Melodies of the Danube - Cruise Only

Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. During the evening, be treated to a special Illuminations cruise past the capital’s glittering riverfront.

You cannot help but fall in love with Budapest, known as the “Queen of the Danube” with her distinct blend of medieval and modern beauty. Get to know the city with a tour that begins at the vibrant Great Market Hall packed from floor to ceiling with vendors selling all types of items from food to souvenirs. Then visit the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district, where you can admire dramatic vistas from 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Heroes Square, Houses of Parliament and the famous Chain Bridge.

Cruise to the “Coronation City of Kings,” where you can join a walking tour or choose to taste local Slovakian specialties and learn how to prepare stuffed potato ravioli. Alternatively, hike up to Bratislava Castle. Later in the day, set sail for Vienna. 

The “City of Waltzes” offers a treasure trove of gems and you have two ways to discover them. Join a city tour showcasing its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna’s historic city center and then visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral. For a more active exploration, take a guided bike ride along the Danube. During the afternoon, you can enjoy leisure time or pedal your way to Klosterneuburg Monastery on a guided cycling tour.

After reaching Weissenkirchen in the heart of the Wachau Valley, be treated to several choices of excursions. Discover the best of both Dürnstein and Melk with a walking tour in Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. You can also opt for a walking tour of Weissenkirchen followed by a visit to the abbey. For those who would like a more culinary-focused experience, join a walking tour in Dürnstein and then be treated to a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner as well as a visit to a local boutique where you can enjoy a tasting of special apricot treats. Prefer more active adventures? Join a guided bike tour to Melk. Later in the day, set sail through the scenic Strudengau Valley to the medieval riverside town of Grein. Be treated to an exclusive visit to the more than 500-year-old Greinburg Castle, looming regally above the village. While here, enjoy a folklore show along with a sparkling wine reception. 

The ship arrives this morning in Linz. Enjoy a walking tour of the second largest city in Austria or choose a guided bike tour that shows you around the Old City Center, along the Danube River, and past the ultra-modern Ars Electronica Center. Later, choose between three different excursions. The first option is an excursion to Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, where you may take a walking tour of the historic center made famous by "The Sound of Music.” The second option is an excursion to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov, a wonderfully preserved medieval town nestled in the hills just over the Austrian-Czech border. The third option is a visit to the Austrian Lake District, the scenic Salzkammergut region. All three options are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Discover the 2,000-year-old city of Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided bike tour along the Danube River, or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress. Later, the ship cruises to Vilshofen, where you are treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration with local beer, Bavarian folk music and dancing—an AmaWaterways exclusive.

This morning, disembark your ship in Vilshofen.