Germany/Austria/Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary
Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
Program No. 23683RJ
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Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe
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Participant Reviews
Based on 42 Reviews
SHOWING
This was a fabulous trip that exceeded our expectations. I knew the educational aspect would be wonderful but the food, the program leaders, the local guides - EVERYONE, down to the delightful servers on the boat, were top notch. I would recommend this trip to everyone. The history of the area became so much clearer with hearing personal stories and seeing the locales.
I would actually consider doing it again except that there are so many other Road Scholar trips I would like to do!
— Review left October 16, 2025
5 stars
This was my eleventh trip, my second river trip. It was a winner.. I have traveled with several other companies but none meet the standards of Roads that keep me returning.
From the minute I decide on a trip and book it I know I am in excellent hands. I know I will be traveling with like people, with a sense of learning and education as well as adventure.
The staff, from the first phone call, booking the trip to the person who handles my luggage at my departing airport are all excellent.
The living quarters and meals are among the best in the region.
One thing that keeps me coming back is the human interactions with staff and fellow travelers. Every staff member executes their job to the highest level. Food, excellent, service staff, caring individuals that rapidly learn your name and your needs. Guides, both group and local are highly educated.
The path down the river is taken by many groups but I always felt like I was a pampered individual on this cruise.
On the this trip I was once again astounded by the other passengers, single, married, friends with a common interest. A journalist, an oceanographer, educators, medical professionals, each with interesting stories.
Years ago I knew I would come to a point where river cruises would be my new mode of travel and learning.
Thanks Roads for provding me with life long learning where ever I choose to explore.
— Review left October 9, 2025
This was a wonderful trip. The boat was extraordinarily comfortable, the food was delicious, the drinks were great. The music in the lounge was fun and all the staff were very friendly and helpful. I needed distilled water for my cpapmachine and that was made available. All our buses were very comfortable. The one to Prague was especially fancy. The use of the whisperers was very helpful. I was in the red group and Robert was my group leader. He was SUPERB. He sent us lots and lots of extra ideas of things to see, eat and do. I enjoyed all of the lectures and concerts, both on the boat and when we were in the two hotels. Particularly liked the the location of the hotel in Prague. All the individual guides who joined us we extremely knowledgeable, fun and enthusiastic. Now I will talk about what we did. Touring around Buda and Pest was fascinating, but I would have much preferred to stay in BudaPest for the afternoon rather than go to the horse show and lunch. Our table left a huge amount of food and to me the performers and horse show were touristy filler. The Abby at Melk was incredible. The little village there with beautiful crafts and all sorts of apricot drinks was charming. Vienna was superb. Would have really liked to go to the cemetery where all the famous musicians were buried. Prague was also fantastic. Actually I really enjoyed all the trip activities. except the horse farm. It might be nice to figure out a way to have people mingle a bit more, we all tended to stay in our color groups. I would have liked to meet people who were artists or interested in art - I know there were some. Maybe meet people through a game in the lounge, some sort of mix and mingle : All the people born outside the USA, all the people with size 8 feet, etc. I love Road Scholar and will go on more trips! Thank you also for making my plane ticket arrangements to accommodate visiting my daughter in London after the trip. Everything worked very smoothly from start to finish.
— Review left October 8, 2025
I would have to give this trip a 9 out of 10. The variety of historical sites that we saw,the amazing educational content,
The support from the staff, the amazing French meals. We thought Andrea, the scholar from Vienna was amazing, and she actually helped us do some research in our genealogy.I thought the flute players from the Vienna Philharmonic were astounding, and so grateful that they played for us as well as educated us.The lectures that we had were amazing
The cruise in general was fabulous. It was above my expectations.
The only minor irritations or detractions, I would say, were
That our small group leader Vladan was not as accessible as some of the other group leaders. I noticed that they used WhatsApp and communicated on a regular basis, with local attractions to see. And that did not happen for us.
I would have liked to have a bit more hands-on and recommendations. As well as possibly a place to send photos.
It may sound petty, but the woman who sang on the boat in the afternoons and evenings was not a talented musician.She did not know the words to the songs and was often out of tune.It made me not want to spend time in the lounge in the afternoon.I would have been happier with silence. Maybe replace her or suggest a different genre of music.
Those are the only complaints I would have.The rest of it was really magnificent and totally made up for it . We will be back.
— Review left October 7, 2025
This was a wonderful trip that was well-planned and executed. Our guide, Robert Rominowski was fabulous. I would highly recommend him. We saw so many beautiful places and learned so much.
— Review left October 2, 2025
This program gave me a lot of insight into the rich and complex history and cultures of Central Europe through professional presentations paired with first-hand observation. It was well-organized, had great accommodations and food (!!!), set up for enjoyable interactions with other participants, and led by helpful, knowledgeable and fun leaders. A great trip.
— Review left October 1, 2025
My first experience with road scholar was very positive. I especially enjoyed the views of European communities and landscape as I sat on the deck of our boat. Our leader was excellent and I found the other participants very interesting and friendly. I learned a lot about the history of Central Europe through field trips and lectures. Accommodations and food were great!
— Review left September 30, 2025
if you like cruising down the river in a deluxe riverboat, dining on fabulous French food served in class, and seeing some really cool places, this trip is for you.Good bye Viking! However, be prepared to get up early, be on time or you will be left behind, and be prepared for a lot of exercise. work out before you go.
