How much does it cost?

From £2,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,781 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

What is the ship and what does the cruise fare cover?

Great Rail Journeys books you aboard MS Amadeus Cara for seven nights from Passau to Budapest. The ship fare includes all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), drinks with dinner every night, a gala dinner, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, and all guided shore excursions.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 11 days. The tour includes guided walks in Passau, Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava, Linz, and optional excursions; some time is free for independent exploration.

Which hotels are included?

Three nights in 4-star hotels: one in Cologne on Day 1, one in Linz on Day 9, and one in Frankfurt on Day 10. Specific hotel names are not pre-published.

What happens on Day 4 with the choice between Salzburg and the Lake District?

On Day 4 in Linz, you may either join a guided sightseeing tour of Salzburg (a Baroque city and UNESCO World Heritage site, birthplace of Mozart) or visit the Austrian Lake District, including the UNESCO-listed village of Hallstatt, Hallstätter See Lake, and Mondsee. Both groups return to the ship for dinner.

When do departures run?

Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: June 2027, July 2027, August 2026, and September 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · River cruise, escorted tour

The Classic Blue Danube: Passau to Budapest

Eleven-day Danube river cruise from London to Frankfurt via Vienna and Budapest

Great Rail Journeys operates The Classic Blue Danube, an 11-day escorted journey combining rail travel across Europe with a seven-night luxury river cruise. You depart London on Eurostar, travel by rail through Brussels, Cologne, and Munich, and board MS Amadeus Cara in the Bavarian town of Passau. Over the next week, the ship carries you through Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, with guided tours of Vienna's imperial landmarks, a visit to the 11th-century Melk Abbey overlooking the Danube, and explorations of Salzburg, Bratislava, and Budapest. Days blend structured guided experiences, walking tours, shore excursions, and onboard performances by Vienna Philharmonic musicians, with free time to wander historic streets. You stay in 4-star hotels in Cologne, Linz, and Frankfurt, and all meals, drinks, and excursions aboard the ship are included. The pace is leisurely, designed for couples and history enthusiasts who value guided comfort and want to experience multiple European cities and train routes without the logistics of independent planning.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £400 since 4 Jul, to £2,799.

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. 3 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

