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The River Danube starts in the Black Forest and crossing through the heart of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine. This Enchanting River is one of Europe's most romantic rivers. River Cruise Line which sail the River Danube are Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Shearing Holidays, Uniworld and Avalon.
This enchanting river is one of Europe’s most romantic rivers. It has halted armies at its banks, been the inspiration behind Strauss’s Waltz, it’s no wonder we have all been captivated by her beauty. From imperial Budapest to the stunning Wachau Valley in Austria, with medieval fortresses and Baroque buildings there will always be a spectacular view passing you by.
Starting in the Black Forest, Germany and crossing through the heart of 10 countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine). The Danube is not only a river of beauty; this is very much a working river. Providing drinking water for over 10 million people, the Danube is also used as a trade route, even before the expansion of the Roman Empire the river was an important way to move cargo through the region. As well as being the second longest river in Europe, the Danube is also one of the oldest. Much older than the Rhine, its basin is thought to have been the site of some of the earliest human cultures. Hungary is home to one third of the Danube’s total length; Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is often referred to as ‘the Queen of the Danube’. From the river, the city is magnificent at night, with lights illuminating Budapest’s Chain Bridge, Parliament Building and other famous structures. Austria is also a major feature, with ports of call at Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Melk and Vienna. Flowing through the Iron Gate, a gorge which forms part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania, the Danube becomes quiet scenic as you sail into the picturesque Wachau Wine Valley near Melk, Austria. Home to the renowned Riseling and Veltiner wines the Wachau Valley is naturally, though ruggedly beautiful. The Iron Gate is naturally a very dangerous section of the Danube River to navigate, however with the help of modern technologies such as a lock & dam system and barrage walls, it is now safer to cruise down, taking in the magnificent scenery.
The Danube originates in the Black Forest in Germany as two smaller rivers, the Brigach and the Breg, which meet in the German town of Donaueschingen, after which it becomes the Danube. Flowing some 1,771 miles, the Danube passes through the Central and Eastern European capitals of Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade, before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine. The Danube Delta is the second largest and best preserved of Europe’s deltas - home to the highest concentration of bird colonies in Europe, stretching over 2,200 square miles of rivers, canals and marshes. The delta Biosphere reserve has the third largest biodiversity in the world, exceeded only by Australia’s Great Barrier and the Galapagos Islands Archipelago off Ecuador.
Danube River Cruise Videos
Taking over twelve hundreds years to finalise, the Main-Danube canal connects the Rhine, Main and the Danube together. Charlemagne dreamed of creating a waterway to connect the North Sea with the Black Sea. The challenges of construction at this point as well as the upheaval of wars and other events delayed the achievement of this dream until 1992, when the Main-Danube canal was open. This 106 mile long canal now unites 15 countries and hundreds of inland ports creating a 2,200 mile long waterway. While the canal is man-made ,this by no means detracts from the natural beauty of the landscape in which it was built. Few passengers sailing on the canal can detect that it is not an organic element of the landscape.
River Danube: Vienna (Overnight), Bratislava, Budapest (Overnight), Vukovar, Belgrade, Kostolac, Donji Milanovac, Vidin, Rousse (Overnight), Giurgiu, Bucharest (Overnight)
River Countess 26th May 2012 for 14nts
Selected Shore Excursions: Belgrade Tour Bucharest Tour Budapest Tour
River Danube: Vienna (2 Nights), Bratislava, Szentendre Island, Budapest (Overnight), Mohacs, Vukovar, Belgrade, Svistov, Rousse, Giurgiu, Istanbul (2 Nights)
River Princess 26th May 2012 for 14nts
Selected Shore Excursions: Vienna Tour Istanbul Tour Budapest Tour
River Danube: Bucharest (Overnight), Giurgiu, Rousse (Overnight), Vidin, Donji Milanovac, Kostolac, Belgrade, Vukovar, Budapest (Overnight), Bratislava, Vienna (Overnight)
River Countess 5th Jun 2012 for 14nts
Selected Shore Excursions: Belgrade Tour Bucharest Tour Budapest Tour
We have just returned
from a five night cruise
on Liberty of the Seas.
There were 8 of us in our
group - one of whom had
never cruised before. We
travelled to Barcelona
the day before in order
to avoid any last minute
rush...
Returned yesterday from a
12 night Mediterranean
Venice Cruise on board
the beautiful CELEBRITY
SOLSTICE. We embarked on
the Solstice in Barcelona
after a rather cramped
flight with Monarch from
Gatwick Airport...
My wife & I travelled
on Ancient Wonders on
Celebration, 2nd time on
ship,different cruise,
same cabin.
Good flight but coach
broke down on way to
Marmaris so 1 hour late
arriving. quick check in,
everyone else had
obviously done so
already...
had a cruise with thomson
in april this year on the
island escape , this is
the fourth time we have
cruised with them , the
cabins were small for
cruising in ,they would
have been ok for an
overnight crossing on a
ferry which is what the
island escape was ,...
My husband and I had only
cruised twice before.
The first time on Golden
Princess to Alaska and
two years ago a Med
cruise on Grand Princess.
We had loved both so
decided on this 17 night
Adriatic cruise on Grand
Princess and were not
disappointed...
We have just returned
from the Cunard 5 day
spring getaway (23/05).
Overall the trip, food
and service were
excellent but were
wondering how
confidential the
questionnaire is when
completed at the end of
the cruise...
We sailed on IOS May 9th
2012 to the Canaries. We
being myself and my Wife,
mother in Law and her
best friend. My wife and
I did the cruise the year
the ship was launched.
Not much has changed, the
ship is fantastic still...
We took this cruise to
celebrate our Diamond
Wedding. What a
fantastic time we had,
starting with a champagne
breakfast with the
Captain and eight of his
senior staff when he
presented us with our
card from the Queen and
he had arranged for lots
of...
This was our return
journey to to Southampton
having flown out to San
Francisco and crossing
America by train to New
York, with 3 nights in
SF, train and NY. We have
travelled some years
before on the QE2 and
mostly on P&O who we
compared QM2 with as...
.jpg_thumb.jpg "Santorini sunset")
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