Cruise & Classical Music on the River Danube

7 nights accommodation

One itinerary available

Full Board

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Explore the Danube with a difference aboard Amadeus MS Amara and enjoy sightseeing tours and experiences exclusively for HF guests that celebrate the river’s rich musical heritage. Over eight magical days, we’ll journey through Europe’s cradle of classical music, where Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner left their mark. From the tones of the world’s largest cathedral organ in Passau and Vienna’s elegant waltzes, to the grandeur of Budapest’s Opera House and an intimate concert in St Florian’s Abbey, this is more than a river cruise — it’s a symphony of culture, history, scenery and music playing in perfect harmony.

Accommodation

Cabin Facilities

Each cabin features a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower, luxurious Rituals bath products, and a hairdryer, along with a fixed panoramic window or drop-down panoramic window that fills the space with natural light. Thoughtful touches like a comfortable bed, generously-sized wardrobe, secure in-room safe, flat-screen TV, individual climate control and direct dial telephone ensure a restful and well-equipped stay.

Ship Facilities

Indoor swimming pool

Restaurant

Panorama lounge bar

Massage room

Fitness room

Lift between the Haydn and Mozart decks (sun deck not accessible by lift)

Shop

Amadeus Club with 24 hour tea and coffee station

Chess board, shuffleboard and loungers on sun deck

Ship Technical Details

Construction: 2025

Flag: Germany

Length x Width 135m x 11.4m

Draft: 1.3m Decks: 4

Cabins/Suites: 70/12

Max.passenger: 164

Crew members: approx. 46

Speed: 25 km/h

rf_sup_cafevienna_amara_amadeus_02_2025.jpg

What You’ll Love

  • Smaller ships for a more intimate experience and relaxed feel on board
  • Daily small-group guided themed sightseeing with expert local leaders, exclusively for HF guests
  • Fully escorted from the UK by an HF Tour Manager
  • Sailing from Germany through Austria and Slovakia to Hungary 
  • Concert performances in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Passau, Dürnstein Abbey, and St Florian Abbey
  • Guided walking tour of Budapest and visit to the State Opera
  • Guided walking tours of Passau, Vienna, and Bratislava
  • Music-themed entertainment on board including a Vienesse Waltz performance and dance lesson, and Bavarian evening

What's Included

  • Return flights from the UK with baggage and transfers
  • Fully escorted from the UK by an HF Holiday Tour Manager
  • 7-night river cruise with accommodation in an en-suite river view cabin
  • Sailing from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary 
  • Full board dining featuring breakfast, multi-course lunch and dinner with menu choices, afternoon tea and late-night snack
  • Wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
  • 24-hour complimentary tea and coffee available in the Amadeus Club
  • Welcome cocktail reception and dinner and gala dinner
  • Guided music themed excursions as described in the itinerary
  • Onboard entertainment as described in the itinerary

Reviews


Itinerary

Itinerary

Fly to Munich and join your transfer to Amadeus Amara, your river cruise ship which is moored in Passau in Germany. Enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by a special welcome dinner. The ship remains moored in Passau overnight.   

Passau is not only known for its location at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Inn and IlzIt is also home to the world’s largest cathedral organ which can be found in St Stephen’s CathedralWith almost 18,000 pipes and over 230 registers, an organ concert in the cathedral is one of the highlights of a visit to Passau and we will experience it during our guided tour of the cityYou are free this afternoon to explore Passau at your leisure. This evening, enjoy a special Bavaria- themed dinner on board with regional delicacies and live music as the ships sails towards Linz

We arrive at Linz in Austria this morning and travel to Anton Bruckner’s birthplace in Ansfelden. Here, we will learn about his life and work and how his musical development was shaped by his schoolmaster and organist father. We them move onto St Florian Abbey where Bruckner was a choirboy and later a teacher and organist After a guided tour of the Abbey, we’ll enjoy a short concert The ship remains in Linz until the evening, so you have the afternoon at leisure for further exploration. 

This morning, we arrive in Emmersdorf where you are free to explore at leisure. Known as the Gateway to the Wachau Valley, this charming riverside town boasts cobbled streets, cosy cafés, and views over the Danube. Back on board, lunch is served as the ship continues towards the wine-growing village of Dürnstein in the UNESCO protected Wachau ValleyDürnstein Abbey is a former Augustinian Monastery, famous for its iconic blue and white Baroque tower overlooking the Danube. The Baroque organ is still in use today and we will hear it played during a short concert.  The ship departs late afternoon for Vienna where it arrives late evening at its overnight mooring. 

