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Illuminations on the Danube (Eastbound) 2027

From Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary
Length: 10 Days - Departs: Wed, Jun 02, 2027
Operator
Ship
Departure
Jun 02, 2027
Arrival
Jun 11, 2027

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River Cruise Itinerary

Cruise along the peaceful Danube River through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary—stopping at some of Central Europe’s most splendid capitals and charming towns along the way. Visit Passau, Germany—called the “City of Three Rivers” at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers. Take a guided walking tour to admire the Patrician houses and baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In Linz, Austria, walk around the Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square. Enjoy the magnificent views as your Danube River cruise takes you through the picturesque wine region of the Wachau Valley. Stops include Melk to visit the magnificent Benedictine Abbey and Krems. Vienna, the “City of Music,” makes an immediate impression with its lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace and neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House. Enjoy a guided tour of this magical city and take time to explore on your own. In Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, take a guided walk through the delightful Old Town and to the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. Sail to Esztergom for a visit to its Basilica and a Palinka tasting, then continue to Visegrad for a canoe excursion along the Danube river or a hike in the Danube-Ipoly National Park. In Budapest, the vibrant capital of Hungary, a local expert shows you all the must-see sights. Then to round out this timeless European river cruise, take a stroll along Váci utca—the main shopping street, or take pictures from Fishermen’s Bastion for the best panoramic views of Budapest. This Danube River cruise explores the legendary beauty and remarkable destinations you’ll never forget.

  1. Day 1
    VILSHOFEN, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)
    Wed, Jun 02, 2027
    Welcome to Germany. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

    Flights into Munich must arrive by 2 pm.

    Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

    Explore your ship and enjoy dinner on your first evening on board.

    EVENING CRUISE TO PASSAU

    (D)

  2. Day 2
    PASSAU–SCHLÖGEN OXBOW
    Thu, Jun 03, 2027
    Where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers Meet

    ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host for Hiking from Oberhaus along a trail down to the valley and along Ilz River, OR:

    CLASSIC Join a Guided City Walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers".

    Before sailing to Linz, take a little free time to explore Passau’s cobblestone streets and galleries of Artists’ Alley. Maybe stop at St. Stephen’s Cathedral to catch a concert rehearsal.

    This afternoon, cruise to Linz through the Danube’s dramatic horseshoe bend called Schlögen Oxbow.

    Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

    OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LINZ

    (B,L,D)

  3. Day 3
    LINZ, AUSTRIA
    Fri, Jun 04, 2027
    Legendary and Lovely Linz

    Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

    ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a bike ride along the Danube, OR:

    CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz—Austria’s largest medieval square—and the towering white-marble Trinity Column.

    Consider a full-day Guided Optional Excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart, or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.

    You may otherwise spend the afternoon on a biking picnic along the banks of the Danube or hike through Linz’s beautiful nature trails to Pöstlingberg for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.

    OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK

    (B,L,D)

  4. Day 4
    MELK–WACHAU VALLEY
    Sat, Jun 05, 2027
    Frescoes Above and Vineyards Below

    CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ.

    Later, stretch out on the Sky Deck as you sail through the Wachau Valley past vineyards, castles, and charming villages on your way to Krems.

    KREMS An Ancient Village and Vintages of the Wachau Valley

    ACTIVE Experience Wachau valley by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

    CLASSIC Join a guided walk to explore this small valley town, seemingly untouched by the new world.

    This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

    OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA

    (B,L,D)


  5. Day 5
    VIENNA, AUSTRIA
    Sun, Jun 06, 2027
    Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel and Sachertorte Viennese Waltzes on the Blue Danube

    ACTIVE Explore Vienna's Danube Island by Bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

    DISCOVERY Take an Insider’s Tour of Vienna to get behind the scenes of her sights and attractions. You will meet locals, have the chance to prepare some food, and enjoy other surprises, OR:

    CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Vienna, including a tour of Belvedere Palace to see Gustave Klimt’s renowned “Kiss” painting.

    Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse then take a break for a piece of Sachertorte. Or enjoy an optional excursion in Schönbrunn.

    OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA

    (B,L,D)

  6. Day 6
    VIENNA
    Mon, Jun 07, 2027
    Feast for the Soul

    DISCOVERY Enjoy a morning Guided Walking Tour to see the city in her best light, along with breakfast at a Viennese café.

    Spend free time to explore the city on your own. You might take a bike ride through the city and stop in a local café to enjoy Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel.

    This evening consider joining an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.

    OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA

    (B,L,D)

  7. Day 7
    BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA
    Tue, Jun 08, 2027
    Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle

    Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

    ACTIVE Follow your Avalon Adventure Host on a hike to lofty Bratislava Castle, OR:

    CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk, including the quaint streets of Old Town, Town Hall, and the sight of royal coronations at St. Martin’s Cathedral.

    Enjoy free time to discover on your own Bratislava, the beautiful capital of Slovakia, rich in history and culture, but also a green city with its forests and parks just a hop away from the city center.

    Later, relax on board with live entertainment.

    OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ESZTERGROM

    (B,L,D)

  8. Day 8
    ESZTERGOM, HUNGARY
    Wed, Jun 09, 2027
    Mountains Views and Pàlinka

    ACTIVE Take an E-bike Guided Tour and explore the surroundings of the Pilis Mountains Region. Enjoy the view from the lockout point at Dobogókő, OR:

    CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour into the scenic Carpathian Basin for a visit of the ancient Esztergom Basilica that includes the traditional Pàlinka tasting in its impressive cellar.

    Enjoy a brief cruise to Visegrad during lunchtime.

    VISEGRÁD

    Jousting Tournaments and Dracula’s Tower

    ACTIVE Explore Hungary’s beautiful Danube-Ipoly National Park and visit Count Dracula’s prison tower on a Hiking Tour, OR:

    ACTIVE Take part in a Canoe Excursion through the picturesque Bend Region of the Danube for a truly unique perspective of one of the river’s most beautiful stretches, OR:

    DISCOVERY Join a Guided Visit to the Medieval Knights Tournament at Visegrád’s Lower Castle, featuring targeting and fighting demonstrations by members of the St. George Knightly Order.

    Spend free time after your selected activities to explore Palotaház, where stonemasons, smiths, potters, and paper-makers produce their traditional items using age-old techniques.

    This evening, enjoy a sailing into Budapest and magnificent views of the beautiful Parliament Building.

    OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST

    (B,L,D)



  9. Day 9
    BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
    Thu, Jun 10, 2027
    War Heroes and Hot Water

    ACTIVE Hike up to a magnificent viewpoint in Budapest with your Adventure Host, OR:

    CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Sightseeing, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.

    This afternoon choose among a wide offer of Optional Guided Excursions or take in the beauty of Budapest while enjoying some free time exploring such famous sights as the Chain Bridge. Get to know the city’s cafés and pubs, or take a hike through the hills above the Danube.

    OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BUDAPEST

    (B,L,D)

  10. Day 10
    BUDAPEST (DISEMBARKATION)
    Fri, Jun 11, 2027
    Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

    (B)

Countries Visited

Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia

Rivers Visited

Danube

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Inclusions

  • In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
  • Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
  • Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

Meals:



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Ship Information

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Cabins

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Life on Board

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Questions & Answers
  Ask A Question

Question: Will the day-by-day itinerary change?

Yes, the river cruise itineraries may change due to reasons such as inclement weather or unforeseen events. Your safety is the number one concern aboard and all precautions necessary will be taken in order to ensure passenger safety, including changing itineraries. Please note that when itineraries do change, the ship staff will do their best to substitute any missed port with an alternative destination.

Question: In what language is the river cruise conducted?

The river cruise will be conducted in English only.

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
4.4
Accommodations
4.5
Itinerary
4.3
Professional Staff
4.6
Repeat with Operator
4.3
Value for Money
4.1

Ratings based off 77 reviews - currently showing 15 reviews with comments only

Avalon cruise on Rhine and Mosel met our expectations, and we were treated to a first class experience.

The food was awesome, better than expected.

The trip I booked was everything promised. The Paris to Normandy trip was great as was the extension trip to London. I appreciated the ability to upgrade the train trip to first class.

This was our first river cruise. We had taken a motor coach tour before. It is truly advantageous to take your room with. The crew of the ship were great. The cruise director was great. Overall the cruise was a fun trip and a great value.

Everything went as planned and schedules. Excellent tour guide, Isabel was always available and kept us well informed. Two come n on board entertainment groups were a highlight. Very versatile. .

Trip was great and everything went smooth except for getting thru the airports. This of course was not your fault. Will think twice before taking another international flight.

Avalon is a beautiful cruise line - the Imagery II is a beautiful ship, spotless, everything on it in perfect condition. Very large room, the glass wall that opens is great, and a very spacious, lovely bathroom. The service was superb. It was our first river cruise and we loved it!

The Avalon River Cruise was excellent. Had a great time and the cost of the cruise included just about everything.

Avalon Waterways went out of their way to make us have a good time. It was better than I expected.

The entire staff was friendly, courteous, competent, and professional. The meals were superb and the ship was fabulous. We would sail again with Avalon!

Our Avalon river cruise was everything we expected and more. The on-board staff was friendly and courteous, the tour director thorough and knowledgeable, and the ship and accommodations clean and comfortable. The food: superb!!

Overall, we enjoyed our vacation with Avalon Waterways and felt we received excellent customer service from all. Our Cruise Director was good, but not great, seemed a little less than fully engaged at times. This is a minor point and not meant to detract from our Captain and crew, nor the city tour guides we had, who were largely excellent.

This was our fifth river cruise, but first one with Avalon. The room was very nice with a very comfortable bed and large bathroom and shower. The staff was very helpful and friendly with very good food and wine at the meals. There was one day of only river cruising, no port stops, that seemed a little boring. For some, it may have been nice to sleep late and not do anything. We would have liked to have had some onboard options of activities (i.e. demonstrations, lectures, movies, etc.). We love river cruises due to the size of the boat, ease of getting on/off the boat at ports and ability to get to know the staff and fellow passengers due to the smaller number of passengers.

Very professional - wonderful crew and trip!

Everything was great. The motel in Prague was in a great location and the room was nice but for the stained carpet and the lack off air in halls and lobby so so. Thanks

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