Go with the flow
Hit cruise control on the picturesque river Danube
From fascinating ports of call to spectacular scenery, a river cruise on the Danube has it all
Pootling down the serene river Danube flanked by the stunning vineyards of Austria’s Wachau Valley, could, quite possibly, be the perfect way to travel. As the sun’s winter rays provided warming sunshine and mugs of rich hot chocolate took the edge off any chill in the air, my husband and I agreed this was so much more civilised than a fly-and-flop winter sun holiday.
If you like the idea of a cruise but hate the thought of being on a huge ship with hundreds of chatty passengers, river cruising may be the perfect solution. You get all the convenience of a big ship cruise – transfers from home, luxurious and well-equipped staterooms (cabins), a gym, Jacuzzi, lounges and restaurants – but with a maximum capacity of 130 passengers, it never feels crowded. There’s also a refreshingly down-to-earth feel to it all – none of that “cruise-upmanship” that you often hear bandied about at muster stations on big ships. Plus – and this is a real bonus – you arrive right into the heart of your destination, so you can maximise your time at any stop.
There are several river cruise operators, but Avalon Waterways definitely has the edge, thanks to the innovative design onboard boats such as the Avalon Panorama. Floor-toceiling windows in the staterooms can be fully opened so that your whole room acts as a giant balcony. You can watch the world go by as you lie on the (incredibly comfortable) beds angled towards the window. As views go, it takes some beating.
We took a cruise from Budapest to Prague, stopping along the way at various points of
interest – some that we were familiar with, such as Bratislava and Vienna and some that we would never have thought to visit, such as Dürnstein and Deggendorf, but were so glad that we did. Tiny villages with fairy-tale castles and the prettiest churches for a morning here, an afternoon there and longer trips such as a day in Linz, where some of us transferred to Salzburg for a Sound Of Music experience. Want to recreate the Do-re-mi steps scene in lederhosen made of curtaining? Yup, you can. And you still have time to dine on genuine Wiener schnitzel, followed by Salzburger Nockerl, a soufflé-like dessert.
The nine-night trip is planned so that you spend a couple of days in each of the bigger cities, transferring to the Intercontinental hotel in Prague for the final destination.
It’s the perfect amount of time to get a flavour of each place and you can either join in one of the organised walking tours or explore at your own speed. As with other cruises, clientele may be older than, say, a package tour, but with more active options onboard such as mountain bikes and kayaks at your disposal, river cruising is attracting younger holidaymakers. And once you have had a flavour, you too may find you’re hooked.
Next stop, the Mekong Delta… Avalon’s 10-day Danube Dreams – Budapest to Prague starts at £2,216 per person, based on departure dates from May to October 2019. The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, complimentary Wi-fi, gratuities, shore excursions at every port led by certified guides and private home pick-up. Call 0330 058 8291 or visit avaloncruises.co.uk. A European annual multi-trip budget policy from Insureandgo (insureandgo.co.uk) starts at £30.99 and includes 50 activities and sports as standard. Cruise cover in Europe starts at £17.92 for a week.