Danube in Depth

Welcome to Germany and the historic city of Nuremberg, where your cruise begins. Toast to the occasion during an evening reception on board your state-of-the-art Scenic Space-Ship.

Bavaria’s second-largest city, Nuremberg is dominated by one of the most significant imperial forts of the Holy Roman Empire, the 12th century Imperial Castle, which was the preferred residence of German kings. Its Old Town is protected by an ancient city wall, which hosts the most enchanting Christmas Markets every year.

Behind its enchanting façade, Nuremberg also has a turbulent history. During WWII the city was favoured by the Nazis for party rallies, the boycotts of Jewish businesses began here, as did the laws that denied Jewish people German citizenship – known as the ‘Nuremberg Laws’. By 1945, the city was reduced to rubble, including large sections of the Imperial Castle and Old Town. Allied powers – the US, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union – held the Nuremberg Trials here between 1945 and 1946, where Nazi Germany leaders were tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This morning’s choose one of the following Scenic Freechoice activities:

Walking tour of the Old Town: Explore this wonderful medieval city on foot with your local guide. Walk through the grounds of the Imperial Castle before making your way to the Old Town, where you will see St. Lawrence Church and the lively market square.

The Trials and Tribulations of WWII: Learn about the Trials and Tribulations of WWII with a visit to the Rally Grounds and Courtroom 600, where members of the Nazi Party were tried for war crimes, a poignant reminder of the terror caused by the National Socialist regime.

Rock-cut cellars and beer tasting: Head underground to Nuremberg’s rock-cut cellars for a unique beer tasting. Walk the labyrinth of corridors and cellars that are located under the city and learn about Nuremberg’s beer production that dates back centuries, all while tasting some of the delicious brew.

Your Scenic Space-Ship will set sail this afternoon towards the city of Regensburg. Relax in your suite, many of which have a window that converts into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you uninterrupted views to watch a rolling tapestry of river life as you cruise the waterway. Learn about the true engineering wonders of water locks and the skills of our Captain taking you through them.

This morning will be spent on board your 5-star Scenic Space-Ship. Wake up to a pre-ordered coffee delivered by your personal butler and enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Crystal Dining.

Boasting a staggering 2000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany’s best preserved medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings UNESCO World Heritage listed. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country.

This afternoon Regensburg offers up a selection of Scenic Freechoice touring activities to choose from:

Walking tour of Regensberg: Join your local guide for an afternoon walking tour of the Old Town of Regensburg. You’ll be in awe of the many perfectly preserved medieval buildings that have been standing sentinel over the Danube for centuries.

Traditional Sausage-Making Workshop: Learn how to make traditional regional sausage during a cooking class. The history of the famous Regensburger Wurst can be dated back to the 12th century, when it was used to feed the hungry workers who were building the impressive cathedral in the city centre.

Regensburg’s Jewish heritage: Discover Regensburg’s Jewish heritage – the city was the first documented Jewish community in Germany. Learn about the rich culture that has evolved throughout the centuries and the devastation caused by the Nazi regime.

Set on the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, Passau has been an important trading city since medieval times, particularly for salt, commonly known as ‘white gold’. Each river is distinct in colour and some days you can clearly see the green, blue and black hues where the waters meet. At the centre of the Baroque city, the 13th century Italianate Old Town is packed with tight laneways tunnels and archways, including an ‘Artist’s mile’ where old buildings are occupied by artist studios, workshops and galleries.

Decide how you will spend your day from the following Scenic Freechoice excursions:

Highlights of Passau walking tour: Join your local guide on a walking tour, admiring the brightly coloured buildings that line the waterways. Visit St. Stephens Cathedral: originally built in the year 450, the church proudly stood in Passau’s Old Town until a devastating fire ripped through it in 1662. It was rebuilt in its current form with an Italian-style exterior complete with a Baroque stucco interior, and nowadays houses the world’s largest Catholic church organ, which boasts 17,974 pipes and 233 registers.

Paddling on the River Inn: Take in this region from a different perspective as you paddle down the Inn River past charming villages, ancient castles and historic bridges, crossing between Germany and Austria.

