How much does it cost?

From £1,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,700 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes, Great Rail Journeys escorts the tour throughout with an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team onboard the ship.

The package includes return flights from London Heathrow to Munich, seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Cara, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), drinks with dinner, guided excursions in each port, onboard entertainment, and coach transfers.

The MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship with complimentary onboard Wi-Fi.

What cities does the cruise visit?

The cruise departs from Passau and visits Melk, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and Linz, sailing through the Wachau Valley and Danube Bend.

When do departures run?

Great Rail Journeys offers departures in July and August 2026 and 2027.

Rail content not confirmed

Not counted among our train tours: no train journey, named train or rail transport recorded in the listing. It stays listed under Great Rail Journeys.

Great Rail Journeys · River Cruise

The Beautiful Blue Danube: Passau Round Trip - Fly

Eight-day Danube river cruise from Passau through Austria, Hungary, Slovakia

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day fly-cruise holiday aboard the MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river ship. The journey begins with flights from London Heathrow to Munich and a coach transfer to Passau, where you board the ship for a leisurely cruise through four countries. Over seven nights, the Amadeus Cara sails through the Wachau Valley wine region to Vienna, then continues to Budapest, Bratislava, and Linz. The itinerary balances guided excursions with leisure time: you tour Vienna's Ringstrasse and Opera House on Day 3, explore Budapest's Parliament and churches on Day 4, and walk Bratislava's Baroque Old Town on Day 6. All meals, drinks at dinner, guided tours, and onboard entertainment by former Vienna Philharmonic members are included. The tour suits couples and history enthusiasts seeking guided comfort with five-star service and no hidden costs.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £300 since 4 Jul, to £1,999.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The from-price of £1,699 per person (£2,899 single) is for the package; confirm any additional costs before booking
This is a river cruise, not a rail journey; the primary transport is the ship, with coach connections and flights

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Riva (Passau)
Boarding our luxurious ship in Passau
We fly from London Heathrow to Munich, transfer by coach to Passau, and board our ship, enjoying a welcome cocktail and our first five-course dinner as we set sail.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Riva (Vienna)
Melk Abbey & the scenic Wachau Valley
We visit the 11th-century Melk Abbey, sail through the Wachau Valley wine region, stop at Dürnstein, and arrive in Vienna with an onboard performance by former Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra members.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Riva (cruising to Budapest)
Embracing the imperial majesty of Vienna
A guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse, the Opera House and Parliament, with free time to explore St Stephen's Cathedral, the Prater Gardens Ferris wheel or Schönbrunn Palace before an overnight cruise to Budapest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Riva (Budapest)
Exploring Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube'
A sightseeing tour of Budapest including Heroes Square, the State Opera House, St Stephen's Basilica, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, followed by an illuminated night-time cruise past the Parliament building and Chain Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Riva (Danube Bend)
Sailing the beautiful Danube Bend
A free morning in Budapest with the option of the Gellért or Széchenyi thermal baths, then sailing upstream through the Danube Bend past Visegrad and Esztergom, continuing overnight along the Hungary-Slovakia border.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Riva (Bratislava)
Uncovering the old-world charm of Bratislava
We explore Bratislava's Old Town, Bratislava Castle and quirky statues, before sailing back towards Austria.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Riva (cruising to Passau)
Arrival in the cultural Austrian city of Linz
A guided tour of Linz's Hauptmarkt and Old Town, followed by a farewell gala dinner on board as we cruise towards Passau.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
Homeward bound
We disembark in Passau, transfer by coach to Munich airport, and fly back to London Heathrow.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery with Baroque churches overlooking the Danube, followed by sailing through the Wachau Valley wine region
Day 3Guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse, Opera House, and Parliament, with leisure time to visit Schönbrunn Palace or St Stephen's Cathedral
Day 4Sightseeing tour of Budapest covering Heroes Square, the State Opera House, and St Stephen's Basilica, followed by a night-time cruise revealing illuminated Danube sights and a traditional Hungarian folklore troupe performance
Day 6Walking tour of Bratislava's Old Town to view the castle, Baroque buildings, and quirky statues, with views across terracotta roofs from the hilltop

Included

Escorted throughout your tour by our experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Riva, five-star service, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Return flights from London Heathrow to Munich
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner each day of your cruise including a spectacular Gala Dinner
Drinks package with Dinner every night of your cruise
A superb choice of excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,700 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes, Great Rail Journeys escorts the tour throughout with an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team onboard the ship.
What is included?: The package includes return flights from London Heathrow to Munich, seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Cara, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), drinks with dinner, guided excursions in each port, onboard entertainment, and coach transfers.
Which ship is used?: The MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship with complimentary onboard Wi-Fi.
What cities does the cruise visit?: The cruise departs from Passau and visits Melk, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and Linz, sailing through the Wachau Valley and Danube Bend.
When do departures run?: Great Rail Journeys offers departures in July and August 2026 and 2027.

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