River Cruising on the Danube

Take a cruise on the Danube and you can snake your way through 10 European countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany and Hungary. It’s 1,795 miles long, flowing from west to east, with its source in Bavaria in south Germany and finally spilling out into the Black Sea on its Romanian coast.

There’s so much to see on this sprawling cruise that you can have breakfast in Bratislava, lunch in Hungary and dinner in Budapest all in the one day.

It was Charles the Great in 793 who dreamed of connecting the rivers of this region together. However, it was the creation of the locks that made it possible, almost 1,200 years later. Today, great vessels move easily through the Danube’s various water levels.

There are many options in terms of how long you’ll stay and where you’ll go on a cruise. Options vary from seven-day cruises from Passau to Vienna to Budapest and back, to a longer stint of 14 days, connecting with the Rhine and going from Amsterdam to Budapest.

Each city or town you visit is bursting with vibrancy and culture. It’s incredible to see such variety in only a short space of time. Budapest is a city that resembles a town built from a Roald Dahl novel. The Christmas markets in Vienna are worth taking the cruise in winter, as you won’t see anything quite like it anywhere else. Linz is another city in Austria that isn’t as well known as others but it is a truly untouched and jaw-dropping place — absolutely worth the visit.

Ama Waterways is probably your best option for Danube cruises. At only a few years old, the company boasts 75 cabins on its comfortable river ship, all of which have floor-to-ceiling windows for you to enjoy the view. They also offer amazing food and service on board the ship.

Try something different for your next vacation and take a cruise down the Danube. Choose something exciting, culturally different and eclectic. Visit the lesser-known European cities and revel in the quaint delights of it all.