The Imperial Danube

Meet your Tour Leader at Malta International Airport for your flight to Munich. Upon arrival, transfer to Passau, where you will board your river cruise ship and settle into your cabin. Known as the City of Three Rivers, Passau is where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet, the perfect starting point for your journey through the heart of Central Europe. Set sail along the Danube as the adventure begins.

Wake to the peaceful landscapes of the Danube as we arrive in Ybbs, a charming Austrian riverside town surrounded by the scenery of Lower Austria. Enjoy time to explore at your own pace before returning to the ship and continuing along the river towards Vienna. Later, arrive in Austria’s elegant capital, where imperial palaces, grand boulevards and centuries of music and culture await.

Today is dedicated to Vienna, once the glittering heart of the Habsburg Empire. Guests who have prebooked the 4-Excursion Package can join the guided Vienna City Tour, discovering the city’s grand avenues, monumental architecture and famous landmarks. Spend the remainder of your time soaking up Vienna’s unmistakable atmosphere from traditional coffee houses and elegant squares to its magnificent imperial heritage. Later, return to the ship as we continue our Danube journey towards Hungary.

Sail into Budapest, one of Europe’s most striking river cities, dramatically divided by the Danube into historic Buda and vibrant Pest. Enjoy your first taste of the Hungarian capital, with its magnificent riverfront, grand bridges and impressive skyline dominated by the Parliament Building and Castle Hill. With plenty of time in port, the city is yours to begin discovering at a relaxed pace.

Continue exploring Budapest, a city of thermal baths, grand boulevards and architectural treasures. Guests who have booked the 4-Excursion Package can join the guided Budapest City Tour, taking in some of the capital’s best-known sights and learning more about the history of both Buda and Pest. Return to the ship and watch Budapest’s spectacular skyline fade into the distance as we continue along the Danube.

Today brings us to Bratislava, Slovakia’s compact and colourful capital. Guests who have pre-booked the 4-Excursion Package can join the guided Bratislava City Tour, exploring its pedestrian Old Town, charming squares, historic buildings and distinctive castle overlooking the Danube. After some time to enjoy the city, return to the ship and continue cruising through the heart of Central Europe.

Arrive in Melk, set among the beautiful landscapes of Austria’s Danube Valley. Guests who have booked the 4-Excursion Package can visit the magnificent Melk Abbey, one of Austria’s great Baroque masterpieces, dramatically perched above the river. Back on board, enjoy your final stretch of scenic Danube cruising as we make our way towards Passau.

Return to Passau, where we disembark after our journey through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. Transfer to Munich Airport for your return flight to Malta, bringing your Danube River cruise through some of Central Europe’s most beautiful capitals and historic towns to an end.