Amsterdam is an enchanting city woven with a labyrinth of canals that are characteristic of the capital, but it is the waterways leading out of the city that captures the imagination of river cruisers. The most popular cruise from Amsterdam is the journey along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers to Budapest which is filled with scenic wonders, historic gems, quaint towns and atmospheric cities.
On most itineraries one of the first ports of call is Cologne, where you can wander the Old Town and marvel at the impressive façade of the city’s historic cathedral. Journey onward between the steep slopes of Rhine Gorge, where a collection of roughly 40 castles and palaces look like they are plucked from a fairy tale. Wind past hilltop fortresses and terraced vineyards to Rüdesheim where you may get the chance to see the river from a different perspective on a cable car ride above the town. Admire the architecture in Würzburg, explore the medieval city of Bamberg, and unearth the history of WWII in Nuremburg.
Further east the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg awaits with shore excursions aplenty and local craft beer to enjoy after a day of sightseeing. Choose to explore Passau or perhaps be serenaded by the musical history on a day trip to Salzburg before kicking back to enjoy the scenery as you glide across the border into Austria. Find a place on the sun deck to watch the Wachau Valley drift by, marvel at the beautiful frescoes of Melk Abbey and take your time to wander the cobblestone streets of Dürnstein. Sightsee the iconic landmarks in Vienna and finish your cruise admiring the glittering lights of Budapest Parliament playing across the water.
Every itinerary is unique and different experiences will present themselves on each, but don’t just take our word for it! Here are what our clients had to say about some of their favourite cruises from Amsterdam to Budapest.
“Every aspect of the trip was outstanding. The ship was immaculate; the crew, from the Captain down, were efficient, friendly and courteous. The Cruise Director, Tony, was knowledgeable, entertaining and approachable; the local guides for each excursion were well chosen and effective. Dining room menus were varied and interesting and the food was attractively presented. Wines provided with lunch and dinner were of good quality and were usually sourced from the region through which we were travelling. Included and optional shore excursions provided the opportunity to obtain as good an impression of the local area as was possible in the time available. Onboard accommodation, both cabin and public areas, was well designed and immaculately maintained.” John
“We found the AmaStella was first class and the staff were superb. The tours and excursions were also first rate - the dinner at Namedy Castle, the private concert in Vienna, the Imperator train to Salzberg, the palaces and the villages - all picture-postcard perfect. The on-board entertainment was wonderful - the gypsy violins in Budapest were a great grand finale! Once again APT were superbly organised and professional. The whole experience was seamless. We would completely recommend it.” David & Michelle
“Our Scenic cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest was fantastic! The crew on board the Scenic Jasper were so polite, enthusiastic and willing to help and the food and drink was terrific and endless. As for the passengers on board, they too were wonderful. We made special friends from around the world including a couple from Texas and another from England. Plus many more. The sights from the ship were so stunning and there was so much to see that you almost didn't want to go to bed in case you missed some of it.” Bruce and Catriona
“The highlights of the trip for us was cruising the rivers admiring the castles and small towns along the way and to have a room with a view where you could relax on your bed and watch the countryside glide by if you desired. The icing on the cake was the night cruise along the river in Budapest seeing the bridges and buildings lit up with lights along with music amplified up on the Sun Deck. It was spectacular.” Philip and Louise
“Everything was very well organised, from the tours to the daily schedule of activities. The staff were both friendly and obliging, and the food was great. The facilities were first class and spotlessly maintained.” Paul and Carmel“The Viking cruise was well organised, cabins comfortable and the services provided were excellent. The staff and crew very very attentive and the onboard activities first rate. The on shore excursions provided a variety of venues to suit most tastes. I highly recommend this river cruise to others.” James
“Uniworld provided a worry free holiday that you can only imagine in your dreams. From the moment we boarded River Empress we were treated like kings and queens. The personal attention never faltered and we were made feel as if we were the most important people in the world for the next 15 days. We enjoyed every aspect of our cruise, all the ports and excursions. There were excursions and activities to suit all activity levels and interests. We wish we could have sailed forever, although our clothes would not have fitted for much longer as the food was such high quality and there was so much on offer.” Kerry and PeterThese are just some of the river cruises from Amsterdam that our clients are loving! Find out why first hand…
Europe River Cruises