Heart of the Danube: Bavaria to Budapest - Eastbound 2025

8 days
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews  
77%
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USTOA

River Cruise
Experience the scenic, romantic soul of old-world Europe on this river cruise along the Danube. Wind through dramatic river landscapes to discoveries in Grein, Dürnstein, Bratislava, Passau or Cesky Krumlov, capped by a sumptuous gala evening at a Viennese Palace.
From$4,390
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • When your road is the Danube
    • it's enchanting... Hungary
    • Austria
    • Slovakia
    • and Germany are linked by peaceful river landscapes dotted with storybook castles andromantic villages surrounded by stone terraced vineyards
    • where making world-class wines – and tasting them! – is an art. A wonderfully preserved medieval castle and town in the Czech Carpathian mountains are as awe-inspiring as the palaces and museums of Imperial Vienna. As you cruise from port to port
    • explore the cobblestone streets and market squares in the Old Towns of Budapest
    • Bratislava
    • Cesky Krumlov
    • Grein

What's this trip about?

    Experience the scenic, romantic soul of old-world Europe on this river cruise along the Danube. Wind through dramatic river landscapes to discoveries in Grein, Dürnstein, Bratislava, Passau or Cesky Krumlov, capped by a sumptuous gala evening at a Viennese Palace.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Munich, Germany
End CityBudapest

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Slovakia

Attractions

  • Bratislava
  • Budapest
  • Munich
  • Vienna

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - An Imperial Evening at a private Vienna palace with dinner and classical performers Wine-tasting event at the village of Weissenkirchen, in Austrian wine country All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Directors Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions – $1,982 Value Choice of sightseeing in Passau or medieval Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Munich & embark ship

Tour begins: 5:30 PM.
A transfer is included from Munich International Airport directly to your riverboat, where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Settle in aboard ship and then meet your fellow river cruisers this evening at a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner. Your riverboat sets o...
Day 2 Exploring Passau or Cesky Krumlov

Awaken in Passau today for a choice of sightseeing in this riverside town in Germany, or an excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Once a Roman outpost at the confluence of three rivers, Passau is over 2,500 years old, a ...

Day 3 Grein or the Mauthausen Memorial

Arrive in the typically picturesque riverside village of Grein, Austria, for a choice of sightseeing in Grein or a visit to the Mauthausen Memorial. Your visit begins with a guided walking tour of the village, which includes views o...

Day 4 Dürnstein, cycling & on to Vienna

This morning, your riverboat docks in Dürnstein, in Austria's Wachau Valley, which offers you a choice of unforgettable sightseeing excursions. You may choose to explore the picture-perfect Austrian village of Dürnstein on a guided ...

Day 5 Imperial Vienna & a night at the Palace

You have a choice of sightseeing today, both preceded by a tour of Vienna's landmark sights: visit the Imperial Treasury (the Schatzkammer) in the Hofburg, displaying priceless treasures from the House of Habsburg, including the Aus...

Day 6 Choices in & around Bratislava

A choice of activities await this morning in or near Bratislava, Slovakia's visually intriguing capital city. One is a walking tour of the cobblestoned, vehicle-free historic center of Bratislava; medieval, Baroque and modern archit...

Day 7 Explore Budapest

Your cruise ends this morning in Budapest, Hungary, which is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. A guided tour of the city begins with the Pest side and a drive along Andrassy Avenue to Heroe's Square and a...

Day 8 Journey home

Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary.
 Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport; you should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Budapest, Hungary

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,390
Price per day$549
Last Updated: 4/15/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
15 May 2025
23 May 2025
$5,890
$5,890
$8,340
27 Jul 2025
04 Aug 2025
$4,990
$4,990
$7,440
03 Aug 2025
11 Aug 2025
$4,990
$4,990
$7,440
26 Aug 2025
03 Sep 2025
$5,690
$5,690
$8,140
28 Oct 2025
05 Nov 2025
$4,990
$4,990
$7,440

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.2/5  Great
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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
MS SAVOR, MS JOY
MS SAVOR Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Savor cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Danube River as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open - MS JOY Maintaining Tauck’s high standards for quality and comfort, ms Joy cruises exclusively for Tauck on the Danube River as part of our Destination Fleet. With a maximum of 130 guests, the 443-foot riverboat and her sister ships continue our tradition of providing more space per guest on Europe’s inland waterways, transporting fewer passengers than most longships (135 meters). Her deck plan is innovative; with a total of 67 cabins, our most popular cabins tend to be our largest... so we have used the added ship length to offer twenty-two 300-square-foot Tauck Suites – the most of any river cruise ship on any European river. To increase the amount of natural sunlight on the lower deck, we’ve created 8 loft cabins that extend from the first to the second decks, providing guests with an additional view; all windows in these loft cabins open
MS SAVOR MS JOY
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-RVX2025

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