Holidays 2027
Departs: Sunday 18th July 2027 | 12 Days
The Beautiful Blue Danube Cruise - Vienna to Vienna
Tour Price: from £2475.00 per person
Your Holiday Centre
The River Danube is the second longest in Europe after the Volga. It rises in the Black Forest Mountains of Western Germany and flows for some 1,770 miles to its mouth of the Black Sea. Along its course it passes through 10 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. The Danube played a vital role in the settlement and political evolution of central and southeastern Europe. Its banks, lined with castles and fortresses, formed the boundary between great empires, and its waters served as a vital commercial highway between nations. The Danube's majesty has long been celebrated in music. The famous Blue Danube Waltz, 1867 by Johann Strauss, became the symbol of imperial Vienna. In the 21st century the river has continued its role as an important trade artery. It has been harnessed for hydroelectric power along the upper course of the river, and the cities along its banks, including the national capitals of Vienna (Austria), Budapest (Hungary) and Belgrade (Serbia), have been dependent upon it for their economic growth.
Tour Inclusions
- All coach travel
- 2 overnights half-board out
- 2 overnights half-board return
- 7 nights all-inclusive on ship
- All excursions
- Entertainment
- Services of courier
Special Notes
- Insurance & GHIC.
- Full valid passport.
- Please inform us of any special dietary needs e.g: diabetic, gluten free, vegetarian, etc.
- Special requests are put forward to the hotel, and they will do their utmost to accommodate your needs.
- Overnight bags can be taken.
- Itinerary could be subject to change.
Tour Price
Single Room Supplement: £765.00
(double/twin for sole use)
Your Accommodation
The Douce France - Hotel Ship
The Douce France is a premium ship which is 110m long x 10.1m wide, carries 107 passengers and has a total of 55 cabins, 20 on the upper deck and 35 on the main deck. One of these cabins is reserved for passengers with reduced mobility.
The Douce France was completely renovated in 2017 to the company's new standards. The ship now offers much more spacious cabins with large bay opening windows with French balconies on the upper deck, and large windows on main deck. The common areas are of soft relaxing colours. The cabins are of a marine atmosphere.
Located on the upper deck, is the lounge & bar which is at the front of the ship and the restaurant is at the rear of the ship which have large wide panoramic windows.
Do not hesitate to go to the sun deck to relax! It has armchairs and sun lounges for your comfort while enjoying a panoramic view of the landscape.
The cabins on the Douce France envelop you in a comfort that will stay with you throughout your cruise! Each cabin offers a stunning view of the Danube. Your comfort is guaranteed with a double bed (or 2 single beds), a bathroom with hairdryer, toilet, shower and sink, mirror, individually controlled air-conditioning, safe, TV and radio.
There are stairs to the main deck and rooftop.
Outbound Hotel
Hotel Gasthof Zum Storch
Markt Place 20, 96132 Schlusselfeld, Germany.
Tel: +49 9552 9240.
Return Hotel
Post Hotel
Rue Hurbise 160, 4040 Herstal, Belgium.
Tel: +32 4 264 64 00.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1. Depart Dover
After boarding your luxury coach, we make our way to Dover for our morning DFDS ferry crossing. There is a meal voucher included for food and a drink. We travel through France and Belgium with comfort stops, to Liege and our first overnight hotel, with dinner, and breakfast. Overnight bags can be taken if you wish.
Day 2. Depart for Germany
After breakfast, we make our way from Belgium into Germany and on to our second overnight hotel in Schlusselfeld Bavaria. There will be comfort stops en-route for food and drink. On arrival there will be porterage if needed for overnight bags. Dinner and breakfast will be provided.
Day 3. Schlusselfeld to Vienna ship
After an early breakfast, we start our journey to Vienna. Travelling through Germany and into Austria. There will be comfort stops en-route. We arrive at the cruise port in Vienna where we board our ship, The Douce France. After comfortably settling into your cabins, they will introduce their crew with a welcome cocktail, dinner and entertainment. The ship will depart at 8pm, towards Melk and sail through the night.
Day 4. Melk
Overnight we travel into lower Austria to the point where the River Danube enters the Wachau Valley. We arrive at Melk, best known for its massive Benedictine Abbey, one of the most splendid monastic houses in Austria. Seeing is believing here, Melk Abbey is one of the biggest and most beautiful European Baroque ensembles. Its splendid architecture is famous worldwide and part of UNESCO's world cultural heritage. The Baroque building, situated on a rock overlooking the Danube, ranks as one of Austria's most visited art-historical sites. Since 1089, Benedictine monks have continually been living and working in Melk Abbey. Today we have a guided tour of Melk Abbey which includes the Imperial Staircase, Imperial Corridor, the Abbey Museum, the Marble Hall, the Balcony, Library and the Abbey Church. Later we return to the ship, then cruise up the beautiful Wachau Valley to Durnstein, passing gothic ruins and picturesque villages. On arrival we'll take a tour of this charming medieval town with their hostess. Returning to the ship, we continue cruising towards Bratislava.
Day 5. Bratislava
This morning we have a guided tour of Bratislava. Straddling the Danube River, this is Slovakia's compact capital and a must for art lovers. It has a multitude of museums, art galleries, palaces and ornamental churches (all found in and around its historic Old Town). This afternoon is spent cruising.
Day 6. Puszta
This morning enjoys a half day excursion of Puszta with a traditional horse show. Puszta, is one of Europe's largest expanses of protected prairie, and the 2,000,000-acre home to Hungarian grey cattle, stud horses, Racka sheep and buffalo herds, that graze on open pastures. This afternoon is spent cruising towards Budapest which will be reached in the night.
Day 7. Budapest
Today we have a guided tour of Budapest, the metropolis that was once two distinct cities united only in 1873: Buda, on one bank with its rolling hills and valleys: and Pest, on the other, with its flatter landscape offering a panoramic view over the banks of the Danube. In the evening, join an excursion of traditional entertainment in Budapest.
Day 8. Esztergom
Enjoy some free time in Esztergom, one of the oldest cities in Hungary. This afternoon will be spent cruising to Vienna. Tonight is their Gala evening. The ship will cruise through the night to Vienna.
Day 9. Vienna
Today we have a guided tour of Vienna and the Schoenbrun Castle. This afternoon, a guided tour of Hofburg Palace.
Day 10. Vienna to Schlusselfeld
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast before we must disembark at 9am. We reboard our coach to travel back to our hotel in Schlusselfeld Bavaria for our overnight accommodation with dinner. Overnight bags can be used.
Day 11. Schlusselfeld to Liege
After an early breakfast and cases have been loaded on the coach, we say farewell to our hotel in Schlusselfeld, and we will be retracing our steps to our overnight hotel at Liege with dinner and breakfast. There will be comfort stops on the way.
Day 12. Depart for Home
After breakfast and overnight bags have been loaded, we say farewell to our hotel and make our way back to the ferry port for our afternoon ferry. There will be a meal voucher included for food and a drink. We should arrive back in our local area mid evening.