An unforgettable cruise down the iconic Danube & through the heart of old Europe. Walking tours, invitations into the homes of locals & sightseeing excursions showcase the magnificence of yesteryear.
Inclusions
- 7 nights river cruise from Budapest to Munich (or in reverse) aboard Emerald Star Ship
- 20 superb meals including 7 Breakfasts (B), 6 Lunches (L), 7 Dinners (D)
- Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- The services of an Emerald Cruises Cruise Director
- Excursions and guided tours
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- Complimentary Bicycles on board (when available)
- All tipping and gratuities
- Airport transfers to and from the ship
- Port taxes and charges
- Exclusive Offer – Book by Dec 21: Second Guest Sails FREE! (pays taxes only)
| July 19 – August 24, 2025* | Guest 1 | Guest 2 (pay taxes only) |
| Riverview | from $5069 | FREE |
| Balcony | from $5789 | FREE |
| Taxes and Fees | $476 | $476 |
| No Single Supplement | ||
*Sailing dates included in the promo: July 19, 26, 27, August 3, 23 or 24 (subject to change without notice)
Final payment is due at booking
Looking for other 2 for 1 River Cruises, click here
| New bookings only. Space and price are limited and subject to availability when booking. The prices listed are per person based on double occupancy. It is for lead-in categories, but upgrades are available. Promotional offers may be withdrawn at any time. Depending on the promotion, the deposit may be non-refundable Ready to set sail? Call us now to inquire for more information or other sailing dates. We're here to help you plan your dream cruise. |
Dining Highlights:
- 20 superb meals including 7 Breakfasts (B), 6 Lunches (L), 7 Dinners (D)
- Including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
- Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board
Included Excursions:
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
- Guided tour of Göttweig Abbey
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
- Guided tour of Passau
- Guided bike tour along the River Inn
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
- Hike to Gellert Hill
- Vienna art tour with a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum
- Guided bike tour in Vienna
- Walking tour of Regensburg with Bavarian sausage tasting
- Guided bike tour along the Danube River
- Guided bike tour to the Walhalla monument
Budapest to Munich (or in reverse)
Day 1 Budapest (D)
Welcome to Budapest, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your contemporary Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, before enjoying time at leisure to explore the Hungarian capital. This evening, enjoy an authentic Hungarian folklore show on board, followed by a traditional dinner.
EmeraldPLUS Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Day 2 Budapest (B,L,D)
Architecture from across the centuries shines a light on the history of the Hungarian capital. Originally two separate cities, Buda to the west and Pest to the east, offer incredibly different views on the culture of one of the liveliest cities in Eastern Europe. Today, you will have the opportunity to explore the city during a guided tour, including Heroes’ Square and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Andrássy Avenue and Buda Castle District. Alternatively, enjoy a hike to Buda Hill for a postcard-worthy panorama of the Danube banks.
EmeraldACTIVE Hike to Buda Hill Included Excursion Guided coach tour of Budapest
DiscoverMORE Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE Jewish heritage tour ( extra expense)
Day 3 Bratislava (B,L,D)
This morning, relax on board as we sail to Bratislava. An ancient landscape awaits, where remarkable towers add to a skyline that perfectly encapsulates the history of the city, and preserved medieval fortifications tell tales of a turbulent past. Your local guide will take you through the heart of the city, as you soak in sights of the lavish Episcopal Summer Palace and the neo-Renaissance façade of the Slovak National Theatre. If you are feeling more active, you could instead choose to hike around the serene gardens of Bratislava Castle, offering the perfect environment for the Shakespeare festival that occurs during the summer months. This afternoon, you will be invited into the home of a local family to learn about their culture over coffee and cake.
Included Excursion
Walking tour of Bratislava
EmeraldPLUS
Home-hosted coffee and cake with a local family
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
DiscoverMORE
Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE
Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
Day 4 Vienna (B,L,D)
Sweeping boulevards and world-famous art exhibitions welcome you to Vienna, a city which perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces. The Austrian capital is an art-lovers dream and your guided tour will include a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the largest art museum in the country and one of the most important museums worldwide. If you are feeling more active, then choose to explore on two wheels instead, cycling along the riverbanks before touching on Danube Island and Prater, the famous Viennese amusement park, home to the traditional 19th-century Ferris wheel.
