Danube Explorer & Highlights of Budapest on Emerald Star
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- (E) Stateroom
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$
4695
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- (D) Stateroom
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$5175
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- (C) Panorama Balcony Suite
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$6075
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- (B) Panorama Balcony Suite
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$6285
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- (A) Panorama Balcony Suite
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$6480
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- (S) Grand Balcony Suite
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$7450
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- (SA) Owner's Suite
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$8665
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All the River Operators Offers & More:
We have Low Prices on Emerald - Guaranteed!

Free Single Supplements
Free Single Supplements
Promotion Details
Free single supplement is available on select departures. Full payment required. Single supplement is applied to the 2 for 1 Fares; single guest pays one guest fare. Free single supplement is not combinable with any other offers. Other dates may have a 45% single supplement; can be converted to a 25% supplement when paid in full within 30 days of booking or 90 days prior to departure, whichever is soonest. Single supplement offers not applicable on S, RA or SA categories. Not combinable with any other offers. Offer is capacity controlled.

$300 Military and First Responder Savings
$300 Military and First Responder Savings
Promotion Details
US military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families take an additional $150 per person savings on Emerald Cruises River with proof of current or past military status. This offer is combinable with 2-for-1 savings, pay-in-full offers, key account exclusives, Flash sales, Scenic Select, and Emerald Cruises. Combinable with groups. Not combinable with any other offers. Taxes & port charges are included in the price. Offer available to residents of the 50 United States only. Offers may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Visit scenicusa.com for complete terms and conditions.

