Indulge your passion for majestic art, architecture, music and history on an all-encompassing journey through four countries along three great rivers— the Danube, Main and Rhine—and to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Cruise from Exotic Budapest, visit Imperial Vienna explore Amsterdam.
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River Duchess:
The 130-passenger River Duchess is decorated in soft hues of blue and green complemented by soothing earth tones, providing a tranquil and elegant onboard ambiance. Enjoy spectacular and ever-changing views of Europe’s most enchanting waterways in the ship’s stylish Blue Danube Lounge, Palace Restaurant, or the La Motte Sky Lounge.
Receive an Air Credit or Cruise Credit of $1,500 pp* on new cruise bookings made before 31 January 2023.
16 July, 2023 | 31 July, 2023 | 29 August 2023
17 Jun, 2023 | 13 Sep, 2023 | 12 Oct, 2023
Call today and speak with one of our experienced Travel advisors to discuss this outstanding travel opportunity on 1300 414 198
NOTE: all prices correct at the time of publishing, prices are subject to availability and change at the time of booking.
Day 1: Budapest (Embark)
Arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.
Day 2: Budapest
Called the “Queen of the Danube,” in part because of the way the city hugs the banks of the river, Budapest is an enchanting city that vibrantly mixes East and West, medieval and modern. Made up of two parts— Buda (the hills) and Pest (the flatlands)—and divided by the Danube, Hungary’s capital presents an array of architectural styles that reveal its long and varied history. You’ll have two enticing ways to experience the city—a panoramic guided tour aboard a motorcoach with a visit to the Parliament, or discover the Budapest that locals love on a special walking tour of the city’s most important landmarks.
Choice of Budapest walking tour or Budapest panoramic highlights with Parliament visit.
In the evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
Day 3: Cruising the Danube River, Vienna
Today is your day to relax onboard, enjoying the luxuries of your river cruise ship while soaking in the spectacular scenery all around you as your ship heads for Vienna. Come up to the Sun Deck to admire the city’s landmarks strung along the riverbanks.
Day 4: Vienna
Vienna is a cultural treasure trove revered for its art and music (and sinfully rich pastries). Experience the City of Waltzes with your choice of excursions. Begin your day with an itinerary highlight—our “Morning with the Masters” at the Vienna Art History Museum. Then, you can choose between two different guided tours:
Imperial city highlights tour or Imperial Crypt of the Hasburgs a walking tour.
Day 5: Cruising the Wachau Valley, Weissenkirchen (Melk)
Awaken to the spectacular scenery of the Wachau Valley, one of the most beautiful stretches of river landscape in all of Europe. Named for its white church, Weissenkirchen may very well be the prettiest village in the Wachau Valley. A local expert will show you around and introduce you to some regional delicacies, including a wine tasting. Prefer to go for baroque? Visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey and its extraordinarily opulent library. Later, you can stretch your legs with a vineyard hike.
Choice of Weissenkirchen Village Day with wine tasting or Melk Abbey with library visit or a Lets Go vineyard hike.
Day 6: Passau
Just before reaching Passau, the ship will pass through the famous Schlögener Schlinge—a “gooseneck” or hairpin turn in the Danube. Located at the confluence of three rivers—the Danube, Inn and Ilz— Passau is well known for its ornate baroque cathedral. Today, the city is unusually well preserved, having been spared the brunt of Allied bombing during WWII, as you’ll see on your walking tour.
Choice of Passau walking tour or “Let's Go” bicycle ride along the Inn River
Day 7: Regensburg
Today in Regensburg, you can travel through time or get a crash course in making craft beer, then watch high-tech robots assemble the Ultimate Driving Machine. Regensburg is a friendly town with quaint cobblestone streets, historic Roman ruins and a medieval city centre. The remnants of Regensburg’s golden age are still on display, but don’t let its illustrious history fool you into thinking the town’s best days are all in the past.
Choice of Regensburg walking tour or BMW factory visit
Day 8: Nuremberg
Arrive in the archetypal medieval German city of Nuremberg. Nuremberg is justifiably famous for its gingerbread and pocket watches, and it was also the site of some key moments in 20th-century history. You’ll choose between two memorable ways of exploring this exceptional city. You can hop aboard a motorcoach and “Do as the Locals Do,” or you can accompany a local expert to the city’s most important WWII sites, including the enormous Nazi Party Rally Grounds—the actual site of the Nazi Party rallies.
Choice of Nuremberg panoramic city tour or Nuremberg city tour with WWII Rally Grounds and Documentation Center visit
Onboard: This morning, head up to the top deck or find a seat with a good view—you won’t want to miss seeing the ship navigate its way through a marvel of modern engineering, the Main-Danube Canal. A formidable set of locks, 16 in all, lifts your ship to the crest of the European “continental divide.”
Day 9: Bamberg
Your floating boutique hotel takes you to Bamberg today, a well-preserved town that offers a fascinating glimpse of medieval times. Explore the city on foot or opt to head deeper into the Franconian countryside to experience an authentic slice of rural life—including a tractor ride. Like Rome, the city is built on seven hills—but in Bamberg, a church tops each one.
Choice of Bamberg walking tour or Franconian “Village Day”
You’ll spend the rest of the day on the peaceful Main River, cruising past quiet Franconian hamlets and picturesque countryside. It’s the perfect time to indulge in the many comforts of your luxury ship while watching some of Europe’s loveliest scenery glide by.
Day 10: Würzburg (Rothenburg)
Your ship will dock in the charming Franconian town of Würzburg, where you can visit the extraordinary Würzburg Residence, one of the most opulent baroque palaces in Europe.