Included Excursion
Vienna art tour with a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour in Vienna
DiscoverMORE
Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Day 5 Krems – Dürnstein (B,L,D)
This morning, enjoy a guided tour of Göttweig Abbey, a true treasure overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley. Visible from great distance, it is one of Austria’s most important Benedictine abbeys and attracts visitors from all over the world and provides epic panoramas. Afterwards, your Star-Ship will sail through the fascinating Wachau Valley, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape, and on to Dürnstein. Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour from Krems to Dürnstein, passing terraced vineyards, castles and ruins along the way, before arriving where your Star-Ship is docked in Dürnstein. In the afternoon we arrive in Dürnstein; a small town nestled in the heart of the Wachau wine region. you will have the chance to hike to the medieval ruins of Dürnstein Castle, the site where King Richard I was held prisoner following his return from the Third Crusade, and part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape, a place peppered with natural lookout points that highlight the beauty of the region.
Included Excursion
Guided tour of Göttweig Abbey
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour along the Danube
Day 6 Engelhartszell – Passau (B,L,D)
After a morning of sailing along the Danube, we will take you into the heart of Passau. Nicknamed the Dreiflüssestadt, meaning the “the city of three rivers”, it is situated at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Your included guided tour of Passau will unveil its noteworthy Gothic and Baroque architecture. Or, if you’re feeling active, you could join a bike tour along the River Inn, one of the three rivers converging in Passau. After your tour, enjoy some free time to explore Passau at leisure, before an evening spent sailing towards Regensburg.
Included Excursion
Guided tour of Passau
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour along the River Inn
DiscoverMORE
Excursion to the Bavarian Forest (extra expense)
Day 7 Regensburg (B,L,D)
This morning we will arrive in Regensburg, a city built on the site of an ancient Roman fort. Your guided walking tour of Regensburg will showcase its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval centre, where narrow cobbled lanes and tall façades help to define the character of this enchanting Bavarian city. Alternatively, you could join a bike tour to the Walhalla monument which towers high above the slopes of the Danube. From here you can enjoy a fascinating view of the surrounding landscape and the river. This evening, enjoy a traditional Bavarian band on board.
EmeraldPLUS
Walking tour of Regensburg with Bavarian sausage tasting
EmeraldPLUS
Traditional Bavarian band performance on board
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour to the Walhalla monument
Day 8 Regensburg – Munich Disembarkation (B)
After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of Roman architecture and eclectic culture with you.
Please book your flight to depart out of Munich after 12:00 PM.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.
Flexible Booking Plan
| River Cruising | Yacht Cruising |
| $125 | $200 |
- Should you choose to defer or cancel your booking, the total monies paid to us (less third-party fees) will be applied as a Future Travel Credit which is valid for 24 months for you to use on an alternate tour/cruise.
- If you do not re-book within 24 months, your FTC it will be forfeited.
- Non-refundable. Non commissionable.
- Excludes Russia cruising.
- Not available to guests using COVID Future Travel Credits
Platinum Protection Plan
The Platinum Protection Plan (“PPP”) is available for new river and ocean cruising bookings for travel after 1 January 2022 for Scenic and Emerald Cruises (“Eligible Booking”). By adding this plan, you are covered if you unable to travel due to health reasons, or your travel plans are impacted by COVID-19, up to 31 days prior to departure with a 100% refund (less airline cancellation fees and PPP cost), or a 70% refund between 15 and 30 days prior to departure (less PPP cost). The PPP must be purchased together with the Eligible Booking at time such booking is made and may not be added at a later date. The PPP is provided at a cost of $395 per person per river cruise, $495 per person per cruise on Emerald Cruises yacht cruising and $595 per person per cruise on Scenic Eclipse voyages (“PPP Fee”).
Visa Requirements
Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders may require an ETIAS visa waiver from late 2023 when traveling to the E.U.
United Kingdom passport holders do not require visas (excluding tours that feature Russia and Turkey, where guests are required to obtain a Visa).
Visa regulations are subject to change at short notice, Scenic recommends that you contact the relevant Consulates for the latest information regarding visa requirements.
