Danube Waltz - recommended excursions

[CPAMom]

We are taking the Viking Danube Waltz cruise next August - Budapest to Passau.  Two couples, late 50s, fairly active (one of the 4 ran a 1/2 marathon this year, hubby and I just returned from Canadian Rockies - did e-bike tour and hiked 10+ miles one day.)  We like food/wine/spirits, arts, theatre, history, sports - pretty much everything.  First river cruise (or any cruise) for our friends.  We cruised the Nile in 2019 and have cruised Alaska and twice in the Caribbean.

 

I'm a big planner, so I want to have a handle on what excursions and activities we hope to do, including sitting in cafes on the square and soaking up the ambience.

 

My question is where should we be content with (or skip!) the "free ABC" cruise line tour and then explore on our own?  Where are the cruise line optional tours worthwhile?  And where does it make sense to get our own private tour?  I'd like to avoid the "big bus" scenario where possible, unless it really doesn't matter.  Smaller mini-bus size-tours are more appealing - if we aren't just on our own.  (e.g., Big bus to Iceland's Blue Lagoon was fine - since it was really just transportation; but I would have much preferred a smaller / private tour for the Golden Circle.  We had mini-buses when we were on our Egypt cruise for a group of 16 - that was perfect.)

 

Our ports are:

- Budapest (with extension - so several days)

- Bratislava

- Vienna (probably want to do something special with music)

- Krems (option for Gottweig Abbey)

- Linz (option for Cesky Krumlov)

- Passau

 

I am considering is trying to find a private tour for Cesky Krumlov that includes the Baroque Theatre.  I think our travel companions might really enjoy that (if we can find one).

 

Also - not sure how quickly the excursions through Viking book up (included and non-included).  Does anyone have experience with that for this type of cruise?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

[Kristal Blade]

We were on AmaStella earlier this year, sailed from Amsterdam to Budapest.

We used the free trips in every port. We had a good choice of at least 2 trips at every port. Most included free time after the walk round. Guides were very happy for people to break away from the group if you wanted to, so long as you knew where to meet if you had to catch the bus back it was fine.

Cesky Krumlov is delightful. It is a fairly long drive toget there and once there we were glad to have a guide to lead us to the highlights. We had free time later and we had a delicious lunch of local specialities in a restaurant called the Two Marys. It was recommended by the guide. We still had time after that to look round. I don’t remember the Baroque Theatre!

 

We selected excursions the night before we arrived anywhere and there was always space. We never had to take a second choice.

 

I know you are with Viking so maybe someone else can add more for you.

[franski]

Have cruised this part of the Danube twice - although our Viking cruises were the Elbe and Lower Danube.  The included excursions usually have great guides...  You can learn a lot about the area from doing the walking tour.   And, as mentioned above,  the guides don't care if you branch off.  Although, if you have taken a bus to the location, make sure you know when and where you need to return to the bus. 

 

The challenge with private tours is timing.  There are many things that can impact your arrival/departure time in any port.  Plus - the docking location may change.  The only way that you *might* be safe is if the boat is docked overnight.  But, again, you won't likely know where you will be docked so you would need to arrange to meet on shore some where.

 

Ship tours seldom book up.  The included tours are always available to everyone on board.  The optionals may fill up - but you would find out about number restrictions in the port talk.  You run a greater risk - IMHO - of having something cancelled if the optional doesn't meet the minimum numbers.  For Cesky Krumlov, you could always take the excursion - just for the bus to get there - and then do your own tour. 

 

You mentioned extension in Budapest....  That is such a wonderful city that you could easily spend a week there and not see it all.  Easy to get around - quite walkable. We have been 4 times at the start or end of a river cruise - and have extended every time...  And, would still love to go back. 

 

Fran 

[pontac]

I took this cruise in 2016; the only optional tour we took was the Strauss & Mozart concert and we loved it.

 

As you've not been on a river cruise before I suggest you take note of @franski's comments re the risks of pre-booking private tours. You're in the hands of the gods of locks and water levels. Plus the harbour master decides where the boat will dock.

[Daisi]

A further add to @franski's comments, we just completed our Danube cruise. After our 3rd stop it was announced water levels were to low to travel the full way, so they switched things up. Instead of sailing from Durnstein to Passau, we sailed to Linz, then Engelhartszell. After that we sailed to Passau, and were bussed to Regensburg. We totally missed Roth (and the excursion to Nuremburg). So if you organise tours along the way, you may not reach your ports at all.  I can't complain about our cruise, the two extra stops were great, sad to miss Nuremburg, but what do you do when there is no water to sail on?

[CCJack]

We were on the Viking Romantic Danube so slightly different stops than you.  It was a great trip, I hope you love it as much as we did.  

 

As others have said, I would avoid independent excursions.   First off, there are not many... it is not like a big ship cruise where there is a market for local excursion vendors.    We had no water level problems on our cruise, but schedules can still change.   You want to stick with Viking or DIY with a good understanding of when the boat leaves.

 

The included viking tours we took were typically very good but short.  Typically walking from boat for 1.5 hours or so, then you could go off on your own.   We did take a few viking paid excursions with mixed results..... 

 

Viking Nuremberg WWII excursion  - excellent

 

Vienna included walking tour - excellent

 

Viking Vienna Mozart concert - I was disappointed.. I posted a separate review on this.  Others like it.  The bus took us to a large concert hall and a concert was just ending so lots of people exiting the theater.  I assumed we were going in the large hall for a 2nd show, but instead you go to a smaller room and it is a viking only concert.  It as not a full orchestra, maybe 6 piece chamber music.  They told a lot of jokes and gags.  I would have rather bought a ticket to the big traditional concert for locals.

 

Viking Gottweib Abbey.    The Abbey is a beautiful building and you get great views of the valley.   But it is a pretty low key excursion - wine tasting and that was about it.

 

We ended in Budapest with an overnight on the ship.   So they took us out again after dinner for an evening cruise (on the viking ship)...  Budapest is absolutely beautiful from the river after dark.   If you have an overnight on the Viking ship in Budapest at the beginning of your cruise, they likely will do that.  If not, then schedule your own evening cruise with an local boat during your pre cruise stay.  Don't miss.

 

I really enjoyed going through 20+ locks during the cruise.   Very interesting, I thought.

 

Have fun...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blueridge Cruiser]

We did this exact cruise earlier this year and loved it.  Here are some of my thoughts and responses to your questions:

 

Budapest extension - So glad we did this. Stayed at the Intercontinental right on the river. Viking excursions we did included tour of Budapest, Jewels of Androissey (sp?) and Budapest at Night. Enjoyed them all but might pass on the Budapest at Night. The highlight of it was seeing Parliament Building lit up but we got there just as the lights were being turned off.  It is not a long walk from the hotel or ship so you can easily see this on your own. On our own we also visited The Terror Museum and did the audio tour. It details Budapest occupation by *** and then Russians. Definitely recommend that. We also walked along the riverfront on both sides, across the bridges and explored those areas.  Don't miss the "shoes by the water" memorial up near Parliament Building. Ship was docked right by one of the bridges and easy walking distance to many things. Fellow travelers did the Jewish Synagogue (they recommend), the Budapest Cold War Travel In Old Car... (don't recommend).

 

Bratislava - We did the included tour and took bus up to "castle". Old historic part of town was very touristy and the "castle" up on the hill was just underwhelming and only viewed from outside. This was the least favorite port.

 

Vienna - LOVED it. Wish we had more time there.  Took the included walking tour which was very good.  Then did the optional tour out to the palace.  Fantastic palace and gardens. Watched the Netflix season 1 The Empress on the flight over so it really helped me understand the royal family and the palace.

