4* Ship
This four-star ship has all the ingredients of an unforgettable river cruise
Cruise The Rhine & Danube
Experience the very best of the Rhine and the Danube on this once-in-a-lifetime river cruise.
Beautiful Cities
Explore the capital cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest
Experience the very best of the Rhine and the Danube on this once-in-a-lifetime river cruise. Visit Rüdesheim and the wine capital of Germany, take a guided tour around Nuremberg and explore Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest – three stunning capital cities. Journey through the heart of Europe on the ultimate river cruise experience. Sail along the river Rhine, the Main and finally the famous ‘Blue Danube’, and take in the breathtaking scenery as we stop at fascinating destinations along the way. From the gothic masterpiece of Cologne in Germany to the unfaltering beauty of Hungary’s Budapest, and the best picks of Bavaria in between – you’ll love discovering the lush landscapes, medieval old towns and historical sites that bring this river cruise to life.
This is not a Solos group tour, however, there will be an onboard Cruise Manager to assist you with all aspects of your cruise.
Once you have arrived in Cologne you can transfer to the MS Arena. Enjoy a relaxing evening onboard our ship before sailing overnight towards Rüdesheim.
Relax on the sun deck this morning as we pass the legendary Lorelei and continue our cruise along the Rhine through the spectacular Rhine Gorge. We stop at the quaint wine town of Rüdesheim where you can enjoy many highlights on our optional excursion, including a cable car ride for panoramic views across the Rhine valley. Join our evening optional excursion visiting a traditional wine cellar to sample some of the region’s delicious wine.
This morning we arrive in the fascinating city of Mainz, heralded as the wine capital of Germany. Here you have the morning free to explore or join our optional coach excursion visiting the majestic city of Heidelberg, home of Germany’s oldest university. Later today we set sail for Miltenberg.
We arrive into historic Miltenberg this morning where there’s free time to explore the pearl of the river Main. Explore the half-timbered houses which fill the Old Market Place or the oldest part of the town which sits between the Main River and the mountain Greinberg. We return to the ship for lunch before an afternoon sailing to Würzburg.
This morning we arrive in the city of Würzburg, which served as the home of powerful prince-bishops for centuries. Join our optional excursion to visit Würzburg Palace, one of the finest pieces of baroque art in the world, its 8th century church and the Fortress Marienberg. This evening enjoy a relaxing evening on board as we set sail for Bamberg.
We enjoy lunch on board before arriving into the beautiful Bavarian town of Bamberg which is located at the start of the Main-Danube canal. Surrounded by seven hills, it boasts the most intact centre in Germany with the old town listed as a world heritage site because of its authentic medieval appearance. Join an optional tour of the city to enjoy the main sights including the cathedral, Altenburg Castle, the Old Town Hall and the former Benedictine Monastery. This evening we enjoy dinner on board and set sail for Nuremberg.
This morning we arrive in Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city after Munich. Here, there’s the opportunity to join our sight-seeing tour. The majority of the city walls still stand and inside you can explore the fascinating juxtaposition of medieval and modern life in an area filled with gothic churches, aristocratic houses, fountains, memorials and romantic corners, all dominated by the Kaiser Castle. An optional excursion is a great way to make the most of your visit. This evening we cruise towards Regensburg.
We arrive in Regensburg in the morning, which is located at the northernmost point of the Danube and also at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers. You’ll have the opportunity to join an optional city tour this afternoon, taking in one of the best-preserved medieval centres which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. This evening, relax onboard as we sail overnight to Passau.
This morning we arrive into Passau where you can join an optional excursion to Salzburg, Mozart’s famed birthplace and the Sound of Music city. The centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the guided tour takes in some of the highlights of this historic city, with its Baroque architecture and fantastic squares, where you can relax with a typical Austrian coffee and cake. We rejoin our ship in Linz and set sail for Melk this evening.
We arrive in the Austrian town of Melk this morning, which is filled with cobbled streets and attractive buildings. It is also overlooked by one of the most splendid monastic houses in Austria – the Benedictine Abbey, which you can visit on an optional excursion. We return to the ship for lunch before we continue our cruise to Vienna, where we arrive later this evening.
After breakfast you can take advantage of an optional sight-seeing tour by coach, taking in the delights of Vienna, capital of Austria and birthplace of classical music. More than 150 grand palaces, over 27 baroque castles, impressive squares and striking monuments are just some of the key features of this magnificent city, whose historic centre is inscribed on the world heritage list. We return to our ship for lunch and set sail towards Bratislava where we arrive later today. This afternoon, there’s the opportunity to join an optional excursion to this historic Capital city which is dominated by its castle and unique suspension bridge. We’ll enjoy a walking tour with a local guide and sample ‘Makovka’ which is a sweet white chocolate with poppy seed filling, before sailing to Budapest this evening.
Arriving into Budapest around lunchtime you have the opportunity to join an optional sight-seeing tour of the city, described by many as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The tour introduces you to the highlights on both sides of the river, including the 700-year-old Matthias Church, Parliament building – a magnificent example of neo-gothic architecture, and Buda Castle, which rises 48 metres above the river. This evening, we enjoy a relaxing final evening onboard our ship.
This morning we bid farewell to our captain and crew and disembark our ship. Passengers travelling by air will be transferred to the airport for the return flight.
This new four-star ship has all the ingredients of an unforgettable river cruise; comfort, style and the crew’s unfaltering attention to detail is everything. Whether you’re cruising the Dutch Waterways, the rivers Rhine, Moselle or Danube, this elegant, four-star ship promises everything you’d wish for – and more – making for an unforgettable river cruising experience.
From the moment you step aboard you’ll enjoy the sense of space, stylish décor and unfaltering attention to detail that runs throughout the ship. Floor to ceiling panoramic windows on the main and upper decks ensure you don’t miss a moment of the magical landscape, whether you are treating yourself to a drink in the Ambassador’s Lounge Bar, dining on delicious cuisine served in the panorama restaurant, or relaxing in the comfort of your spacious cabin.
Cabin facilities:
Whether you choose accommodation on the upper deck or the main deck, all of the 98 cabins on MS Arena feature floor to ceiling panoramic windows and a French balcony, so you can relax in comfort and take in the wonderful scenery. Spacious and with contemporary furnishings, each cabin has an en suite bathroom with shower, toilet and complimentary toiletries.
You will be provided with a map of where the ship will be berthed and your boarding time with your travel documents. Remember that the vessel is not always berthed close to the relevant airport, so you will need to make your own arrangements to reach it. Please note that you will not be able to board the ship until approximately 6pm on the first day, and will be required to vacate your cabin by 8.30am on the final day. This is to allow for housekeeping etc.
30 minutes approximately depending on traffic
You can book your excursions at any time from the date of booking up until when you are onboard the ship (subject to availability). Please be aware that if you are booking onboard, the excursions will be slightly higher in price — you will not be able to take advantage of our pre-book package price.
Excursions can be booked as a package from £446 p.p. or individually:
Bamberg City Tour
Bratislava Walking Tour & Chocolate Experience
Budapest City Tour
Heidelberg Highlights
Melk Abbey
Nuremburg City Tour
Regensburg City Tour
Rüdesheim Highlights
Rüdesheim by Night
Salzburg
Vienna City Tour
Würzburg Palace
Please note:
As this is not a group departure there is no designated Tour Leader on this cruise and Solos guests will be looked after by the on board Cruise Manager
Be sure to pack suitable clothing for the time of the year and the climate of your destination. We also advise you to take a sturdy, comfortable pair of shoes, especially for daytime activities or excursions, as some tours may involve walking over cobblestones or other uneven surfaces.
Whilst the general theme is informal dress, no denim or shorts are to be worn in the ship’s restaurant in the evenings. There will be a captain’s party night for which some people do like to dress smartly.
Arena Travel do not have a cruise tipping policy, and believe that any tips should be completely discretionary and reflect your satisfaction with the standard of service you have received. At the end of your trip, a questionnaire for the attention of the captain will be left in your cabin, along with an envelope where you can leave a tip for the crew, if you wish to acknowledge their service. A general guideline for tipping the crew is 7-10 euros per day. Please note that this tip does not include the cruise director, cruise manager and coach drivers, who you may wish to tip separately.
European cruises supply a 220V AC current to your cabin, accessible through a two-pin euro plug. As such, European adapters will be necessary for UK appliances.
When booking your cruise, please inform us should you need the use of a wheelchair or walking frame. There are several considerations you should keep in mind when planning a cruise with one of the aforementioned items.
Luggage for each guest is taken on and off the river cruise ship by the crew, however it is not possible for the crew to be available to personally attend to passengers with reduced mobility therefore a travelling companion would need to be able to help with any physical needs.
It is not always possible to guarantee that where the ship will be docked will be wheelchair/walking frame friendly. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that it will always be possible to accommodate passengers with reduced mobility.
The structure of some of the ships does not allow for the use of wheelchairs, rollators, or walking frames onboard: narrow doors, steep stairs and limited ship access are just some of the obstacles that prevent their use. Some of our larger vessels have accessible parts and even lifts that operate between decks; however, check the deck plans of our ships to familiarise yourself with the layout before booking.
You should also be aware that the day excursions on some of the cruises may require passengers to walk up slopes or on streets with cobblestones. These may prove difficult for people using mobility aids.
The coaches used for travel arrangements to a cruise ship or for excursions have not been adapted for wheelchair access.
The currency that you require will depend on the countries you are travelling to. there is no a cruise currency exchange onboard, so you will need to make sure you have enough money before the trip. There will be opportunities to exchange more currency at the locations visited. Please see the below guide for the currency you will need:
Euros: France, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia and Luxembourg
Swiss Franc: Switzerland (some tourist parts of Switzerland accept the Euro)
Hungarian Forint: Hungary
Romania Leu: Romania
Bulgarian Lev: Bulgaria
Croatian Kuna: Croatia
Please note: If you are planning on using your credit or debit card on your trip abroad, you should contact your bank to inform them of when you will be travelling abroad and when you are returning home. This will prevent your card from being blocked by fraud-detection processes put in place to protect your bank account. There is usually a number you can call printed on the back of your bank card.
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| July | 26 °C | °C |
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