How much does it cost?

From £3,855 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,207 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes, Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Brussels and First Class rail travel in Europe are included, along with the overland rail journey back from Passau to Frankfurt.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes, with an experienced Tour Manager throughout.

What ship do we cruise on?

The Gentleman, described as a luxurious cruise ship, for seven nights on the Danube between Passau and Durnstein.

2 nights bed, breakfast, and evening meal in Frankfurt, 7 nights on the cruise with full board gourmet meals and all-inclusive premium drinks, and Eurostar Plus and First Class rail travel where available.

What cabin options are there?

A Stateroom Cabin from £3,855, a Stateroom Plus Cabin with a French balcony for £250 more, and a Deluxe Stateroom Cabin for £500 more.

One departure is listed, in September 2027, from £3,855 per person.

Railtrail Tours · Rail & Cruise Tour

Danube The River of Kings 2027

10-day rail and Danube river cruise from London to Budapest

Railtrail Tours runs this 10-day rail and cruise tour from London St Pancras to the Danube, travelling by Eurostar Plus to Brussels and on by First Class rail to Frankfurt. After one night in a Frankfurt hotel, the group travels to Passau, the 'City of Three Rivers,' to board The Gentleman for seven nights on the Danube. The ship calls at Melk for a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey before sailing to Vienna for an evening concert in the Golden Hall and a free day in the city. Budapest, Esztergom, and Bratislava follow, with a tour of Bratislava's Old Town aboard the open-air Presporacik, before a stop in the medieval town of Durnstein among the vineyards of the Wachau Valley. The group returns overland to Frankfurt and home by rail via Brussels. An experienced Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, full board and premium drinks are included on the ship, and Railtrail Tours rates the activity level as Active.

