While we’re waiting for travel to return, we’re doing a “DREAM” series of articles, where we revisit some of our favorite trips, and invite your comments. So far we’ve “visited” Paris and the beaches of Normandy: https://pamperedcruiser.com/im-dreaming-of-paris-right-now/
We’ve also been to the Lodges of Alaska: https://pamperedcruiser.com/guide-to-alaska-land-packages/
Today, we’ll dream about the Danube – one of the two most common river cruise experiences in Europe (the other is the Rhine). There are several different variations of this cruise, but if you travel from west to east, you’ll board your ship somewhere in southeast German province of Bavaria. Most of these cruises are 7-nights long, and you travel through Bavaria, Austria, and Slovakia before ending in Budapest, Hungary.
About half of Danube River Cruise guests extend their stay in Eastern Europe and include a visit to Prague (Czech Republic). Prague is the historical capital of Bohemia, and often described as “Paris of the East”. It bears some of the features that makes Paris famous: a river running through the center of town, tons of museums and cathedrals, and a sidewalk café food and drink culture.
If you want to see our video blogs of our trip to the Danube and Prague, here’s a link to that playlist on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVFxRaTWvnN1x-8f9dFUpUIN
What we like about this trip:
- Eastern Europe is “new”. For many of us that were travelling in Europe decades ago, it worth remembering that the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary were not open to us until the 1990s.
- Diversity of countries. All four (five if you go to Prague) of the countries visited are very different from each other and offer something unique to visitors.
- Walk off the ship. Almost every port puts you right in the middle of the place you’re visiting and doesn’t require a motor coach ride to get to the action.
- Variety. There is something for everyone on this cruise: The urban experience of Vienna and Budapest, the incredible scenery of the Wachau Valley, and the food and wine in Bavaria.
When to go:
- Danube River cruises are available from March through December.
- Any month of travel in northern Europe involves trade-offs. Spring in Bavaria, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary offers moderate weather, but with a wide range (45 to 75 degrees).
- July, August, and the first half of September all have reliably warm weather, but it is also very crowded in Europe during these months.
- October through December have fewer tourists, but the daylight hours are greatly reduced (remember that this entire stretch of the Danube is north of Montreal (in terms of latitude), so the days are short in November and December).
- Christmas Markets run from the last week in November through December and are most prevalent in Germany (although you’ll find some version just about everywhere).
Who it appeals to:
- People who have travelled Western Europe and want to branch a bit further out.
- Beer & Wine People. We typically associate Bavaria with Oktoberfest (a fair association!), but there are also several wineries worth visiting along the Danube.
- History Buffs. Rivers have been the transportation conduits in Europe for centuries, so much of the history of Europe over the past 2000 years takes place around its rivers.
- Scenery Lovers: When you see a photo of a lonely river ship winding its way through castle-dotted hills, that is probably the Danube River.
- We typically don’t see families with children on these cruises, but rather those in the 40 – 75 age group with an interest in one of the above things.
Insider Tip: There are a wide variety of itineraries available on this stretch of the Danube. Some focus much more on Bavaria, while others focus much more on Austria and Slovakia. Make sure you choose the itinerary that best suits your interests.
Alternatives to a Danube River Cruise:
Maybe you’ve already done this cruise or are looking for a similar option elsewhere. Here are some ideas:
- Great Lakes. There are 7-to-10-day cruises between Chicago and Toronto, and they are structured much like a river cruise: You start and finish in larger cities, but every day there is stop at some small township, where you can get out and immerse yourself in the local people and culture.
- Lower Danube. The source of the Danube is in the Swiss Alps (not far from where many cruises start/finish in Bavaria). It drains into the Black sea, and there are some cruises that you can board in Budapest, and then sail east through Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria, before finishing in Bucharest, Romania.
- Mississippi River Cruise. It is difficult to equate European history with American history, but the history of the Mississippi River IS the history of the United States. The most common river cruises on the Mississippi are 7-night cruises between New Orleans and Memphis, and 2-week summer cruises between New Orleans and Minneapolis.
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
