Wine river cruises in Europe
Follow the river into wine country. Discover regional wines, historic cellars and memorable meals, with a comfortable ship waiting at the end of the day.
Good wine is only the beginning
A wine river cruise brings together local food, vineyard landscapes and the stories behind each glass. Choose a dedicated wine-themed departure for hosted tastings and special experiences, or ask us to find a wine-country itinerary that fits your interests.
Wine Cruise on the Danube
Eight days through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany, with winemaker Steve Lutz aboard AMADEUS Nova.
A week shaped by the wines of the Danube
Begin with Budapest illuminated at night, explore Vienna’s wine-tavern culture, and sail through the vineyard-lined Wachau Valley. Two onboard wine tastings and a wine-paired dinner bring the experience back to the ship.
Add the wine excursion package for visits to Leo HILLINGER Winery, a traditional Viennese Heuriger, Nikolaihof Wachau and Stift Göttweig.
Per person, double occupancy · Category C-4 · Cruise fare before optional excursions
Ask about this sailing
Book by November 30, 2026. Ask us to confirm eligibility, current fares and available cabins before booking.
Meet Steve Lutz
Steve Lutz founded Lenne Estate in Oregon’s Willamette Valley after developing his wine experience in Napa Valley and making his first homemade Pinot Noir in 1986.
His background in estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay adds a winemaker’s perspective to this journey through Central Europe. He joins this sailing as its wine host, with two onboard tastings and one wine-paired dinner included.
Hosted by the cruise line’s featured wine expert. Book and plan your trip with Beyond the Castle Travel.
Your eight-day Danube itinerary
A mix of capital cities, wine villages and scenic sailing. Shore excursions described below are optional unless specifically marked included.
Day 1 · Oct. 21 Budapest
Embark from 4 p.m., settle into your cabin and enjoy the welcome cocktail and dinner. An evening sightseeing cruise with a folklore show on board is included.
Day 2 · Oct. 22 Budapest
Choose the optional Castle Hill & Historic Wonders excursion before departing at 1:30 p.m. An onboard wine tasting is included as your journey continues.
Day 3 · Oct. 23 Bratislava
Explore Slovakia’s capital independently or on an optional city tour. The optional A Taste of Burgenland excursion crosses into Austria for a winery tour and six-wine tasting at Leo HILLINGER in Jois.
Day 4 · Oct. 24 Vienna
Choose an optional imperial city tour or the Heuriger experience at Mayer am Pfarrplatz, with Viennese wines, music and local tradition. A waltz lesson on board is included.
Day 5 · Oct. 25 Dürnstein & Weissenkirchen
Explore the Wachau Valley. Optional experiences include Dürnstein with its abbey and tasting, and Wines of the Wachau at Nikolaihof. A second onboard wine tasting is included.
Day 6 · Oct. 26 Weissenkirchen & Melk
Choose the optional From Abbey to Vineyard excursion at Stift Göttweig or a separate visit to Melk Abbey. Return to the ship for the included wine-paired dinner.
Day 7 · Oct. 27 Linz
Choose an optional Linz walking tour with Linzer Torte tasting, or a full-day Salzburg excursion with lunch. These are separate alternatives, not part of the four-excursion wine package.
Day 8 · Oct. 28 Passau
Arrive in Passau and disembark after breakfast. Ask us about flights, transfers or extending your trip.
Port times, itinerary, host arrangements and excursion programs are subject to change. Excursions may require minimum participation.
Four wine experiences ashore
The optional Wine excursion package is listed at $545 per person. It includes the four experiences below; city sightseeing and other excursions are separate.
A Taste of Burgenland
Travel from Bratislava to Leo HILLINGER Winery in Jois for a guided visit and a tasting of six wines. Approximately 4.5 hours.
Listed individual excursion price: $165 per person
The Heuriger experience
Visit Mayer am Pfarrplatz in Vienna for local wines, live music and Viennese tavern culture. Approximately 4.5 hours.
Listed individual excursion price: $168 per person
Wines of the Wachau
Discover Nikolaihof Wachau, its historic estate and the wines of this celebrated Danube region. Approximately 4 hours.
Listed individual excursion price: $154 per person
From Abbey to Vineyard
Explore the wine heritage of Stift Göttweig and sample a selection of the estate’s wines. Approximately 4 hours.
Listed individual excursion price: $154 per person
Choose the package that fits your trip. Excursion Package A is $720 and Package B is $1,065 per person. These overlap with the wine package, so we’ll help you compare the combinations before booking.
Several wine excursions involve considerable walking, uneven ground or stairs. Let us know about mobility needs so we can review the individual tours with you.
