Boat and bike Danube | Passau-Budapest-Passau | MS Prinzessin Katharina
4 Countries Tour – The Highlights
Passau - Vienna - Bratislava - Budapest - Passau
Accompanied by a cruise ship you cycle along Europe's second largest river Danube from the charming Bavarian “three river city” of Passau straight into the heart of the once glorious Imperial and Royal Monarchy. Enjoy three of the most enchanting European capitals: the lively Vienna, the Slovak coronation city of Bratislava at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and Budapest, the "Hungarian Danube Queen"! By bicycle you discover the stunning natural spectacle of the Schlögener Donauschlinge ("Great Loop"), the legendary Wachau with romantic towns and mighty castles amidst lovely vineyards, the untouched alluvial forests of the Danube National Park, as well as the picturesque Hungarian Danube bend where the important cupola of the basilica in Esztergom salutes from the distance. The highlights of the tour: Passau, the City of 3 rivers, the Schloegen Danube Loop, the Hungarian Danube Bend, the World Heritage Site Wachau, the metropoles of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna.
Arrival in the "Three River City". Passau attracts many with the world's greatest church organ at the Stephansdom and its charming Old Town. Embarkation will be around 4:00 pm, departure around 7 pm. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.
The day starts in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria), where we head towards the "Great Loop" - one of the most beautiful and original sectors of the Danube. Your cycling will encounter small villages and cosy must-see taverns. You'll board again in Untermühl. Then, you "sail into the night" towards Devin.
Arrival at Devin in the morning. The cycle tour takes you to the imposing Imperial Palace of Hof. After crossing the green line, you cycle along the former “Iron Curtain” towards the coronation city of Bratislava at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Tip: discover the hidden alleys of Bratislava, places and all the sights of this ambitious metropolis during a tour by mini train and by foot. In the night shipping to Budapest.
In the early morning, you enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube's gorgeous landscape on the Sundeck. The gateway to Budapest is overwhelming, as many of the famous tourist features are situated directly next to the river bank. In the afternoon you can explore the numerous attractions of the city. Nearby, you find the Margaretheninsel which is outstandingly qualified for a small bike tour or the charming town of Szentendre with Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art life. In the night shipping to Visegrad.
The Danube bend is definitely one of most delightful and attractive parts and is called the Hungarian Wachau. Today's bike leg starts at Visegrad with its famous fortress and the ruins of the former palace. You can choose from 2 different routes: the longer one includes a side trip to the island of Szentendre and the baroque village of Vác, which has been influenced by the architects of the Austrian empress Maria Theresia. The other route leads you directly to the bishop-town of Esztergom, with its gorgeous basilica – Hungary's largest Catholic Church – overlooking the village. In the night shipping to Vienna..
You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephens Cathedral, the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House or the town hall that takes you back to the past. In the night shipping to Rossatz or Dürnstein (Wachau).
Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the small village of Pöchlarn you will board again. After the farewell gala dinner, you start “sailing” back to Passau.
Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take a last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Arrival: approx. at 10am, disembarkation half an hour later.
Tour character
Flat and slightly downhill, for relaxed cycling, suitable for beginners and children.
7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category
Programme according itinerary from/to Passau
All passenger fees and port fees
Captains greeting and Welcome-Drink
Daily cabin cleaning. Changing of towels and bed cloths as necessary.
Full meals: 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board (non cyclists), 6x afternoon
coffee break, 6x 3-course-dinner and 1x farewell-dinner with farewell-drink
On-board musician
Daily informational meeting
Information pack with route book (one per cabin)
GPS tracks
Tour guide on board
Services not included
Journey to and from Passau
shuttles
entrance fees and excursions
bike rental
travel insurances
parking fee
ferry fees
drinks on board
tips.
Extras
Parking
Parking space inclusive transfer to/from ship € 71.-
Parking garage inclusive transfer to/from ship € 83.-
(registration form in the travel-documents, payable on site)
Embarkation: ca. 4 - 5 pm, disembarkation: ca. 11:30 am. • Bicycles on board: 7 gears unisex trekking bicycles with normal mount (ladies model) and 8 gears E-Bikes with normal mount (ladies model). Brand: Velo de Ville. Each with hand brake, coaster breaking hubs or freewheel hubs (subject to availability - please indicate as non-binding customer request when booking) and pannier bag. E-bikes are available after prior request and at limited number only. Please indicate your body height when you book • To bring your own bike: on request only – due to lack of space on sundeck. • Languages on board: German, English • Cycle tours: all distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour. The bike tours are individual, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and directions. All cycle tours can be classified as being easy. • Luggage: we recommend rainwear, bicycle helmet, sunhat and sneakers. Please be aware that the cabin storage space is very limited • Smoking: the interior of the ship is a non-smoking zone: smoking is only allowed on the sun deck. As a safety measure, a statutory smoking ban applies in all cabins; this means that all cabins and rooms on board are non-smoking areas.• Land excursions: we offer an optional (surcharge - not included in the tour price) excursion programme which can be booked directly on board at the cruise director only. Together with your travel documents you will get a brief description. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be carried out in 2 languages (German/ English) • Routing/Program: basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages by buses. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. The same applies for officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges. Please be aware that a cruise ship on the Danube is not only your hotel but also a machine, working with engine power also during the night. Especially crossing locks and bridges - and the preparation work - may cause noise. If you are sensitive please bring your own ear plugs. •Travel documents: EU-citizens (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months of the return of your cruise. We kindly ask non-EU citizens, EU-nationals with multiple citizenship or anybody who has to respect special legal entry requirements for the country to visit, to inform about visa and entry documents at the competent embassy. • This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
Important notes
Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
On board the premium ship, you can expect classic elegance, a friendly crew and dignified furnishings. Enjoy the special ambience and let yourself be spoiled by the good cuisine.
On board the premium ship, you can expect classic elegance, a friendly crew and dignified furnishings. Enjoy the special ambience and let yourself be spoiled by the good cuisine. Spread over two passenger decks are a panoramic restaurant, a cosy lounge, two bars and an inviting foyer. A book corner, a small shop and a hairdresser's complete the offer. On the spacious, partly covered sun deck there are enough deck chairs available for you.
All 71 cabins are outside cabins and comfortably and tastefully furnished. They are equipped with shower/WC, hairdryer, air conditioning, TV, radio, telephone and a small fridge.
Upper deck: 29 twin, 1 triple and 2 single cabins; all approx. 11 m2 in size and with French balcony (= floor-to-ceiling windows to open). Twin cabins with a sofa bed as well as a Pullman bed (stows away during the day for added comfort). In the 3-bed cabin a 3rd person is added. Bed folded down from the wall (max. 80 kg)
Main deck: 38 twin cabins, 1 single cabin, all approx. 11 m2 in size, two sofa beds (standing across the corner), panorama window (cannot be opened
Sehr schöne Tor bei sehr sehr gutem Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis
Das Schiff (MS Prinzessin Katharina) ist klein und daher übersichtlich und man hat gleich ein persönliches Verhältnis. Die Strecken per Rad waren sehr gut ausgearbeitet und wurden vorher sehr intensiv gebrieft. Highlight als Ort war Budapest, Wien hat uns eher wenig gefallen.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 stars
Harald F. |25.05.2022
Tolle Reise! Alles super organisiert
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 stars
Jörg Haunert |08.05.2022
eine wunderbare reise
Budapest und Wachau
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
4 stars
Heinz Theißing |13.05.2018
Tolle Erlebnisreise
Bis auf die Streckenkennzeichnung der Radwege - die an mehreren Stellen stark verbesserungsdürftig ist - war es eine wunderschöne Urlaubswoche, die man empfehlen kann. Da auch das Wetter sich von der schönsten Seite zeigte - ein Erlebnis.