15 Days Cruise the Heart of Europe: Journey along the Rhine, Main and Danube
Duration:
14 Nights
From €4,699 per person
29 June – 13 July 2026
Sail through the breathtaking scenery along the Rhine and Danube to visit some of Europe’s most popular capital cities, stopping at the picturesque medieval towns and villages along the way.
Experience a variety of medieval towns and imperial cities, from quintessential Bamberg to classical Vienna, and cruise through the dramatic scenery of the Rhine Gorge. This fifteen-day river cruise takes you on a journey from Cologne in the heart of the Rhine Valley to Budapest on the banks of the Danube.
Travelling through Germany along the Rhine, we stop in historic Koblenz and Boppard and marvel at the stunning Rhine Gorge on our way to Rüdesheim, a town famous for its Riesling wine.
We join the Main River, stopping in Mainz, Miltenberg, Würzburg and the medieval town of Bamberg.
From here, we pass through the Main-Danube canal, reaching our halfway point, the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, then continue to the picturesque Danube, stopping at Regensburg and Passau.
Over the next five days, we sail through Austria, stopping in Melk to see its stunning Abbey and Vienna, home of Strauss, where we tour the city. And our journey takes in the Slovakian capital Bratislava before ending in Hungary, with a guided tour of Budapest.
Please note: Due to locks and low bridges along the stretch of the river Main and the Main-Danube-canal, the rear main part of the sun deck will be closed between Mainz and Passau. The other outside areas in front of the lounge, the Riverview Kitchen and the lower section of the sun deck in front of the wheelhouse are still accessible.
Highlights
Enjoy guided tours of some of the most captivating capital cities of Europe, Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava, with free time to explore.
Discover historic destinations along the rivers with guided tours of Melk Abbey, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Mainz and Bamburg, one of Europe's prettiest towns.
Explore the Bavarian city of Regensburg, learning all about this historic city that was once the most north westerly point of the Roman Empire.
Discover Bamberg, one of Europe's prettiest towns, exploring Little Venice and the town hall that sits on an island in the middle of the river.
Wander around Würzburg on a guide tour, visiting the impressive Marienburg Fortress and the magnificent Residenz, a famous Baroque palace.
Cruise along the Rhine to Koblenz and Boppard then through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim, for a guided tour of this beautiful city.
Day 1 Arrival in Cologne
Begin your adventure by boarding your ship in Cologne.
Day 2 Koblenz & Boppard
Visit historic Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, then visit charming Boppard.
Day 3 Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim
Cruise through the world-famous Rhine Gorge on our way to Rüdesheim, a true Rhine wine town surrounded by vineyards.
Day 4 Mainz
Take the short cruise to the Roman city of Mainz for our guided tour, before sailing along the river Main.
Day 5 Miltenberg & Wertheim
Visit charming Miltenberg and Wertheim and learn about the art of glassblowing.
Day 6 Würzburg
Explore the refined Bavarian city of Würzburg on a guided tour, then relax during a leisurely afternoon sailing.
Day 7 Bamberg
Discover Bamberg on our guided tour, then get to taste local beers before dinner.
Day 8 Nuremberg
Call in at the Bavarian city of Nuremberg to explore on our guided tour, then enjoy the on-board facilities.
Day 9 Regensburg
Cruise along the Main–Danube Canal to Kelheim, where we join the Danube river. We visit Regensburg this afternoon.
Day 10 Passau
Explore Passau, our last stop in Germany, before sailing into the Austrian Danube Valley this afternoon.
Day 11 Melk
Visit Melk Abbey, then cruise through the Wachau Valley on our way to Vienna where we enjoy a classical quartet recital on board.
Day 12 Vienna
Discover the elegant imperial city of Vienna on a guided tour, with the afternoon free to explore at leisure.
Day 13 Bratislava
Explore Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, then sail towards our final destination, passing the Danube bend tonight.
Day 14 Budapest
See this breathtakingly beautiful imperial capital on a guided tour, then explore under your own steam this afternoon.
Day 15 Return home
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your crew and start the journey home.
