Authentic Danube (2022)
Go off the beaten path from Vienna to Nuremberg and uncover the scenic wonders and remarkable histories of the cities that rest along the Danube. As your adventure starts, castles, stunning architecture, natural wonders and rich history ensue.Go off the beaten path from Vienna to Nuremberg and uncover the scenic wonders and remarkable histories of the cities that rest along the Danube. As your adventure starts, castles, stunning architecture, natural wonders and rich history ensue.
Enjoy the great outdoors and bespoke experiences along the Danube in cities that inspired fairy tales. Discover the old walled city and Nuremberg’s mesmerizing castles on the Nuremberg Panoramic City Tour. Confront and explore the region’s complicated and devastating history as you visit infamous Nazi documentation centers and party rally grounds. Stroll through countless enchanting old towns and villages, all teeming with magnificent architecture, age-old tradition and outstanding breweries. Explore Weissenkirchen and its devastatingly-beautiful landscapes. Participate in a “Village Day,” and stroll through towns accompanied by wine, apricot treats and a vineyard hike. In the historical capital of Vienna, you’ll be met with Austrian grandeur and mystique on your search for new inspiration along the Danube.
Generations Family Program (select sailings)
Share the enchantment of this region with the special young people in your life. These cruise/tours not only feature unique, fun-filled adventures for families to enjoy together, they’re also packed with culturally and historically significant experiences designed to spark creativity and lifelong learning.
Generations Excursions:
- Magical history tour
Watch as history comes alive on this exploration of the city at the interactive multimedia venue Time Travel Vienna. Discover Vienna’s eventful history in a unique way; Time Travel Vienna features a 5D cinema, animatronic wax figures, rides and multimedia shows equipped with extraordinary sound and light effects. After, you’ll embark on a humorous and expertly-led walk around the city that will bring you to the historic St. Stephen's Cathedral.
- Schönbrunn royal experience
Learn more about the everyday life of the imperial family at the “Schloss Schönbrunn Experience” Children’s Museum. Dress up as a prince or princess, learn the secret language of fans, play with imperial toys or set the table for an imperial dinner. Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, is a stunning 1,441 room Baroque palace that’s revered as one of the most important architectural and historical monuments in the country. Marvel at its over 300 years of history that reflect the changing tastes of former monarchs and wander through its vast gardens.
These excursions are only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
The city of Vienna is famous for its charm and beauty, but it’s also full of mystery under the surface. Uncover the many secrets of Vienna with your guide as you head all over town, diving deep into the city’s past at such historical sites as the allegedly haunted Imperial Palace.
The star of our tour is Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, whose gothic spire and extravagantly tiled roofs are an iconic element of Vienna’s cityscape. Also known as the Stephansdom, this nearly millennium-old building has seen many architectural changes over the centuries and features various secret signs and symbols, added to send covert messages to those who could decipher them. Luckily, your guide can help you do just that.
Other Excursions:
The Babenbergs, a great medieval ducal family that controlled a wide swath of Austria before yielding to the Habsburgs, were the first to erect a castle on the hill above Melk, which they subsequently gave to Benedictine monks. These monks, some 900 years ago, turned it into a fortified abbey—and the greatest center of learning in Central Europe. Their library was celebrated far and wide (and still is; Umberto Eco paid tribute to it in his best-selling novel The Name of the Rose). Medieval monks there created more than 1,200 manuscripts, sometimes spending an entire lifetime hand-lettering a single volume. Today the library contains some 100,000 volumes, among them more than 80,000 works printed before 1800. This beautiful complex, completely redone in the early 18th century, is a wonderful example of baroque art and architecture, and the views from its terrace are spectacular. As you walk through the abbey’s Marble Hall with your guide, look up at the ceiling fresco painted by Paul Troger: Those classical gods and goddesses represent Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, allegorically bringing his people from dark to light and demonstrating the link he claimed to the original Roman Empire.
After your tour of the abbey, you’ll have time to explore Melk on your own, or you can take the motorcoach back to the ship.
