Welcome to Hungary and the start of your Danube river cruise. The vibrant city of Budapest is an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. 

Settle in to your spacious suite, then join your fellow guests for a welcome reception and toast to the start of an exciting cruise ahead. You will remain docked in Budapest overnight, so you can also set out to explore the city’s famed nightlife if you wish. 

Please book your flight to arrive into Budapest prior to 05:00 PM.

Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, the Hungarian capital became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two. With its breathtaking architecture, romantic cobblestone streets, a thriving culinary scene and grand thermal baths, the Hungarian capital is a feast for the senses. Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, it’s an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. Your ship will remain docked here overnight, giving you a chance to experience some of Budapest’s legendary nightlife.

Scenic Freechoice:
Choose from a range of Scenic Freechoice activities on offer this morning:

Budapest in depth with piano recital: Discover the highlights of Budapest by coach and on foot. Starting in Buda, see the Várkert Bazár then cross the Margaret Bridge to Pest and wander Széchenyi Square and Elizabeth Square. End your tour with a mesmerising piano recital at the Institute for the Blind.

Guided hike of Buda: Take a beautiful hike to the World Heritage-listed Buda Hill. Starting at Batthyány Square, you’ll wind upwards through narrow cobbled streets and past beautifully landscaped gardens to reach the hill, with its spectacular views back over the town and river. 

Excursion to Szentendre: Travel to the colourful riverside town of Szentendre, where its distinctive Mediterranean atmosphere has inspired generations of artists. A guided walking excursion takes you through the old town and to the Kovacs Magrit Museum before some free time.

Etyek region wineries & vineyards: Called the ‘vineyard of Budapest’, Etyek is a small wine region known for its crisp aromatic whites and sparkling wine. Visit one of its charming boutique wineries to experience the blend of wine, culture and natural beauty that makes it unique.

Your 5-star Space-Ship will depart Budapest later this afternoon, allowing you some free time to explore the city on your own. Pack your swimsuit and make your way to one of Budapest’s thermal baths for a relaxing soak in the therapeutic waters or perhaps explore the Central Market Hall.

Bratislava is a living monument to history, from its ninth century castle to the medieval and Gothic Old Town and the socialist architecture of the 20th century. The capital of Slovakia since independence in 1993, this modern multicultural metropolis is split across two banks of the Danube. Its home to museums and galleries, excellent restaurants and leafy parks. 

Scenic Freechoice:
As we dock in the city centre, this today’s Scenic Freechoice excursions are just steps away.

Walking tour of Bratislava: Hear the fascinating stories of Bratislava on a guided walking tour. Take a short stroll from the ship to see the city highlights, including the Hlavné Námestie (main square), Old Town Hall and St Martin’s Cathedral.

Carpathian Wine Tasting: Wine has been grown in Slovakia for more than 3,000 years, with its cool climate producing excellent reds, whites and sparkling. On this guided tour, you’ll visit a local winery in the Carpathian wine region located just outside Bratislava, learn about viticulture in the region and sample their top wines.

Welcome to Vienna, the capital of Austria and a centre of art, music and culture. The city fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, and oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces, a vibrant coffee-house scene, and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums.

Scenic Freechoice:
Choose from these Scenic Freechoice activities today.

Cycle to Danube Island: Visit Danube Island on a guided e-bike tour. This urban playground is where the locals of Vienna come for bathing, boating and relaxing on its picturesque beaches.

Belvedere Museum: Explore the greatest collection of Austrian art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, housed inside the spectacular Baroque style Belvedere Museum. There are also works from renowned artists like Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Max Beckmann.

Central Vienna with free time: Get a taste of the real Vienna on a guided tour with a local guide, introducing you to the city’s history, art and architecture. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to explore at your leisure.

Vienna wine stories: Visit Austria’s oldest wine estate, Klosterneuburg Abbey, which has been producing wine for 900 years. Explore the serene halls and magnificent Imperial Apartments, before a guided tasting inside the historic winery.

Scenic Enrich
Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein this evening as you relish an exclusive private classical concert. Enjoy a glass of fine Austrian Sekt and listen to the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart performed by a magnificent orchestra. An experience only shared with your fellow Scenic guests, you’ll be seated in Vienna’s largest secular Baroque hall, an ornate space where royals and nobles have sat for centuries. Accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists and surrounded by world-famous art, this will be a concert that you’ll remember for a lifetime. 

