The Danube River is one of the most popular rivers to cruise in Europe. You’ll find itineraries anywhere from Passau, Germany to the Black Sea and packages that range in length from 5 to 23 days.
River cruises on the Danube are often combined with other waterways, such as the Main-Danube Canal, the Main River, the Rhine River and sometimes the Moselle and the Dutch and Belgian Waterways.
A rendering of Viking Odin in Budapest, Hungary. Image courtesy of Viking River Cruises
About the Danube River
Flowing through Central and Eastern Europe, the Danube is the second longest river in Europe. It spans for 1777 miles from Germany to Ukraine. On a river cruise, you’ll travel anywhere between Germany and Croatia.
The Danube River is connected to the Main River via the Main-Danube Canal. Some itineraries include Nuremberg, which is located on the Main-Danube Canal and the Pegnitz River.
Cruising the Danube River
The most common itinerary for a Danube River cruise is between Passau, Germany and Budapest, Hungary. Prague is often listed as a starting or ending point of a cruise; however, Prague is not located on the Danube River. It’s about 140 miles north of Passau and about 190 northeast of Nuremberg.
The Wauchau Valley is located in Austria between Melk and Krems. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the river. A few cities in Austria that are often featured are Linz, Melk, Durstein, Vienna and sometimes Salzburg.
Other prominent cities often visited on a Danube River cruise include:
Passau, Germany
Bratislava, Slovakia
Belgrade, Serbia
Vidin and Belogradchik, Serbia
Bucharest, Romania
If you travel to Bucharest, you will cruise through the Iron Gates, which is a river gorge that forms a border between Serbia and Romania.
Companies That Cruise on the Danube River
This information is intended to give you an overview and a general idea of what different river cruise companies offer. With regard to itineraries – they change from year to year and sometimes within a year. The number of itineraries listed for some of the companies does not include reverse itineraries. For example, a reverse river cruise from Passau to Budapest would be Budapest to Passau.
Most of the ships that are listed also cruise on other waterways that are connected to the Danube. You might notice a ship you’re familiar with that cruises on the Rhine River, too.
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways offers two options for all cruise packages. You can take the cruise only, or you can choose to combine land and cruise packages. The river cruises are between Vilshofen and Budapest or Rousse, or they are between Budapest and Rousse
Most cruises begin or end in the German city of Vilshofen, which is located on the Danube River about 65 miles southeast of Regensburg. If your trip begins in Prague, you will be transported to Vilshofen to board your ship. If your trip ends in Prague, you will be transferred from Vilshofen to Prague.
For itineraries that include Istanbul, your river cruise will end in Rousse, Bulgaria. You will take a motor coach to Plovdiv, Bulgaria where you will begin you will fly to Istanbul for a three-day journey.
There are also cruise packages that include the Main-Danube Canal and are between Nuremberg and Budapest.
Packages: 8 to 23 days
Number of Itineraries: 9
7 Ships on the Danube: AmaBella, AmaCerto, AmaDolce, AmaLyra, AmaPrima, AmaSerena, AmaSonata
Interesting to Note: AmaWaterways is the only river cruise company that begins and ends cruises in Vilshofen.
A-ROSA
A-ROSA keeps it pretty simple. You won’t see cities like Prague or Munich listed in their itineraries, which can seem confusing to travelers who are not familiar with the rivers in Europe. The two cities listed in the itinerary are where your river cruise will begin and end.
The company has cruises that travel to and from Passau, Germany. Itineraries are from Passau to Budapest, Belgrade or Bucharest. The company also has one itinerary from Bucharest to Passau.
Packages: 8 to 12 days
Number of Itineraries: 6
2 Ships on the Danube: A-ROSA Donna, A-ROSA Silva
Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways features cruises between Budapest and Vienna, Bucharest and Passau and from Vienna to Passau on just the Danube River. For itineraries that include the Main-Danube Canal, there are cruises between Nuremberg and Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest.
You’ll notice the cities of Prague and Munich listed in several of the itineraries. If your cruise begins or ends in Passau, transportation by motor coach will be to or from Munich or Prague. And if your cruise begins or ends in the city of Nuremberg, you will be transferred to or from Prague by motor coach.
Packages: 8 to 18 days
Number of Itineraries: 9
9 Ships on the Danube: Avalon Affinity, Avalon Artistry II, Avalon Expression, Avalon Illumination, Avalon Impression, Avalon Luminary, Avalon Panorama, Avalon Visionary and Avalon Vista
Interesting to Note: Avalon Waterways is the only company that includes Munich in the package. (Other companies might offer a visit to Munich as an add-on destination.)