Explore Flexible Fare Options
Explore Flexible Fare Options
Promotion Details
Full Fares: Full Fares reflect full fare pricing and include applicable port charges. Deposit is due within 48 hours of booking, with final payment due no later than 90 days prior to departure. Fares displayed are based on double-occupancy cabins unless otherwise noted. Standard Fares are combinable with flash sales, boosts, account exclusive offers, Military and First Responder offers, wire savings, and group bookings. Standard Fares are not combinable with EDO, third-party offers, interline rates, or other low- or non-revenue offers. Additional restrictions may apply.
Select Fares: Select Fares offer up to 15% savings off Standard Fare pricing and include applicable port charges. Deposit is due within 48 hours of booking, with final payment due no later than 120 days prior to departure. Select Fare promotions expire 120 days prior to sailing. Any percentage-based savings are calculated on the base cruise fare only and exclude port charges, air, land programs, transfers, hotel stays, or other supplemental offers included in the booking. Fares displayed are based on double-occupancy cabins unless otherwise noted. Select Fares are combinable with flash sales, boosts, account-exclusive offers, Military and First Responder offers, wire savings, and group bookings. Select Fares are not combinable with EDO, third-party offers, interline rates, or other low- or non-revenue offers. Additional restrictions may apply.
Preferred Fares: Preferred Fares offer up to 15% savings off Standard Fare pricing and include applicable port charges. Preferred Fares include complimentary air on select departures or enhanced savings in lieu of air, depending on the promotion selected. Deposit is due at the time of booking. For sailings outside of 10 months, full payment is due 10 months prior to departure. For sailings within 10 months, full payment is due within 30 days of booking or at standard final payment date, whichever occurs first. Any percentage-based savings are calculated on the base cruise fare only and exclude port charges, air, land programs, transfers, hotel stays, or other supplemental offers included in the booking. Air offers are subject to availability and are booked at Emerald Cruises’ discretion on its choice of airline and routing. Complimentary air has a maximum ticket value of $2,000 per guest. Reduced-rate air also has a maximum ticket value of $2,000 per guest, inclusive of the reduced fare amount paid by the guest. Air offers are available to residents of the United States of America only; guests from Latin America will receive "in lieu of air" savings offer. Preferred Fare promotions expire 120 days prior to sailing. Fares displayed are based on double-occupancy cabins unless otherwise noted. Preferred Fares are combinable with flash sales, boosts, account-exclusive offers, Military and First Responder offers, wire savings, and group bookings. Preferred Fares are not combinable with EDO, third-party offers, interline rates, or other low- or non-revenue offers. Additional restrictions may apply.
Preferred+ Fares: Preferred+ Fares provide an additional $300 savings per guest and is offered as a combinable promotion. Full payment is due within 7 days of booking. Preferred+ bookings are non-refundable once paid. Preferred+ are combinable with Preferred Fares, as well as boosts, account-exclusive offers, Military and First Responder offers, wire savings, and other eligible promotions. Not combinable with group bookings, EDOs, third-party offers, interline rates, or other low- or non-revenue offers. Additional restrictions may apply.
All offers are inventory-controlled and may be extended, cancelled, or withdrawn at any time without notice. Emerald Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change all fares and promotions at any time. Port charges are included in the price shown. For the most up-to-date pricing, availability, and offers, please visit emeraldcruises.com or contact your Professional Travel Advisor. Offers applicable for residents of the 50 United States of America & Washington D.C.
- Day 1Munich – PassauTue, Aug 11, 2026
Welcome to Munich, where you will be greeted by one of our Emerald Cruises representatives and transferred to your contemporary Star-Ship in Passau. A warm welcome awaits you from the captain and crew, and this evening, you’ll join your fellow guests for dinner on board.
Please book your flight to arrive into Munich prior to 02:00 PM.
Meals: Dinner - Day 2PassauWed, Aug 12, 2026
Today, you’ll sample homemade specialities and explore the customs and traditions of Bavarian agriculture during a visit to a local farm. Alternatively, you can set off on a hike, soaking up views such as the hilltop church of Mariahilf and the ancient St. Severin, dating back to the Ottonian dynasty.
EmeraldPLUS
Bavarian Countryside ExperienceEmeraldACTIVE
Hike to Veste OberhausDiscoverMORE
Bavaria Live (extra expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 3Linz – Ceský KrumlovThu, Aug 13, 2026
Crossing the border into the Czech Republic, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Ceský Krumlov. This quaint town has one of the best-preserved ancient centres in Europe, with more than three hundred protected medieval buildings and an iconic castle complex. Enjoy a guided tour of the area, including the 15th century St. Vitus’ Church and a series of delightful Gothic façades, each taking you back to the Middle Ages.
EmeraldPLUS
Guided tour of Ceský KrumlovDiscoverMORE
Walking tour of Linz with a Linzer Torte tasting (extra expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner - Day 4Melk – WeissenkirchenFri, Aug 14, 2026
Enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Danube River en-route to Melk. Here, you’ll explore the golden halls of Melk Abbey on today’s included tour.
Afterwards, you’ll have the choice to sail through the idyllic Wachau Valley to Weissenkirchen, or if you’re feeling active cycle from Melk along the Danube River, traversing a route that offers a different perspective on the region’s viticulture.
Included Excursion
Tour of Melk AbbeyEmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour along the DanubeEmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike in WeissenkirckenDiscoverMORE
Wachau Experience (extra expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 5ViennaSat, Aug 15, 2026
Discover the classical charms of Vienna as we take you through the city. Uncover the cafés, artisan studios and baroque majesty of Vienna's imperial grandeur. A drive around the Ringstraße will introduce you to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre. Alternatively, enjoy a bike tour along the serene trails on Donauinsel, the Danube Island.
Included Excursion
Guided tour of ViennaEmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour in ViennaDiscoverMORE
Exclusive Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 6Vienna - BratislavaSun, Aug 16, 2026
This morning you will sail to Bratislava. Explore the city’s historic architecture on an included guided tour, where everything is within walking distance, including the ornate exterior of the Slovak National Theatre. This afternoon, enjoy a guided hike to the fairy tale-like Bratislava Castle.
Included Excursion
Guided tour of BratislavaEmeraldPLUS
Local Slovakian entertainment on boardEmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Bratislava CastleDiscoverMORE
Carpathian Wine Route (extra expense)DiscoverMORE
Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 7BudapestMon, Aug 17, 2026
This morning, relax on board your Star-Ship while we sail from Slovakia to Hungary. In Budapest, an exciting program awaits you. As you sail into this magnificent city, it becomes immediately apparent why the Hungarian capital is known as the ‘Pearl of the Danube’. In the afternoon, explore the city's cobbled medieval quarter as you embark on a coach tour through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre. Your guide will teach you about the Hungarian capital's culinary scene while touring the neo-Gothic Grand Market, Budapest's largest and most expansive indoor market, where you'll have time to explore independently.
Included Excursion
Budapest tour with Grand Market visitEmeraldPLUS
Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 8BudapestTue, Aug 18, 2026
Venture into the city independently to explore Budapest's hidden treasures.If you're feeling more active, you can instead choose to hike to Gellert Hill. The surrounding area has been rebuilt several times, most recently following the air raids of WWII. Some 18th-century Baroque houses still stand, best explored from the medieval paths and alleyways of the area around Buda Castle.
EmeraldACTIVE
Hike to Gellert HillDiscoverMORE
Tour to Szentendre (extra expense)DiscoverMORE
Jewish heritage tour (extra expense)DiscoverMORE
Budapest by Night (extra expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 9BudapestWed, Aug 19, 2026
On your last full day in Budapest, we invite you to a special dinner and a traditional folklore show for a truly immersive local experience. This is a great chance to bid farewell to your fellow travellers before going home.
EmeraldPLUS
Dinner & Folklore Show in BudapestDiscoverMORE
Retro tour of post-Communist Budapest (extra expense)DiscoverMORE
Etyek Uncorked (extra expense, only available on select dates)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 10BudapestThu, Aug 20, 2026
After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests. Disembark your Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of apricot orchards and ancient Roman cities 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 for further information.
Meals: Breakfast
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Fabulous experience! As usual I was extremely nervous about traveling and all of the things that “could” go wrong. Everything that AffordableTours.com promised was executed without a hitch! It was a wonderful trip and incredible service from AffordableTours.com and their team members. Thank you!
Although this is my first river cruise, so I cannot compare with other companies, I was very happy with Emerald with a few exceptions. They advertise that it is all inclusive and do offer several free tour options at each port, but that also sell Discovery options that are more money. We did 4 of those which increased the cost for 2 by $600. If you like to workout, forget the gym, which had one rowing machine, an exercise bike and some dumbbells with enough room for 3 people at most. The staff were all great, the food was very good and the itinerary was excellent. They have a small swimming pool and late night activities. Good diversity with most people from US, Canada, Australia and new Zealand.
Our third river cruise but found the baths on this particular ship to be very small. The crew, though, was excellent, especially the director!
I absolutely loved the cities and towns we visited. I met mant new friends on this trip. The staff were very friendly, professional and attentive to my needs.

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Land and river tours were excellent. Emerald was extremely efficient in all manners.