Cross border cycling: Travel further afield on a guided e-bike ride along the Inn River, during which you will cross the border from Germany to Austria. Cycle through charming towns and admire the spectacular views of the region.

Passau Photography safari: The city of Passau has many picture-perfect locations and during this photography tour you will capture all its beauty. Visit some of the most beautiful places in Passau such as the picturesque streets, old Town Hall and the point where the three rivers meet.

Your Scenic Space-Ship departs late this evening, an excellent opportunity to explore the city at your own pace this afternoon and see it by night. Perhaps, join the locals heading to Neue Mitte where you’ll find high-end shops, and a plethora of drinking and dining options. As the city starts winding down, you will be sailing to our next destination.

Wake up in Austria this morning, where your Space-Ship will dock in the heart of Linz. This city is known for its vibrant music and arts scene and beautiful blend of traditional and contemporary architecture and lifestyle. The city’s quaint old town and Main Square are resplendent in Baroque architecture; while its harbour doubles as an outdoor street art gallery.

This morning choose to explore your way with Scenic Freechoice:

Explore Linz by foot: Join a local guide on a walking tour to discover the balance between the city’s vibrant history and contemporary living.

Full day excursion to Cesky Krumlov: Journey via coach to the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov. This delightful UNESCO World Heritage town is brimming with charm. Sitting on the banks of the Vltava River, Cesky Krumlov is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe with its vast array of well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Wander this fairy-tale location with your local guide and explore the historic centre before delighting in a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and some time at leisure.

Mauthausen WWII Concentration Camp: Venture out of the city to Mauthausen’s former concentration camp that housed more than 190,000 people between 1938 and 1945, during the reign of the National Socialist party. Learn about the conditions and treatment that the prisoners lived under during this sombre tour.

Linzer Torte Baking Class: For something light-hearted, join a cooking class to make your very own Linzer Torte. Learn about the 400-year history of this iconic tart, baked using handmade short crust pastry, red currant jam and almonds.

This afternoon and evening are at leisure. If you’re feeling adventurous, strap on your walking shoes to hike to Postlingberg Church, perched high above the city.

Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock this morning in the small and picturesque town of Durnstein, located in Austria’s scenic Wachau Valley. Surrounded by vineyards, the town has historical buildings that date back to the 12th century, including the hilltop ruins of Dürnstein Castle where Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned between 1192 and 1193. Enjoy some freetime to explore the charming town at your leisure before we set sail to Krems.

Freechoice: Today offers a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from:

Göttweig Abbey: Visit the magnificent Gottweig Abbey. Founded in the 6th Century, the abbey was burned down during the 18th Century and rebuilt to be one of the most magnificent in the Wachau Valley. Your local guide will take you through various room where you will see the magnificent frescoes that decorate the Abbey as well as its staircase, the largest Baroque Staircase in Austria.”

Wachau Valley wine tasting: The Wachau valley is one of the prominent regions for wine growing in Austria. Today you’ll visit a local winemaker and learn about the age old traditions of wine making while sampling delicious wines produced on site.

E-biking from Dürnstein to Krems: Join your guide on a bicycle tour along the Danube to the quaint village of Krems. Pass by charming villages and scenic vineyard landscapes. You will have time to stop along the way to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Danube.

Afterwards while you indulge in the spectacular views, it’s also the perfect opportunity to indulge in some delicious local produce from the Wachau Valley. Your Cruise Director will organise a special treat for you and invite a local producer on board to share some regional delicacies that are famous in this region. Sample some Apricot dumplings and local schnapps among other delights in this breath-taking location.

Arrive early in Vienna this morning, Austria’s imperial capital. Also known as the City of Music, Vienna fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, among others. This city oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces from parks to vineyards, a vibrant coffee-house culture and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums.

Freechoice: Spend the day exploring the city, take your pick from a selection of Scenic Freechoice activities:

Schönbrunn Palace & Panoramic Vienna: Explore Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg family, one of the most prominent dynasties in European history, as you wander its countless ornately designed rooms, hear family tales and see the impressive gardens before taking a coach to the city centre for a guided tour. You’ll see the Opera House, St Stephen’s Cathedral and Belvedere Palace.

