Emerald Cruises is offering five Danube itineraries, ensuring a trip for a variety of travelers, including active travelers, foodies, history buffs, holiday travelers and families.
The upper Danube between Regensburg and Budapest is often the first choice for river cruisers with good reason—guests can discover Old Europe as the river traverses four countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary) and calls on three capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest) during the approximately 465-mile sailing. On Emerald Cruises’ eight-day “Danube Delights” itinerary, guests can take in the sights on walking tours of the ports or choose one of seven Emerald Active tours available. Guided biking tours of Regensburg, Passau, the Wachau Valley and Vienna, as well as guided hikes in Durnstein, Bratislava and Budapest offer to keep moving and stay fit in each port. All Emerald Active tours are included and bookable onboard, meaning guests can decide each day how they wish to explore. Other highlights include musical entertainment onboard from a Bavarian band, an opportunity to visit the home of a Slovakian family for coffee, cake and cultural exchange, and a tour of post-communist Bratislava via a classic Skoda automobile with a driver. Emerald Cruises offers 37 departures between April and October 2023.
Emerald Cruises’ eight-day “Danube Explorer” itinerary shines a different light on a similar stretch of the river between Passau and Budapest. A shorter sailing at 362 miles, this cruise takes a leisurely pace, offering more time for guests to explore on their own. This route includes a day trip from Linz, Austria to the UNESCO World Heritage listed town of Česky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. A strong focus on culinary offerings through this cruise will include a Bavarian brunch at a farm in Passau, Linzer torte making demonstration and tasting in Linz, “Tastes of Vienna” food tour and a special culinary tour of Budapest with a visit to the Market Hall. Other highlights include an overnight in Vienna for those wishing to explore the city’s nightlife and restaurants, a tour of Melk Abbey and the opportunity to visit the baths in Budapest. Emerald Cruises offers 23 departures between April and October 2023.
Five countries accompany the Danube on its journey through Eastern Europe. Emerald Cruises’ nine-day “Enchantment of Eastern Europe” explores the region between Budapest and Bucharest, Romania, with ports in Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia. History buffs can visit a range of significant sites, from the rise of humanity at Lepenski Vir in Serbia, the oldest planned settlement in Europe dating to 9500 BC, to the fall of the Soviet empire with a visit to Revolution Square in Bucharest. Opportunities for cultural immersion abound, from a choir concert in Arbanasi, Bulgaria, to a home-hosted lunch in Croatia and visit to the Puszta horse farm in Hungary. The itinerary includes a one-night hotel stay in Bucharest to allow guests to familiarize themselves with “Paris of the East.” Emerald Cruises offers 12 departures between April and October 2023.
Emerald Cruises offers two options on the Danube during the holidays: the five-day “Christmastime on the Danube” sails between Vienna and Budapest, which just happen to host two of the largest markets on the river; and the longer eight-day “Christmas Markets on the Danube,” sailing between Regensburg and Budapest, and offering a mix of smaller markets and a wintertime visit to the Bavarian Forest. Emerald Cruises offers four “Danube Christmas Market” cruises between November and December 2023.
The new, eight-day “Family Danube River Cruise” sails between Budapest and Passau, and has been crafted with guests aged 10 to 18 in mind. In Budapest, families can opt to visit the AM 3D gallery, a quirky museum where guests can interact and pose with the art; and while in Bratislava, budding chefs will enjoy taking part in a cooking class on an active Slovakian farm. The itinerary includes a geocaching outing in Passau and an archery lesson at Schallaburg Castle in Austria. Onboard, young guests can look forward to dedicated pool activities with the ship’s wellness coach, wheelhouse tours with the Captain and locally inspired dinner menus with options modified for younger guests’ tastes. The first “Family Danube River Cruise” will depart July 15.
For more information, visit www.emeraldcruises.com.
Related Stories
AmaWaterways Adds More Cruises to Celebrate Black History in '24
Celestyal Journey Debuts in September After $21 Million Upgrade
Carnival Venezia Officially Joins the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet