Best of the Danube - Celebration of Music

The Danube's most iconic cities take on the sound of music on this themed roundtrip from Budapest. Vienna's storied concert halls and Bratislava's historic stages meet on-board performances and cultural experiences, pairing the river's celebrated capitals with the classical heritage born along them.

Duration7 nights

RiversDanube

CountriesAustria, Hungary, Slovakia

Duration7 nights

RiversDanube

CountriesAustria, Hungary, Slovakia

Highlights of your Celebration of Music Experience

Sail with a music expert

A conductor, performer, or musicologist sails with you, connecting the music to the river you're on.

Performances on board

Regional ensembles, quartets, and folk musicians board through the sailing, so the lounge becomes a venue and the music is live, not piped in.

Concerts ashore

Enjoy an evening performance in port, in a hall or church that has been staging music for centuries.

What's included with your cruise

An opened luggage on top of a bed in a stateroom

More room to breathe

Choose from suites, solo staterooms, and connecting rooms. Most include our signature twin balconies.
Daily housekeeping and turn-down service
Bathrobe, slippers and full bathroom amenities
Refillable water bottle to take with you
Onboard WiFi

A flavor for every moment

All onboard meals
The Chef's Table, specialty restaurant
Wine, beer, and soft drinks with meals
Specialty coffee and tea
Sip & Sail cocktail hour daily
All-day snacks in the Lark Lounge
Welcome cocktail reception

Adventures on your terms

Choose from up to six expert-led experiences each day
Gentle, regular and active options are available for most activities
Wellness Host with daily fitness, stretch and meditation classes on most sailings

Designed for the way you travel

A Cruise Manager who knows everything about your route and will lead your journey the whole way
Regional music and performances
Experiences for solo travelers
Onshore experiences, onboard amenities, and port charges included

Spend a leisurely morning cruising from Austria to Slovakia before arriving in Bratislava, the “Coronation City of Kings.” Choose a walking tour to admire its historic sites, enjoy surprise musical performances along the way, or sample local flavors on a “Tastes of Slovakia” culinary tour. More adventurous passengers can hike to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views of the city.

Spend the morning soaking in the postcard-perfect scenery of Austria’s UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley. Later, arrive in Melk to visit the magnificent Melk Abbey, perched above the Danube. This revered Baroque monastery, founded in the 11th century, features a museum, a historic library filled with medieval manuscripts, frescoes by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger, and a live choir performance to complete your visit.

Arrive in Linz and choose from several excursions. Stroll through the old city center past the Mozart House, explore the old market, or take a guided bike tour through the city. For a full-day adventure, visit Salzburg to see its historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, the Old Market, and Mozart’s Birth House. In the afternoon, guests not joining Salzburg can explore the charming Czech town of Český Krumlov, wandering cobblestone streets, admiring Baroque and Renaissance architecture, and touring the impressive Krumlov Castle.

Spend a leisurely morning cruising, enjoying the ever-changing scenery, a wellness class, or a relaxing massage on board. In the afternoon, choose a horse-drawn carriage ride through Vienna’s historic center with stories from a costumed coachman, or embark on a guided bike tour along the Danube Canal and the iconic Ringstrasse Boulevard. End the day with a memorable onshore concert in the city.

Start your exploration on the Pest side of the Danube River. Admire the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes’ Square and the moving “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest’s Gellert Hill. Or, choose to revel in an itinerary-exclusive classical music tour of Budapest. This special tour invites you to enter a world of grandeur as your knowledgeable local guide leads you through the exquisitely designed Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, followed by a stop at the Franz Liszt Memorial Museum, where the renowned Hungarian musician and composer lived for many years. In the afternoon, explore the Buda side of the Danube, following your local expert through the city’s Castle District.

Itinerary

Select Cruise Year

Select Direction

Select Optional Land Packages

View Cruise Days

Explore the daily onshore experience options available throughout your cruise.

Dates, Prices and Offers

Important: Dates, fares & itineraries are subject to change.

