Danube River Cruises: Upper vs Lower Routes, Embarkation Ports & River Ships Compared
The Danube set has 516 active itineraries and 13,420 upcoming open sailings across six lines. Budapest is the busiest embarkation port, with 225 itineraries. Most routes call both upper-river and lower-river towns.
It’s All Cruises · October 25, 2026
These Danube cruises are 516 active itineraries, with 13,420 upcoming open sailings across six lines. Budapest embarks 225 itineraries, more than any other port.
Quick facts
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Active itineraries | 516 |
| Upcoming open sailings | 13,420 |
| Lines | AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Celebrity River Cruises, Princess Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Viking |
| Ships | 55 |
| Both upper-river and lower-river calls | 317 |
| Upper-river calls only / lower-river calls only | 56 / 58 |
Lines
| Line | Itineraries | Open sailings |
|---|---|---|
| Avalon Waterways | 323 | 3,997 |
| Viking | 63 | 7,935 |
| AmaWaterways | 63 | 195 |
| Celebrity River Cruises | 35 | 240 |
| Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | 26 | 981 |
| Princess Cruises | 6 | 72 |
Embarkation ports
| Port | Itineraries |
|---|---|
| Budapest | 225 |
| Vilshofen | 84 |
| Nuremberg | 54 |
| Oltenita | 36 |
| Vienna | 32 |
| Regensburg | 18 |
| Amsterdam | 16 |
| Passau | 15 |
| Basel | 11 |
| Giurgiu | 8 |
| Frankfurt | 5 |
| Belgrade | 4 |
Upper-river calls here mean Passau, Vilshofen, Regensburg or Linz. Lower-river calls mean Budapest, Belgrade, Giurgiu or Oltenita. 317 itineraries include at least one of each. Amsterdam (16) and Basel (11) are embarkation counts on Danube itineraries that start off the Danube. Eight itineraries have no embarkation port listed.
River ships with a recorded measurement
| Ship | Length | Guests (double) | Crew | Year built | Crew ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmaMagna | 135 m | 196 | 70 | Not listed | 2.80 |
| S.S. Maria Theresa | 135 m | 150 | 58 | Not listed | 2.59 |
| Avalon Envision | 135 m | Not listed | 47 | Not listed | Not listed |
| AmaViola | 135 m | 156 | 51 | Not listed | 3.06 |
Gross tonnage is Not listed on these river ships. Avalon Envision's guest count and year built are Not listed. Many Viking river hulls have no recorded specs, so they are not in this table.
A lowest fare from five lines
| Route | Ship | Line | Nights | Embarks | Starting fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enchanting Danube | S.S. Maria Theresa | Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | 7 | Passau | $2,099 starting cruise fare, as of October 10, 2026 |
| Romantic Danube | Viking Ullur | Viking | 7 | Budapest | $2,399 starting cruise fare, as of October 13, 2026 |
Upper river or lower river
- If you want Passau, Vilshofen, Regensburg or Linz without Budapest, Belgrade, Giurgiu or Oltenita, 56 itineraries match. The reverse, a lower-river call without those upper-river ports, is 58.
- If you want both halves, 317 itineraries already join them. A 7-night sample often runs Passau to Budapest or the other way.
- Vienna embarks 32 itineraries and is also a call on many of the through routes. Regensburg embarks 18. Passau embarks 15, even though it is a common call.
- Browse the live river list on river cruises, then open a sample such as Enchanting Danube.
Fares are marketing prices, confirmed when you book. The cabin category on these headline fares is Not listed in the sample rows.
Frequently asked questions
Is the upper Danube a separate cruise from the lower Danube?
Sometimes. 56 itineraries call an upper-river port and none of Budapest, Belgrade, Giurgiu or Oltenita. 58 do the reverse. 317 call both.
Which line has the most Danube itineraries?
Avalon Waterways, with 323 itineraries. Viking and AmaWaterways have 63 each.
Why do some Danube cruises start in Amsterdam or Basel?
16 itineraries embark at Amsterdam and 11 at Basel. Those products start on another river before the Danube portion. The port list on the sailing is the check.
What is a recorded starting fare?
S.S. Maria Theresa, Enchanting Danube: $2,099 starting cruise fare, as of October 10, 2026, embarking Passau.
Filed under river, embarkation