Budapest to Amsterdam

Admire Rhine Valley vistas from a 900-year-old castle. Sample the culinary delights of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Learn the Viennese waltz, visit Melk’s Benedictine Abbey and ponder Nuremberg’s World War II history. Indulge your senses on this journey spanning the best of Europe, tracing the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the stunning landscapes of Hungary, with engaging encounters at every bend.

 

Travel Dates:

Depart Hobart 18th October

Arrive Budapest 19th October

Pre-Voyage package 19th + 20th October

Cruise departs 21st October

Cruise ends & Amsterdam departure 4th November

Arrive Hobart 6th November

 

Pricing information:

Flight price will be advise upon booking as a quote will need to be arranged, flights are with Qantas & Emirates.

Pre-voyage package in Budapest $1,099pp twin and $2,198pp single  (limited availability)

Stateroom price varies as it is dependent on availability, starting from $9,995pp twin share in standard stateroom (limited availability)

$200pp Love Tasmania Tours services fee - includes your home pick up and drop off in Hobart greater region and admin fee.  

Travel insurance price will be advised upon your request of a quote

Deposit:

$1,200 made up of $1,000 for Viking and $200 for Love Tasmania Tours.

Upon booking flights payment will be required of the full flight cost.

 

Your Ship:

95 comfortable outside staterooms (25 Standard Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 7 Veranda Suites, 2 Explorer Suites)

Sun Deck with 360-degree views & shaded sitting area; organic herb garden & solar panels; putting green & walking track

Aquavit Terrace & Lounge, a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship for al fresco dining

Lounge & Bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors

Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views

Library & onboard shop

Elevator from Middle to Upper Deck only; no elevator access for categories E & F

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Laundry service

Ecologically friendly hybrid engines producing less vibrations for a smoother ride

Flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring a selection of live TV channels, complimentary Movies On Demand and in-house programming

 

Itinerary:

18th October 2025 - Departure

Flight bookings are arranged through the Viking Air team.

Upgrades to premium economy available at extra cost. Please note the $2,400 per person flight credit (available until 31st March 2025) will be applied to the total cost of the flights. Today you will depart Hobart, arriving in Melbourne. You relocate to the Melbourne International Terminal for your evening departure to Dubai.

 

19th October 2025 - Budapest Pre-Voyage Budapest, Hungary

Today you arrive in Dubai and then travel from Dubai to Budapest. Upon arrival in Budapest your airport to accommodation transfers are included. After your flights you will likely need to take the day to rest. Your pre-voyage accommodation is Dorothea Hotel.

 

20th October 2025 - Budapest Pre-Voyage Budapest, Hungary

With your tour leader, Kim, take some time to explore the city.

 

21st October 2025 - Cruise Embarkation Budapest, Hungary

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Riverside beauty and a vibrant cultural scene blend together in Budapest to form one of Europe’s most rewarding cities. Hungary’s enchanting capital straddles the banks of the Danube, with traditional hillside Buda on one side and modern Pest on the other. By day, stunning art nouveau buildings, stalwart castles and grand palaces set the stage for inspiring strolls and long soaks in thermal spas. By night, the shimmering lights of the Parliament building dance across the waters of the Danube, the Chain Bridge uniting it all as a dramatic centerpiece.

 

22nd October 2025 - Budapest, Hungary

Budapest’s old town is a fascinating medieval patchwork of narrow streets and colorful houses. In the Castle District, the Matthias Church soars in Gothic glory. Adjacent, the expansive wall and seven turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion overlook the Danube, the graceful Chain Bridge and the Pest side of the river. The centerpiece of the district is the sprawling Buda Castle. Constructed in the 13th century and expanded to its current baroque splendor during the 18th century, this edifice was home to Hungary’s kings for almost 700 years.

7 Shore excursions to choose from (Panoramic Budapest included).

 

23rd October 2025 - Vienna, Austria

Renowned as the “City of Waltzes,” Austria’s capital city of Vienna is Europe’s center of classical music. Strauss and Mozart composed many of their finest pieces here. Vienna’s musical history is matched by the elegant, graceful architecture that lines the Ringstrasse, the wide boulevard encircling the Inner City. Baroque, neo-Renaissance, Gothic-Romanesque and other splendidly styled structures, from the Hofburg Palace to the Vienna State Opera, take the breath away with their grand facades. Vienna has a more intimate side too: inviting footpaths lead through green parks and its famed Viennese cafés sweeten any stay with coffee and the city’s delectable Sachertorte.

