Melodies of the Danube

From Budapest to Vilshofen aboard a Premier River Vessel

Additional dates available

Additional dates available on the reverse itinerary Romantic Danube

Overview

Travel through four countries on the beautiful Danube and experience the sights and sounds that have inspired musicians, poets, and artists for centuries. Begin your cruise in magnificent Budapest, continue to historic Bratislava and legendary Vienna, the birthplace of the waltz, cruise the scenic wine-growing region of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the fairytale cities of the Austrian Lake District. Add on an optional pre-cruise extension to Budapest or a post-cruise extension to Prague.

The ship, the staff, the food, everything was fantastic. I can't imagine what more could have been done.
— Jill W., Gaston, OR

Note: This cruise is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as agent in booking your reservation with the ship operator. The itinerary, lecturers, and all other arrangements are subject to change at the discretion of the cruise line.

Itinerary

CRUISE PROGRAM
Budapest to Vilshofen Itinerary

Day 1
Budapest, Hungary

Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. This evening, meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. Tonight, the ship will sail a special Illuminations Cruise past the capital’s glittering river front.

Day 2
Budapest

Your morning excursion includes sightseeing in the cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. You will see famed Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church and spectacular views of the Danube.

Day 3
Bratislava, Slovakia / Vienna, Austria

Wake up this morning in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city before the ship cruises to Vienna, the music capital of the world.

Day 4
Vienna

This morning, you will have a chance to savor the Baroque elegance of romantic Vienna through your choice of one of three different excursions. The first option is a panoramic tour of Vienna that guides you past the majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors, Parliament, Town Hall, and Vienna University. Afterwards, you will visit Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben, and the world famous Spanish Riding School. The second option is a walking tour of Vienna’s hidden treasures that takes you to secret places and sights like Ankeruhr, a whimsical Art Nouveau clock. Your third option is a guided bike tour along the Danube and through the Donaupark. This afternoon, you can join a guided bike ride to Klosterneuburg Monastery, or explore at your leisure. Be sure to sample some Viennese coffee and pastries.

Day 5
Weissenkirchen / Emmersdorf / Grein

After reaching Weissenkirchen, you’ll be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. Or opt for a walking tour of Weissenkirchen followed by an abbey visit. For a more culinary-focused experience, join a walking tour in Dürnstein, then enjoy a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner and sample special apricot treats from a local boutique. If you prefer a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour to Melk. Later in the day, sail through the Strudengau Valley to medieval Grein for an exclusive visit to the more than 500-year-old Greinburg Castle, looming regally from above. While here, enjoy a folklore show and wine reception.

Day 6
Linz / Afternoon Options

The ship arrives this morning in Linz. Enjoy a walking tour of the second largest city in Austria or choose a guided bike tour that will show you around the Old City Center, along the Danube River, and past the ultra-modern Ars Electronica Center. Later, you will have a choice of three different excursions. The first option is an excursion to Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, where you will take a walking tour of the historic center made famous by "The Sound of Music.” The second option is an excursion to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov, a wonderfully preserved medieval town nestled in the hills just over the Austrian-Czech border. The third option is a visit to the Austrian Lake District, the scenic Salzkammergut region. All three options are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Day 7
Passau, Germany / Vilshofen

Early this morning, cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Enjoy a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture, cobblestone streets and squares like Rathaus, Domplatz, and Residenzplatz, as well as St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided bike tour along the Danube from Passau to Erlau, or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress overlooking Passau. This afternoon, the ship cruises to the medieval town of Vilshofen, where you will enjoy a festive Oktoberfest celebration with local beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing.

Day 8
Vilshofen / Disembarkation

This morning, disembark your ship in Vilshofen.

ADD ON A PRE-CRUISE BUDAPEST LAND PROGRAM

Additional 2-nights in Budapest pre-cruise from $560 (2023)

Pre-Cruise Day 1
BUDAPEST

Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel.

Pre-Cruise Day 2
BUDAPEST

Budapest is one of Europe’s most regal and storied cities—and many of its most iconic sights are just off the banks of the Danube. Today’s tour takes you to the Jewish Quarter and its treasures. The Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, is the heart of the quarter. Other prominent attractions include the Holocaust Memorial, a weeping willow tree with the names of Hungary’s Jewish Holocaust victims inscribed on each leaf; and the Shoes on the Danube, a memorial to the Budapest Jewish community. (B)

ADD ON A POST-CRUISE PRAGUE LAND PROGRAM

Additional 3-nights in Prague post-cruise from $900 (2023)

Day 8
VILSHOFEN / DISEMBARKATION / REGENSBURG / PRAGUE

This morning, disembark your ship in Vilshofen and depart for Prague. Stop in Regensburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, where you will have a walking tour and free time to explore the city’s historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After touring Regensburg, continue your journey on to Prague. (B)

Day 9
PRAGUE

Discover Prague with a choice of a city tour or a castle hike. Both will reveal why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See all the key highlights, including the National Museum, Wenceslas Square, the 1,000 year-old Prague Castle and Old Market Square, where you will find the famous Astronomical Clock. (B)

Day 10
PRAGUE / CZECH BEER TASTING

Beer has a long and illustrious history in the Czech Republic with the first brewery known to have existed in 993. Pilsner Urquell was created in 1842, being the first pilsner ever made, whilst Budweiser came into being in the city of Budweis. Beer is a core part of the country’s national identity, so much so the Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world. The country is home to more than 100 breweries with a combination of big names and micro establishments offering a huge range of styles, so join a Czech beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes the Czech’s beer some of the very best in the world. (B)