Viennese Wine Stories: Journey outside of Vienna’s city centre to its acclaimed wine region, which has been cultivating vines since the 12th century. Hear about Vienna’s long tradition of wine production and sample some of the famous sparkling drops.

Cycle to Klosterneuburg Monastery: This cycling tour will take you to one of the hidden architectural gems sitting a few kilometres away from Vienna, the Klosterneuburg Monastery. This monastery, with more than 900 years of history is surrounded by vineyards and flourishing nature.

Belvedere Museum: Visit one of Europe’s most stunning Baroque landmarks and explore the greatest collection of Austrian art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, complemented by the work of international artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Max Beckmann.

This afternoon is free to wander around Vienna, so perhaps join one of the provided shuttles to the city centre or simply relax on board your Scenic Space-Ship.

Enrich: This evening, join an unforgettable Scenic Enrich experience.

Scenic Enrich Classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein: Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein this evening as you relish an exclusive private classical concert. Enjoy a glass of fine Austrian Sekt and listen to the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart performed by a renowned orchestra. An experience only shared with your fellow Scenic guests, you’ll be seated in Vienna’s largest secular baroque hall, an ornate space where royals and nobles have sat for centuries. Accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists and surrounded by world-famous art, this will be a concert that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

As you progress down the beautiful Danube, spend the morning on board your luxurious Scenic Space-Ship as we cruise towards the Slovakian capital, Bratislava. Sit on the Sun Deck with a coffee in hand and enjoy the scenery of riverside villages or take the opportunity to visit the wellness centre for a soothing massage.

Slovakia’s capital since independence in 1993, Bratislava is a modern multicultural metropolis with an intriguing history. Its Old Town is glorious in medieval and Gothic architecture and its well-preserved hilltop castle, which has history dating back to the 9th century, still dominates the town. These charming historic sites contrast with its brutalist socialist architecture, which is evident around the city.

Freechoice: As we dock in the city centre, our Scenic Freechoice excursions are just steps away:

Walking tour of Bratislava: Explore Bratislava with a knowledgeable local guide to see all the highlights of the city such as the Hlavné Námestie, the main square and the Old Town Hall while learning about the history of the city including what everyday life was like under the Iron Curtain era, the political boundary that divided Europe after WWII.

Coffee & Cake at Kormuth Bakeri: Immerse yourself in modern Slovak life with a visit one of the city’s most famous and historic coffee houses, where you’ll enjoy coffee and cake with friendly locals. Delight in the history of the building, which is decorated in Renaissance-style paintings and frescoes.

Ancestry of the Kitchen – Bryndzové Halušky – pillowy potato dumplings cooking class: Learn about the local customs and culture through taste with this cooking class, where you will make traditional Slovak dumplings using grated potato.

This morning, arrive in Budapest, one of Europe’s most diverse and vibrant cities. Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, this city became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two. The city is an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. It is also well known for its hot springs and thermal baths and has a vibrant nightlife scene.

Freechoice: A range of Scenic Freechoice activities are on offer to choose from this morning:

Budapest in Depth: Explore this magical city by coach. Visit both Buda and Pest, the two districts that are separated by the Danube that make up the city. Starting on the Buda side see the Várkert Bazár before crossing the Margaret Bridge to the Pest side where you will see Széchenyi square and Elizabeth square. End your tour with a mesmerising piano recital at the Institute for the Blind.

Budapest’s Past & Present: This walking and coach tour will give insight on Budapest’s communist past and life today as part of the European Union, including the 1956 Hungarian revolution and the significant Jewish events that have shaped modern culture.

Ancestry of the Kitchen – Goulash cooking class: Traditional recipes have long been passed down through generations. Today you’ll be let in on the secrets of a family recipe as you learn how to make traditional Hungarian Goulash.

This afternoon is at leisure. Pack your swimsuit and make your way to one of Budapest’s thermal baths for a relaxing soak in the therapeutic waters. Or perhaps set out to explore the Central Market Hall – the largest market in the city, built in neo-gothic style for a combination of shopping and sightseeing.

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Budapest Airport for your onward or homebound flight, taking a lifetime of wonderful memories with you. Alternatively, ask your Cruiseabout Travel Advisor about our incredible range of accommodation packages, cruising and touring extensions.