Heart of the Danube: Bavaria to Budapest - Eastbound
From $5,490 per person
8 days
4 countries
Ships: ms Joy, ms Savor
Tauck
8 days, 7 nights.
Journey summary
- Day 1 - Arrive Munich & embark ship
- Day 2 - Exploring Passau or Cesky Krumlov
- Day 3 - Grein or the Mauthausen Memorial
- Day 4 - Dürnstein, cycling & on to Vienna
- Day 5 - Imperial Vienna & a night at the Palace
- Day 6 - Choices in & around Bratislava
- Day 7 - Explore Budapest
- Day 8 - Journey home
Itinerary highlights
When your road is the Danube, it's enchanting... Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and Germany are linked by peaceful river landscapes dotted with storybook castles and romantic villages surrounded by stone terraced vineyards, where making world-class wines – and tasting them! – is an art. A wonderfully preserved medieval castle and town in the Czech Carpathian mountains are as awe-inspiring as the palaces and museums of Imperial Vienna. As you cruise from port to port, explore the cobblestone streets and market squares in the Old Towns of Budapest, Bratislava, Cesky Krumlov, Grein, and Passau, each offering unexpected cultural treasures and culinary pleasures around every bend. And the pièce de résistance – a Tauck Exclusive gala evening with music and dancing at a private palace conjures up elegant Old World Europe just for Tauck guests!
Your journey, ashore & afloat.
Fourteen days. Open any day for the full narrative and that day's highlights.
Keep this itinerary
Email this itinerary to yourself
We'll send a link so you can revisit the day-by-day plan, dates, and pricing whenever you're ready.
Why Book With Us
Booking Direct or Booking by Small Ship Travel
The cruise fare is identical whether you book direct with Tauck or by Small Ship Travel. Cruise lines set their fares, and they do not discount them for direct bookings. Loyalty Program members earn 2% to 5% credit per booking, in addition to any rewards from the cruise line, and points carry across every cruise line we book.
| Book Direct | Book by Small Ship Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| The cruise fare | From $5,490 per person | From $5,490 per person. The fare is the fare. |
| Loyalty credit | The line's own program | 2–5% credit earned per booking for members, in addition to any rewards you receive from the cruise line* |
| Advice | Tauck's ships, known well | We compare across Viking, AmaWaterways, Silversea, and the rest, then put you on the right one |
| Cabin selection | Brochure categories | Which cabins to target on this ship, and which lose their view and natural light when a second ship moors alongside |
| If plans change | The line's call center | An advocate who knows you, your booking, and people at the line |
* Credit applies to a non-cruise portion of your booking. $250 credit for new clients who have not previously booked with Small Ship Travel. Loyalty Program details
or call 1-888-318-3110 before you finalize anything
Pick your departure. (per person*)
Cabin categories
* Per double occupancy. Some pricing may reflect single traveler rate.
** Double asterisk - for reverse direction indication
The ms Joy.
Sail the world in unparalleled luxury aboard the ms Joy, a masterpiece of design and comfort.
Step aboard ms Joy, where elegance meets comfort on the picturesque Danube River. Lounge on the top deck, gaze at passing riverbanks, and toast to adventure with your favorite drink. Designed for intimate cruising, ms Joy offers space and serenity for up to 130 guests, providing an uncrowded and personalized experience. At 443 feet long, this ship maximizes comfort, featuring 67 cabins, including 22 stunning 300-square-foot Tauck Suites—the most luxurious offerings on any European river cruise ship. Eight innovative loft cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows deliver extra light and breathtaking views, creating a distinct sense of connection to the surroundings. With its exceptional design and warm atmosphere, ms Joy promises unrivaled memories for those who seek relaxation and adventure in equal measure. Join the festivities on board and let the journey inspire you!
consultation
Need information to make a decision?
Reach out to our travel concierges today to create your perfect journey.