MS William Wordsworth
Swiss operated and truly world-class, we are absolutely delighted to present the five-star MS William Wordsworth.
It is extremely difficult to convey just how extraordinary this outstanding ship really is and exactly what distinguishes it from similar vessels. It would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that; we have deliberately avoided the current trend for a minimalist style where you could be anywhere in the world, creating instead a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. Immediately striking is just how exceptionally spacious this new vessel is as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. Moving inside, exceptional creativity from Europe’s finest design studio has produced a superbly balanced masterpiece of onboard style, utilising sustainable rich hardwoods, gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate wrought iron. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout – including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising which time after time you tell us you adore.
The restaurant rivals the finest on shore establishments taking fine dining to another level complemented by delicate European porcelain, gleaming glassware and the intuitive service in which the Swiss excel. This superb vessel carries 44 in-house trained crew members serving just 169 guests (similar size vessels may carry well over 190 passengers) giving the ratio which our experience proves is concurrent with our first class service levels.
A small number of bicycles are available on board for our guests. Please enquire at the reception desk for information.
Cabins
A gleaming wood door opens revealing your exceptionally appointed suite. At 17 square metres (183 square feet), its generous dimensions are amongst the largest you will find on a cruiser gracing any European river. Imaginatively designed and appointed to the highest specification, with all the luxury you would expect to find in a smart ‘boutique style’ hotel, your comfort definitely won’t be compromised on any level!
The sparkling marble bathroom features a powerful fully glazed shower with a large ‘rainshower’ head, superbly refreshing after a hard day’s sightseeing. Clever design allows for ample space, and contemporary lighting, complimentary quality cosmetics and fluffy towels, makes preparing for the day ahead an absolute pleasure.
The chic styling of a talented designer’s eye extends to the entire suite with generous use of hand-crafted tropical hardwoods blended with premium fittings, discreet thoughtful lighting and a colour scheme of calming neutral tones, creating an ambience to put you in the most relaxed frame of mind from the very first minute! A full size bed assures a good night’s rest in crisp cotton linen of the finest quality - a turndown service each evening adds the fi
nishing touch. Please note all suites have two twin beds with individual bedding which can be moved together or separated accordingly.
You will enjoy a particularly generous seating area with two chairs and a table, enabling you to unwind in comfort in the privacy of your own suite whilst a bow camera conveys live images of the ship’s progress to your flat screen TV, ensuring you won’t miss a thing. Careful consideration has been given to the tiniest details with individually controlled air-conditioning so you set the temperature that you desire, a hairdryer, safe, mini fridge, telephone and the convenience of tea (our meticulous planning even extends to familiar teabags!) and coffee making facilities ensure a home from home experience.
Suites on the Diamond and Ruby Decks have ‘French Balconies’ – panoramic floor to ceiling sliding glass doors bringing riverside life just that little closer!
*Please note: The colour scheme of the cabin interiors may vary. View a 360 tour of the MS William Wordsworth Facilities
Air-conditioning
Lounge & bar
Spa & wellness
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Bistro with open kitchen
Laundry service
Boutique gift shop
Small splash pool
Lift between Upper, Middle & Lower Decks
Dining on board
Start your morning with a full English Breakfast or opt for a lighter bite like fresh fruit and cereal. For lunch, enjoy the selection of sandwiches, burgers and pasta dishes. And don't forget dessert - there are enough options to satisfy any sweet tooth. At the end of the day, sit down to a carefully crafted four-course à la carte dinner featuring familiar dishes as well as soon-to-be favourites inspired by the destinations you visit.
Inclusions
Free all-inclusive drinks package
14 nights on board a five-star ship
Return flights & transfers
20 included experiences
Full board dining
Complimentary on-board tea & coffee
Free Wi-Fi
Expert Riviera Cruise Director & Cruise Host
All port charges
All additional taxes
20kg+ checked luggage
*Prices are per person and based on 2 adults sharing
92 Patrick Street, Cork, Ireland Registration No 0214851711
Licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority,
TA0720.
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