CroisiEurope
CroiseEurope has cruises to and from Budapest to Passau, Budapest to Belgrade and Zagreb, Budapest to Tulcea, Vienna to Budapest and Linz to Budapest.
For cruises that travel to Constanta, Romania, the river cruise ends in Tulcea where you will be transferred to Constanta by motor coach.
Packages: 5 to 12 days
Number of Itineraries: 11
6 Ships on the Danube: MS La Boheme, MS Vivaldi, MS L’Europe, MS Victor Hugo, MS Monet, MS Beethoven
Interesting to Note: CroisiEurope is the only company that departs from Linz, Austria. The company does not offer Danube River cruises to and from Germany.
Emerald Waterways
Emerald Waterways has one itinerary on only the Danube River. It’s from Budapest to Bucharest. The other cruises include the Main-Danube Canal and are between Nuremberg and Vienna, Budapest and Nuremberg to Bucharest.
If Prague is listed in the itinerary, you will transported between Nuremberg and Prague by motor coach.
Packages: 8 to 17 days
Number of Itineraries: 4
4 Ships on the Danube: Emerald Dawn, Emerald Sky, Emerald Star, and Emerald Sun
Interesting to Note: Emerald Waterways has one one itinerary for just the Danube River. The other itineraries extend to or from the Main-Danube Canal in Nuremberg.
Grand Circle
Grand Circle offers cruises from Budapest to Bucharest with travel to Istanbul and from Budapest to Linz with travel to Prague. There is also an itinerary that includes the Main-Danube from Nuremberg to Vienna.
Packages: Between 8 and 12 days
Number of Itinerarles: 3
4 ships on the Danube: M/S River Adagio, M/S River Aria, M/S River Concerto, M/S River Rhapsody
Scenic Cruises
Scenic Cruises has packages that travel between Budapest and Bucharest and Vienna and Bucharest. For trips that include the Main-Danube Canal, cruise travel is between Nuremberg and Budapest.
If Prague is a featured city, you will be transported by motor coach between Nuremberg and Prague.
Packages: 8 to 11 days
Number of Itineraries: 5
Ships: Scenic Crystal, Scenic Diamond, Scenic Jade, Scenic Jasper, Scenic Jewel, Scenic Opal, Scenic Pearl & Scenic Ruby
Tauck
Tauck offers river cruises on the Danube betweenVienna and Passau, Budapest and Passau and Budapest tand Bucharest. There is also a Christmas itinerary between Nuremberg on the Main-Danube Canal and Vienna.
For packages that include Prague, you will be transported between Passau and Prague. And if Transylvania or Targoviste in Romania are part of your itinerary, you will be transported to or from Bucharest.
Packages: 8 to 12 days
Number of Itineraries: 5
3 Ships on the Danube: ms Swiss Jewel, ms Savor, ms Treasures
Interesting to Note: Tauck is the only company that features Targoviste or Translyvania in the itinerary.
Uniworld
Uniworld offers cruises between Budapest and Passau and Budapest and Bucharest. The company also has itineraries that extend to the Main-Danube Canal and are between Nuremberg and Vienna and Nuremberg and Budapest.
If Prague is listed in the itinerary, transportation will be by motor coach between Nuremberg and Prague.
Packages: 8 to 11 days
Number of Itineraries: 6
3 Ships on the Danube: River Princess, River Beatrice, and S.S. Maria Theresa
Interesting to Note: Uniworld is the only company that does not travel south or east of Budapest on the Danube River.
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises offers cruises on the Danube between Budapest and Passau and Budapest and Bucharest. The company also has an itinerary from Nuremberg on the Main-Danube Canal to Budapest.
There are add-on options available. Otherwise, what you see in the itinerary is where your river cruise will begin and end.
Packages: 8 to 11 days
Number of Itineraries: 3
22 Ships on the Danube: Viking Aegir, Viking Alsvin, Viking Baldur, Viking Delling, Viking Eistla, Viking Embla, Viking Freya, Viking Gullveig, Viking Idun, Viking Jarl, Viking Legend, Viking Lif, Viking Mimir, Viking Modi, Viking Njord, Viking Odin, Viking Prestige, Viking Rinda, Viking Skadi, Viking Tor, Viking Var and Viking Vidar
Interesting to Note: Viking River Cruises has fewer Danube River cruise itineraries than most suppliers; however, the company has the highest number of vessels that cruise on the Danube.
What’s the Best Choice for a Danube River Cruise?
If you only have a week to travel, a cruise between Passau and Budapest is a good choice. You’ll travel through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
For travelers who have more time to spend, A-ROSA’s 11-day Danube Delta from Passau to Bucharest or AmaWaterway’s 23-day Grand Danube Cruise from Vilshofen to Istanbul.
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