Danube River Cruises

The 1,785-mile-long waterway begins at the convergence of two streams in the Black Forest region of southwest Germany, and it flows east through 10 countries (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and the Ukraine) before emptying into the Black Sea. The river also flows through a handful of Central and Eastern Europe’s most influential cities, including Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Bratislava, providing Scenic river cruise guests with endless opportunities for exploration and immersion.   

 

While it is clear to see the significance of the Danube in modern Europe, the river has played a major role in the advancement of civilization for more than 2,000 years. The ancient Greeks sailed up the Danube River from the Black Sea, getting as far north as a large gorge known today as the Iron Gate and serves as a natural border between Romania and Serbia. Under the rule of Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire strengthened and expanded its empire by establishing military settlements and strongholds up the Danube. Over time, those ancient Roman outposts grew into vibrant cities — Aquincum became Budapest, Singidunum became Belgrade, and Vindobona is the cultural center that Danube river cruise guests now know as Vienna.

One could argue that of those cities, Vienna is culturally the richest. After all, Vienna was the epicenter of classical music during the 18th and 19th centuries. On a Scenic Danube river cruise, guided walking tours dedicated to the city’s connection to great composers bring visitors to landmarks associated with artists such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Joseph Haydn, Franz Liszt, Gustav Mahler, and Franz Schubert. In fact, it was the Danube River, itself, that inspired Johann Strauss II’s famous waltz “On the Beautiful Blue Danube.” 

Yet, for as many great composers who lived and drafted their seminal works in Vienna, no one draws more interest and more visitors every year than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The musical prodigy settled in Vienna as a teenager, and many protected buildings throughout the city immortalize key events in his life. A visit to the archives at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, for example, will reveal documents that mark Mozart’s marriage, the christening of two of his six children, and—ultimately—his premature death in 1791. Those wishing to visit No. 5 Domgasse, an apartment that was once home to Mozart (and the only one of Mozart’s many apartments known to still exist), will learn much more about the composer, as the building now operates as Mozarthaus, a museum dedicated to the artist. It was there at No. 5 Domgasse that Mozart composed many of his greatest works, including the Marriage of Figaro. And while thousands of people visit Mozart’s gravestone in St. Marx Cemetery, fans of the composer should also make a pilgrimage to St. Michael’s Church, which is where, during Mozart’s funeral service, portions of the composer’s Requiem were performed for the first time.

Besides Vienna, our luxury Danube river cruises also venture to the European gem that is Budapest. A cultural and historical hub, Budapest will take you on a journey of splendor, elegance and passion. From the city’s 14th Century Roman Catholic architecture, through to its indulgent thermal baths and spas, no Danube river cruise is complete without a visit to Budapest.

Danube river cruises first operated in the mid-19th century, thanks to the invention of the steam engine in 1830. They have remained popular largely due to almost a dozen World Heritage Sites that are located throughout the Danube River Region and can be visited and explored by river travelers. However, a Scenic River Cruise experience on the Danube is enhanced by far more than those protected historical sites.

About 50 miles east of Vienna, Scenic guests can visit a Benedictine abbey set above the town of Melk. The monastic site was founded in the 11th century and features Baroque structures that were built during the first part of the 18th century. The abbey has served as an educational center for almost 1,000 years, and its library, which is home to a large collection of medieval manuscripts from the 12th to the 15th centuries, provides the proof. For passengers seeking a different monastic experience, a ferry ride through the Danube Gorge further east in the Germanic town of Regensburg leads to the Weltenburg Abbey, one of the world’s oldest monastic breweries. It is there, along the shores of the Danube, that passengers can sample more than a dozen styles of beer, including the abbey’s award-winning Barock Dunkel, a full-bodied, malty dark lager that is characterized by subtle caramel and toffee notes.  

These are just a few of the many experiences afforded to travelers while cruising the Danube river with Scenic. To learn more about what Scenic guests can expect on a European river cruise, see more info below.