Uniworld Cruise

Budapest to Passau - Enchanting Danube

The Danube, through its rich history, has remained timeless and truly enchanting. Throughout the centuries, the Danube has inspired countless musicians, composers, artists and poets. And you’ll discover the same inspiration with a backdrop of the Austrian Alps, lush vineyards giving way to regal cities, and ancient castles and hilltop villages. Travel from one captivating city to the next – Budapest, the beautiful “Queen of the Danube,” Bratislava, the “Coronation City of Kings,” and breathtaking Vienna, the “Waltz Capital of the World.” Experience the medieval town of Linz; the charming village of Dürnstein located in Austria’s lush vineyard-rich Wachau Valley, and Passau with Europe’s largest pipe organ located in its grand cathedral. This is a regal journey full of centuries of intriguing history that will unfold before your eyes.

Who will enjoy this cruise: This leisurely-paced trip is for those who love history, architecture and diverse cultures in a blend of the best of Eastern and Western Europe. Music aficionados also will delight in tracing Mozart’s early career, enjoying concerts in Vienna and listening to a concert on the world’s largest pipe organ in Passau.

Included Features

• 7-night cruise in an outside stateroom on River Empress or River Princess
• Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• All meals onboard the ship
• 6 shore excursions with English-speaking guides
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures

Included Highlights

• Budapest City Tour
• Bratislava City Tour
• Bratislava’s Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral
• Vienna City Tour
• Dürnstein Walking Tour
• Linz Walking Tour
• Walking Tour and Organ Concert

The Ships

Itinerary

Day 3 Budapest
Budapest is an enchanting city with a vibrant mix of East and West, and Medieval and modern. Made up of two parts—Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands—it is divided by the Danube and is an architectural dream. Your city tour features the famous Chain Bridge, an early 19th-century bridge that was the first to connect Buda with Pest, the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district, and the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion with dramatic vistas of the city.

Day 4 Bratislava
Evening Entertainment: Exciting Local Entertainment Bratislava, straddling both banks of the mighty Danube, is a melting pot of cultures – an absolute fondue of diversity. A tour through Bratislava will acquaint you with a sampling of the town’s eclectic architecture of Gothic, Baroque and Art Deco styles. Bratislava has been aptly named the “Coronation City of Kings” and you’ll discover as you walk along the sidewalks that there are little golden crowns in the pavement identifying the route of the coronation procession of eleven kings and eight royal spouses over the centuries. You’ll also pass the 17th-century palace that now serves as the seat of the Slovakian government, Old Town’s Freedom Square and Peace Square, and Grassalkovich Palais, home of the President of Slovakia. You’ll continue on to Bratislava Castle, Michael’s Gate, built during medieval times to keep out enemies, Mirbach Palace and Primatial Palace.

Day 5 Vienna
Vienna is a treasure trove of secular and sacred gems—St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the most beloved architectural wonder in all of Vienna, and the stately Ringstrasse, the broad thoroughfare surrounded by the many imperial buildings and monuments that give Vienna its wedding cake appearance. Your city tour will take you along the Ringstrasse to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married in 1782, and then onto Figaro House, where you can almost picture Mozart furiously writing The Marriage of Figaro.

Day 6 Dürnstein, Cruising the Wachau Valley, Melk
The tiny Baroque village of Dürnstein seems lost in time. It’s perhaps most famous for being where Richard the Lionhearted was held captive in 1192 and 1193 until he paid a heavy ransom in silver – your local guide will fill you in on all the details during your walking tour. The tour takes you through the village with its old burgher houses and 16th- through 18th-century townhouses, ending at the exquisite Baroque cathedral. Depart Dürnstein and cruise through the heart of the fairytale, vineyard-rich Wachau Valley with its abruptly rising hills, nestling Baroque villages and ancient monuments. This fascinating stretch of landscape along the Danube has recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 7 Linz
The Danube serves as a dividing line between the modern Linz and its old “soul.” During your guided tour, explore Old Town with its castles, churches and early buildings fanning out from the central Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval town squares.

Day 8 Passau
Your guided walk starts in the medieval section of Passau, and then takes you past St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ. Later, you’ll return to St. Stephan Organ concert not available on Sundays or before May 2 or after November 1.’s for an organ concert.

Day 9 - Depart Munich
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Munich for your flight home.

Cost of This Trip