A Taste of the Imperial Danube - Budapest to Passau 2020

A Taste of the Imperial Danube

When time is of the essence, but compromising on quality isn’t an option, this condensed but perfectly-planned river cruise could be just what you’re looking for. Climb aboard the 4 star MS Arena and experience a taste of the Danube, crossing off two of Europe’s grand Imperial capitals as you go. Visit the castle and see the city’s unique suspension bridge in Bratislava, explore both the traditional and cosmopolitan sides of beautiful Budapest and discover palaces, castles and splendid squares in Vienna; not to mention Melk’s magnificent monastic house. You’ll be amazed just how much you’ll see on this idyllic six-day adventure.

Day 1: UK – Budapest
We fly to Budapest in Hungary where our ship awaits. Enjoy a relaxing evening onboard.

Day 2: Budapest – Bratislava
This morning, there’s the chance to join our optional excursion which takes you through the sweeping plains of Hungary to Lajosmizse. Here we visit a traditional stud farm and enjoy a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage, before watching a spectacular live Puszta horse show. We return to the ship for lunch onboard then the afternoon is free for you to enjoy Budapest, described by many as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There’s so much to see on both sides of the river, including the 700-year-old Matthias Church, Parliament building – a magnificent example of neo-gothic architecture, and Buda Castle, which rises 48 metres above the river. This evening we set sail towards Bratislava.

Day 3: Bratislava – Vienna
Today we arrive in Bratislava, the historic capital of Slovakia which is dominated by its castle. There’s also the unique suspension bridge, another key landmark, regarded as the building of the century when it opened in 1972. Join our optional guided tour to take in the main sights and experience the rich culture in and around the old town. We’ll enjoy a walking tour with a local guide and sample ‘Makovka’ which is a sweet white chocolate with poppy seed filling. Lunch is served onboard and the afternoon is free to explore Bratislava at your leisure before we enjoy dinner onboard and set sail for Vienna.

Day 4: Vienna – Melk
We arrive into Vienna this morning, where there’s the opportunity to join our optional sight-seeing tour by coach, taking in the delights of Vienna, capital of Austria and birthplace of classical music. More than 150 grand palaces, over 27 baroque castles, impressive squares and striking monuments are just some of the key features of this magnificent city, whose historic centre is inscribed on the world heritage list. There’s some free time to explore Vienna at your leisure, before we return to the ship and set sail towards Melk.

Day 5: Melk – Passau
We arrive in the Austrian town of Melk this morning, which is filled with cobbled streets and attractive buildings. It is also overlooked by one of the most splendid monastic houses in Austria – the Benedictine Abbey, which you can visit on our optional excursion this afternoon. This evening, enjoy a relaxing dinner onboard before we continue cruising upriver to Passau.

Day 6: Passau – UK
This morning we bid farewell to our captain and crew and disembark our ship for the return flight to the UK.

• A visit to Melk, with the opportunity to visit Benedict Abbey

• Time to relax aboard our 4 star floating hotel, whilst enjoying spectacular scenery including that of the Wachau Valley

• A full day in Vienna

• A visit to Bratislava and the opportunity to join our guided tour to take in the main sights

• A little taste of the Danube and all that river cruising has to offer!

Ships

MS Arena

Earning its place in our premier cruise collection, this 4 star ship has all the ingredients of an unforgettable river cruise: comfort, style and unfaltering attention to detail.

Read more about MS Arena

Book now

We offer a number of flexible travel options for you to join your cruise, whether you want to travel to the port of departure or directly to the ship. Please see below:

By Air from London Heathrow

Air travel is included on selected cruises, whereas on other cruises it is offered alongside our rail or coach options – please note a supplement will apply and transfers to the ship are not included. Regional flight options are available, call our Holiday Advisors for details.

Join at the Ship

Make your own travel arrangements at your convenience to join your selected cruise, simply board your cruise ship at the embarkation point.

Dates and pricing

The details below show the travel options, pricing and the available departure dates for this itinerary. If you have any questions about this cruise please do not hesitate to call our Holiday Advisors.

Enhance your holiday experience with a range of optional and included excursions that allow you to discover the history of our ports of call, experience the tradition of local regions and explore further afield. They’re the perfect complement to your cruise itinerary, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early!

Puszta Horse Show

£40

We travel through the sweeping plains of Hungary to Lajosmizse, where we visit a traditional stud farm. We take a tour of the grounds in a horse-drawn carriage, before watching a spectacular live show performed in an open air arena.

Bratislava Walking Tour & Chocolate Experience

£24

Our guided tour of this magnificent city allows you to explore the charming squares, courtyards and narrow lanes of the Slovakian capital. The old town is filled with all the must-see sites and is a pedestrian zone which makes exploring on foot a safe and relaxing activity. You'll also get to sample the sweet delicacy 'Makova' as well!

Vienna City Tour

£24

This is the perfect introduction to Vienna, the city of music. Our tour focuses on the historic centre and its rich architecture.

Melk Abbey

£28

Discover one of the world’s most famous monastic sites – Melk Abbey. Our guided tour shows you highlights such as the magnificent Marble Hall, Emperor’s Gallery and Abbey Church. There is also free time to explore the grounds and the gardens.

Package Price

£116 per person

You can book our excursions individually or as a package, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early!

Premium Package

£100 per person

Our Premium Package is a great way to add a touch of something special to your MS Arena river cruise experience. This exclusive package is a pre-bookable addition available across all cabin grades, and includes drinks with your meals, 10% off excursions, a welcome basket of fruit on arrival, water delivered to your cabin, a selection of complimentary toiletries and free use of the wellness and fitness suite aboard MS Arena. For more information call our Holiday Advisers.