Andrea sailed away from the ordinary with us in April on our Danube Dreams cruise. Here’s her recount of a week of elevated river cruising on the Danube with Avalon.
Day One: Vilshofen, Germany
I had stayed in Passau the night before embarkation, so took a 20-minute train ride to Vilshofen. It was a charming town with colourful buildings. While the Avalon Illumination was only a 12-minute walk through its charming streets, the cobblestones did make it a little tricky for my suitcase wheels. I made it onboard around 11AM and was warmly welcomed by the friendly crew. A light lunch was served in the Panorama Lounge as guests gradually arrived and settled in. Watching the crew diligently assist with incoming guests and their luggage was amazing, sometimes going above and beyond to help from quite a distance.
Day Two: Passau
Welcome to the ‘City of Three Rivers’! I started my day early with yoga, ably led by Claudia, our Adventure Host. Once finished, we were treated to a refreshing green drink before making our way to breakfast.
My first excursion was a Classic excursion – a walking tour of Passau. It was impressively organised with colour-coded groups, including a ‘gentle walkers’ group for those after a slower pace. Each guest had individual headsets so we could tune into our local guide with ease. This was a much more pleasant experience than previous tours I’ve been on.
Day Three: Linz, Austria
While we were docked in Linz today, I had pre-booked the Český Krumlov optional excursion. I was eager to see the town for myself after reading The Bloodletter’s Daughter, a historical novel set here.
A spacious coach picked up our group of fifteen, making for a comfortable ride. Our local guide delivered a performance that was both hilariously bleak and brilliantly entertaining. His dramatic commentary had us all laughing while we absorbed the history of this fascinating town and region. I loved this engaging walking tour through Český Krumlov’s cobblestone streets and landmarks. Lunch wasn’t included but the local street food more than made up for it.
Day Four: Ybbs – excursion to Melk, Wachau Valley & Dürnstein
Despite a cold and wet start to the day, many of the guests still chose the Discovery excursion to two family-owned local farms. We thought it may be a visit to a working farm; however, we went to two farms with their own shops. Despite the unexpected format, we were treated to an absolute feast of regional specialties. The local farmers showcased their goods and demonstrated their farming methods through informative videos.
Day Five: Vienna
Today was packed with activities. Firstly, I signed up to be a chef for the morning! This proved to be a popular choice with a large group of us being transported to a special venue behind a Viennese restaurant. We were split into teams, each with our own chef to teach us how to cook traditional wiener schnitzel, oyster mushrooms, potato salad and apfelstrudel. It was a fun and interactive experience with delicious results!
In the afternoon, I opted to head out again to the iconic Schönbrunn Palace. Being Easter Saturday, the palace grounds were bustling with locals and visitors alike – especially with an enormous Easter Market in the courtyard. We had an excellent tour through some of the interior rooms and heard lots of stories about the Habsburg family.
Day Six: Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava – the capital of Slovakia and a little gem of a city. I woke up to the most beautiful view of Bratislava Castle right outside my Panorama Suite. I love being able to sail overnight and wake up to a beautiful day in a new location. Another bonus to river cruising is that we were able to dock right in the city. For our guided walking tour, we crossed the road and were immersed in history immediately.
Day Seven: Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, a true highlight and sadly the final day of our cruise.
Like most nights, we sailed overnight but our Captain ensured an early morning arrival into Budapest. As we approached the city, many guests gathered on the Sky Deck to marvel at the stunning architecture lining the Danube River and perched atop the hills. Our Cruise Director, David, also treated us to some commentary about his hometown.
After another sumptuous breakfast, today’s excursion was the Bites and Highlights tour. We began at Buda Castle, where we learned about the meticulous restoration efforts that have brought damaged or collapsed buildings back to life. Using historical photographs as reference, architects have masterfully recreated structures to make them appear to have stood for centuries.
From Castle Hill, we returned to the Old Town for our foodie walking tour. We were led down a set of stairs into an expansive cellar – a setting straight out of a movie. An extravagant feast awaited us: fresh breads, flavourful dips, an assortment of butters, salami, cheeses, pickles, nuts, and local wines to accompany it. A duo of violinists serenaded us as we indulged in this unforgettable experience.
That evening, as darkness fell, Budapest transformed into a dazzling spectacle with illuminated buildings, bridges, and promenades. Numerous smaller boats offered dinner cruises, but we had the best vantage point right from our ship. During dinner, the captain steered us toward the outskirts of Budapest, only to re-enter the city under the cover of night. All of us gathered on the Sky Deck again to capture this breathtaking panorama before us, but no camera could do it justice. It was simply stunning!
Day Eight: Budapest
Two days prior, each cabin received a detailed disembarkation letter. Along with the instructions, we were given colour-coded luggage tags corresponding to our departure plans. I was booked for post-cruise accommodation at the Marriott Hotel, arguably the best place to stay after a river cruise. Perfectly situated along the Danube, the hotel is designed so that most rooms boast incredible views.
By mid-morning, everyone’s accounts had been settled, bags packed, and guests were ready to leave. Incredibly, my extra costs came to nothing! Most of the daily excursions were included, and I had pre-paid the gratuities and the two optional excursions. Drinks were included with all meals, and I managed to get a couple of free cocktails in at Happy Hour most days. You really don’t need much extra money on an Avalon cruise!
The crew orchestrated a seamless disembarkation operation to ensure everyone reached their destination efficiently. We all thanked the crew for a fantastic cruise – they made it look so easy, yet they all worked hard behind the scenes to make this perfect for us. Thank you for an unforgettable and elevated river cruising experience, Avalon Waterways!