Vienna has been associated with classical music for centuries and many renowned composers have connections with the city. Franz Schubert was born here, and Johann Strauss II is credited for popularising the Viennese waltzMozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Mahler lived and composed here, inspired by the art and architecture of one of Europe’s great cities. This morning, our guided tour of the city is focused on Viennese composers and music, followed by afternoon free time in the City of Music’. Visit St Stephen’s Cathedral with its iconic colourful tiled roof, sample coffee and cake in the Café Frauenhuber where Mozart and Beethoven performed or simply take in the elegant Baroque and Gothic buildings on a stroll around the UNESCO-listed city centre. The ship is moored in Vienna until late evening when it departs for Bratislava. 

The ship arrives in Bratislava in Slovakia this morning where we’ll enjoy a music-themed guided walking tour. Together with an expert guide, we’ll stroll the city’s stunning streets hearing stories of how Mozart dazzled noble families with his talent here aged just six years old, and a young, Franz Liszt performed at the University Library in one of his earliest public appearances. The afternoon is free for you to explore further. Back aboard the ship, evening entertainment is a Viennese Waltz performance and the chance to learn a few steps of this classic ballroom dance.  

This morning the ship makes its way into Hungary and towards our final port of call.  Relax on board and enjoy the views from the panorama lounge bar, Amadeus Club, or your cabin.   One of the highlights of a Danube cruise is arriving in Budapest from the river. You’ll see several iconic bridges including the famous Chain Bridge, the stunning Hungarian Parliament Building, and Buda Castle – the seat of Hungarian kings since the 13th century.  We arrive early afternoon and then take a guided walk of the city which includes a tour of the iconic Budapest Opera House and a short concert.  

On our final evening, we will enjoy an atmospheric cruise through Budapest. Illuminated at night, Budapest’s most beautiful side is revealed. A gala dinner and folklore show on board will complete the experience

Say farewell to the crew and transfer to the airport for the flight home from Budapest.

Daily Walk Options

Grade 1

Easier Walks

Walk at a relaxed pace, often spending time at places of interest en-route. Walking experience isn’t necessary as distances are quite short and gradients generally easy.

Accommodation

Amadeus Amara: Departing on 26 Jun and 07 Oct 2026

Cabin Facilities

Each cabin features a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower, luxurious Rituals bath products, and a hairdryer, along with a fixed panoramic window or drop-down panoramic window that fills the space with natural light. Thoughtful touches like a comfortable bed, generously-sized wardrobe, secure in-room safe, flat-screen TV, individual climate control and direct dial telephone ensure a restful and well-equipped stay.

Ship Facilities

Indoor swimming pool

Restaurant

Panorama lounge bar

Massage room

Fitness room

Lift between the Haydn and Mozart decks (sun deck not accessible by lift)

Shop

Amadeus Club with 24 hour tea and coffee station

Chess board, shuffleboard and loungers on sun deck

Ship Technical Details

Construction: 2025

Flag: Germany

Length x Width 135m x 11.4m

Draft: 1.3m Decks: 4

Cabins/Suites: 70/12

Max.passenger: 164

Crew members: approx. 46

Speed: 25 km/h

More Information

Vaccinations & health information EU NEW 2026

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see whether any health precautions are needed for your trip. Health advice and requirements can change, so we recommend doing this in good time before travel.

As a general rule, travellers should ensure they are up to date with routine UK vaccinations and boosters, including, for example, MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Some countries may require you to have specific vaccinations such as Malaria, Rabies and Yellow Fever. Please check with your GP if you are unsure.

Please note that the use or possession of some common prescription or over-the-counter medicines is restricted or banned in certain countries. If you will be carrying medication, you should check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling. As an extra precaution, we recommend keeping medication in its original packaging, carrying a copy of your prescription, and, where possible, asking your pharmacist to provide the medication name in the language of the country you are visiting.

For further country-specific health advice, visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.traveldoctor.co.uk. If you are travelling from outside the UK, please consult your own doctor and check local entry requirements.

 

Passport & Visa information - SHARED FOR ALL EU NEW 2026

This information is for those travelling with a full ‘British Citizen’ passport; for all other nationalities or passport holders, please check with your local consulate for advice.

Passport Requirements

This information applies to travellers holding a full British Citizen passport. Entry requirements vary by destination and can change at short notice. For most EU and worldwide destinations, passports must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Some countries also require a minimum period of validity remaining on your passport (often up to 6 months beyond your return date), even if you are not staying that long.
We strongly recommend ensuring your passport has at least six months’ validity remaining at the time of travel to avoid any issues.

If you hold a different type of British passport or a passport issued by another country, you must check the requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official government website.

Visa Requirements

Visa rules depend on your nationality, destination, length of stay, and purpose of travel, and they can change frequently. It is your responsibility to check whether you require a visa before travelling.
British passport holders should check the latest entry, passport validity and visa requirements for their destination on the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

 

 

Carbon Footprint

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

Learn more

Reviews

Code: RMD07-LRC12

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Cruise & Classical Music on the River Danube

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If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

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HF Holidays

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Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries

Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

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