 

Krems - Went to Gottweig Abbey but was somewhat disappointed after all the amazing churches we had seen. Very simple, not too much on tour and small gift shop. Maybe see about another excursion that day.

 

Linz - Did the Cesky Krumlov tour and enjoyed it. Walking tour of city, then provided lunch in a small charming stone cellar restaurant right on the square, then time to explore or shop on our own. I think this is the port where our friends went on the excursion to a concentration camp. They said it was sobering, very good and recommend it.

 

Passau - Probably my favorite little town. Ship was docked right at town. Walking tour included was great, cute little shops, separate nice hike up on the hill to old wall.

 

All of the walking tours were great with exception of the one in Slovakia. We did 2 excursions that were just ok and would not do again - 1. Ride out to a restaurant where there was music and meal. Three small tour groups there, food so so and just felt fake. 2. Similar visit out to a wine producer for wine and dinner. Touristy, loud and just ok.

 

We loved the cruise and are planning another one soon.

[CPT Trips]

On 10/18/2023 at 3:41 PM, Blueridge Cruiser said:

Linz - Did the Cesky Krumlov tour and enjoyed it. Walking tour of city, then provided lunch in a small charming stone cellar restaurant right on the square, then time to explore or shop on our own. I think this is the port where our friends went on the excursion to a concentration camp. They said it was sobering, very good and recommend it.

The Mauthausen Death Camp near Linz is beyond sobering and definitely a place that people should visit. I found it thought provoking and very emotionally draining. Cesky Krumlov is an entirely different type of experience and also well worth a visit. 
 

We have been to Linz a couple times with GCT. Cesky Krumlov was a full day excursion while Mauthausen was 1/2 day allowing time for a walking tour or visiting museums in Linz. YMMV. It’s also an easy train trip to Salzburg I’d that interests you. 

 

Vienna obviously is known for its music and you can get tickets to performances on line before you go. The UBahn (subway) is relatively convenient to the river cruise ship port. Should be an easy walk (jog) to the station from the ship for you. From there you have easy access to the city center and also for a DIY visit to Schönbrunn Palace. 

 

If you opt for private tours, we found that just about every person proving tours and similar services has WhatsApp so they can be easily contacted to coordinate meeting points and docking locations. 

[CPAMom]

Thanks so much everyone for all these details.  Really appreciate it.  

[JordanF]

We recently took a Danube cruise, with a pre-cruise in Budapest.  The only tours we took were the ship's included tours and some of the the ship's optional tours.  They were mostly pretty good, and typically had us in relatively small walking groups, always with the headsets so you could hear well without being right next to the tour guide.  As to Budapest--we took all of the included and optional tours, and still had plenty of time to explore on our own.  When on our own, we walked everywhere--things were that close.  It is a great city!  FWIW, here is a link to my review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2942656-gate-1-monarch-governess-may-26-2023-cruise-review-danube-with-budapest-and-prague/#comment-66078518

 

[CPAMom]

On 10/18/2023 at 3:41 PM, Blueridge Cruiser said:

@Blueridge Cruiser

 

On 10/18/2023 at 3:41 PM, Blueridge Cruiser said:

Linz - Did the Cesky Krumlov tour and enjoyed it. Walking tour of city, then provided lunch in a small charming stone cellar restaurant right on the square, then time to explore or shop on our own. I think this is the port where our friends went on the excursion to a concentration camp. They said it was sobering, very good and recommend it.

 

You mention you did the Cesky Krumlov excursion.  Do you recall how much time you had to explore on your own and when you were due back for the bus ride back to the boat?

 

Thanks!

[Blueridge Cruiser]

We had plenty of time. If I remember correctly we did a guided tour when we arrived. Then lunch as a group in the stone cellar of a small cute cafe on the square. After that we had time on our own. We did some shopping, took a self tour of the castle (not much there but a few exhibits) and climbed to the top of the tower (definitely worth it). After all that we still had time for coffee (it was snowy) at a cafe on the square before meeting our tour guide to return to the bus.