Name: Early Season on the Danube
Brand: Emerald Cruises
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Emerald Cruises

Emerald Cruises offers a modern, relaxed, super-premium all-inclusive cruising experience, with contemporary and elegant ships and bucket-list destinations.

Onboard, guests are able to dine at four all-inclusive and unique outlets, enjoying free-flowing alcoholic beverages at mealtimes. Flexibility is key, with its range of shore excursion packages, and every aspect of the trip is taken care of – including flights and transfers.

Cruise Itinerary

Days 1-2

Bucharest

Day 2

Giurgiu

Day 3

Ruse

Day 4

Vidin

One of the main attractions in Vidin is Baba Vidin, a 10th-century medieval castle that played a key role in Ottoman rule. Today, you can visit to see the collection of weapons and artefacts on display. The city is also a great place to shop for products made with world-famous Bulgarian roses.

Day 5

Donji Milanovac

Day 5

Golubac

Day 6

Belgrade

From Belgrade Fortress, which is full of heritage to whet the appetite of history buffs, to museums like the Nikola Tesla Museum, there's plenty to explore in Serbia's capital. The neighbourhood of Skadarlija is the Balkan answer to Montmartre, known for its kafanas (picture something between an old-school tavern and a coffeehouse).

Day 7

Vukovar

Day 8

Ordas

Days 9-10

Budapest

Many Danube cruises start or end in Budapest, and the Hungarian capital remains a highlight for passengers. It’s a crowd-pleaser of a city, with something for everyone – muscle-melting thermal spas for those seeking relaxation, museums packed with artefacts for the culturally curious and ruin bars for travellers searching for an offbeat adventure.

Day 11

Bratislava

Known as 'the little big city', Bratislava is smaller than most other European capitals, but still has plenty to do. From castles and clock towers to cocktail bars and 'the UFO Bridge', it's full of mysteries you'll want to unravel.

Day 12

Vienna

The Austrian capital is full of old-world charm. Art lovers marvel at the works of the old masters while the musically inclined head to a gilded concert hall to listen to a world-class orchestra or a ballroom for a Viennese Waltz workshop. For foodies, there's plenty to surprise and delight, from the high-ceilinged coffeehouses to the traditional wine bars that embody gemütlichkeit (the Austrian answer to hygge).

Day 13

Melk

This city is full of historical treasures, but Melk Abbey, renowned for its Baroque architecture, makes it a must-visit destination on the Danube.

Day 13

Dürnstein

Dürnstein is a fairytale town on the banks of the Danube, offering a mix of Austrian hospitality and medieval history. You can visit the castle where Richard the Lionheart was held captive before heading deeper into the Wachau Valley to stroll the rolling vineyards and sip the crisp Riesling.

Day 14

Passau

Owing to its position at the confluence of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz, this German city has enjoyed a long history as a religious and commercial centre. Today, you can peer into its storied past and learn about its prince bishops' courts and mysterious guilds. Also, St Stephen's Cathedral is home to the biggest organ outside of the USA.

Day 15

Regensburg

This pretty German city is remarkably well-preserved, with landmarks including a notable cathedral and a bridge that has inspired fascinating local lore. It’s also a beer lover’s paradise, with atmospheric spots to try the local varieties, complemented by traditional sausage and sauerkraut.

Day 16

Nuremberg

Bavaria's second biggest city is well worth visiting. Its Christmas Market offers a wealth of handcrafted ornaments, and many visitors are drawn by the city's beer cellars. For those interested in history, there is a considerable amount to explore, including the Palace of Justice, where the Nuremberg trials were held.

Day 17

Bamberg

Day 18

Würzburg

Day 19

Miltenberg

Day 19

Wertheim

Day 20

Rüdesheim

Day 20

Koblenz

Koblenz occupies a strategic position where the Moselle River meets the Rhine, known as the Deutsches Eck (German Corner). The imposing Ehrenbreitstein Fortress overlooks the city, offering expansive views of the twin rivers and surrounding hills.The old town’s pedestrian streets have baroque churches, historic town halls and riverside promenades with cafés and markets. Visitors can take a cable car linking the Rhine to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for river and city views.

