£1689pp—Danube cruise on a 5-star ship; fly from Manchester

We save £1272–£1471 on the usual price of this cruise along the Danube. Choose from three departures in March and spend a week on a 5-star ship, with excursions in every port.

What's included

• Return flights, with 20–23kg checked baggage
• UK airport lounge access or UK airport parking
• Shared overseas transfers
• A 7-night Danube River cruise aboard a 5-star AmaWaterways ship** in a Window Cabin
• All meals with unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Daily snacks and refreshments
• A daily pre-dinner cocktail hour
• Captain's welcome cocktail
• A wellness programme
• Wi-Fi and all gratuities
• Choice of excursions and visits in every port, plus an onshore dining experience
• All gratuities, port taxes, and service charges

When
Fly from London (Gatwick or Heathrow) or Manchester on 24, 29, 31 March, 2027.

Depart on 7, 12, 14, 17 April; 5, 14, 19 July, 2027, from £1769 per person.

For more information, see our partner's website.

Itinerary
Join the ship in Budapest and spend time settling in. Explore the city on morning and afternoon tours. See the fairy-tale Fisherman's Bastion and the colourful mosaicked roof of Matthias Church in Buda. Next, cross the Danube and tour the Hungarian Parliament Building and Heroes' Square in Pest. Or, hike to Gellert Hill. 

You'll then call at: 

• Bratislava, Slovakia... learn about the city's imperial history with a walking tour. There's also the opportunity to join a culinary tour of Bratislava to sample Slovakian cuisine. Or, hike up to Bratislava Castle and take in magnificent city views.
• Vienna, Austria... see the city's majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace, and St. Stephen's Cathedral on a guided tour. Those after a more active experience can explore Vienna on a guided bike ride.
• Weissenkirchen, Austria... cruise through the Wachau Valley and arrive in this charming Austrian town. Explore nearby Dürnstein, join a food and wine tasting experience, cycle from Weissenkirchen to Melk, or visit Greinburg Castle.
• Linz, Austria... this is the jumping off point for excursions to Salzburg, the home of Mozart. Tour the Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, and the Old Market. Alternatively, visit the Czech town of Český Krumlov. You can also visit a local whiskey distillery in Linz.
• Passau, Germany... sits at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers. Discover the city further with a walking tour. For something more energetic, hike Passau's Castle Hill or go for a riverside bike ride. Join an Oktoberfest celebration aboard the ship this evening, with traditional beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing.
• Vilshofen, Germany... time to disembark the ship and continue home.

Ship details
AmaWaterways ships average around 156 guests, and service is exemplary due to the high crew-to-guest ratio. Meals are all included, from breakfast and lunch buffets to lavish 4-course dinners. Much of the food is inspired by the ports of call—look forward to the rich chocolate sachertorte in Vienna—and regional wines and beers are served with dinner.

Breakfast comes with unlimited sparkling wine and fresh fruit juice. You can also dine at the Chef's Table speciality restaurant, which hosts a 7-course tasting menu with paired wines. Unlimited fine wine, beer, and soft drinks are served at lunch and dinner. There's a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour held before dinner, where passengers can discuss the day's excursions together. 

Each ship has a fleet of bicycles, and you can expect cooking demonstrations, musical performances, evening entertainment, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Other options

• Sail in a French Balcony Cabin from £1939 per person
• Sail in a Twin Balcony Cabin from £2099 per person

Transfers & baggage
Both are included.