A journey from the Austrian capital to the heart of Franconia. We begin with two days in Vienna and then sail up the Danube through the Wachau Valley with its vineyards, castle ruins and the abbey at Melk. Along the way we visit Linz, Passau, where three rivers meet, and the old imperial city of Regensburg. From here we continue along the Main-Danube Canal through the Altmühl Valley and across the European watershed to Roth near Nuremberg, before reaching Bamberg with its well-preserved old town. A relaxed journey with many locks, changing landscapes and towns that each have their own story.
Highlights
- Two days in Vienna
- The Wachau Valley with Dürnstein and Melk
- Linz, Passau and Regensburg
- Nuremberg with its imperial castle and old town
- The UNESCO city of Bamberg
- 8-day river cruise on MS Leonora with all meals on board
Itinerary
Day 1Embarkation, Vienna
After you arrive on MS Leonora, the ship's cruise manager welcomes you in the lounge and goes through safety procedures and practical information. Overnight in Vienna.
Day 2Vienna
A full day in Vienna. The city is known for its imperial palaces, St Stephen's Cathedral, the Ringstrasse and its classic coffee houses. Just before midnight we sail up the Danube.
Day 3Dürnstein and Melk
We arrive in Dürnstein in the Wachau at 07:00 and stay until 10:00. The small wine town is known for its blue abbey church and the ruined castle where Richard the Lionheart was held captive. We then sail through the Wachau Valley with its vineyards and castle ruins, arriving in Melk at 13:00, where the great baroque abbey stands high above the Danube. We sail on at 20:00.
Day 4Linz and Passau
We arrive in Linz at 06:00 and stay until 13:30. Austria's third-largest city has a charming old town around the large Hauptplatz. In the afternoon we sail on, arriving in Passau at 22:00, where we stay overnight.
Day 5Passau
The morning is spent in Passau, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet, and St Stephen's Cathedral has one of the largest church organs in the world. At 15:00 we sail on into Germany.
Day 6Regensburg
We arrive in Regensburg at 08:30 and stay until 14:30. The old town with the Stone Bridge across the Danube and the Gothic cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon we sail onto the Main-Danube Canal through the Altmühl Valley.
Day 7Roth/Nuremberg
We arrive in Roth at 08:30 and stay until 16:00. From here it is a short distance to Nuremberg, the largest city in Franconia. The imperial castle stands above the old town, and within the city walls are the Hauptmarkt with the Schöner Brunnen fountain, the Frauenkirche and Albrecht Dürer's house. A transfer to Nuremberg can be purchased on board. In the evening we sail on towards Bamberg.
Day 8Bamberg
We arrive in Bamberg early in the morning. Disembarkation at around 09:00. Bamberg's old town with its cathedral and the old town hall standing in the middle of the river is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our river cruise from Vienna to Bamberg comes to an end.
Please note: Sailing times are approximate and may change due to water levels, weather, locks or other conditions.
What is included?
Included
- 8 days / 7 nights on MS Leonora
- English-speaking staff on board
- All meals and selected drinks
- Entertainment on board
- All cabins are outside cabins with window, shower/toilet, hairdryer and air conditioning
- Port and passenger fees
Not included
- Most drinks on board
- Drinks package – available to purchase
- Excursions
- Transport to and from the ship
- Service charge, €8 per person per day
Prices and dates come straight from our booking system and are always up to date. We are happy to help with transfers, excursions and flights – just ask in your enquiry.
