15 Day Sailings from Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverships
Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist
The opening of the Main-Danube Canal, linking the Rhine and its tributary, the Main River, to the Danube, was really the central idea that allowed modern day river cruising to become a mainstream vacation for many US travelers. PBS and Viking were the other catalyst, as their sponsorship resonated with viewers.
If you could get one of the two absolute best of the European Rivers on one cruise, my choice would be either the Amsterdam to Budapest route in either direction or sailing on the entire length of the Danube. It is one of the two good options for those seeking an extended sailing experience in Europe by rivership.
The voyage goes from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine to the Main River, then to the Main-Danube Canal and finishes on the upper Danube. This cruise combines the best of the two most popular river cruises in Europe—the 7-day upper Danube and portions of the 7-day Rhine and Main Rivers route.
We have never sailed this exact route but have sailed to every destination. 14-day cruises are awesome—it is even possible to create your own special cruise by combining two back-to-back cruises on the same rivership—we did this in 2015 by escorting two different groups.
So, let’s learn about this route and see if it is a good option for you to take a river cruise on this route for 15 days.
River Cruise Companies Offering the Route
6 of the 7 River Cruise Companies we follow offer this route going through the Main Danube Canal. Only AmaWaterways does not offer it as a complete route (they used to), as one of the owners, Rudi Schreiner, believes the water levels around Regensburg are often so low, it causes part of the cruise to become a bus tour. They do offer a way to avoid this by using two back-to-back cruises and skipping the problematic area. Here are the companies offering this complete route using the Main-Danube Canal and the name they use to describe the route:
Avalon Magnificent Europe
Emerald 15 Day Splendors of Europe
Scenic Jewels of Europe
Tauck Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat
Uniworld European Jewels
Viking Grand European Tour
It is really beyond the scope of this blog to try to match up each company in a comparison mode of their features, as the idea here is only report on the major port stops.
You can already see how complex river cruising can become, knowing all 7 offer good options to discover two key rivers in Europe. This is where we come in, to help you evaluate and match the lines to your travel style and preferences and budget.
General Route Overview
The route starts in Amsterdam and ends in Budapest or starts from Budapest to Amsterdam. Here are the ports, highlighted by our photos.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
This capital city is ringed by canals, has famed gabled buildings, there are more bicycles than you can even imagine—it is one unique place. Combine this with the free spirit of the residents and you will long remember this special town.
Cologne, Germany
Cologne has been a town for over 2,000 years (it used to be a Roman outpost), is the 4th largest city in Germany and is famous for its cathedral. The two 510-foot-high spires dominate the skyline of Cologne, and it holds the relics of the Magi. Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited building.
We also liked the town squares, where some of Germany’s best Christmas markets fill the squares during the Advent season.
Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim, Germany
The 65-kilometer Middle Rhine Valley is the best sailing route you will ever find in Europe. There are 40 or so castles, steep riverbanks and it is simply breathtaking!
After that most scenic stretch, you will visit Rüdesheim, famed for its coffee drink flavored with Asbach brandy, the winding, narrow, Drosselgasse lane, its fine Riesling wines, and a generally friendly, welcoming village.
Miltenberg & Wertheim, Germany
Miltenberg is one of the best preserved medieval cites on the Main River. The colorful half-timbered houses are magnificent. A walk to the town square is a wonderful experience.
Later that day, you will visit Wertheim, known by its nickname as “Little Heidelberg”, and get to see the narrow lanes of this village. Wertheim is located at the confluence of the Tauber and Main Rivers. The two top attractions are the castle and its medieval town square.
Wurzburg, Germany
Wurzburg has several unique architectural buildings but is most famous for the Residenz Palace. The gardens of this palace and interiors are magnificent. This Bavarian town is also a famous wine region.
Bamberg, Germany
Bamberg is a 1,000-year-old town with interesting buildings. The most famous are the town hall, built in the middle of a river, and its beautiful cathedral. It is built on seven hills and is located where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. It is also home to a smoky flavored beer.
Nuremberg, Germany
The old walled city of Nuremberg is one of my favorite places in all Germany. It has an impressive castle, is crisscrossed by a river, and has some cool old buildings. The central market square, with its beautiful fountain, is another great place to see. It is also famous for its Christmas markets.
Regensburg, Germany
The town of Regensburg is located on the northernmost point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval bridge the crusaders crossed on their way to the Holy Wars (which is guarded by an impressive watch tower), and has a good old town area. Anne’s favorite hat maker is here, so we find this one of our favorite Bavarian towns.
Passau, Germany
Built on a tapering peninsula of land, the old town portion Passau is right on the German and Austrian border. Three rivers join here—the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz. On the high banks of the Danube, a fortress dating back to the 1400’s, overlooks the old city center. There are several impressive churches worth a visit.
Melk & Dürnstein, Austria
Melk is famous for its impressive, huge abbey. It was built in the 11th century.
One of the awesome scenic waterways of Europe is the Wachau Valley. Here are 2 pictures :
Later as you cruise through the other great scenic waterways of Europe, the Wachau Valley, you will arrive in the charming village of Dürnstein. The blue tower of the Abbey, the cute little shops, and the castle ruins on the hillside, make this a favorite of many river cruisers.
Vienna
The capital city of Austria, once the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is a city of impressive palaces, great museums, and good food. It is also known for the great composers of classical music, and many go to concerts while on their cruise.
Bratislava
The capital city of Slovakia is a fun place to visit. Located at the border of Austria and Hungary, this is a new country (it declared independence in 1993), as much of its history it was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the part of the Czechoslovakia. The symbol of Bratislava is the fortress that overlooking the city. It is also known for its whimsical bronze figures, which delight cruisers in the old town area.
Budapest
By far the most impressive city on the Danube, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a town we love to visit. It is really two towns—the high town of Buda that overlooks the banks of the Danube and Pest on flat land. They are united by several bridges, but the chain bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city. Both have some awesome structures—among them Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (Buda side) and the Parliament building (Pest side). Once you visit, you will want to come back.
Our Final Thoughts
This is a grand route and a chance to see a lot of Europe in a hassle-free way. For many, it is the trip of a lifetime, as you can see by the port stops.
Availability on this route, due to the number of ships dedicated to this route and the extra 7 days added to the itinerary, sometimes make it hard to find space, so if you are considering taking this cruise, we advise you to act quickly, so you won’t be disappointed—a year or more is a good idea.
We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.
When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to give you the best possible trip experience. And you want someone who can help you with the decision-making process. We think we have all these qualities.
Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you with high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.
HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent
