{"id":7,"date":"2008-05-13T09:21:35","date_gmt":"2008-05-13T16:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.avidcruiser.com\/blog\/?p=596"},"modified":"2023-07-11T12:08:36","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T16:08:36","slug":"choose-to-cruise-the-danube","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/2008\/05\/choose-to-cruise-the-danube\/","title":{"rendered":"Choose To Cruise The Danube"},"content":{"rendered":"
Immortalized by Johann Strauss in Blue Danube Waltz, the Danube winds from Germany\u2019s Black Forest through Austria into the Balkans before dumping into the Black Sea.<\/p>\n
The romantic river flows through six countries and meanders for nearly 1,800 miles. Some of Europe\u2019s most-fabled cities \u2014 Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest \u2014 are situated on the banks of the Danube, making the Danube a good choice for first-time river cruisers.<\/p>\n
On our eight-day cruise on Uniworld’s River Empress, there were both first-timers and repeaters. Our cruise began in Budapest and ended in Passau, with an overnight on board in each city at the beginning and end of the cruise.<\/p>\n
Ashore, Uniworld includes at least one free tour in each destination, so that passengers get an overview and introduction to the places they visit. Following is a brief overview of the destinations we visited along the Danube.<\/p>\n
Budapest<\/strong> was once referred to as the \u201cQueen of the Danube,\u201d because of the city\u2019s cultural significance at a time when Hungary was three times the size it is today.<\/p>\n On one side of the Danube, hilly Buda retains much of its Middle Age charm; its cobbled streets and Gothic buildings have been well preserved. On the other side of the river, Pest is the thriving city center.<\/p>\n River Empress was docked on the Buda side. A free ferry shuttled us between Buda and Pest.<\/p>\n Bratislava<\/strong>. Slovakia\u2019s capital city was a \u201ccapital in exile\u201d for Hungary\u2019s kings and archbishops during Turkey\u2019s occupation of Hungary and most of the middle Danube basin from 1526 to 1784.<\/p>\n Bratislava is dominated by an enormous castle that stands sentinel over the Danube. Though the castle dates back to the 9th century it was razed in 1811 and rebuilt.<\/p>\n Vienna<\/strong> was the next stop for River Empress. After the included city tour, many passengers visited Schonbrunn Palace, the imperial summer palace of the Habsburgs, one of Europe\u2019s principal sovereign dynasties from the 15th to the 20th centuries.<\/p>\n Vienna is characterized by beautiful parks, legendary Viennese coffee houses and Baroque palaces. One of the city\u2019s most famous landmarks, Stephansdom (St. Stephen\u2019s Cathedral) is also one of Europe\u2019s most impressive Gothic structures.<\/p>\n The musically inclined will appreciate that Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss composed their greatest operas and symphonies in Austria\u2019s capital city. The composer Schubert was born here.<\/p>\n An optional excursion offered by Uniworld features an evening concert, and this one is a “don’t miss” for lovers of music and culture.<\/p>\n River Empress called on Durnstein<\/strong> one morning, and Melk<\/strong> (pictured) that afternoon, with scenic river cruising and an outdoor Bavarian buffet on the upper deck.<\/p>\n