Over the past few months, we have been covering different itineraries along the Danube. We have already looked at the itineraries offered by Avalon, Crystal, AmaWaterways, Emerald Cruises, Uniworld and Scenic. Today, we will be looking at the itineraries offered by Tauck.

ms Savor heading toward Linz. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle

Tauck’s itineraries differ from itineraries offered by other cruise companies because many of them include land tours. These tours are included in the itineraries rather than being presented as pre- and post-cruise options. You can, however, decide to extend your stay by either staying later or arriving earlier.

The Blue Danube – 12 days from Prague to Budapest

Countries visited: Czechia (Czech Republic), Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary

Stops in: Prague, Regensburg, Vilshofen, Engelhartszell, Linz, Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest

Overnights in: Prague, Linz, Vienna, Budapest

As mentioned above, Tauck’s tours are a bit different from most others because the company includes land tours instead of offering them as extensions. This tour is most similar to a traditional Danube itinerary, but it includes a stay in Prague before the cruise and a stay in Budapest after the cruise.

Guests on this 12-day journey will have the chance to see the best of what the Danube has to offer. Guests will cruise through the Wachau Valley, or bicycle if they are up for it. A stop in Linz gives guests a chance to visit Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov. In Vienna, passengers can visit Schonbrunn Palace. And these are just some of the highlights before the cruise concludes in Budapest where guests will spend extra time after disembarking.

Royal Danube, Berlin & Kraków – 14 days from Kraków to Berlin

Countries visited: Poland, Slovakia, Czechia (Czech Republic), Austria, Germany

Stops in: Kraków, Zakopane, Vienna, Krems, Linz, Deggendorf, Kelheim, Nuremberg, Berlin

Overnights in: Kraków, Vienna, Berlin

This is one of the only Danube itineraries that includes Poland – if not the only one. Poland is an important historical site, as it is home to Auschwitz. For people looking for Jewish or WWII history along the Danube, Auschwitz could be considered a must-see.

After taking a train from Kraków, guests will board their ship in Vienna. On the cruise, guests will have the chance to attend wine tastings, visit a monastery, travel to a BMW factory, and so much more. Passengers will disembark the ship in Nuremberg and travel to Berlin, where they will stay for a few days after the cruise concludes.

Danube Reflections – 8 days from Vienna to Straubing, Germany

Countries visited: Austria, Slovakia, Czechia (Czech Republic), Germany

Stops in: Vienna, Bratislava, Dürnstein, Grein, Passau, Regensburg, Straubing

Overnights in: Vienna

Unlike the other two itineraries that we have looked at, this journey includes only the river cruise portion. Guests will board their ship in Vienna and make their way to Bratislava in the evening. In Bratislava, they have the chance to visit Cerveny Kamen Castle, which dates back to the 13th century.

Throughout the sailing, guests will have the opportunity to attend a wine tasting event in Weissenkirchen, visit the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, venture to Cesky Krumlov, and more.

Musical Magic Along The Blue Danube -12 days from Budapest to Prague

Countries visited: Czechia (Czech Republic), Austria, Slovakia, Budapest, Germany

Stops in: Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Grein, Salzburg, Passau, Vilshofen, Prague

Overnights in: Budapest, Vienna, Prague

Though it seems obvious from the itinerary’s name, this cruise is music-centric. Excursions include a visit to the State Opera House in Budapest; a Viennese opera; sitting in on a rehearsal at Auersperg Palace; a tour of Salzburg (birthplace of Mozart, and backdrop of much of The Sound of Music); a visit to St. Stephan’s Cathedral, where guests will see Europe’s largest pipe organ; and so much more. After the cruise concludes guests will visit Prague, where they will find even more musical enrichment.

Budapest To The Black Sea – 13 days from Budapest to Bucharest

Countries visited: Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania

Stops in: Budapest, Mohacs, Pécs, Vukovar, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Ruse, Constanta, Mamaia, Bucharest, Transylvania

Overnights in: Budapest and Bucharest

This is Tauck’s only Lower Danube itinerary – meaning that the itinerary takes place on the segment of the Danube from Budapest to the Black Sea. Guests will visit Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, where they can take a city tour (or a bike tour if they so wish.) Passengers will also have a day of cruising through the Iron Gates. The Iron Gates are gorges between two mountain ranges and provide many scenic views, including the Transylvanian Alps. In Ruse, guests can admire the Austro-Hungarian architecture. After reaching Constanta, Romania, guests will disembark the ship and head on to Romania’s capital, Bucharest.

Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure – 8 days from Vilshofen (or Regensburg) to Budapest

Countries visited: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary

Stops in: Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Salzburg, Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest

Overnight in: Vienna

As the name suggests, this is one of Tauck’s family itineraries – also known as Tauck Bridges. These itineraries are curated especially for families and can accommodate children as young as three years old. During this sailing, families will learn to make marzipan in Passau; take part in Sound of Music karaoke in Linz after touring Salzburg earlier in the day; bicycle through the Wachau Valley; tour catacombs at St. Stephen’s Cathedral while learning about the Black Plague; and more.

In 2021, Tauck will offer a new Automotive Heritage cruise on the Danube from Budapest to Frankfurt.