Get active on a family bike tour
8-Day Family Danube River Cruise
A wealth of generous inclusions…
n 7 nights on board a luxury Emerald Cruises Star-Ship
n 20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
n Complimentary wine, beer & soft drinks to accompany lunch & dinner on board
n Complimentary tea & coffee on board
n Complimentary bottled water in your suite or stateroom, restocked daily
n A variety of on board evening entertainment
n Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
n ESPA luxury toiletries on board
n Complimentary bicycles on board
n First-class service from English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides
n Earn EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty points
n All port charges and airport taxes
n All gratuities on board
Number of nights 7 Map is a guide only
EmeraldDISCOVERY highlights unique to your itinerary EmeraldPLUS
Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Local Slovakian entertainment on board Archery lesson in Schallaburg Castle Geocaching tour in Passau
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
Guided bike tour in Vienna
Guided bike tour along the Danube River
Guided hike in Dürnstein
Hike to Veste Oberhaus
Included Excursions
World Heritage-listed sites DiscoverMORE 8 DiscoverMORE optional excursions available at an additional cost - ask for details
Day 1 Budapest
Welcome to the ‘Pearl of the Danube’. Be met at the airport and transferred your contemporary Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you. This evening enjoy a traditional Hungarian folklore show.
Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Meals: Dinner Day 2 Budapest
In Budapest visit the recently opened 3D Gallery Budapest for some great fun for the entire family. The paintings were made with a special technique and will prove how important perspective really is as they introduce you to the basics of being a creative and self-dependent artist. Using a mobile device or a camera is a must in the gallery. If you ‘re feeling more active, instead hike up Buda Hill. The area has been rebuilt several times, most recently following the air raids of WWII. Some 18th-century Baroque houses still stand, and are best explored from the medieval paths and alleyways around Buda Castle.
Hike to Buda Hill
3D Gallery Budapest Budapest spa experience
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Day 3 Brastislava
Enjoy a short but tranquil sailing between Vienna and Bratislava, marvelling at the everchanging scenery of the Danube. This afternoon ride to the Slovakian countryside where you will experience farm life and get to see some animals in their natural surroundings. Join a cooking class at the local bakery and learn about country lifestyle just outside of the Slovakian capital. In the late afternoon upon return you can stroll and discover Bratislava as our ship is conveniently docked in the city centre.
Alternatively, embark on a guided hike to Bratislava Castle, that looks as though it has been plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. Tonight, enjoy some local Slovakian entertainment on board.
Local Slovakian entertainment on board
Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
Slovakian farm visit with cooking class
Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4 Vienna
Visitors to Vienna can look forward to a full schedule of arts and culture. If you haven’t taken a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel and enjoyed the breathtaking views of Vienna from above at least once in your life, it’s a must while you’re here. The Giant Ferris Wheel, trademark of Austria’s capital city and a symbol of Vienna’s world-famous Prater, creates a very special point of reference for every visitor with its unmistakeable silhouette, clearly visible even from great distances.
Bike tour in Vienna
Day at the Vienna Prater with Giant Ferris Wheel Ride
Visit to Vienna Baroque Zoo
Exclusive Viennese evening concert
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5 Dürnstein – Melk
Effortlessly suspended in time, Dürnstein is one of the most frequented parts of the Wachau wine region, where the delightful warm weather creates the perfect setting for viticulture. Today, join your activity manager for a hike up the castle before you set sail to Melk.
Guided bike tour along the Danube River
Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
Archery lesson at Schallaburg castle
Tour of Melk Abbey
Vineyard hike & wine tasting in Weissenkirchen (alcohol for 18+ only)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Dürnstein, Austria
As we arrive in Linz, an unforgettable experience awaits for you. Whoever enters the Grottenbahn dives into a colourful fairy tale world: dwarfs, fairy tale characters and forest animals enchant the young and old. The magical world has been located in one of the former fortification towers on the Pöstlingberg since 1906.
The round trip with the Drachenexpress leads into the middle of the grotto is a must do and exciting adventure. With each lap, the visitors discover new details of the scenery. Strolling through Linz’s main square at the turn of the century in small format art, visitors are taken back to the old days. In the side streets there are scenes from wellknown fairy tales one can enjoy!
Adventures at Grottenbahn
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Narrow cobblestone streets and the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread welcome you to Passau, a town nestled on the confluence of three of Europe’s main waterways. This important historic trading centre borders Austria and boasts a distinctive blend of cultures. Today, join us on a treasure hunt through the old town and learn everything you need to know about Passau throughout your discovery journey. There are small surprises included along the way in the city of three rivers. Whether young or old, fun is the priority here!