This morning your Space-Ship will dock in the quaint town of Dürnstein, in Austria’s Wachau Valley, home to the country’s most famous wine region. This small region has around 120 wineries, many of which have been owned by the same family for generations. It produces mostly Riesling and Grüner Veltliner, a traditionally Austrian white wine with spicy, peppery and tangy flavours.

Over lunch, cruise through the Wachau Valley where you will be mesmerised by the sloping vineyards and charming villages, before arriving in Melk. The town of Melk itself is best known for its dramatic, World Heritage-listed Benedictine Abbey, which towers above it from a rocky outcrop. 

Scenic Freechoice:
This afternoon offers a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from.

Tour of Melk Abbey: Admire the brightly coloured façade, ornately decorated rooms and elaborate frescoed ceilings of the 18th century Melk Abbey. Marvel at the library, filled with more than 80,000 books and medieval manuscripts.

E-biking from Dürnstein to Melk: Embark on a guided e-bike ride to soak up the scenery along the Danube as you cycle from the quaint village of Dürnstein to Melk. You’ll pass by small villages and through rolling vineyards, stopping along the way to enjoy the river views.

Wachau Valley wine tasting: Admire the picturesque scenery of the Wachau Valley as you drive to one of its best wineries. Meet the winemaker, learn about the celebrated wine culture of the Wachau, and taste local specialties like Riesling and Grüner Veltliner.

On board this afternoon, join an informative talk on the production of local wines and schnapps and taste some varieties. 

After a short stop in Brandstatt, arrive in Passau. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, it was an important trading point for centuries. It was also a significant town in the Holy Roman Empire and the charming Old Town was mostly built by powerful prince-bishops in an Italianate style. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Take your pick from the following Scenic Freechoice excursions.

Full day excursion to Salzburg: Cross the border into Salzburg, Austria, a storybook city surrounded by alpine peaks and best known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music. On a guided tour, learn about its art and music scene, visit Mozart’s birthplace, and see the vast Hohensalzburg Fortress. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and some free time.

Full day excursion to Ceský Krumlov: Journey to the Czech town of Ceský Krumlov, a World Heritage site brimming with charm. Explore with your local guide, admire the well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

Highlights of Passau: Join your local guide on a walking tour, admiring the brightly coloured buildings that line the waterways. Visit St Stephens Cathedral, originally built in the year 450 but destroyed by fire in 1662 and rebuilt in the Baroque style.

Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany’s best preserved Medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as World Heritage sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Today, Regensburg offers a selection of Scenic Freechoice activities to choose from:

Walking tour of Regensburg: On the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, Regensburg is known as the best-preserved Medieval city in Germany. Guests will join a walking tour with a local guide to see the old stone bridge, the Church of St James, and the Porta Praetoria.

Weltenburg Abbey: Take a ferry through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey, the oldest monastery in Bavaria, founded by monks in approximately 600AD. Explore the Abbey and Cloister Church, then sample the award-winning beer produced on site since 1050.

Bavarian beer tasting: Learn about intricacies of beer making and the region's rich brewing heritage than spans over 1,000 years and is a valued part of the regions culture. Visit a traditional brewery to taste a variety of distinctive Bavarian brews.

Journey by coach to Prague, and spend three nights at a city central hotel.

Join your expert local guide to explore Prague in all its Gothic glory including the Old Town, the famous Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge, commissioned in 1357 by Charles IV. This afternoon, stroll this magnificent city at your leisure. Situated on the banks of the River Vltava in central Bohemia, Prague is rich in history and home to some of the world’s most striking architectural wonders.

Scenic Freechoice:
Today, explore Prague with your choice of Scenic Freechoice activities.

Communist walk of Prague with beer tasting: Join an expert local guide for a walking tour of Prague’s famous sites and hidden gems and learn about everyday life under Communism. Visit a local brewery for a tasting of local beers.

Terezin Memorial: Head to the town of Terezin, a former military fortress and location of the Theresienstadt Ghetto to learn about the horrors committed during the Nazi occupation.

Prague Castle Tour: Explore Prague Castle, considered one of the largest castles in the world. Visit St. Vitus Cathedral, the grandest cathedral in the Czech Republic, the Old Royal palace, former residence of Bohemian Royalty, and the picturesque Golden Lane.

Depart after breakfast, taking many wonderful memories with you.

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.