Classic Danube Explorer

Itinerary

Day 1

Join A-ROSA in Germany - Travel to Passau, a delightful German town, where you'll begin your A-ROSA Danube cruise. Settle in to your cabin and explore the ship, ready for departure in the early evening.

Day 2

Vienna, Austria - After a lovely morning meandering down the Danube, you'll arrive in the Austrian capital, Vienna, around lunchtime. This bustling cultural and economic centre will be brought to life by an included city tour. Discover why it is known as the 'City of Music', and explore streets and squares lined with a wonderful blend of classical and more modern architecture. Or simply explore or relax at your leisure.

Day 3

Vienna, Austria - Spend another day exploring Vienna's endless sights and landmarks. Sample the local Gruner Veltliner wines, chat with new friends and locals in an authentic Viennese cafe or soak up the culture in a few of Vienna's 100-plus art galleries and museums. A visit to the 1000-room Schonbrunn Palace is a must, for it's where a young Mozart first enthralled astonished listeners with his extraordinary musical prowess. After a wonderful two days, A-ROSA DONNA or A-ROSA BELLA sets sail again in the early evening, heading east into Hungary.

Day 4

Esztergom and Budapest, Hungary - A lively day of exploration lies ahead. Arrive early at small but historic Esztergom, one of the oldest towns in Hungary. Visit the impressive Esztergom Basilica, which dominates the town skyline, and then return to the ship in time to depart before lunchtime.In the mid afternoon you'll arrive in beautiful Budapest. Stroll through the streets on an included city tour, take in the neo-Gothic architecture, perhaps visit the newly reopened Museum of Fine Arts, which holds one of the most extensive collections of European art in the world, or just relax in a quaint cafe or bar.

Day 5

Budapest, Hungary - Enjoy a second day in Budapest, perhaps continuing to explore the city's many cultural attractions. With so many museums and galleries, fashionable stores and restaurants on offer, your biggest chore will be deciding which to choose. The ship leaves at mid-afternoon to begin the long, relaxed cruise back up the Danube.

Day 6

Bratislava, Slovakia - Arrive in Slovakia’s capital city, Bratislava in the morning and enjoy an included guided walking tour of the medieval old town - a joy to explore, with cobbled streets, maze-like alleyways, boutiques and cafes. 

Day 7

Melk, Austria - We'll have a brief stop in the quaint town of Krems this morning. You can choose to take an optional tour here with time in Krems, Durnstein and finishing at the pastel-painted Benedictine Melk Abbey. If you’d prefer to stay on board, enjoy cruising the Wachau Valley, a picture-perfect stretch of Danube river valley flanked by vineyards and fairy-tale villages. We offer the chance to take a bike and cycle the route too. Whether you’ve toured, cruised or cycled, we rejoin the ship back at Melk Abbey this afternoon.

Day 8

Travel back to the UK - Say goodbye to all your newfound friends on board as you begin your journey home. Back to top

Further Information

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Optional shore excursions

Optional excursions are available on all cruises. If the number of bookings needed to operate any excursion is not reached, the excursion may be cancelled.

Tipping

Tipping is not compulsory, but from experience we know that many passengers like to leave gratuities for the crew. At the end of the cruise you will find a tip box for the entire crew at the reception and the suggested amount is five Euros per guest per day. Of course, you are free to tip individual crew members at any time, should you wish.

Disabled guests and guests in need of assistance

All ships have stairs, are not equipped with lifts, and may not be suitable for passengers with restricted mobility. Wheelchairs cannot be used on board.

Dress code

The dress code on board and ashore is comfortable and casual; we recommend that you bring sturdy footwear for excursions. For the restaurant we recommend smart casual dress. Please remember to bring warmer clothes for evenings out on deck.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is provided free of charge in accordance with A-ROSA's conditions of use. You can request a login and password from reception. Internet reception is limited and will vary from location to location.

Luggage

Where possible, we recommend non-rigid suitcases as these are easier to store within your cabin.

Pool

A heated pool can be found on the sun deck of the following ships: A-ROSA DONNA, FLORA, SILVA and STELLA.

Whirlpool

A heated Whirlpool can be found on the following ships: A-ROSA AQUA, and VIVA.

Cabin facilities

In your cabin you will find a safe installed in the wardrobe, a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers, insect screens and pool towels. The power supply in your cabin is 220 V/50 Hz. All sockets are European two-pin, meaning you will need to bring an adapter.

Air-conditioning

All A-ROSA vessels are air-conditioned throughout, with individual climate control in each cabin.

Drinking water

The water on board is potable and bottled water is provided in your cabin.

Itinerary changes

On rare occasions, the Captain may need to alter the Cruise Itinerary. If this happens, the Cruise Manager will keep passengers informed.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

About A-ROSA

A-ROSA is a German based river cruise company. You’ll find a European vibe on board, with a mix of international guests and crew along with a welcoming atmosphere. While many guests are German-speaking, English is widely spoken on board, all announcements will be done in both German and English, you’ll have everything you need to feel right at home. It’s a great way to explore Europe with a bit of local flavour.

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions: Save up to £400 per couple offer is valid on new 2026 A-ROSA river cruise bookings made from 01 April to 30 April 2026 inclusive, and cannot be retrospectively applied to bookings already confirmed. All offers are subject availability and may be withdrawn without notice at any time. Discount amounts are already included in advertised fares, these may vary on selected departures, are not combinable with any other offers and apply to full-paying passengers only. These offers do not apply to any other Newmarket Holidays products. Cruises are provided by A-ROSA river cruises. A-ROSA river cruises reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any cruise at short notice. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316. Back to top