Hike to Veste Oberhaus
Geocaching tour of Passau
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, it’s time to disembark the Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Basel to Amsterdam
Departing: 17th July 2023
At Emerald Cruises, we’ve taken our expert knowledge of Rhine river cruises and added a twist, now including tours and activities to be enjoyed by the whole family. Experience summertime on the Rhine River on a family river cruise. Take in the natural beauty as you sail to Breisach before embarking on a canoeing tour for all the family. Journey to the medieval town of Strasbourg to discover fairy tale houses and cobbled streets before a family visit to a planetarium. Relax on board as you sail towards Ludwigshafen, taking advantage of the innovative pool and games on the Sun Deck, before heading out on a mini train and hike to Mount Königstuhl. In Koblenz, take a cable car up to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for spectacular views, and in Cologne, visit a local sustainable farm for a family cooking demonstration. You’ll end your cruise in Amsterdam, where you can take to two wheels for a guided bike tour to Waterland or, alternatively, visit the NEMO Science Museum before taking a glass-top canal cruise through this quaint city.
n Airport transfers to and from your Star-Ship
n 7 nights on board a luxury Emerald Cruises Star-Ship
n 20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
n Complimentary wine, beer & soft drinks to accompany lunch & dinner on board
n Complimentary tea & coffee on board
n Complimentary bottled water in your suite or stateroom, restocked daily
n A variety of on board evening entertainment
n Complimentary Wi-Fi on board n ESPA luxury toiletries on board n Complimentary bicycles on board n First-class service from English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides n Earn EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty points n All port charges and airport taxes n All gratuities on board
When you arrive in Basel, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your luxurious Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you. This evening, join your fellow guests for dinner on board.
Meals: Dinner
Today, as part of our incredible EmeraldPLUS program, you will visit the city of Freiburg. Considered the ‘Capital of the Black Forest’, Freiburg has lovely natural sights and impressive architecture that will leave you amazed. As part of your visit, you’ll also have the opportunity to sample true Black Forest delicacies from the lively market in the city centre near the main cathedral. If you’re feeling more active, why not join a canoeing tour on banks close to the Rhine.
Guided tour of Freiburg Canoeing on the Rhine
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
This morning, your Star-Ship will dock in Kehl, where you’ll enjoy the medieval Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg. Transporting you to the Middle Ages, the Château boasts panoramic views of the Alsace plain. During your visit, explore the numerous towers, dungeons, banqueting rooms, ceremonial halls and sleeping quarters. The Vosges Mountains, the Black Forest, and on clear days, even the Alps are in view from the fortified ramparts.
Visit to Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Relax on board this morning as you sail towards Ludwigshafen, following the meandering Rhine River and passing the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar. Travel by coach to Heidelberg, where you will take part in an exciting fox trail tour adventure in this medieval city. Also included here is a visit to Heidelberg Castle, one of the most impressive Renaissance ruins in Europe. Alternatively, hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg.
Mini train to Mount Königstuhl and hike down to Heidelberg
Geocaching tour of Heidelberg
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5 Koblenz
Cruise to the 2,000-year-old town of Koblenz today and discover its fairy tale-like surroundings nestled on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Journey by cable car to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, offering exceptional views of the surrounding area from its hilltop position.
Visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Moselle Valley & Reichsburg Castle visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Effortlessly steeped in history and tales of the past, Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany, encapsulating a timeline that spans more than two millennia. Your included city tour will take you to the heart of Cologne’s Old Town. After your tour, you’ll be taken to a one-of-akind farm estate just outside of Cologne, which provides the locals with sustainable products. As part of your EmeraldPLUS program, enjoy a fantastic cooking demo and take a glimpse behind the scenes of this fantastic place.
Guided tour of Cologne’s Old Town
Visit to a local farm estate with cooking demo
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
This morning, enjoy free exploring the sights of Amsterdam on your own, or you can take part in a DiscoverMORE visit to the Anne Frank House dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist. In the afternoon, take to Amsterdam’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal network during a glass-top canal cruise, passing Roman patrician and ornate merchant houses that tell tales of the prosperous Dutch Golden Age. Then, continue to the A’DAM Lookout Tower & observation deck with an unrivalled panoramic view of Amsterdam.
Guided bike tour to Waterland
Visit to A’DAM Lookout Tower
& canal cruise
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests and disembark your Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of the Black Forest and charming Strasbourg with you.
Meals: Breakfast
Heidelberg, Germany
Enjoy a Geocaching tour
Hike down to Heidelberg
180ft2 (16.7m2)
(16.7m2)
Indoor/outdoor pool that turns into a cinema at night
Our family river cruises currently apply to two sailings, both running in July 2023. The first is our modified Danube Explorer itinerary. The second is our adapted Jewels of the Rhine itinerary.
Yes, all children coming on board for a family cruise with Emerald Cruises must be at least 10 years old.
What on board and onshore activities are included to keep my children/grandchildren occupied?
The enjoyment of your children and grandchildren is one of our top priorities. We have adapted two of our most popular itineraries to include child-friendly excursions such as:
• Outings to theme parks (available on the Danube Explorer itinerary)
• Trip to interactive galleries, science centres, and museums
• Cooking workshops and farm visits
• Guided tours of medieval cities and castles
On board our Star-Ships, we have arranged an array of fun activities including:
• Pool games and exercises with our wellness coach/activity manager
• A wheelhouse tour with Star-Ship’s captain (when the ship is in port)
• Table set-up with our restaurant team
• Mocktail classes with our bar team
Our family river cruises are designed to be as accommodating as possible, so your family’s rooms will be located right next to one another. For complete peace of mind, you will be provided with an extra room key to access the room used by family members under the age of 18 and the alcohol in the mini-bar will be removed.
We understand that certain local dishes may not be to everyone’s tastes, which is why our chefs will provide an array of home favourites as well. Selected dishes will also be adapted for younger travellers who would like to try local cuisine.
Panorama Balcony Suite