What to know before you look closer

The Frankfurt hotel is listed as "min. 4-star, TBC" (to be confirmed), so the specific property has not yet been named.
Only one departure is currently listed, for September 2027.
The single traveller supplement is listed as on request rather than a fixed price.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Hotel, Frankfurt
London to Frankfurt
Travelling by Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards in First Class to Frankfurt for our overnight stay where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.
Day 2overnight: The Gentleman (Danube cruise)
Passau & board The Gentleman
After a leisurely breakfast, we depart for Passau, the enchanting 'City of Three Rivers' that shimmers in colour from the deep blue of the Danube, the glacial green of the river Inn, and the dark rushes of the Ilz. We enjoy time to stroll through the Old Town, explore the winding lanes, or visit the grand St Stephen's Cathedral before boarding The Gentleman, our luxurious cruise ship and home for seven nights where we enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and our evening meal on board.
Day 3overnight: The Gentleman (Danube cruise)
Melk & Vienna Golden Hall Concert
This morning, we wake in Melk where the magnificent Benedictine Abbey rises above the Danube, and we enjoy a guided tour of the Abbey's ornate halls learning of the 900-year history of this Baroque masterpiece. After lunch, we return to The Gentleman and set sail to Vienna, the 'City of Music' and home to more classical composers than any other city including Mozart and Beethoven. This evening, we experience a spectacular performance at the iconic Golden Hall, and we'll be transported back to the 18th-century as thirty world-class musicians, dressed in authentic Rococo costumes, perform a selection of timeless classical masterpieces.
Day 4overnight: The Gentleman (Danube cruise)
Vienna at leisure
Today, we enjoy a relaxing day at leisure in Vienna. Step into the legendary coffeehouse culture, a UNESCO-recognised heritage, explore the vast vineyards within the limits of the city, or perhaps ride the iconic Giant Ferris Wheel (the Wiener Riesenrad), the world's oldest operating Ferris Wheel offering panoramic views of Vienna since 1897. This evening, we rejoin The Gentleman and enjoy our evening meal together.
Day 5overnight: The Gentleman (Danube cruise)
Budapest
After breakfast this morning, we enjoy a free day in Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube', and can explore history, culture, and architecture at our own pace. As the sun sets, Budapest's most iconic landmarks, the Parliament, Chain Bridge, and Royal Palace glow in a glittering line of light along the curve of the Danube creating one of Europe's most unforgettable scenes.
Day 6overnight: The Gentleman (Danube cruise)
Esztergom
Today, we enjoy all that river cruising has to offer aboard The Gentleman as the Danube slips by and we sail to Esztergom, the first capital of the Kingdom of Hungary. Here, we explore this hilltop city which once was the seat of kings, and we can visit the stunning Esztergom Basilica which dominates the skyline as the largest church and tallest building in Hungary.
Day 7overnight: The Gentleman (Danube cruise)
Bratislava
This morning, we arrive in Bratislava, the only capital in the world that directly borders two other sovereign states: Austria and Hungary. To navigate this city's storied past, we will board the Presporacik, a charming open-air minibus designed to thread through the Old Town's narrow lanes and lively squares. Keep an eye on the ancient stone walls in the Old Town where Napoleonic cannonballs remain embedded and once served as 'certificates of damage', exempting homeowners from taxes during the city's reconstruction.
Day 8overnight: The Gentleman (Danube cruise)
Durnstein & return to Passau
This morning, we enjoy time in the medieval town of Durnstein where legend and natural beauty intertwine. Perched high above the river, the crumbling ruins of the hilltop castle still guard the tale of King Richard the Lionheart and the Wachau Valley unfolds in sweeping views of vineyards and the winding Danube. Below, the town of Durnstein is the apricot heart of Austria where the famed Wachauer Marille, a fruit protected by European law, ripens into golden jams and smooth apricot schnapps. This afternoon, we rejoin The Gentleman for a farewell cocktail reception enjoying our evening meal together on board as we return to Passau.
Day 9overnight: Hotel, Frankfurt
Return to Frankfurt
After breakfast, we disembark in Passau and begin our scenic overland journey back to Frankfurt with the landscapes of Bavaria and Hesse unfolding at our windows. On arrival in Frankfurt, we return to our hotel for our overnight stay and enjoy our final evening meal together.
Day 10rail
Homeward to London
We bid farewell to Frankfurt and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar Plus service to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The group explores Passau, the 'City of Three Rivers' where the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz meet, before boarding The Gentleman for seven nights on the Danube.
Day 3The Gentleman docks in Melk, where the group tours the Benedictine Abbey's ornate halls and learns of its 900-year history, before sailing to Vienna for an evening classical concert in the city's Golden Hall.
Day 6The ship sails to Esztergom, the first capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, where the Esztergom Basilica dominates the skyline as the largest church and tallest building in the country.
Day 7In Bratislava, the group boards the Presporacik, an open-air minibus that threads through the Old Town's narrow lanes past ancient walls with embedded Napoleonic cannonballs.
Day 8A stop in the medieval town of Durnstein takes in the hilltop castle ruins tied to the legend of King Richard the Lionheart and sweeping views over the Wachau Valley's vineyards.

Included

2 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal in Frankfurt
7 nights cruise aboard the luxurious Gentleman
Full Board Gourmet Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks)
All Inclusive Premium Drinks (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)
Eurostar Plus and First Class rail travel in Europe, where available
Services of experienced Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,855 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,207 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes, Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Brussels and First Class rail travel in Europe are included, along with the overland rail journey back from Passau to Frankfurt.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes, with an experienced Tour Manager throughout.
What ship do we cruise on?: The Gentleman, described as a luxurious cruise ship, for seven nights on the Danube between Passau and Durnstein.
What is included?: 2 nights bed, breakfast, and evening meal in Frankfurt, 7 nights on the cruise with full board gourmet meals and all-inclusive premium drinks, and Eurostar Plus and First Class rail travel where available.
What cabin options are there?: A Stateroom Cabin from £3,855, a Stateroom Plus Cabin with a French balcony for £250 more, and a Deluxe Stateroom Cabin for £500 more.
When does it depart?: One departure is listed, in September 2027, from £3,855 per person.