ship awaits us here, where we're greeted with a refreshing cocktail in the lounge. After settling into your wonderful cabin and familiarising yourself with our magnificent ship, we indulge in our first delicious five-course dinner on board.

*If you would like to travel by rail, view our Rail & Cruise option here.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Sailing through enchanting landscapes to Linz

After breakfast, we begin our relaxing cruise downstream. Drifting through beautiful scenery into Austria, we get our first sight of amazing river landscapes. Rising hills covered with vineyards and orchards create a picturesque backdrop, occasionally revealing charming villages, medieval castles and centuries-old monasteries that cling to the hilltops. We arrive in Linz later this afternoon. The town is known for its gorgeous old town as well as its mix of baroque and modern architecture. We spend the night here amongst the vibrant atmosphere with picturesque views.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – The beautiful Austrian Lake District or stunning Salzburg

This morning we wake up in beautiful Linz where you can choose between a day in the Austrian Lake District, the Salzkammergut, or a visit to Salzburg.

The first option sees us heading into the country for a day in the lakes where we stop at UNESCO-listed Hallstatt, one of Austria's most photographed villages thanks to its pastel-coloured houses. We also visit Hallstätter See Lake and Mondsee, a pretty town set on the lake of the same name and famous for its 15th-century parish church which featured in 'The Sound of Music'.

Alternatively, travel via Mondsee to Salzburg, a beautiful Baroque city on the banks of the Salzach river. During a guided sightseeing tour, we explore Getreidegasse street, famed for its traditional shops with metal signboards and the place where Mozart was born. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is filled with stunning Baroque architecture, beautiful churches, quaint squares, and charming alleyways that we admire as we meander through.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Picturesque Melk Abbey, beautiful Wachau Valley and charming Dürnstein

This morning we visit Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine Abbey that stands atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube. It's here we see the abbey's church, one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north of the Alps.

After lunch, we cruise through the scenery of the Wachau Valley, truly a highlight of the river. This scenic area of green valleys and vineyards is dotted with picturesque riverside towns and commanding fortresses.

Austria's Wachau Valley is a famous wine-making region, which makes it the perfect stop on our cruise to sample the renowned local wine. There's free time in the quaint village of Dürnstein to do just that, or simply wander the charming streets, soaking up the fairytale landscapes. This village is also home to the renowned castle where Richard I of England was imprisoned for a time and we get a great view of it from the riverside.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Discovering the magic of Vienna

After a peaceful overnight cruise, Vienna beckons with its grandeur and elegance and we arrive in the magnificent city for a guided tour. This is a chance to relish in Austria's Imperial culture, one full of tradition and rich in architectural, artistic and musical heritage.

With our expert guide, we wander the winding streets and make our way to the illustrious Ringstrasse boulevard. Here, we see many of Vienna's most ornate buildings including the world-renowned Opera House, where the greatest singers of our time have graced the stage, and the imposing Parliament Building.

After our inspiring tour, there's time to explore the city at leisure. The city's vibrant energy is infectious, and it's easy to lose yourself in the magnificent atmosphere. You could indulge in the famous Sacher Torte, a Viennese delight, at one of the cosy coffee shops. Alternatively, you could explore the city centre and marvel at the striking St. Stephen's Cathedral, or delve into one of the countless museums that bring the city's history to life.

Tonight, a real treat awaits us in the lounge as we're joined by four past members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra who whisk us away with their performances of well-known classical pieces.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Glorious Bratislava

After a morning of relaxing sailing, we arrive in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, welcomed by its castle overlooking the river. We set out on a fascinating guided tour after lunch. Bratislava is divided neatly into two parts by the waters of the Danube, and we have time to get to know both the Baroque Old Town and the newer city.

As we explore the enchanting streets, we're immersed in the vibrancy of the city, which has dramatic historic buildings, Baroque palaces and a wealth of fantastic museums and galleries. Later this afternoon we continue downstream to Hungary and to Esztergom, the former capital where we berth for the night.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Striking Budapest

As we sail toward Budapest this morning, we navigate the scenic Danube bend, passing the village of Visegrad famous for its dramatic hilltop castle.

Arriving in Budapest, we're introduced to the beauty and history on a sightseeing tour of this captivating city. Known as the 'Pearl of the Danube', Budapest has plenty of impressive buildings and monuments on both sides of the river. From the State Opera House and St Stephen's Basilica to Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, each sight is more remarkable than the last.

After dinner back on board this evening, we enjoy the enchanting ambience of a traditional Hungarian Folklore troupe. This is followed by a magical night-time cruise along the Danube River, taking in the illuminated sights of Budapest.

From the Gothic-style Parliament building to Buda castle, the state buildings that line the banks on both sides are all sensationally lit up, as well as the stunning Chain Bridge. Whether you choose to relax in the cosy lounge or take in the panoramic views from the sun deck, Budapest's elegant scenery is the perfect ending to our Danube cruise.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Homeward bound

After breakfast this morning, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our wonderful crew, new friends, and fellow travellers. From Budapest airport, you catch your flight back to London where your holiday comes to an end.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Ship

MS Amadeus Imperial

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Reviews

4.8 stars4.8 / 5 · 12 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (9)
  2. 4 stars
    (3)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

J W Smail

5 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2023

Wonderful cruise from start to finish. Extremely comfortable ship (Amadeus Riva). Delightful crew who provided first class service throughout - nothing was too much trouble. Menu choice and all meals incredibly high standard for a relatively small ship. All excursions interesting and well organised by cruise directors. Would highly recommend to others.

Collected by Trustpilot

John Nix

5 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2023

Everything was amazing! We cannot find enough superlatives to describe the whole trip

Collected by Trustpilot

Carole Brown

5 stars

Submitted 23 Sep 2023

Fabulous! The standard of accommodation on the Amadeus, the staff, the food, tour manager and the local tour guides were all excellent.

Collected by Trustpilot

Wendy Cotton

5 stars

Submitted 30 Aug 2023

Fantastic holiday. Food excellent, service excellent and Rob the cruise director went above and beyond to make our holiday the lovely experience it was

Collected by Trustpilot

Saratha

5 stars

Submitted 30 Aug 2023

Very good well organised.

Collected by Trustpilot

Stella Giblin

5 stars

Submitted 30 Aug 2023

A hugely enjoyable trip from start to finish , I can’t praise it enough . Food, entertainment, excursions and staff were all top class and the spanking new Amadeus boat was a joy to travel on, the smartest boat on the Danube .

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Cruise in Europe 2024

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