Romantic Danube

A handy checklist of what to bring on your trip can be downloaded here.

We very strongly recommend the purchase of appropriate travel insurance for any trip outside of Canada. Information on travel insurance options can be found here.

Not permitted anywhere indoors. There are designated areas on the outside decks.

The weather will vary somewhat depending what part of the Danube you are travelling on.

In the early spring (March-April), the weather will likely be in the 10s but some cooler evenings may be expected. Occasional rain is normal.

In May, June and September, temperatures will typically be in the low 20s during the day and in the high 10s during the night time.

In July and August, temperatures are usually in the mid 20s but could range up to the high 20s or low 30s. Evenings typically in the low 20s.

In November and December the temperatures will typically be in the low 10s during the day and in the 0s (but usually above freezing) during the night.

Upon booking, we will provide detail instructions on how to meet your ship on embarkation day. If you have not made any pre or post tour arrangements with us, you will have to arrange your own transportation to and from the port of embarkation. We are happy to provide advice or to assist in arranging transfers.

The ship will not be ready for check-in before mid-afternoon. If you have luggage that you need to deposit so you can enjoy some free time in port, the purser may be able to accommodate you provided we know in advance.

The cruise will finish in the morning (usually around 9am) on the final day. It is necessary to have settled your onboard account and to have disembarked by this time as instructed by the cruise director on the day before.

The currency in Germany, Slovakia and Austria is the EURO. In Czech Republic, the Czech Crown or Kronor is used (CZK), although many shops will accept Euros. In Hungary the local currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF) and similarly, many shops will accept Euros.

Credit cards are acceptable for larger purchases in retail shops, but often not in restaurants or cafés.

ATM’s accepting most international debit and credit cards can be found in abundance.

Gratuities suggested by the cruise line are:

EUR 3.00 per guest per day for the cruise director

EUR 12.00 per guest per day to be divided amongst the entire crew.

Laundry service is available onboard at a nominal additional cost. Unfortunately dry cleaning services are not available.

Most of our programs include a full complement of excursions. Some additional excursions may be available on board at an extra cost. Please check with us or consult the purser onboard for additional information.

Excursions will usually involve a lot of walking, often on cobblestone streets. If you have difficulty walking any distance, please let us know in advance and we will advise how best we can accommodate you.

Regrettably, most of our excursions are not suitable for those in a wheelchair.

Light – At most, participation in the shore excursions requires the ability to walk reasonable distances and some stairs.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your cruise fare so you shouldn’t be too hungry. It is worthwhile to sample the local cuisine, though.

In Prague, depending on the time of year, local kiosks on the main squares will offer delights such as ‘Trdelnik’, a tube-shaped sweet pastry with various fillings. You may also wish to give the Prague Ham a try, which is a very tasty variation of black forest ham. If you do get the chance for a full meal, roast duck, red cabbage and dumplings is probably one of the most typical Czech meals.

In Germany, particularly in Nuremberg, try the ‘Lebkuchen’ (gingerbread) which is absolutely delicious. A fast food favourite in the whole country is the famous ‘Currywurst’ which is a sausage served with a curry mustard sauce.

Austria is of course famous for its pastries, particularly in the coffee shops of Vienna. You can’t not try a ‘Sachertorte’ (chocolate cake with apricot jam). The home of the ‘Wiener Schnitzel’ is also here with the original version being a breaded veal cutlet and the more common version being made with pork.

Hungary is known for its delectable ‘Gulasch’ soup, made usually with beef chunks. ‘Letscho’, a zesty red sauce with sweet peppers is another favourite, often served with shishkebabs and on a bed of rice.

Your shipboard staff all speak English of course, but when you are wandering through the shops in small villages, the local folk may not speak so much English, particularly in the former eastern European states (i.e. Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia etc.) A phrasebook or translation app would come in very handy.

There are no medical personnel onboard the ship. However, the purser can contact onshore medical people for emergency and non-emergency situations and rapid evacuation can easily be facilitated in the most urgent cases.

There is a phone in each cabin. As is typical, the charges for overseas calls are relatively high.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the main public areas of the ship but not necessarily in all cabins. As internet is provided through a mobile network, bandwidth (speed) will vary depending on the number of concurrent users, the proximity to a cell tower and other factors.

If you would like to have regular data and phone connection, we suggest either arranging an overseas roaming plan with your mobile operator, or pick up a local SIM card if you have an unlocked phone.

There are no vaccinations required to travel to the EU. As always, we recommend being in good health prior to any long distance travel. Consult your physician with any specific concerns in regard to this program.

Despite recent events in Europe, these countries are all extremely safe. Particularly the small cities and towns on this voyage, you should have nothing to be concerned about. This being said, being constantly aware of your surroundings and not taking unnecessary valuables with you is always recommended. Leave your passport, extra money and any other belongings you do not need during the day in the safe in your cabin.

You can access current information about the security situation in Europe by referring to the Canadian government travel advisory site at https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/