The Danube River Cruise Pricing Charts are part of a continuing series of comparison charts and articles featuring European River Cruises offered by world class river cruise lines. Our goal is to provide a True Per Diem for each cruise, or the daily cost breakdown of the trip once all extra fees are added to the cruise fare.
Comparison charts serve as a guide and attempt to answer the most frequently asked questions from our readers:
- What does a Danube river cruise cost?
- How does the cruise I am looking at compare to Danube river cruises offered by other companies?
- What is the price for an entry-level cabin?
- What’s the price for an upgrade?
- What’s included in a 2025 Danube River cruise?
- What Danube river cruise deals are there for 2025?
Our goal is to provide a True Per Diem for each cruise, or the daily cost breakdown of the trip once all extra fees are added to the cruise fare.
Why Cruise The Danube?
The Upper Danube is my number one choice for people new to river cruising. Why? For starters, the Danube is Europe’s second longest river, touching the banks of ten countries and four capitals, coursing through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, to name a few. Stops along the way include historic capitals as well as marquee cities such as Nuremberg, Passau, Linz, Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava. Bucharest and Belgrade are featured on Lower Danube itineraries. I’ve cruised the Danube more than a dozen times and I love it every time that I go because I see something different on each cruise.
The Danube begins in the shaded glory of Germany’s Black Forest near the Swiss border, where the Breg and Brigach headstreams converge and stretch all the way to the Black Sea. It flows east to west from Germany to Ukraine, but “the Upper Danube” is technically the eastern side—from Germany to Hungary—and proves to be the most popular with cruise companies. This is the tour for you if you really want to experience a collection of Europe’s greatest hits such as visiting the Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or biking Austria’s Wachau Valley between Melk and Durnstein. Attend evening events in Viennese palaces, lit in their full glory, to witness a waltz or concert, or a stroll from Buda to Pest undoubtedly confirm poets’ romantic notions of European charm and grace.
Most seven to ten-night itineraries allow sufficient time to explore the major cities along the river. The most common route extends between Passau, Germany and Budapest, Hungary. Prague is often listed as a starting or ending point of a cruise; however, Prague is not located on the Danube River. It’s about 140 miles north of Passau and about 190 northeast of Nuremberg, with guests bussed to and from the ship.
Some vessels operate roundtrip from Passau, Germany, the “City of Three Rivers,” where the Inn, Ilz, and Danube rivers converge. The city of Passau is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful Patrician houses, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which is a masterpiece of baroque architecture. For the most part, the Upper Danube spans more than a mile wide, meandering through fertile plateaus dotted with fairy-tale fortresses, with the only narrow, canyon-like gorges being Hungary’s Visegrád north of Budapest and the Iron Gates on the Lower Danube.
Danube cruises also include sailings between Vienna or Budapest to Nuremberg, which requires transiting the section of the Main-Danube Canal over the Franconian Alps. This passage is known as Europe’s Continental Divide. This canal or “Divide” was the vision of Charlemagne, and took 1,200 years to come to fruition—reaching completion in 2002. The Divide is a series of 16 locks spreading over a distance of more than 100 miles, methodically lifting river cruisers nearly 1,400 feet above sea level. The Divide is represented by a concrete monument on the banks of the river. Be sure not to miss this spectacle.
Understanding The Pricing Charts
The prices in this chart are based on double occupancy. The upgrade costs for a cabin with a balcony are per person. The value of the incentive is broken down per day, per person. True per diem will include the savings of incentives/discounts offered at the time of research as well as the imputed value of items that are not included.
Prices and details reflect information available at the time of research. Cruise lines offer varying incentives with differing time limits or deadlines, and it is best to work with a travel advisor to check active promotions. The incentives that are included in the charts were current at the time they were compiled and may no longer apply or there may be a new special offer.
Summer 2025 Danube Pricing
AmaWaterways | Avalon | CroisiEurope | Emerald | Riviera | Scenic | Tauck | Uniworld | Viking | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | AmaReina | Envision | MS Mona Lisa | Luna | MS Oscar Wilde | Amber | Joy | S.S. Maria Theresa | Gullveig |
Rate | $3,999 | $3,899 | $2,231 | $8,590 | $3,199 | $10,290 | $4,990 | $4,499 | $2,799 |
Sailing Date | June 11, 2025 | June 12, 2025 | June 2, 2025 | June 22, 2025 | June 11, 2025 | June 10, 2025 | July 27, 2025 | June 1, 2025 | June 8, 2025 |
Nights | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Itinerary | Legendary Danube | Danube Dreams | The Beautiful Blue Danube | Danube Delights | The Blue Danube | Gems of the Danube | Heart Of The Danube | Enchanting Danube | Romantic Danube |
Embark-Disembark | Nuremberg-Budapest | Vilshofen-Budapest | Passau-Budapest | Munich-Budapest | Budapest-Budapest | Budapest-Munich | Munich-Budapest | Budapest-Passau | Budapest-Nuremberg |
Cabin Category | Category E | Category D, E | Category C | Category D | Emerald Deck Suite | Category E | Category 1 | Classic | Standard F |
Square Footage | 160 | 172 | 120 | 162 | 183 | 160 | 150 | 162 | 150 |
Room With A View? | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window |
Per diem | $571 | $557 | $446 | $1,227 | $457 | $1,470 | $713 | $643 | $400 |
Port Charges | $33 | $30 | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | $33 | Included |
Gratuities (on ship) | $18 | $18 | $18 | Included | $18 | Included | Included | Included | $18 |
Gratuities (on shore) | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | Included | $2.50 | Included | Included | Included | $2.50 |
Beverages | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
Current Incentive | $500 | $250 | N/A | $5,295 | N/A | $6,145 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Value of Incentive | $71 | $36 | N/A | $756 | N/A | $878 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
True Per Diem | $553 | $572 | $467 | $471 | $478 | $592 | $713 | $676 | $420 |
Per Diem/Square Foot | $3.46 | $3.32 | $3.89 | $2.91 | $2.61 | $3.70 | $4.75 | $4.17 | $2.80 |
Balcony Upgrade | $1,399 | $1,549 | N/A | $700 | $850 | $1,250 | $400 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Balcony Per Diem | $753 | $793 | N/A | $571 | $599 | $771 | $770 | $818 | $563 |
updated 2/28/2024 |
* Per Diem - The rate divided by the number of nights on board, indicated per person but based on double occupancy. Solo travelers will, in most cases, pay single supplements.
* Gratuities (on ship) - Some companies include gratuities for crew, others leave it to their guests to take care of gratuities.
* Gratuities (on shore) - Just as with crew gratuities, some companies take care of on-shore gratuities for guides and drivers; other companies leave it to their guests.
* Beverages - Nearly all river cruise companies offer complimentary soft drinks, speciality coffees, beer and wine during lunch and dinner. In between mealtimes, though, you'll pay for most beverages. AmaWaterways hosts a "Sip & Sail" Happy Hour which includes complimentary cocktails before dinner.
* Optional Shore Excursions - All river cruise companies include complimentary excursions in most, if not all, ports of call. However, some companies offer optional shore excursions for a fee.
* Current Incentive (per person) - Companies offer a range of incentives, from early-booking savings to two-for-ones and reduced or free air. The incentives are always changing so be sure to check with your travel advisor or the cruise company about current offers.
* Value of Incentive (per day/pp) - We've divided the amount of the incentive by the number of days on board to arrive at a per-diem value.
* Balcony Upgrade - Nearly all of the entry-level staterooms feature fixed windows.
Autumn 2025 Danube Pricing
AmaWaterways | Avalon | CroisiEurope | Emerald | Riviera | Scenic | Tauck | Uniworld | Viking | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | AmaVerde | Envision | Modigliani | Luna | Riviera Radiance | Amber | Savor | S.S. Maria Theresa | Jarl |
Rate | $4,299 | $4,099 | $2,231 | $7,590 | $3,099 | $9,490 | $4,990 | $4,499 | $2,299 |
Sailing Date | October 13, 2025 | October 17, 2025 | October 6, 2025 | October 11, 2025 | October 13, 2025 | October 12, 2025 | October 28, 2025 | October 12, 2025 | October 27, 2025 |
Nights | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Itinerary | Melodies of the Danube | Danube Dreams | The Beautiful Blue Danube | Danube Delights | The Blue Danube | Gems of the Danube | Heart Of The Danube | Enchanting Danube | Romantic Danube |
Embark-Disembark | Budapest-Vilshofen | Vilshofen-Budapest | Passau-Budapest | Munich-Budapest | Budapest-Budapest | Budapest-Munich | Munich-Budapest | Budapest-Passau | Regensburg-Budapest |
Cabin Category | Category E | Category D, E | Category C | Category E | Emerald Deck Suite | Standard Suite Cat. E | Category 1 | Classic | Standard F |
Square Footage | 160 | 172 | 120 | 162 | 172 | 160 | 150 | 162 | 150 |
Room With A View? | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window | Window |
Per diem | $614 | $586 | $446 | $1,084 | $443 | $1,356 | $713 | $643 | $328 |
Port Charges | $33 | $30 | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | $33 | Included |
Gratuities (on ship) | $18 | $18 | $18.00 | Included | $18 | Included | Included | Included | $18 |
Gratuities (on shore) | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | Included | $2.50 | Included | Included | Included | $2.50 |
Beverages | Included | Included | Included | Included* | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
Current Incentive | $500 | N/A | N/A | $4,795 | N/A | $4,745 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Value of Incentive | $71 | N/A | N/A | $685 | N/A | $678 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
True Per Diem | $596 | $636 | $467 | $399 | $463 | $678 | $713 | $676 | $349 |
Per Diem/Square Foot | $3.73 | $3.70 | $3.89 | $2.46 | $2.69 | $4.24 | $4.75 | $4.17 | $2.33 |
Balcony Upgrade | $1,399 | $1,449 | N/A | $950 | $850 | $1,250 | $400 | $1,000 | $1,500 |
Balcony Per Diem | $796 | $843 | N/A | $535 | $585 | $856 | $770 | $818 | $563 |
updated 2/28/2024 |
Amy Dedrickson says
Which river cruise line offers a casual atmosphere—no suits and ties required?
Cindy Watty says
None require suits and ties. We find AmaWaterways, Avalon, and Amadeus to be a bit more casual than some of the others.
Rosemary Sullivan says
Looking for information about Avalon Danube Dream cruise in April or May 2024. 2 couples from St. Louis, Mo
Carol Ann Leclair says
Looking for Fall 2023 for 2 seniors, celebrating 60th anniversaire.
Carol Ann Leclair says
Looking for Fall 2023 2 seniors, celebrating our 60th Anniversaire
Deirdre Gibbons says
Do you have a similar chart for September/ October 2022? Thank you.
Sargon says
Do you have smiller for 1st of Oct to 8of Oct 2022.tfor 2 adult. Thx
Susan McElroy says
Interested in cruises that include Concentration Camps. Only river Cruise.
Dan Miller says
On our 2-week Avalon cruise last August we went to Mauthausen in upper Austria. Tip to save you a ton of money. Instead of booking 1 cruise for 2 weeks, we booked 2 separate cruises at 1 week each so we doubled all the incentives savings such as free airfare, money off per couple and free pre-paid gratuities. That also allowed us to fly in and out of Munich so the airfare was cheaper than flying in and out of 2 different cities. With all the savings the trip ended up being a BOGO so we vacationed for 2 weeks and netted out only paying for 1. To top it all off, we earned double welcome back credits so we booked 2 more back-to-back cruises this August flying in and out of Amsterdam. Another benefit is we stayed on the ship during the changeover in Budapest so we only had to unpack once for a 2-week trip.
Al Wilson says
are these charts for 2020 or 2021?
Britton Frost says
Hi Al,
I think there was a problem when I updated the page. Try it now. They are for 2022.
Marcia says
Great chart. Do you have one for 2022 now that cruising is coming back?
Ralph Grizzle says
Now that things seem to be stabilizing, we’re going to begin updating the charts.
Lee Linde says
I’m curious about cruises in September, 2021. What companies are expecting to be sailing in this late/post (we hope) COVID world? Will there be substantial pricing changes?
Mitch Lehr says
Thank you for all this work and info. I intend to lead a group of circa 25 retirees during the spring of 2021.
Based on your chart, the line of our choice is Viking; besides, our group cruised with them before.
Do you have a phone email for a group perrson?
Do they offer RETURN CRUISER discounts?
Ditto for senior discounts
Our participants will originate anywhere in the USA. What is the best way to approach the air part?
Thank you
Respectfully
NL
Pamela Bunker says
Thank you for all the valuable info
Ralph Grizzle says
You’re welcome!
Patricia Fiedler says
What is the best recommended cruise for Budapest and Vienna. Experienced world travelers but I have not been to this area of Europe before nor on a European River Cruise. Moderate budget but not bottom of the barrel either. My sister lives in Idaho and I am in Arizona.
Colin D Davey says
Where is APT?
Jesus R. Velez-Borras MD says
Interested cruises to include Lower Danube and perhapsps Russian Rivers