The Danube is Europe’s classic river cruise: Vienna’s palaces, Budapest’s parliament lit up at night, the vineyards of the Wachau Valley and the medieval towns of Bavaria. It is perfect for a first river cruise, and in December it’s famous for Christmas markets.
Here are the best Danube river cruise lines.
You’ll find on this page
- A comparison table of every cruise line in this guide
- Ten Danube lines
- Danube highlights
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- How to book or get expert advice at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the cruise lines
| Cruise line | Style | Fleet | Best for | Included highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic | River and ocean | 17+ Space-Ships | Luxury | All meals, All drinks, all day, Daily excursions |
| Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | River cruises | 13 Super Ships in the fleet | Design | All drinks, Daily excursions, Airport transfers |
| Riverside Luxury Cruises | River cruises | 5 Refurbished six-star ships | Exclusive | All-suite, butler-tended, All meals + all drinks anytime, Daily excursions |
| Viking | River and ocean | 15 Ocean ships | All-rounder | Wi-Fi, Excursion in every port, Beer & wine at lunch and dinner |
| AmaWaterways | River cruises | 27 River ships | Active travellers | All meals, Wine, beer and soft drinks, Daily shore excursions |
| Avalon Waterways | River cruises | 15 Suite Ships | Views | All meals, Drinks with meals, Daily excursions |
| Emerald Cruises | River and ocean | 10+ River Star Ships | Value | All meals + drinks at lunch and dinner, Daily shore excursions, Bicycles and Nordic walking poles |
| Riviera Travel | River cruises | 18+ River ships | UK packages | Flights from regional UK airports, All transfers, All meals + wine/beer with lunch and dinner |
| TUI River Cruises | River cruises | 3 River ships | Modern ships | Flights from regional UK airports, All transfers, All meals + drinks at lunch and dinner |
| Saga Cruises | River and ocean | 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river | Over-50s | Chauffeur from home, Travel insurance, All drinks |
Fleet sizes and inclusions are from each line’s own information and can change; inclusions often depend on the fare you book.
Quick verdicts
Ten Danube lines
Scenic
- River and ocean
- 17+ Space-Ships
- 169 Max guests / Space-Ship
All-inclusive Space-Ships with butler service and all drinks, excursions and transfers included.
Best for: Luxury
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- River cruises
- 13 Super Ships in the fleet
- 110-160 Guests per ship — boutique scale
Boutique Super Ships with statement design and drinks, excursions and gratuities included.
Best for: Design
Riverside Luxury Cruises
- River cruises
- 5 Refurbished six-star ships
- 106 Max guests / ship
Small six-star ships of around 106 guests, all-suite and butler-tended.
Best for: Exclusive
Viking
- River and ocean
- 15 Ocean ships
Adults-only Longships with an excursion in every port and beer and wine with meals.
Best for: All-rounder
AmaWaterways
- River cruises
- 27 River ships
- 196 Max guests / ship
Twin-balcony cabins and active excursions with bikes and Nordic walking poles.
Best for: Active travellers
Avalon Waterways
- River cruises
- 15 Suite Ships
- 166 Max guests / Suite Ship
Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall open-air balconies.
Best for: Views
Emerald Cruises
- River and ocean
- 10+ River Star Ships
- 180 Max guests / Star Ship
Star-Ship vessels with an indoor pool, drinks with lunch and dinner and daily excursions.
Best for: Value
Riviera Travel
- River cruises
- 18+ River ships
- 169 Max guests / ship
Fully inclusive packages from regional UK airports, with drinks with meals, excursions and gratuities.
Best for: UK packages
TUI River Cruises
- River cruises
- 3 River ships
- 156 Max guests / ship
Modern ships on the Danube with flights from regional UK airports.
Best for: Modern ships
Saga Cruises
- River and ocean
- 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river
Spirit of the Danube for over-50s, with a chauffeur from home and drinks included.
Best for: Over-50s
Danube highlights
Most Danube cruises sail between Budapest and Passau or Nuremberg, calling at Vienna, Bratislava, the Wachau Valley (Melk Abbey and Dürnstein), Linz and Regensburg. Longer voyages head east to the Iron Gates and the Black Sea. The season runs from March to December, with Christmas-market sailings in late November and December.
How we chose these cruise lines
We featured lines whose own information includes Danube sailings. Itineraries and seasons change every year, so check the sailings available for your dates, or ask a Travel Designer to compare them for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Danube river cruise line?
Scenic or Uniworld for luxury, Viking for an all-rounder and Riviera Travel for UK packages.
When is the best time for a Danube cruise?
April to June and September to October; December for Christmas markets.
How long is a Danube cruise?
Typically 7 to 10 nights.
Do Danube cruises include excursions?
Most include daily excursions.
Find your cruise
Browse every cruise line we sell, or ask a Travel Designer to compare ships, cabins and itineraries for you.
Keep planning
Updated October 2026. Cruises can be booked through Travelisto, with flights and hotels added where you need them.