Port Charges (included in cruise price): $250 per person in 2026. $280 per person in 2027. $290 per person in 2028.

Single Supplement for Cruise: 50% of per person double occupancy fare; Suites 100% of per person double occupancy fare.

Single Supplement for Land: A single supplement charge will be applied to pre- and post-cruise hotel extensions. Please ask your travel advisor or call for pricing details.

Bedding: Please select bedding configuration at the time of booking.

Option A: Two twin beds

Option B: One large bed (larger than queen size).

Terms & Conditions

All rates are per person in USD, cruise-only, include port fees, and are based on double occupancy in an entry-level stateroom unless otherwise noted. Offers apply to select sailings and new bookings only. Unless a reduced single supplement is specifically stated, solo travelers in double-occupancy staterooms must pay the full single supplement before receiving any discounts. Ask about Solo Traveler promotions. Offers are not combinable with other promotions or discounts, are capacity-controlled, subject to availability, and may change or end without notice. Stateroom upgrades, optional land programs, and airfare are not included. Additional restrictions apply. AmaWaterways reserves the right to correct errors or omissions at any time.

Ships

AmaSonata

AmaSonata surrounds you with the spirit of Europe’s rivers, blending discoveries ashore with elegant dining, warm service, and inviting spaces on board that make every moment feel connected

Staterooms: 81

Passengers: 162

AmaReina

Experience a refined river cruise aboard AmaReina, with staterooms designed for comfort, dining rooted in regional flavors, and inviting spaces that make time on board feel personal and memorable

Staterooms: 81

Passengers: 162

Why travelers choose AmaWaterways

Best of the Danube

“Our horse-drawn carriage ride through the city center brought all the feel of pomp & circumstance to life. As you are on the ride you can imagine the royalty that was in Vienna throughout the centuries. A must do excursion! Thank you Ama Waterways for this truly unforgettable experience!”

Michele Clifford

Best of the Danube

“We adored...the exclusive Oktoberfest in Vilshofen where we got to know fellow guests.”

Maureen G.

Best of the Danube

“The “Tastes of Slovakia” tour gave us a chance to sample some delicious local beer and cheese pairings at a pub. Toasting to our friendship and connecting with the locals was a real highlight for us.”

Meghan F.

Recognized by travelers and the industry

The Statue of Nelson Mandela on the Union Buildings Grounds, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Featured Stories

Best of the Danube: Rudi Schreiner's Own Shortlist

When the man they call the "Godfather of River Cruising" sits down to design a Danube itinerary, it's worth seeing what he keeps in. Best of the Danube, a seven-night roundtrip cruise from Budapest, is his distillation of the river he grew up beside: the Wachau Valley's landscapes, its landmark abbeys and castles, and more time in the two cities guests want to return to again and again, Vienna and Budapest.

Insider Articles

Best of the Danube - Celebration of Music

Why travelers choose AmaWaterways

Recognized by travelers and the industry

Featured Stories

Best of the Danube: Rudi Schreiner's Own Shortlist

Dates, Prices and Offers

May 26, 2027Roundtrip BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:May 26, 2027 AmaSonataDirectionRoundtrip BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom:

July 07, 2027Roundtrip BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:July 07, 2027 AmaSonataDirectionRoundtrip BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom:

August 18, 2027Roundtrip BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:August 18, 2027 AmaSonataDirectionRoundtrip BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom:

September 22, 2027Roundtrip BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:September 22, 2027 AmaSonataDirectionRoundtrip BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom:

June 28, 2028Vilshofen to BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:June 28, 2028 AmaSonataDirectionVilshofen to BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom:

July 05, 2028Vilshofen to BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:July 05, 2028 AmaSonataDirectionVilshofen to BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom:

August 09, 2028Vilshofen to BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:August 09, 2028 AmaSonataDirectionVilshofen to BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom:

September 20, 2028Vilshofen to BudapestAmaSonataCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: Departure:September 20, 2028 AmaSonataDirectionVilshofen to BudapestCelebration of MusicSeason of More: Save & UpgradeFrom: