Grand European Cruise - Eastbound 2025

25 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews  
77%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
none

USTOA

River Cruise
Explore stunning riverscapes from the North Sea to the Black Sea aboard one of our riverboats between Amsterdam and Bucharest! Set off on a grand 3-week cruise through nine European countries along the Rhine, Main and Danube, plus three nights at a city-center hotel in Bucharest.
From$13,990
See departure dates

Overview

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

Highlights

    • Travel like the royals of old on our grand eastern European river cruises combining Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat with Budapest to the Black Sea to create an unforgettable 25-day experience through the heart of Europe.This remarkable voyage virtually links the North Sea to the Black Sea via the Danube
    • Main and Rhine rivers
    • taking you through the Netherlands
    • Germany
    • Austria
    • Slovakia
    • Hungary
    • Croatia
    • Serbia
    • Bulgaria and Romania. Glide past grand cathedrals

What's this trip about?

    Explore stunning riverscapes from the North Sea to the Black Sea aboard one of our riverboats between Amsterdam and Bucharest! Set off on a grand 3-week cruise through nine European countries along the Rhine, Main and Danube, plus three nights at a city-center hotel in Bucharest.

Details

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

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Serbia

Attractions

  • Amsterdam
  • Bamberg
  • Belgrade
  • Bratislava
  • Bucharest
  • Budapest
  • Vienna

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Reception and dinner atBragadiru Palace in Bucharest All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $5,969 In Amsterdam, a guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum, home to many masterpieces Day exploring Nürnberg, the walled medieval town whose history is forever intertwined with World War II

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Embark in Amsterdam

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
A transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Central Station directly to your Tauck riverboat. Tonight join us for a welcome reception and a leisurely dinner as you settle into your floating hotel for a memorable two-week cruise on the Main, Rhine and Danu...
Day 2 Great art, a canal cruise and more in Amsterdam

Amsterdam... the name itself conjures up images of the Dutch capital's myriad cultural treasures, from gabled houses, markets and cafés to awe-inspiring museums housing a treasure trove of world-famous art – and it's all yours to en...

Day 3 A blend of ancient & modern in Köln

After a morning of cruising and lunch aboard the riverboat, your explorations continue in Köln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany. A guided walking tour of city sights includes a visit to twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral...

Day 4 The Lorelei & Rüdesheim's music machines

 The perfect Rhine cruise... glide along the river until early afternoon, and relax as your Tauck Director shares a tale or two during the cruise through the scenic – and literally legendary – Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage...

Day 5 A full day cruising the Main

Enjoy the views as your Rhine cruise continues into the Main River, for a full day of cruising through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns. Join us for a Bavarian-themed dinner aboard the riverboat t...

Day 6 Rothenburg or Würzburg & a wine tasting

Spend the morning cruising and have brunch aboard the riverboat before arriving in Würzburg. Upon arrival, you'll have two choices of sightseeing: visit the town's 18th-century Residenz – a lavish Baroque palace where the town's pri...

Day 7 Along the Main to Bamberg

Your riverboat cruises along the Main to the Bavarian town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated atop seven hills. Discover the town's lovely gardens, medieval architecture and 13th-century Gothic cathedral with its four...

Day 8 Historic Nürnberg and the Main-Danube Canal

From the center of the German Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries to the site of National Socialist Germans Workers' Party conventions leading into World War II, Nuremberg has had a storied history since it was first document...

Day 9 Ancient Regensburg and on to Passau

With its roots as a Roman encampment on the Danube, the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg is home to more than 1,400 original historic buildings. Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view the sights up-close. A ...

Day 10 Explore Baroque Passau & cruise the Danube

The riverboat docks in the port city of Passau, dating way back to Roman times. Today, you have the choice of a walking tour revealing the Baroque treasures of this lovely riverside town, known for its stained glass and its many chu...

Day 11 Melk Abbey & a Grand Evening in Vienna

Your next destination is the town of Melk, Austria, where you'll step back in time on a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this Baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes...

Day 12 An "Imperial" day in Vienna

Get an overview of Vienna, Austria's capital and one of Europe's greatest cities, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic former capital of the Habsburg Empire. Take your choice of a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, built to riva...

Day 13 Across the Centuries in Bratislava, Slovakia

Depart Vienna after breakfast, and spend the morning cruising to Slovakia. Arrive early afternoon in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour led by a local guide. Highlights in...

Day 14 Welcome to Budapest on the Danube

Your remarkable riverboat voyage from the North Sea to the Black Sea cruises into Budapest, Hungary's capital, today – the mid-point of your grand European river cruise. Standing on opposite banks of the Danube, Budapest's two disti...

Day 15 Buda sightseeing

Sightseeing in the city's Buda section today includes the Hungarian Parliament building, a 19th-century neo-Gothic masterpiece on the Danube (when open); and Fisherman's Bastion, standing watch like a sentinel over the river. After ...

Day 16 Antiquities and more in Hungary

Arrive in Mohacs this morning and travel to Pécs for a walking tour. Here you'll also explore the fascinating Christian Necropolis, a complex dating back to the 4th century that includes underground burial chambers and chapels adorn...

Day 17 Vukovar, Croatia & on to Novi Sad in Serbia

Your riverboat exploration of the lower Danube cruises into Croatia; an onboard lecture by a local expert provides insights into the country's culture and history. Dock in the Baroque city of Vukovar, once showcasing opulent 18th-c...

Day 18 Belgrade sights & a private palace visit

Dock in Belgrade, Serbia's eclectic, cosmopolitan capital at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers. You can choose to spend the morning touring the "New Belgrade" section of the city by bicycle with a local guide (you'll need t...

Day 19 The Iron Gate of the Danube, King Decebalus and more

Relax on a day's cruise past the fields and vineyards of Eastern Europe; shipboard activities which may be offered throughout your cruise range from cooking demonstrations to folkloric, music and dance performances. Pass into Romani...

Day 20 Bulgarian art in Ruse or Ivanovo

Your journey along the lower Danube cruises to Bulgaria; largely off limits during four centuries of Ottoman rule and decades behind the Iron Curtain, the country's rich natural beauty and history is yours to discover today. Disemba...

Day 21 Constanta & Mamaia on the Black Sea

Depart the riverboat in the key Black Sea port city of Constanta, Romania, for a tour of what originally was the ancient Greek colony of Tomis and home to numerous Greek and Roman antiquities; sights include an Art-Nouveau casino, a...

Day 22 Disembark and on to Bucharest

Disembark your riverboat in Constanta and travel to Bucharest, capital of Romania and once regarded as the "Paris of the Balkans." A sightseeing tour of city landmarks includes Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch; erected to co...

Day 23 Transylvania – or Sinaia – or Tartoviste

A choice of sightseeing today echoes the legacy of 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad Tepes (a.k.a. "Vlad the Impaler"), thought to be the historical model for Bram Stoker's Dracula. You may choose to take a full-day excursion to Tra...

Day 24 A day in Bucharest & a night at Bragadiru Palace

Discover more of Romania's capital on a morning sightseeing tour, ending in Bucharest's Old Town. Following an afternoon spent pursuing what interests you most in the city, join us this evening as we travel to a Tauck Exclusive at ...

Day 25 Journey home

Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania.
 Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport and Bucuresti Gara de Nord; please allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Bucharest, Romania

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $13,990
Price per day$560
Last Updated: 4/15/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
27 Jul 2025
21 Aug 2025
$14,690
$15,340
$15,740

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
Excellent
16
Great
4
Average
1
Disappointing
4
Terrible
1
Write a Review

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...

Write a Review

Tour Operator

Tauck

none
View Profile

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.

youtube_video_1


twitter_1

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

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Ship & cabin information
MS TREASURES
MS TREASURES One of five 361-foot (110-meter) riverboats in Tauck's Destination Fleet, ms Treasures accommodates no more than 118 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious marble baths with full-size tubs, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports seven 183-square-foot cabins, similarly furnished. Standard cabins (150 square feet) are cozy and comfortable and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering toiletries.
MS TREASURES
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-RXE2025

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >