Considering a cruise on the Danube? Read this first…
Europe's mighty Danube is to river cruises what the Caribbean is to ocean cruises.
Here are some of the most common questions about Danube river cruises...
The Danube and river cruises
The Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga and traverses 10 countries - so it is ideal for a variety of long and short river cruises.
Where does the Danube start?
The Danube begins in the Black Forest region of Germany and runs through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine, before meeting the Black Sea.
Why is the Danube so popular for river cruises?
Indeed, it is arguably the quintessential river cruise location. 2,415 km (1,501 miles) of the Danube is navigable, which means it's possible to sail from Germany's southeast to the Black Sea.
There's certainly plenty to see on a Danube river cruise; beautiful mountains, forests, meadows and towns line the banks of the Danube.
Many cruise lines offer trips on the Danube, from shorter, more affordable options, to luxurious Danube river cruise packages with high-end cabins and gourmet food.
What are the best Danube cruise lines?
A number of reputable cruise lines offer trips on the Danube, including:
- Viking River Cruises
- Tauck River Cruises
- Avalon Waterways
- Uniworld
All of these maintain a focus on premium all-inclusive Danube cruise trips.
What are the best places to visit on the Danube?
Since it traverses 10 countries, there are countless incredible sights to enjoy when you cruise on the Danube.
Highlights of a Danube river cruise include Budapest in Hungary with its stunning parliament and cityscape, Romania's beautiful capital, Bucharest; plus Vienna, Munich, Regensburg; and Passau - to name a few.
Budapest, known as the "Paris of the East” for its beautiful evening illumination and reflected lights in the Danube's waters, means that it's no surprise a Budapest river cruise is a particularly popular choice when it comes to Danube river cruises. Where you visit on your Danube river cruise will of course depend on the package you buy.
In-between destinations you'll pass through gorgeous green valleys, mountains, and past fairy tale castles, olde-worlde villages, and many ships and barges on the river itself.
What activities are there on a Danube river cruise?
The main activities on a Danube river cruise include admiring the stunning vistas, making stops at unusual places, enjoying superb food and drink, making friends with fellow passengers, and waiting for locks to be opened and closed so your ship can sail along different stages of the Danube river.
River cruise operators often provide all the things you need for when the ship docks, including bikes, maps, kayaks, walking sticks, and binoculars.
Danube river cruise excursions
They will also arrange specific add-on shore excursions.
Your cruise operator will provide free shuttles if your ship docks away from the main attractions, so you don't have to worry about traipsing around in the heat of summer or the cold of winter.
How much does a Danube river cruise cost?
Danube river cruise packages vary a great deal, ranging from quick 4-day trips covering two or three countries (from around 600GBP pp), to 23-day trips covering 8 countries (from around 5,500 GBP pp).
Are there packages that include flights to the departure point?
Yes, many cruise lines let you pay extra for a connecting flight, which may or may not be cheaper than organising one yourself.
Some more expensive packages may include the cost of flights.
How will Covid-19 affect a Danube river cruise?
It's important to read the terms and conditions of any cruise before you book it.
You should check with your cruise line as to their terms in relation to Covid requirements as not all cruise lines operate the same rules.
For example, Tauck require all passengers 12 years+ to be fully vaccinated, in order to sail on their cruises.
Avalon's requirement for passengers to be vaccinated against Covid is to be removed as of 1 March 2023.
Are Danube River cruises being cancelled?
It’s been a tricky couple of years for the river cruise industry, with Covid and then drought across Europe in summer 2022.
So, you might be wondering how likely is it that your Danube river cruise will be cancelled?
River cruise lines will only look to cancel their sailings in extreme circumstances.
River cruises and water levels
Drought can often impact river levels, which may cause changes to river cruise itineraries as it can become impossible to dock at some stations as the water level is too low.
Some cruise lines run ships on the same itinerary, in opposite directions. If there are navigational issues on the river, this enables cruise line to ship swap, relocating passengers onto the alternative vessels to enable them to continue with their cruise.
Since the ships are nearly identical, if you do transfer to another ship, you should be in a similar cabin as your original ship.
Where there are no ships available, passengers may be transferred to the remaining ports by bus and stay overnight in hotels, or the cruise line might operate day trips from a central location.
If the water levels of the river are too high, river cruise lines will adopt similar contingency plans as those used in cases of low water levels.
What if my Danube cruise is cancelled or I need to cancel it?
Cancellation policies vary by cruise line. However, if the cruise line needs to cancel your Danube river cruise, they will probably offer to book you on to a subsequent cruise, or alternatively give you a refund for your Danube cruise.
If you need to cancel your cruise on the Danube, there is likely to be a fee, often a percentage based on how many days notice you give the company.
DO I need travel insurance for a Danube river cruise?
The UK government strongly recommends all UK residents travelling overseas take out comprehensive travel insurance - This includes for a Danube river cruise. This will cover you for cancellations, medical care, theft or loss of valuables, and much more.
Get a Quote