2 Shore excursions to choose from.

 

24th October 2025 - Vienna, Austria

Vienna is considered one of Europe’s greatest cultural hubs. Its art scene has long been established with the Hapsburg’s collection of fine art, now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Today, Vienna’s modern side showcases street art murals that don the side of buildings along the banks of the Danube. Ingrained in local life is the long-embraced tradition of coffeehouses; UNESCO includes Viennese coffeehouse culture on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritages. It is considered one of life’s pleasures to while away an afternoon over an Einspänner coffee and a pastry.

7 Shore excursions to choose from (Panoramic Vienna included).

 

25th October 2025 - Wachau Valley & Melk, Austria

Scenic Sailing: Wachau Valley

Sail through a serene tapestry of terraced vineyards, forested slopes, charming towns and castle ruins in Austria’s Wachau Valley, celebrated as perhaps the most scenic stretch of the Danube. Journey 18 miles through this vast UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the river courses through picturesque hillsides. Gaze upon the prolific grapevines and quaint wine-producing villages hugging the shores—the legacy of vintners that stretch as far back as Celtic and Roman times and an echo of the more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days.

Melk, Austria

Set amid an important wine-growing region of picturesque villages and fairy-tale castles, the charming city of Melk lies at the base of the Wachau Valley. An imposing 900-year-old Benedictine abbey, a stunning example of baroque architecture, overlooks the town from its dramatic hilltop location. This architectural treasure has 365 windows, one for each day of the year, and the views from its expansive balcony are stunning. Its beautiful library houses priceless medieval manuscripts and marvelous frescoes by Paul Troger, and its meticulously kept grounds are inviting and picturesque.

1 Shore Excursion (Melk Abbey Included)

 

26th October 2025 - Passau, Germany

Founded by the Celts over 2,000 years ago, Passau is one of Bavaria’s oldest cities. Known as the “City of Three Rivers,” it rests at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube rivers. The city has long enjoyed its strategic position and grew to great economic and political power because of it. The legacy of its past prosperity lives on in graceful arcades, colorful houses with rococo facades and the glorious baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to one of Europe’s largest pipe organs. Passau is also where two nations meet; it is here that the German-Austrian border begins.

7 Shore excursions to choose from (Passau Walking Tour included).

 

27th October 2025 - Regensburg, Germany

Having escaped major damage during World War II, the picturesque town of Regensburg is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, the oldest city along the Danube and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Stone Bridge, constructed in the 12th century, is a masterpiece of medieval engineering with its 16 arches. St. Peter’s Cathedral is widely considered Bavaria’s best Gothic architectural work. The old town’s Neupfarrplatz square is a cross section of history—it was once a thriving Jewish quarter, a bustling marketplace and the site of Nazi book burnings.

4 Shore excursions to choose from (Regensburg Walking Tour & Historic Regensburg included)

 

28th October 2025 - Main-Danube Canal & Nuremberg, Germany

Scenic Sailing: Main-Danube Canal, Germany

As far back as 1,200 years ago, visionary Frankish Emperor Charlemagne contemplated connecting the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers so ships could travel the length of Europe. Today, his dream dramatically comes to life. The Main-Danube Canal employs 16 stair-step river locks that allow vessels to travel 2,200 miles through 10 countries, from the North Sea coast of Holland to the Black Sea shores of Romania.

Nuremberg, Germany

The second-largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg is filled with traditional half-timbered houses and Gothic churches with intricate spires. Although nearly destroyed during World War II, the remaining medieval city walls stretch some three miles and feature original gateways and 80 original watchtowers. Nuremberg is well known historically for its metal and toy craftsmanship. But it is infamous for its role in World War II, first as the site of Zeppelin Field’s Nazi rallies and later as the site of the war crimes trials at the Palace of Justice that captured the attention of a generation.

 

29th October 2025 - Bamberg, Germany

Founded in 902, Bamberg remains a medieval-looking city known for its symphony orchestra and rauchbier, specialty smoked beer. The city’s winding streets are filled with baroque patrician houses and are home to the stunning 11th-century Cathedral of Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II, housing his tomb and that of Pope Clement II. Bamberg is especially noted for its Altes Rathaus, or Old Town Hall, situated on a twin-arched bridge over the Regnitz River, and for the old bishop’s houses: the 16th-century Alte Hofhaltung (Old Court) and 17th-century Neue Residenz (New Residence).

2 Shore excursions to choose from (Bamberg Walking Tour included)

 

30th October 2025 - Würzburg, Germany

Surrounded by Franconian vineyards, Würzburg was heavily damaged during World War II, but has since been completely restored. This prestigious university city is a jewel of baroque architecture. Its most pristine example of pomp and glory is the great Bishops’ Residenz palace, built in 1744 for the prince-bishop; his unwavering support of artists is evidenced by the sweeping staircase and magnificent ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo. Other landmarks include the medieval, statue-lined Old Main Bridge and Marienberg Fortress, originally a Celtic hill fort and later residence of the bishops. The city remains a major wine-making center, hosting Germany’s oldest and largest vineyard.

3 Shore excursions to choose from (Würzburg Residenz included)

 

31st October 2025 - Wertheim, Germany & Main River

Wertheim, Germany

Situated at the confluence of the Main and Tauber Rivers, Wertheim is a charming town brimming with history. The dukes of Wertheim built a castle at this strategic spot in the 12th century. It was captured and destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, but it is still impressive today, peering down upon the medieval town center and half-timbered houses from its perch. Its Pointed Tower has guarded the junction of the Main and Tauber Rivers for 800 years. Known as a successful merchants’ town during the Middle Ages, today Wertheim is famous for its Franconian wines.

Scenic Sailing: Main River, Spessart

Journey along one of Germany’s most important waterways today, passing landscapes that embody the country’s scenic beauty and storybook charm. You will sail by quaint riverside villages, undulating farm country and the sylvan forests of the Spessart woodlands. Along the way, you just may lose yourself in the dreamy canvases of half-timbered houses, historic castles and splendid palaces. This is the Germany once ruled by dukes and brought to magical life by the imagination of the Brothers Grimm, who grew up in the town of Hanau and wove fantastic tales from these banks.

4 Shore excursions to choose from (Wertheim Walking Tour included)

 

1st November 2025 - Middle Rhine & Koblenz, Germany

Scenic Sailing: Middle Rhine

The Rhine River flows through one of Germany’s most scenic regions. As you sail its most picturesque stretch, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine, you will pass vineyard-blanketed hills whose steep slopes require vintners to pick grapes by hand, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Splendid castles line the banks, all of which have stories to share, and the Lorelei Rock presides at a dramatic curve in the river. This infamous river maiden mesmerized sailors with her song and lured them to their demise at her feet.

Koblenz, Germany

Koblenz is a traditional German city, founded more than 2,000 years ago. This former trading settlement rests on a massif of the Middle Rhine Highlands. Its cobblestone streets, wood-beamed houses adorned with flowers, ancient market square and medieval churches recall the fairy-tale Germany of old. At the “German Corner,” a massive equestrian statue of Prince William I observes the lovely riverside scene. The famed Teutonic Knights set up their first base here in 1216. The Romanesque Basilica of St. Castor, Koblenz’s oldest building, dates to 836.

4 Shore excursions to choose from (Historic Koblenz included)

 

2nd November 2025 - Cologne, Germany

Cologne reveals its Roman heritage in its city layout and the ancient ruins that lie scattered through the town. Cologne’s modern plazas and Hohe Strasse host welcoming shops, enticing restaurants and cologne boutiques. Of note is the city’s 14th-century cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic artistry and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having survived Allied bombs during World War II, the cathedral’s imposing twin spires are visible for miles and its stained glass windows fill the interior with brilliant colored light. Its steps lead to a platform with astounding views.

5 Shore excursions to choose from (Cologne Walking Tour included)

 

3rd November 2025 - Waal & Merwede & Kinderdijk, The Netherlands

Scenic Sailing: Waal & Merwede

Sail the bucolic waters of the Rhine, deep into the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt Delta, as classic Dutch landscapes unfurl all around. Flat farmland, charming windmills and svelte poplar trees line the shores, and vast tracts of land stretch in all directions, growing all manner of bounty, from tomatoes to tulips. Gaze upon Friesian cows and tidy villages with their neatly laid farmhouses and marvel at how much of this land was reclaimed from the sea, with the aid of traditional windmills and the construction of dikes.

Kinderdijk, The Netherlands

Kinderdijk is a village community in the Alblasserwaard province. This corner of South Holland, part of the scenic Waal and Merwede regions, has long been shaped by Rhine Delta waters. Kinderdijk is most known for its 19 remarkably preserved 18th-century windmills. The charming hamlet is located amid low-lying polders, tracts of land reclaimed from the sea by the power of the windmills and enclosed by embankments, or dikes. This legendary place calls to mind the 1865 novel Hans Brinker, in which a heroic boy plugs his finger into a ruptured dike.

4 Shore excursions to choose from (Kinderdijk Windmills included)

 

4th November 2025 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Bid farewell to your fellow guests as this morning you disembark the Viking Ve. You will have the day in Amsterdam. Your airport transfer is included for your evening departure from Amsterdam to Dubai.

 

5th November 2025 - Travelling Home

Today you arrive in Dubai and will be flying from Dubai to Melbourne.

 

6th November 2025 - Arrival Home

Today you arrive in Melbourne and will fly home to Hobart.

 

 

FAQ:

BOOKING INFORMATION AND PAYMENT METHODS

• CASH: We love to see you! Visit our office between 8am - 4pm weekdays and we would be delighted to assist with a booking.

• CARD: Phone or visit our office to make payment using VISA, Mastercard or AMEX, unfortunately our payment system does not accept keycards.

• CHEQUE: Please phone or email us to ensure availability then send cheques to

PO Box 73 Richmond TAS 7025.

• BANK TRANSFER: Please phone or email us to ensure availability and we will confirm bank details.

• DAY TOURS: To secure your seat, full payment is required immediately. If you are unable to attend a day tour, we require 48 hours’ notice and we can provide you with a credit to use on another day tour. Day Tour payments are non-refundable.

• MULTI-DAY TOURS: To secure your seat, a deposit is required immediately. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable to other tours. There will be a final date provided for the remainder of the package payment. After final payment due date, payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.

• PASSENGER FORMS: All travellers on our Multi Day and Interstate/ International Tours are required to complete a Passenger Form. This only needs to be completed once or updated when your details change.

• PICK UP: If you have a group of 6 or more passengers attending a day tour, we can arrange a separate pick up for you. All Travel Club multi-day tours have a Hobart Greater region home pick up, unless otherwise stated.

• POSTAGE: Due to increased cost of postage & delays we will not be posting payment receipts unless requested, postage charges will apply. When phoning through payment we encourage you to provide us with an email address to receive receipts.

• TRAVEL INSURANCE: We strongly recommend you obtain appropriate travel insurance prior to paying your final balance for any of our multi-day tours.

• PRICE CHANGES: Prices may change without notification.

• ITINERARY CHANGES: We reserve the right to alter or omit any part of the itinerary.

• SAFETY: Love Tasmania Tours and Coal River Coaches reserves the right to decline to carry anyone if it is felt the individual cannot cope with the requirements of the tour, or who may require services that we cannot guarantee will be available, or if meals (due to certain dietary requirements) cannot be catered for.

• WAIT LISTS: If a Tour that you want to go on is full, we can pop you on the “Waitlist”. This means if we have a cancellation, we will contact you.

Our Tours are subject to the venues & events in which we attend. If there are any changes or cancellations, we will make reasonable endeavours to contact you.

Please refer to the full terms and conditions for more information.

Phone: 03 6272 2645

Email: [email protected]

Office: 97a Grove Road Glenorchy TAS 7010

Postal address PO Box 73 Richmond Tas 7025