Featured Excursions:
Würzburg Residence visit with Court Gardens
Fairytale Rothenburg
Day 11: Wertheim
After today, you may never eat a pretzel again without thinking of the town of Wertheim. You’ll meet one of Germany’s best pretzel makers, as well as the owner of a historic wine estate. If you’re more in the mood for a scenic bike ride, you are welcome to do that as well.
Choice of Wertheim walk with local treats or “Let's Go” Wertheim bicycle tour
Day 12: Frankfurt (Heidelberg)
Frankfurt is known as the “Mainhattan” of Europe due to its profusion of bankers and soaring skyscrapers, which coexist with the city’s traditional Old Town architecture. Choose a brief tour that gives you an overview of this major European financial and trade centre. Alternatively, visit romantic Heidelberg and its Renaissance castle.
Choice of Frankfurt walking tour with local treats or Heidelberg Castle visit
Day 13: Rüdesheim
Experience Germany’s fabled Rheingau in one of two ways today. Take in spectacular views of the region’s famous vineyards from the perspective of an aerial cable car, or venture within an atmospheric medieval monastery and taste the Rieslings made on site. The town is best known for its narrow avenue of shops and wine bars called the Drosselgasse. Experience the most spectacular scenery on the Rhine later in the afternoon as you cruise past the famous Middle Rhine Valley.
Choice of Rüdesheim wine village and panoramas of Niederwald Monument or Abbey Eberbach medieval monastery tour with Riesling tasting
Day 14: Cologne
Enjoy a delightful tour of Cologne’s Old Town, where three medieval gates remain standing, as does the old city hall with its stunning Renaissance façade. Wander through the historical centre and take in its charming atmosphere and narrow alleyways flanked by old houses. No matter how you choose to explore Old Town, you’ll also have ample free time to explore the city on your own.
Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour with Old Town visit
A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.
Day 15: Amsterdam
Enjoy the luxury of a full day in the “Venice of the North,” starting with a delightful tour of the Van Gogh Museum. Afterwards, explore the city with a canal ride or on foot with a local expert.
Featured Excursion: Van Gogh Museum visit
Choice of Amsterdam canal cruise or “Do as the Locals Do” Amsterdam walking tour
Day 16: Amsterdam (Disembark)
Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for your flight home.
Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.
Will I need to have had the COVID -19 vaccination to be allowed to travel?
Yes, all guests on Uniworld cruises or cruise/tours through 31 December 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel.
The health and well-being of our guests and crew is our number one priority. In keeping with our duty of care towards both, we have made the decision to require proof of full vaccination upon embarkation until further notice.
Additionally, many onshore venues in the countries we travel to, such as museums, restaurants and historical sites are now requiring proof of full vaccination in order to enter.
Young children who are not eligible to be vaccinated based on their age will be exempt from this vaccination requirement, however, they will be asked to provide a negative PCR or Antigen test result taken within 72 hours of embarkation.
How can I show you that I have been vaccinated?
Upon embarkation, guests will be asked to present their original COVID-19 vaccination record to show full vaccination, with the final dose administered no less than two weeks prior to embarkation.
As individual cities, countries and onshore venues may also require proof of vaccination at any point during the trip, we highly recommend taking a picture of any paper vaccination record in case of loss of the original and bring any digital records that you may have been issued.
Please note that guests will also need to comply with any specific requirements imposed by airlines and/or governments, which may differ from the vaccine requirements listed above and may include proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. There are several resources available to help find this information, including the official government website for each country and the Travel Requirements section of the Uniworld website.
Have a question? ask our team for assistance.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply. Please contact us for more information.
*Prices are per person in Australian dollars, based on twin share accommodation in lead-in stateroom categories including any applicable taxes and fuel surcharges. Offer is valid for new cruise bookings made until 31 January 2023. The offered credit is applied to a value of up to $1,500 per person and applies to either the airfare or cruise fare portion of the booking. When selecting an airfare credit, Uniworld will take care to offer best available airfare options to the guest, however any unused portion will be forfeited. Payment terms to participate in our airfare credit offer: 10% cruise deposit plus full payment of air ticket balance is required at time of booking. Final payment of cruise fare is due 120 days prior to cruise departure. Guests who do not wish to book airfares under this airfare credit offer, apply the cruise credit and will receive a discount off their cruise fare. In this case, standard Uniworld booking conditions apply. By paying the applicable deposits you accept the Terms and Conditions of the Uniworld credit offer, and tickets will be issued after which time change fees and penalties will apply. Our partner airlines reserve the right to advise an earlier airfare Ticketing Time Limit date, subject to booking conditions and restrictions. Stopovers are subject to additional surcharge and flight restrictions apply. After ticket issuance, date changes and cancellation fees will apply as per the airfare rules (rules will be advised at time of booking) as well as the Uniworld administration fee of $140 pp. The promotion is capacity controlled, and is not combinable with other offers, except for River Heritage Club benefits for past guests and the 2023 Early Payment Discount. The airfare can’t be sold without a new cruise booking and is subject to availability. Existing air credits cannot be redeemed on this offer. This offer is valid on all available cabin categories on most 2023 departures across Europe (excluding Christmas Markets) sailings from 1 Mar to 15 Nov 2023. Uniworld will do everything reasonably possible to fulfil the air credit offer, however, if we are unable to fulfil the flights for any reason, we will revert your booking to the cruise only savings in lieu. Uniworld reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change all fares, fees and surcharges at any time.