Europe · 2850 km

Danube river cruises

The Danube is Europe's second-longest river and the only one that flows from west to east across the continent. Classic itineraries run Passau–Budapest in seven nights, while extended sailings continue through Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania to the Black Sea, passing the dramatic Iron Gates gorge.

Length2850 km
Countries8
Ships sailing121
Operators13

About the Danube

The Danube is Europe's second-longest river and the only one that flows from west to east across the continent. Classic itineraries run Passau–Budapest in seven nights, while extended sailings continue through Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania to the Black Sea, passing the dramatic Iron Gates gorge.

Headline destinations: Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, the Wachau Valley, the Iron Gates.

The river flows through 8 countries — Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania. 121 ships from 13 different operators currently sail itineraries here, ranging from week-long classic loops to multi-week extended voyages.

Featured itineraries on the Danube

ItineraryLengthSample ports
Danube Waltz 8 nights Passau · Linz · Melk · Vienna · Bratislava · Budapest
Romantic Danube 8 nights Budapest · Vienna · Linz · Passau · Regensburg · Nuremberg
Lower Danube Discovery 11 nights Budapest · Mohács · Belgrade · Iron Gates · Vidin · Russe · Bucharest
Christmas Markets Danube 8 nights Nuremberg · Regensburg · Passau · Linz · Melk · Vienna · Budapest

Operators sailing the Danube

Ships sailing the Danube

ShipCruise lineClassGuestsLaunched
A-ROSA Bella A-ROSA River Cruises A-ROSA Classic 242 2002
A-ROSA Donna A-ROSA River Cruises A-ROSA Classic 242 2002
A-ROSA Mia A-ROSA River Cruises A-ROSA Classic 242 2003
AmaBella AmaWaterways European 161 2010
AmaCerto AmaWaterways European 164 2012
AmaLea AmaWaterways European 156 2018
AmaLucia AmaWaterways European 156 2021
AmaMagdalena AmaWaterways European 156 2024
AmaMagna AmaWaterways AmaMagna Class 196 2019
AmaMora AmaWaterways European 156 2019
AmaPrima AmaWaterways European 164 2013
AmaReina AmaWaterways European 156 2014
AmaSerena AmaWaterways European 164 2015
AmaSiena AmaWaterways European 156 2020
AmaSonata AmaWaterways European 162 2014
AmaStella AmaWaterways European 158 2016
AmaVenita AmaWaterways European 158 2015
AmaViola AmaWaterways European 158 2016
Amadeus Brilliant Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Classic 150 2011
Amadeus Diamond Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Classic 146 2009
Amadeus Elegant Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Classic 150 2010
Amadeus Imperial Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Premium 168 2020
Amadeus Princess Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Classic 144 2006
Amadeus Queen Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Premium 162 2018
Amadeus Riva Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Premium 150 2024
Amadeus Silver Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Premium 168 2009
Amadeus Silver II Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Premium 168 2015
Amadeus Silver III Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Premium 168 2016
Amadeus Star Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Premium 168 2019
Amadeus Symphony Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus Classic 140 2003
Avalon Envision Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2019
Avalon Expression Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2013
Avalon Illumination Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2014
Avalon Imagery II Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2016
Avalon Impression Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2015
Avalon Panorama Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2011
Avalon Passion Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2016
Avalon Tranquility II Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2015
Avalon View Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2023
Avalon Visionary Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 128 2012
Avalon Vista Avalon Waterways Suite Ship 166 2012
Emerald Dawn Emerald Cruises Star-Ship 182 2016
Emerald Destiny Emerald Cruises Star-Ship 182 2017
Emerald Luna Emerald Cruises Star-Ship 180 2022
Emerald Sky Emerald Cruises Star-Ship 182 2014
Emerald Star Emerald Cruises Star-Ship 182 2014
Emerald Sun Emerald Cruises Star-Ship 182 2015
MS Beethoven CroisiEurope Premier 180 2004
MS Charles Dickens Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2017
MS Emily Bronte Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2018
MS Geoffrey Chaucer Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2015
MS George Eliot Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2019
MS Jane Austen Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2016
MS La Boheme CroisiEurope Classic 154 1995
MS Leonard de Vinci CroisiEurope Classic 144 2002
MS Lord Byron Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2012
MS Mona Lisa CroisiEurope Classic 132 2000
MS Mozart CroisiEurope Classic 209 1987
MS Princesse d'Aquitaine CroisiEurope Classic 138 1999
MS Robert Burns Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 142 2014
MS Thomas Hardy Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2018
MS Vivaldi CroisiEurope Premier 176 2009
MS William Shakespeare Riviera Travel Riviera Standard 140 2017
River Adagio Grand Circle Cruise Line River Concerto 90 2003
River Allegro Grand Circle Cruise Line River Concerto 86 2003
River Aria Grand Circle Cruise Line River Concerto 90 2009
River Beatrice Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Super Ship 158 2009
River Concerto Grand Circle Cruise Line River Concerto 90 2000
River Duchess Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Classic 130 2003
River Empress Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Classic 130 2002
River Harmony Grand Circle Cruise Line River Concerto 90 1999
River Melody Grand Circle Cruise Line River Concerto 90 1999
River Princess Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Classic 130 2001
River Queen Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Classic 132 1999
River Rhapsody Grand Circle Cruise Line River Concerto 90 1999
Riverside Mozart Riverside Luxury Cruises Riverside Suite 154 2009
SS Beatrice Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Super Ship 158 2009
SS Maria Theresa Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Super Ship 150 2015
Scenic Amber Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2017
Scenic Crystal Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2012
Scenic Emerald Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2009
Scenic Jade Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2014
Scenic Jasper Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2015
Scenic Opal Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2015
Scenic Pearl Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2011
Scenic Ruby Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2009
Scenic Sapphire Scenic Luxury Cruises Space-Ship 169 2008
Viking Alsvin Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2017
Viking Atla Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2014
Viking Beyla Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2022
Viking Bragi Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2013
Viking Egil Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2014
Viking Embla Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2013
Viking Gefjon Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2017
Viking Heimdal Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2023
Viking Hervor Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2019
Viking Hlin Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2017
Viking Idun Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2012
Viking Jarl Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2013
Viking Kvasir Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2018
Viking Lif Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2015
Viking Magni Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2013
Viking Mani Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2015
Viking Modi Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2014
Viking Radgrid Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2018
Viking Rinda Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2018
Viking Rolf Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2017
Viking Saga Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2024
Viking Sigrun Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2023
Viking Sigyn Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2024
Viking Skadi Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2013
Viking Tialfi Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2024
Viking Tor Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2013
Viking Ullur Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2024
Viking Vali Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2014
Viking Var Viking River Cruises Longship 190 2014
ms Inspire Tauck Inspiration 130 2014
ms Joy Tauck Inspiration 130 2016
ms Savor Tauck Inspiration 130 2014
ms Swiss Sapphire Tauck Jewel 118 2008
ms Treasures Tauck Jewel 118 2011