Posted on 11/14/2024

The Riverside Mozart is the ultimate floating luxury boutique hotel on the river – as you can see in the video, it’s about double the size of almost all other river cruise ships in Europe, but there aren’t double the guests. That’s a game-changer!  To me, it felt more like sailing on a luxury, small ocean ship that just happened to be in a river. A completely different – and upgraded – river cruise experience. 

You’ll see all the benefits of that extra size in the video… but it comes with a twist. 

Riverside Luxury Cruises’ other ships – sister ships to the Riverside Mozart – are ‘regular’ river ship size, allowing them to sail guests in their deluxe atmospheres in the South of France, along the Rhine and Main and other favorite European river routes.  

The Riverside Mozart can only navigate in the widest section of the Danube River with the biggest locks – from Austria, south to where the Danube drains into the Black Sea. 

Our mid-summer cruise on the Riverside Mozart spanned the central, most-popular section of the Danube, from Austria to Slovakia, and Hungary. No wonder it’s a favorite river cruise route, with historic cities, cultural treasures, epic scenic landscapes, wine regions and nature reserves. Everything to love about Europe in one place!

Riverside Luxury Cruises offers outdoor, active adventures like e-bike tours and hikes that allow us to immerse ourselves in nature in addition to the traditional pleasures of history, culture, and wine tours. 

Plus, the cruise line caters to travelers who value spending more time in places. With itineraries that emphasize late-night departures and multiple overnight stays in choice destinations, guests can explore deeper, and feel like locals with evening outings to enjoy evening illuminations, the cocktail scene, and simply wandering a city after a day of dedicated touring, without having to worry about getting back to the ship before sail away.

Here are highlights of the Danube where the Riverside Mozart sails, along with my tips and notes of special Riverside Luxury Cruises’ experiences during our Austria – Hungary river cruise:

Austria

• Vienna: Known for its imperial palaces, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural scene, as well as being the birthplace of coffee house culture, Vienna offers sights like Schönbrunn Palace, the Vienna State Opera, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the historic Ringstrasse.
  • Riverside Luxury Cruises organized an exclusive experience just for its guests while we were in Vienna: an after-hours, private visit to the Belvedere Palace and the gallery housing what might be Austria’s most famous work of art: Klimt’s The Kiss.
• Wachau Valley: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this stretch is famous for terraced vineyards, picturesque villages, and historic castles, including Melk Abbey, a baroque masterpiece.
  • Riverside Luxury Cruises offered us an e-bike tour along the riverbanks of the Danube, part of the longest cycling route in Europe. 

Slovakia

• Bratislava: This capital city combines medieval, baroque, and modern architecture. Highlights include Bratislava Castle, the historic Old Town, and St. Martin’s Cathedral.

Hungary

• Budapest: The “Pearl of the Danube” is renowned for its thermal baths- the only capital city in Europe with its own underground hot springs, stunning views from Buda Castle, and impressive Parliament building along the riverbank. Other sites include Fisherman’s Bastion, Gellért Hill, and the iconic Chain Bridge.
  • Riverside Luxury Cruises took us on an exploration of some of the caves under the city, carved millennia ago by water that continues to course under the city. 

Croatia

• Vukovar: This town has a rich cultural history and poignant reminders of the Croatian War of Independence, such as the Memorial Cemetery and the Baroque Eltz Manor.

Serbia

• Novi Sad: Known for the Petrovaradin Fortress, which offers panoramic views of the Danube and is home to the famous EXIT Festival. The charming city center has lively cafes and historic buildings.
• Belgrade: The Serbian capital offers Kalemegdan Fortress, which overlooks the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, as well as vibrant nightlife, and the historic Skadarlija quarter.

Romania and Bulgaria

• Iron Gates Gorge (Serbia-Romania Border): This dramatic gorge marks the start of the Danube’s journey through the Carpathians, featuring steep cliffs, the Decebalus rock sculpture, and the Iron Gates Dam.

START YOUR RIVER CRUISE!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist. 

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