I'm planning a few months trip around Europe beginning after 250 Independence Day. so mid-July to around first week october

I have been to much of Europe but not the Balkans.

anyone have experience with Danube River Cruises starting in Budapest and heading south?

there are an overwhelming number of companies online.

particularly, I would want a 1 or 2 day cruise point to point- not the 8 day expensive all inclusive tours.

just a boat from city to city.

I'm not aware of any true river cruises that only last 1-2 days. At that length, it's usually more like point-to-point transportation rather than a full cruise experience. Some tour operators may be able to arrange a private boat transfer, but that can get expensive pretty quickly. Would rail work as an option for what you're trying to do, or is your main goal simply to spend some time on the river as a different way of getting around?

Hoyt Ag said:

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If you are into wine, my family has vineyards in the Tokaj region near Slovakia, easy drive from Budapest. Happy to try and connect yall for private tour.

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absolutely that would be cool! thanks

breezecustomtravel said:

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I'm not aware of any true river cruises that only last 1-2 days. At that length, it's usually more like point-to-point transportation rather than a full cruise experience. Some tour operators may be able to arrange a private boat transfer, but that can get expensive pretty quickly. Would rail work as an option for what you're trying to do, or is your main goal simply to spend some time on the river as a different way of getting around?

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Right now it's just me on Solo Excursion so not really interested paying $4500 to be trapped on a boat of old people for 8 days.

so a point to point "water taxi" moving from one city to another would be perfect.

and yes, just want to experience some time on the water as all the rest of the trip will be train/rental car.

Be sure to do a dinner cruise in Budapest. Budapest at night is nothing short of amazing.

My email is in my profile. I will reach out to my cousins for best contact info for you over there.

There may be some ferries that go between some of the cities or ports. But haven't looked into it. I know they had someone when we were on our river cruise.

Shortest river cruise I've seen is 5-6 days. Would you be open to a chauffer? Most times it's a local and they have unique perspectives to share or tips that may not be "mainstream".

Example: my buddy and his wife were going from Dubrovnik to Split and their driver's brother owned a working agro-hotel (farm/hotel). Friends looked into it and it ended up being the best part of their trip. Learned how to cook a bunch of local dishes…something I wouldn't have found.

Did that July 30-August 12th.
Spent 2.5 days in Budapest, 7 day cruise stopped in Bratislava, Vienna, Weissenkirchen, Linz, Passau, Vilshofen, spent 2.5 days in Prague with a day trip to Terezn.
We used AMA Waterways because they allow kids under 18. Had 13 folks with us to celebrate our 50th anniversary.

Love the ship (AMA LEA), crew extremely attentive, good food, good baked goods, etc. Free wine and beer with every meal, lots of free drinks overall. These are smaller ships (120 cruisers on our ship). Swimming pool and hot tube, exercise room, on deck track, fitness folks offering classes, good spa, etc.

Almost all of the excursions are built into the pricing, usually four options- slower pace, faster pace, hiking, biking, etc. tours. We paid for 2-3 additional ones (Strauss
concert in the concert hall he built, Czech folklore and local cuisine and a concentration camp tour the last day). Excellent tour guides- extremely knowledgeable. Be prepared to walk at least 3-5 miles each day on tours- most of are an hour plus bus ride from the ship.

Would do it again in a heart beat!

Terezn where there is the Holocaust ghetto?

Anyway, I have been to Vienna and Budapest and Prague and Bratislava.

I am looking to find a boat from Budapest heading south into Rumania or Serbia.

I found a day cruise in Budapest for a few hours which I will do.

more looking for a "water taxi" type of excursion

instead of renting a car or taking train (as I will be doing that throughout much of the rest of Europe.

Terezn is the most depressing place we have ever been. Considering its history is bad enough, but now that the Czech Republic houses their crazy people in a part of the former concentration camp, and allow some to wonder the streets, made it so, so depressing.

Certainly needed a beer or two when we left there.

Small world. We were on the Amareina in the same ports around the same time frame…

Enjoyed it

Very cool!

Yep. It is also where the Serbian student who assassinated Franz Joseph was assassinated which started WW I was imprisoned for the rest of his life in cell number one.

It sounds like you are looking to charter a boat. Not a river cruise. And even at that it's still usually a week on most boat charters.

Sounds like a car rental or a train ride is where this will end up.