You’ve seen the apricot orchards along the river banks; now taste the fruit. Begin with an easy walk to Weissenkirchen, which may be the prettiest village in the Wachau—and that’s saying quite a bit. Named for its famous white church, Weissenkirchen is simply picture-perfect. Its centuries-old wine estates, houses with colorful flower boxes, lovely gardens and apricot orchards make for a wonderfully idyllic setting between the river and the mountains. Later, sample some Wachau wines at a local winery where your guide will share various details about why these extraordinary wines are so unique.
If you're up for a hike, join a group on a hike up through the vineyards. A stairway at the church will take you past the ancient cemetery and up to the hiking trail that leads through the vineyards planted with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner grapes. You'll enjoy expansive views over the river valley as you approach your resting point. An easy walk back to the ship; instead of a reverse hike, you can comfortably stroll back into the village via a different route, passing many small vintners along the way.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Featured Excursion:
- “Let’s Go” scenic Bavarian river biking
Generations Excursions:
- Pedal Passau
Head out on a cycling excursion on the famous Danube Bike Trail, venturing through Passau, Engelhartszell and other fascinating locales. This flat pathway hugs the river and offers spectacular views of Germany’s lush scenery. The Danube Bike Trail is one of Europe's largest, following stretches of the Danube in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
- Ilz River splash
Enjoy an afternoon on the water with the chance to try out rowing, canoeing or paddle-boarding on the Ilz River, nicknamed the “Black Pearl,” due to the moors and bogs at its river basin that give the water a mesmerizing black color. The Ilz is a paradise for kayakers and paddle boarders alike and allows people of all experience levels to have fun here.
- Treasure hunt trek
Join a local geocaching guide on a unique discovery of Passau’s historical and hidden spots. Pay close attention to clues and hints as you make your way from one station to the next, uncovering important historical information about your current location. Each station also includes a special activity for kids.
These excursions are only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
The skyline of Passau is dominated by two buildings that owe their existence to the prince-bishops who ruled the city until 1803: the great fortress looming on a hill above the three rivers, home to the bishops until the 17th century, and the green onion domes of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. As you walk through the cobblestone streets toward those green onion domes, you’ll realize that Passau retains the layout of the medieval town. However, many of the wooden medieval buildings burned to the ground in the 17th century, and the prince-bishops imported Italian artists to build a new cathedral and a grand new residence for the bishops themselves. As a result, these splendid structures aunt Italian baroque and rococo style and ornamentation, complete with opulent gilding and wonderful frescoes. Your guide will introduce you to some of the architectural highlights—the rococo stairways of the New Residence; the cathedral; and the Town Hall, which boasts a magnificent atrium adorned by large paintings by Ferdinand Wagner—and make sure you get a close-up view of the point where the three rivers meet: The waters of each one are a different color. Because it’s built on a peninsula between the Danube and the Inn, the city has flooded often over the centuries; you can see high-water marks on many buildings (2013 saw the worst flooding in 500 years).
Featured Excursion:
- Bavarian Forest Adventure
Generations Excursion:
- Into the woods This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Generations Excursion:
- Revved engines
Tour BMW’s state-of-the-art facility with an expert guide and see how their cars are produced from start to finish. Put on your safety goggles and factory coats and watch how massive conveyors lift the 3-series BMW up to be welded by computer-controlled robots. This tour offers a captivating look at the production of “the ultimate driving machine.”
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
People have been describing Regensburg as “old and new” for a thousand years. A single structure perfectly illustrates this: Porta Praetoria, the gate built by the Romans during Marcus Aurelius’s reign. The gate and adjacent watchtower have been incorporated into a much newer building, but the plaster has been removed to reveal the ancient stones laid so long ago. As you walk through the cobbled lanes of the UNESCO-designated Old Town, the city’s 2,000-year history is similarly revealed: the Stone Bridge that made Regensburg a 12th-century trading powerhouse, the Gothic town hall where the Imperial Diet met for three centuries, the 13th-century fortified patrician houses, and the spectacular Cathedral of St. Peter, whose magnificent 14th-century stained-glass windows alone are worth your walk. You’ll have free time to explore on your own; it’s very hard to get lost in Regensburg because the spires of the cathedral are visible all over town, so don’t hesitate to roam. The historic quarter not only boasts almost a thousand beautiful old buildings but also many cozy pubs and some great shopping—and the ship is docked conveniently close, so it’s easy to drop your treasures off and go back for more.
