A Danube Journey Through the Heart of Elegant Europe
7 Day River Cruise Budapest to Vilshofen
Hosted by Lori Curtis, June 24 – 30, 2027
There’s something quietly magical about the Danube. It carries stories, music, empires, and everyday life through the very heart of Europe—and on this journey, you’ll follow its most beautiful stretch, from Budapest to Nuremberg.
This special Danube itinerary feels like a love letter to classic, elegant Europe. You’ll wander grand boulevards in Budapest, soak in the imperial grace of Vienna, and cruise through the breathtaking Wachau Valley, one of the most scenic and beloved sections of the Danube. Here, terraced vineyards, medieval villages, and hilltop ruins glide by as the river gently winds through a UNESCO-recognized landscape that feels lifted straight from a painting.
Along the way, you’ll pass storybook towns and vineyard-covered hills that seem unchanged by time. These are places where café culture, architecture, and centuries of history still shape daily life—where Europe feels both timeless and alive.
The journey concludes in Nuremberg, one of my personal favorite cities. Rich with medieval charm and layered history, Nuremberg offers far more than its postcard looks—it’s thoughtful, fascinating, and deeply human, a fitting finale to a cruise rooted in culture and meaning.
We’ve thoughtfully enhanced this sailing with an included pre-cruise night in Budapest, giving you extra time to settle in, explore, and truly begin the experience without rushing. From there, you’ll enjoy the comfort and views of a top-deck panoramic suite, where the scenery becomes part of your day, every day.
Cruise Dates: June 24–30, 2027
Price: $5,088 per person, including:
One pre-night in Budapest at a fantastic hotel
Top-deck panoramic suite accommodations
Prepaid gratuities
Port fees and taxes
We also have additional cabin categories available, and for those who’d like to linger a little longer, we’re happy to add two post-cruise nights in Nuremberg at a fabulous hotel.
This is a limited hosted departure with just 15 cabins, and availability will go quickly.
This journey is being lovingly hosted by Lori Curtis, who will be there to guide, support, and enhance the experience from start to finish.
📞 918-617-1034
📧 Lori@thejoyoftravel.net
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing Europe at its most graceful—unhurried, storied, and beautifully lived-in—this Danube journey may be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Contact Lori at
918-617-1034
Lori@thejoyoftravel.net
Day-to-day Itinerary
1 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Welcome to Budapest—Hungary’s Captivating Capital
The day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.
2 BUDAPEST (EMBARKATION)
Monuments and Markets
Classic Excursion - Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour to see majestic Heroes’ Square and Budapest’s classic sites.
Spend free time browsing the Central Market Hall, strolling the cobblestones, browsing art galleries, sipping coffee, and sampling sweets before boarding your Danube cruise for a welcome dinner this evening.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA
breakfast
dinner
3 BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA
Cathedral Coronations and a Crowning Castle
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
Active Excursion - Follow your Avalon Adventure Host on a short hike to lofty Bratislava Castle, OR:
Classic Excursion - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Old Town’s cobblestone streets to Town Hall. Visit the gothic halls of St. Martin’s Cathedral—Hungary’s centuries-old coronation church.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA
breakfast
lunch
dinner
4 VIENNA, AUSTRIA
A Feast for the Soul in Vienna
Active Excursion - Explore Vienna's Danube Island by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
Classic Excursion - Enjoy a Guided Visit to House of Strauss and embark on an interactive journey through Vienna's illustrious past at an immersive audio-visual experience. After the tour, enjoy a coffee and homemade cake, OR:
Classic Excursion - Explore the Habsburg empire with a Guided City Tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex —the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Optional tours today include a Guided Tour of magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence of Habsburg royalty.
Alternatively you can choose to spend your free time strolling through Kärtnerstrasse, the most famous shopping avenue in central Vienna; stop in a local café to enjoy authentic Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel.
You may also choose to attend an Optional Excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KREMS
breakfast
lunch
dinner
5 KREMS–WACHAU VALLEY - YBBS
An Ancient Village and Vintages of the Wachau Valley
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
Active Excursion - Experience Wachau valley by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
Discovery Excursion - Join an interactive Wine World Experience with wine tasting, OR:
Classic Excursion - Join a guided walk to explore this small valley town, seemingly untouched by the new world.
Relax on board and enjoy the picturesque Wachau Valley scenery as you cruise to Ybbs, affording you an incredible view of Melk Abbey from your ship.
YBBS
Discovery Excursion - Enjoy sweet interactive experiences and tastings of local Austrian products as you visit a pastry-baking workshop and an Austrian bee farm, OR:
Discovery Excursion - Join a guided visit to two family-owned farms and discover how they produce delicious traditional specialties and products, OR:
Classic Excursion - Visit the Lower Austrian little town of Ybbs. Walk through the doors of Austrian history with a guided sightseeing tour of Artstetten Castle.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LINZ
breakfast
lunch
dinner
6 LINZ
History Lessons and Modern-Day Devotion
Active Excursion - Join an expert guide for a trek up to Mount Pöstlingberg for a whole new perspective of beautiful Linz and its surrounding area, OR:
Classic Excursion - Visit the 9th-century St. Florian Monastery—the largest monastery in upper Austria and home to Augustine monks, OR:
Classic Excursion - Take a Guided Walk through the city’s historic and beautiful sites along the shore of the Danube and see Hauptplatz—Austria’s largest medieval square—and the towering white-marble Trinity Column.
This afternoon, consider an Optional Excursion to visit Mauthausen Memorial.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VILSHOFEN
breakfast
lunch
dinner
7 VILSHOFEN, GERMANY (DISEMBARKATION)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Munich airport before Noon.
breakfast
notes
In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
All payments are made directly to wholesale suppliers and any cancellations or changes are subject to their fee schedule and policies. Please be aware that deposits are non-refundable. If insurance has been purchased you may be entitled to a credit up to the full amount paid, minus the cost of the insurance. Exceptions may be made for medical reasons, but it is at the sole discretion of the insurance company. The Joy of Travel, LLC does not have any control over insurance claims or payments.
Personally Escorted Experience
Our group tours are thoughtfully designed to be personally escorted by a Joy of Travel professional when minimum participation is met. If the group does not reach 20 travelers, the tour will still operate exactly as planned—with all included services, experiences, and guided touring—just without a Joy of Travel personal escort.