Published fares for the featured sailing
USD per person, based on two travelers sharing a cabin. Prices below are before any applicable early booking discount.
| Cabin | Deck | Per person | Solo supplement | Inquire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-4 | Haydn | $3,200 | 15% | Ask about C-4 |
| C-1 | Haydn | $3,618 | 30% | Ask about C-1 |
| B-4 | Strauss | $4,109 | 50% | Ask about B-4 |
| B-1 | Strauss | $4,409 | 50% | Ask about B-1 |
| A-1 | Mozart | $4,839 | 60% | Ask about A-1 |
| Suite | Mozart | $5,679 | 100% | Ask about Suite |
Solo supplements are calculated as a percentage of the cruise fare. Availability, applicable discounts and final totals must be confirmed. Flights, hotels, transfers and optional excursions are not included in these displayed cruise fares.
A useful planning example: the $3,200 C-4 fare plus the $545 Wine excursion package totals $3,745 per person before any eligible early booking discount, flights, transfers or extra hotel nights.
Wine, dining and time to enjoy the river
The wine experience
- Wine host Steve Lutz aboard
- Two onboard wine tastings
- One wine-paired dinner
- Selected European red and white wines with onboard lunch and dinner
- Draft beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea with lunch and dinner
Your stay aboard
- Outside riverview accommodation and onboard dining
- Welcome and farewell receptions, plus the Captain’s Gala Dinner
- Wi-Fi and bottled water in your cabin
- 24-hour coffee and tea in the AMADEUS Club
- Fitness center and complimentary use of onboard bicycles
- Port taxes, fees and gratuities
This is not an all-excursions-included fare. The optional shore program is priced separately. Beverage inclusions apply as described above, not to every drink throughout the day.
Unwind aboard AMADEUS Nova
Between visits ashore, return to inviting lounges, a heated pool and river views. We’ll help you compare cabin categories, deck locations and the right fit for your trip.
Which wine region speaks to you?
Tell us which wines, landscapes and destinations interest you. We can help compare other routes and dates, including options for friends, wine clubs and private groups.
Danube
Austria’s vineyard terraces, Vienna’s wine taverns and the Wachau’s white wines make this a rewarding pairing of wine and Central European cities.
Ask about Danube wine cruises →Bordeaux
For travelers drawn to France’s celebrated wine country, ask about itineraries along the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde.
Ask about Bordeaux wine cruises →Rhône & Saône
Explore southern French wine and food traditions, with potential time around Lyon, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley depending on the route.
Ask about Rhône & Saône wine cruises →Douro
Portugal’s terraced vineyards and Port wine traditions offer a different wine-country setting, with Porto as a natural starting point.
Ask about Douro wine cruises →Rhine & Moselle
Consider vineyard villages, Riesling and castle scenery. The exact mix of rivers, towns and winery visits depends on the sailing.
Ask about Rhine & Moselle wine cruises →For a closer comparison, read our Top 5 River Cruises for Wine Lovers guide. Regional descriptions are planning inspiration. Dedicated wine hosts, tastings and winery visits vary by cruise line and departure.
Planning a wine river cruise
Do I need to know a lot about wine?
No. Share your interests and comfort level with us, whether you’re curious about regional wines or already part of a wine club. We’ll help you find an experience that suits you.
Are winery visits included in the featured fare?
No. The featured AMADEUS sailing includes its onboard wine host, two tastings and one wine-paired dinner. The four-excursion Wine package is an additional $545 per person.
Can someone who doesn’t drink wine enjoy the cruise?
The itinerary also offers cities, scenery, food and cultural sightseeing. Wine is a major focus of this departure, so we can also compare a regular river cruise if that would better suit your travel companion.
Can I travel solo?
Yes, subject to cabin availability. Solo supplements range from 15% in C-4 to 100% in a suite. We’ll confirm the applicable fare for your preferred cabin.
Can you arrange a wine club or friends’ group?
We can help coordinate a group inquiry, compare cabin needs and review any available group arrangements with the cruise line. Group benefits and private events must be confirmed for the specific sailing.
Do you charge planning or booking fees?
No. Beyond the Castle Travel provides fee-free planning and booking assistance. We can also help arrange flights, hotels, transfers and travel protection around your cruise.
Let’s find your wine cruise
Ask about the October 2027 Danube sailing or tell us which region you’d like to explore. We’ll help with cabins, excursions and the travel arrangements around your cruise.
Wine cruise advice and more river journeys
Compare wine regions in our planning guide, or explore a different season and destination.
Top 5 River Cruises for Wine Lovers
Explore the Douro, Rhône and Saône, Rhine and Moselle, Bordeaux and Danube to find the wine-country experience that fits your interests.
Read the wine cruises guideEuropean river cruises
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