Day 21

Cologne

Cologne has roots going back to Roman times. Dominating the skyline is the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe’s largest Gothic churches. Don’t miss a visit to see its soaring spires, intricate façades and stained-glass windows.Beyond the cathedral, Cologne’s Old Town features cobbled streets lined with colourful medieval houses, cosy beer halls and cafés where the local Kölsch beer is served. The city has a vibrant cultural scene, with museums dedicated to Roman history, modern art and chocolate.The Rhine promenade is a good option for a relaxed walk and a chance to check out the city’s bridges.

Days 22-23

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ lively capital, famous for its historic canals and art museums. Cruising into the city reveals a network of waterways lined with tall, narrow houses with ornate gables, a hallmark of Dutch Golden Age architecture. The city’s past as a busy trading city can be seen in its harbour and historic buildings.Exploring on foot or by bike, visitors can check out world-class museums such as the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, alongside the poignant Anne Frank House. The city’s compact centre makes it easy to wander through charming neighbourhoods like Jordaan with its boutique shops, cafés and galleries.Despite its popularity, Amsterdam maintains a relaxed vibe with leafy canals and parks offering a peaceful break from the busy centre.

Days 1-2

Bucharest

Day 2

Giurgiu

Day 3

Ruse

Day 4

Vidin

Day 5

Donji Milanovac

Day 5

Golubac

Day 6

Belgrade

Day 7

Vukovar

Day 8

Ordas

Days 9-10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

This city is full of historical treasures, but Melk Abbey, renowned for its Baroque architecture, makes it a must-visit destination on the Danube.

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Bamberg

Day 18

Würzburg

Day 19

Miltenberg

Day 19

Wertheim

Day 20

Day 20

Day 21

Days 22-23

180

Passengers

Crew

2014

Launched

3539t

Tonnage

135m

Length

11.45m

Width

13kts

Speed

Decks

EUR

Currency

Emerald Star

Our innovative Star-Ships feature a wealth of contemporary design features. We’ve pushed the boundaries of European river cruising, carefully designing our three-tiered atrium and heated pool that seamlessly transforms into a cinema on selected evenings.

All Prices

Customer reviews

Reviews

Not 5 star

We didn't get the wow fact I was expecting it was a lovely clean yacht Entertainment was not the best very little of it considering it was almost Christmas. The staff were nice . Breakfast was ok , lunch was nice The evening meals not great . Room was big and clean it was a lovely experience, but for what we paid i would not do it again .

Emerald Cruises Emerald Sakara

Reviews

Eastern Europe on the Danube

The arrangements on the first day left a lot to be desired! We had been flown to Bucharest the day before and stayed in a lovely hotel with a large swimming pool. We were told cases to be ready by 7 a.m.and leave at 9.It was a cold,wet day so,after the city tour,we had 2 hours to waste in bad weather. We think the departure from the hotel should have been later(e.g.usual 11 a.m.checkout),done the city tour then gone straight to the ship. On board,the food and wine was good BUT often,if we as two people sat on a table for 4 or 6,we were not served until the table was full! I commented about this and we got better and quicker service for one day then it lapsed again! It was even worse if I sat by myself in the bar as I was then mostly ignored! The ports of call were interesting but mixed weather. The company still keeps calling the cabin!"Panorama Balcony" BUT the dictionary definition of balcony is"external"so an inside balcony with a window to open is NOT a balcony. I queried this with crew but was brushed off!

Emerald Cruises Emerald Luna

Reviews

Luxury at every level

We had an amazing cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia on Emerald Harmony. The boat itself is superb,, carrying a maximum of 84 passengers, though a particular cruise only had 54, with 40 crew. That means that passengers really get cared for and within 24 hours all the crew members knew our names and our preferences. The food is superb – fine dining every lunchtime and every evening, accompanied with high-quality wines. and the tourist gave a good balance of the typical things you would expect to see as a tourist (cities, palaces and temples) but also local village life, with the opportunity to meet up close with local people and to see the businesses run from their homes. It was an incredible exposure to culture of that part of the world. Emerald arranged everything superbly and we wouldn’t hesitate to travel with them again.

Emerald Cruises Emerald Harmony

Reviews

Very good

Food & crew excellent. A little diasppointed with the lack of daytime cruising. Only fault was with the travel arrangements to Lyon and return from Marseille. on both flights assistance for my wife who has difficulty walking long distances was not organised and on the return flight we were not even allocated seats together.

Emerald Cruises Emerald Liberte

Reviews

River cruise

Nice cruise along the Danube Not bad food had better on other cruises Things never went to plan but things do happen

Emerald Cruises Emerald Star