Hops vines grow up their strings in a field tower almost twice a person’s height. They’re grown for their flowers, which add a distinctive flavor to beer—but the fields they grow in add a distinctive flavor to the hops. You could call it terroir for beer, and you can delve into hops cultivation and hops brewing today. Travel through Bavaria’s Holledau region, the largest hops growing district in the world, and meet an enthusiastic ambassador of hops growing and beer making. She will give you a quick and lively history of hops in Germany—including Bavaria’s law governing the making of beer, which has specified since 1560 that the only ingredients permitted in beer are water, barley and hops—and lead you on a tour through the growing fields her family owns, followed by a craft beer tasting in the cozy barn turned beer hall. It’s a delicious way to get to know a fascinating aspect of the international farm-to-table movement.
Generations Excursion:
- Nuremberg climbing forest This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
Hitler considered Nuremberg the perfect expression of German culture (partly because of its significance in the Holy Roman Empire, which he called the First Reich), and so beginning in 1927, he chose to hold his massive rallies in the city. By 1933, his favorite architect, Albert Speer, had designed the vast Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where thousands upon thousands of Nazi troops saluted Hitler. (Leni Riefenstahl captured these events in her famous propaganda film Triumph of the Will.) Not all of Speer’s plans were executed, and some of his grandiose structures were bombed out of existence, but the remainder stand as vivid testimony to Hitler’s megalomania. A four-square-mile (10-square-kilometer) complex known as Zeppelin Fields contains parade grounds and a huge grandstand, the excavation site where a stadium for 400,000 people was begun—the hole is now filled with water—and the half-finished Congress Hall.
NOTE: The permanent exhibition at the Documentation Center will be closed until the fall of 2023. In its place, a special temporary exhibition may be available.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Generations Excursion:
- Nuremberg climbing forest This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
Hitler considered Nuremberg the perfect expression of German culture (partly because of its significance in the Holy Roman Empire, which he called the First Reich), and so beginning in 1927, he chose to hold his massive rallies in the city. By 1933, his favorite architect, Albert Speer, had designed the vast Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where thousands upon thousands of Nazi troops saluted Hitler. (Leni Riefenstahl captured these events in her famous propaganda film Triumph of the Will.) Not all of Speer’s plans were executed, and some of his grandiose structures were bombed out of existence, but the remainder stand as vivid testimony to Hitler’s megalomania. A four-square-mile (10-square-kilometer) complex known as Zeppelin Fields contains parade grounds and a huge grandstand, the excavation site where a stadium for 400,000 people was begun—the hole is now filled with water—and the half-finished Congress Hall.
NOTE: The permanent exhibition at the Documentation Center will be closed until the fall of 2023. In its place, a special temporary exhibition may be available.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Generations Excursion:
- Revved engines
Tour BMW’s state-of-the-art facility with an expert guide and see how their cars are produced from start to finish. Put on your safety goggles and factory coats and watch how massive conveyors lift the 3-series BMW up to be welded by computer-controlled robots. This tour offers a captivating look at the production of “the ultimate driving machine.”
This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
People have been describing Regensburg as “old and new” for a thousand years. A single structure perfectly illustrates this: Porta Praetoria, the gate built by the Romans during Marcus Aurelius’s reign. The gate and adjacent watchtower have been incorporated into a much newer building, but the plaster has been removed to reveal the ancient stones laid so long ago. As you walk through the cobbled lanes of the UNESCO-designated Old Town, the city’s 2,000-year history is similarly revealed: the Stone Bridge that made Regensburg a 12th-century trading powerhouse, the Gothic town hall where the Imperial Diet met for three centuries, the 13th-century fortified patrician houses, and the spectacular Cathedral of St. Peter, whose magnificent 14th-century stained-glass windows alone are worth your walk. You’ll have free time to explore on your own; it’s very hard to get lost in Regensburg because the spires of the cathedral are visible all over town, so don’t hesitate to roam. The historic quarter not only boasts almost a thousand beautiful old buildings but also many cozy pubs and some great shopping—and the ship is docked conveniently close, so it’s easy to drop your treasures off and go back for more.
Hops vines grow up their strings in a field tower almost twice a person’s height. They’re grown for their flowers, which add a distinctive flavor to beer—but the fields they grow in add a distinctive flavor to the hops. You could call it terroir for beer, and you can delve into hops cultivation and hops brewing today. Travel through Bavaria’s Holledau region, the largest hops growing district in the world, and meet an enthusiastic ambassador of hops growing and beer making. She will give you a quick and lively history of hops in Germany—including Bavaria’s law governing the making of beer, which has specified since 1560 that the only ingredients permitted in beer are water, barley and hops—and lead you on a tour through the growing fields her family owns, followed by a craft beer tasting in the cozy barn turned beer hall. It’s a delicious way to get to know a fascinating aspect of the international farm-to-table movement.
Featured Excursion:
- Bavarian Forest Adventure
Generations Excursion:
- Into the woods This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Featured Excursion:
- “Let’s Go” scenic Bavarian river biking
Generations Excursions:
- Ilz River splash
Enjoy an afternoon on the water with the chance to try out rowing, canoeing or paddle-boarding on the Ilz River, nicknamed the “Black Pearl,” due to the moors and bogs at its river basin that give the water a mesmerizing black color. The Ilz is a paradise for kayakers and paddle boarders alike and allows people of all experience levels to have fun here.
- Treasure hunt trek
Join a local geocaching guide on a unique discovery of Passau’s historical and hidden spots. Pay close attention to clues and hints as you make your way from one station to the next, uncovering important historical information about your current location. Each station also includes a special activity for kids.
- Pedal Passau
Head out on a cycling excursion on the famous Danube Bike Trail, venturing through Passau, Engelhartszell and other fascinating locales. This flat pathway hugs the river and offers spectacular views of Germany’s lush scenery. The Danube Bike Trail is one of Europe's largest, following stretches of the Danube in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
These excursions are only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
The skyline of Passau is dominated by two buildings that owe their existence to the prince-bishops who ruled the city until 1803: the great fortress looming on a hill above the three rivers, home to the bishops until the 17th century, and the green onion domes of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. As you walk through the cobblestone streets toward those green onion domes, you’ll realize that Passau retains the layout of the medieval town. However, many of the wooden medieval buildings burned to the ground in the 17th century, and the prince-bishops imported Italian artists to build a new cathedral and a grand new residence for the bishops themselves. As a result, these splendid structures aunt Italian baroque and rococo style and ornamentation, complete with opulent gilding and wonderful frescoes. Your guide will introduce you to some of the architectural highlights—the rococo stairways of the New Residence; the cathedral; and the Town Hall, which boasts a magnificent atrium adorned by large paintings by Ferdinand Wagner—and make sure you get a close-up view of the point where the three rivers meet: The waters of each one are a different color. Because it’s built on a peninsula between the Danube and the Inn, the city has flooded often over the centuries; you can see high-water marks on many buildings (2013 saw the worst flooding in 500 years).
Other Excursions:
You’ve seen the apricot orchards along the river banks; now taste the fruit. Begin with an easy walk to Weissenkirchen, which may be the prettiest village in the Wachau—and that’s saying quite a bit. Named for its famous white church, Weissenkirchen is simply picture-perfect. Its centuries-old wine estates, houses with colorful flower boxes, lovely gardens and apricot orchards make for a wonderfully idyllic setting between the river and the mountains. Later, sample some Wachau wines at a local winery where your guide will share various details about why these extraordinary wines are so unique.
