Danube River

DANUBE the classical river

AUSTRIA | GERMANY | HUNGARY | SLOVAKIA

A GLORIOUS waltz through time

Steeped in history, myth and jaw-dropping scenery, the sinewy Danube flows through ten European nations on its 1,770-mile journey from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. To cruise this watercourse is to relive centuries of cultural and architectural achievement, dating back to when this was the northern boundary of Rome’s empire. Each gleaming city, each humble village, each hidden gorge or hillside castle echoes with its own rich stories — sometimes triumphant, sometimes tragic, but always enchanting.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

UNESCO SITES & SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Wander Vienna’s UNESCO-listed Historic Center, where music, palaces and pastries reign

Climb to the heights of Budapest and revel in its awe-inspiring dome and spire skyline

Explore incredibly photogenic Passau, home to the largest Baroque church north of the Alps Enter Krems through a 15th-century gate and discover a city both ancient and fresh

Sip delicious wines bottled in the ancient vineyards of the Wachau Valley Enter the gilded treasury of Esztergom Cathedral, a neoclassical landmark visible for miles

Tour cobbled Bratislava, where upbeat modern galleries share the stage with brooding Communist-era architecture AUSTRIA’S WACHAU VALLEY

This storied stretch of the Danube between Melk and Krems is barely 25 miles long, yet somehow filled with infinite charm. Vineyards dot the hillsides, castles and ruins abound, and idyllic small towns line the banks. Melk Abbey, where Benedictine monks have continued their labors through nine centuries of European history, is one of the litany of must-see landmarks that make it clear why this valley is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

THE SCHLÖGEN LOOP

Each section of the nation-hopping Danube offers its own distinct character and must-see sights. That’s certainly the case with the riverscape between Passau and Linz — famous for its dramatic “Danube Loop,” a hairpin curve near the village of Schlögen. Passau and Linz themselves are laden with appeal and sights, too. Whether your passion is forest hiking, touring Italianate mansions, or surrendering to the alluring berry-and-almond sweetness of a Linzer torte, you’ll find ways to indulge it along this stretch of the river.

Crystal’s highly acclaimed six-star service Michelin-inspired farm-to-table cuisine prepared fresh to order

All-inclusive, complimentary fine wines, premium spirits, authentic regional, local and seasonal wine and beer offerings, gratuities and more

Extensive selection of inclusive shoreside experience