Day 4 offers a choice: either a guided tour in Salzburg or an excursion to the Austrian Lake District (Hallstatt and Mondsee); confirm which option aligns with your interests when booking.
The itinerary includes three hotel nights (Cologne, Linz, Frankfurt) and seven aboard the ship; hotel names and specific ratings are not published in advance.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Frankfurt
From London by rail to Frankfurt
Your holiday begins at London St Pancras where we meet the Tour Manager this morning. Joining the Eurostar service to Brussels, we then continue by rail to Frankfurt, via Cologne, for an overnight stay. On arrival, we check in to our hotel and settle in with our first dinner together as a group.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Passau, aboard ship
Boarding our luxurious ship in Passau
Breakfast is served in our hotel this morning, before we continue our journey by rail through southwestern Germany to Passau on the banks of the Danube, the 'Three Rivers City'. We're greeted onboard our luxurious ship with a welcome cocktail. After settling into our cabin, we indulge in our first five-course dinner on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Linz, aboard ship
Sailing through enchanting scenery to Linz
We set out on a guided tour of Passau's Baroque Old Town and the Veste Oberhaus fortress. This afternoon, we begin our relaxing cruise along the Danube into Austria. Reaching Linz this evening, we moor for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Aboard ship, cruising
Exploring Salzburg or Český Krumlov
Waking in Linz, there are two excursions to choose from: a day trip to Salzburg, with a stop in the Austrian Lake District and a guided tour of Getreidegasse and the UNESCO Old Town, or an excursion to Český Krumlov to explore its palatial castle and UNESCO-listed Old Town. Returning to our ship before dinner, we set sail on an overnight cruise into Germany.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Aboard ship, cruising towards Vienna
Melk Abbey and the scenic Wachau Valley
Docking in Emmersdorf, we visit Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine abbey overlooking the Danube. Back on the ship, lunch is served as we sail through the Wachau Valley to the riverside village of Dürnstein, with free time to explore. After dinner, we continue sailing towards Vienna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Vienna, aboard ship
Embracing the imperial majesty of Vienna
We embark on a guided tour to uncover Austria's imperial heritage along the Ringstrasse, seeing the Opera House and Parliament. Following the tour, there's time to explore independently. Tonight, we're joined in the lounge by four previous members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Esztergom, aboard ship
Uncovering the old-world charm of Bratislava
After a relaxed overnight sailing, we arrive in Slovakia's capital for a guided tour of the Baroque Old Town and castle district, admiring Bratislava's quirky statues and the SNP Bridge. Later this afternoon, we continue downstream to Esztergom, the former capital of Hungary, where we berth for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8overnight: Budapest, aboard ship
To Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube'
We navigate the scenic Danube Bend, passing Visegrad. Arriving in Budapest, we visit Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, then admire the State Opera House and St Stephen's Basilica. After dinner accompanied by a Hungarian folklore troupe, we embark on a magical night-time cruise past the illuminated sights of Budapest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9railovernight: Linz
Disembarking for a train journey to Austria
Today marks the end of our cruise as we disembark MS Amadeus Cara this morning after breakfast. After making our way to the rail station, we board a train to Linz, the Rhine-side capital of Upper Austria, with free time to explore the Baroque Old Town. This evening, we gather back at our hotel for a three-course dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10railovernight: Frankfurt
Sightseeing in Linz then onwards to Frankfurt
We set out on a guided sightseeing tour of Linz, including the Hauptmarkt and the Old Town. This afternoon, we travel by rail through the scenic Bavarian countryside to Frankfurt, checking in to our hotel for an overnight stay before a final dinner in the restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11rail
Homeward bound
Leaving Frankfurt this morning, we begin our journey by rail back to London. Travelling via Brussels, we join the Eurostar for the final leg of our tour. On arrival at London St Pancras, your Danube holiday draws to a close.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Guided tour of Passau, the Three Rivers City, exploring Baroque architecture in the Old Town and the 13th-century Veste Oberhaus hilltop fortress, before the ship sets sail along the Danube.
Day 5Visit to Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery perched on a rocky outcrop above the Danube, then sailing through the Wachau Valley wine region to the riverside village of Dürnstein.
Day 6Guided tour of Vienna including the Ringstrasse boulevard, the Opera House, and Parliament, followed by free time to visit Schönbrunn Palace or St Stephen's Cathedral.
Day 8Passage through the scenic Danube Bend past Visegrad and its hilltop castle, arriving in Budapest for a visit to Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion with river views, followed by an evening Hungarian traditional folklore troupe performance.

Included

Tour Manager: Escorted throughout your tour by our experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
Accommodation: 3 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
Cruise: 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Riva
Five-star service onboard
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Transportation: Standard Class rail travel; all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Food & Drink: Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day including a spectacular gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Luggage: Complimentary luggage service from your home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
Excursions & Entertainment: Superb excursions included

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance
Gratuities/tips (discretionary; not included in the price, no daily charge added)

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,781 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
What is the ship and what does the cruise fare cover?: Great Rail Journeys books you aboard MS Amadeus Cara for seven nights from Passau to Budapest. The ship fare includes all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), drinks with dinner every night, a gala dinner, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, and all guided shore excursions.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 11 days. The tour includes guided walks in Passau, Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava, Linz, and optional excursions; some time is free for independent exploration.
Which hotels are included?: Three nights in 4-star hotels: one in Cologne on Day 1, one in Linz on Day 9, and one in Frankfurt on Day 10. Specific hotel names are not pre-published.
What happens on Day 4 with the choice between Salzburg and the Lake District?: On Day 4 in Linz, you may either join a guided sightseeing tour of Salzburg (a Baroque city and UNESCO World Heritage site, birthplace of Mozart) or visit the Austrian Lake District, including the UNESCO-listed village of Hallstatt, Hallstätter See Lake, and Mondsee. Both groups return to the ship for dinner.
When do departures run?: Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: June 2027, July 2027, August 2026, and September 2027.