The Babenbergs, a great medieval ducal family that controlled a wide swath of Austria before yielding to the Habsburgs, were the first to erect a castle on the hill above Melk, which they subsequently gave to Benedictine monks. These monks, some 900 years ago, turned it into a fortified abbey—and the greatest center of learning in Central Europe. Their library was celebrated far and wide (and still is; Umberto Eco paid tribute to it in his best-selling novel The Name of the Rose). Medieval monks there created more than 1,200 manuscripts, sometimes spending an entire lifetime hand-lettering a single volume. Today the library contains some 100,000 volumes, among them more than 80,000 works printed before 1800. This beautiful complex, completely redone in the early 18th century, is a wonderful example of baroque art and architecture, and the views from its terrace are spectacular. As you walk through the abbey’s Marble Hall with your guide, look up at the ceiling fresco painted by Paul Troger: Those classical gods and goddesses represent Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, allegorically bringing his people from dark to light and demonstrating the link he claimed to the original Roman Empire.
After your tour of the abbey, you’ll have time to explore Melk on your own, or you can take the motorcoach back to the ship.
If you're up for a hike, join a group on a hike up through the vineyards. A stairway at the church will take you past the ancient cemetery and up to the hiking trail that leads through the vineyards planted with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner grapes. You'll enjoy expansive views over the river valley as you approach your resting point. An easy walk back to the ship; instead of a reverse hike, you can comfortably stroll back into the village via a different route, passing many small vintners along the way.
Generations Excursions:
- Magical history tour
Watch as history comes alive on this exploration of the city at the interactive multimedia venue Time Travel Vienna. Discover Vienna’s eventful history in a unique way; Time Travel Vienna features a 5D cinema, animatronic wax figures, rides and multimedia shows equipped with extraordinary sound and light effects. After, you’ll embark on a humorous and expertly-led walk around the city that will bring you to the historic St. Stephen's Cathedral.
- Schönbrunn royal experience
Learn more about the everyday life of the imperial family at the “Schloss Schönbrunn Experience” Children’s Museum. Dress up as a prince or princess, learn the secret language of fans, play with imperial toys or set the table for an imperial dinner. Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, is a stunning 1,441 room Baroque palace that’s revered as one of the most important architectural and historical monuments in the country. Marvel at its over 300 years of history that reflect the changing tastes of former monarchs and wander through its vast gardens.
These excursions are only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.
Other Excursions:
The city of Vienna is famous for its charm and beauty, but it’s also full of mystery under the surface. Uncover the many secrets of Vienna with your guide as you head all over town, diving deep into the city’s past at such historical sites as the allegedly haunted Imperial Palace.
The star of our tour is Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, whose gothic spire and extravagantly tiled roofs are an iconic element of Vienna’s cityscape. Also known as the Stephansdom, this nearly millennium-old building has seen many architectural changes over the centuries and features various secret signs and symbols, added to send covert messages to those who could decipher them. Luckily, your guide can help you do just that.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
| Cruise Departure | Double Occupancy Pricing | Ship | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fri, 06 May 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 13 May 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 20 May 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,599.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 27 May 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,599.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 17 Jun 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,599.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 24 Jun 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,599.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 01 Jul 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 08 Jul 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 29 Jul 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 05 Aug 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 12 Aug 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 19 Aug 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 09 Sep 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,899.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 16 Sep 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,899.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 23 Sep 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,899.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 30 Sep 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,899.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 07 Oct 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
|
Fri, 14 Oct 2022
(Vienna to Nuremberg) |
$3,399.00 |
River Princess |
Select this date | |
- All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
- Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.
- Availability of all stateroom categories cannot be guaranteed.
- Single Supplement applies for single accommodation.
- Itineraries, hotels, and vessels may change, and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water level fluctuations and other uncontrollable factors.
- The order of sightseeing and docking ports are subject to change according to port authority assignments.
- Prices exclude additional port charges of $200 per person
Dining
- All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
- Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
- Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water
Excursions
- 6 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
- Guided “Let's Go” program
- State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
- Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
Accommodations
- 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the regal River Princess
- Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
- Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
Experiences
- 2 countries: Austria, Germany
- 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites
- All transfers on arrival and departure days
- Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
- Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- Exclusive Generations Family Program on select summer departures