— Review left September 30, 2025
Excellent program in a fascinating area of the world. The group leaders and local guides were superb. Food and accomodations ( including on the river boat MS Douce France) were very good. Recommend this program especially to those interested in European history.
— Review left September 22, 2025
This was our 5th Road Scholar tour and it was absolutely terrific. The riverboat was beautiful and clean and the food was great. The places we visited and the tours provided were everything we could have wanted.
— Review left September 22, 2025
This was a fabulous experience. The trip was well planned and well run. I learned so much about the countries, music, architecture, history, etc…. A wonderful learning experience.
I found my fellow travelers to be delightful, intelligent, warm & friendly.
— Review left September 21, 2025
The most interesting part of this trip for me was learning first-hand from our guides about what life was like behind the iron curtain.
— Review left September 21, 2025
This program was well paced and enlightening. Stopping at Melk Abbey was a surprising highlight.
— Review left September 21, 2025
This was a bucket list trip for me and it did not disappoint! Guides were fabulous and my fellow travelers were great. A wonderful and relaxing way to see the region. The food on the cruise was absolutely delicious.
— Review left August 8, 2025
I experienced mixed feelings about this trip, my first in Eastern Europe. I was troubled throughout about the treatment of Jews at the hands of the different countries and populations. The holocaust was an ever present fact. I appreciated that it was not ignored or sugar coated by our Road Scholar guides, but as an American Jew I felt vulnerable throughout the trip.
This was my 12th Road Scholar trip. The guides and lecturers were the weakest I had experienced. I felt the cities - Budapest, Prague, and especially Vienna - were given superficial attention during the trip.
I enjoyed the cruise experience and the food was excellent. But the educational content was deficient. And that is why I choose to travel with Road Scholar.
— Review left August 8, 2025
Excellent time, excellent new friends and a life time of new knowledge and beautiful memories!
— Review left June 13, 2025
Great program- Really enjoyed it. Firoz
— Review left June 12, 2025
Danube River Cruise is an excellent program. When you see the competitors river boats, on the Danube, you realize what an excellent value the Road Scholar program is.
— Review left June 9, 2025
Sailing the Danube River Through Central Europe in May-June was a quality program and a great experience!
— Review left June 4, 2025
Outstanding itinerary and the cruise was wonderful. All of the folks on the ship were outstanding. Great food and service. Perfect blend of guided tours and free time. Our main guide Lucie V. was just great - knowledgable and caring. Highly recommend this trip!
— Review left May 29, 2025
This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was very lovely I enjoyed the experience of being on a river cruise, however, the rainy cool weather prevented us from taking full advantage of the sun deck. The inside lounge was quite comfortable as were the cabins. The food was mostly very good and nicely prepared except that most of the cuts of meat were chewy or dry. The guides were excellent and most of the lectures were very informative except the one about architecture, which didn’t seem relevant. The excursions were very well chosen, worthwhile and interesting. We all felt a bit short changed having only 1 day in Vienna and that was on a Monday when several of the museums are closed.
Overall I would give this tour 8 out of 10 points.
— Review left May 25, 2025
River cruising is so unlike ocean cruising in that the pace is more leisurely and you don't get seasick!
— Review left May 25, 2025
Despite the weather, Sailing the Danube was quite the experience, even though we didn't "sail!"
— Review left September 26, 2024
Out program could have been disastrous had it not been for the dedication of everyone involved. Memorable experience on every level,in light of a 5000yr Danube river flood situation.
— Review left September 23, 2024
Overall, the trip was quite positive. The boat was comfortable and staff very friendly. Our leader did a great job of organizing and orienting us. Local guides were knowledgeable, although not all were of equal quality.
We would have preferred more time in Vienna to see a range of museums and possibly attend a concert. A high point of the trip was a class/performance on board the ship by a local musicology professor and a principal flautist from the Vienna Philharmonic.
— Review left July 3, 2024
This trip was amazing! We learned so much and met great people, all while enjoying a beautiful cruise down the Danube. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to learn and relax at the same time!
— Review left June 6, 2024
Thank you RS and fellow travelers for a delightful Danube excursion. You were great company allowing me to learn with and from you.
— Review left May 28, 2024
This was a wonderful trip to a part of Europe I have never been. The accommodations were very nice and the food top notch! Our guide Robert was great, frequently going above and beyond to make our trip a great experience. The time passed quickly and I would have liked it to continue.
— Review left May 27, 2024
This program covers less well know parts of Europe including some lovely smaller towns and cities in addition to the great cities of Prague, Viena, and Budapest. It is a great way to learn more about this interesting and complicated part of the world. One missed learning opporunity was the food on the ship, it was French instead of cusine of the countries we were traveling through.
— Review left May 27, 2024
An amazing trip in an area that I knew very little about before the trip. I especially enjoyed the educational aspect of the trip to help me understand the history of this area of Europe.
— Review left October 14, 2023
The program was very informative as well as very strenuous. However, we were told to expect a lot of walking and a lot of stairs. Anyone who has problems with either shouldn't sign up for this program.
— Review left October 9, 2023
This was our first Road Scholar trip, and we found it was exactly what we wanted. A good balance of structured and free time, extremely helpful and friendly staff and guides, They do everything to make it easy for the traveler. We are active walkers, so we liked the level of activity, which involved a lot of walking each day.
— Review left October 7, 2023
I just came back from the Danube river cruise which took in Prague(my favorite ) Budapest and Vienna. Personally, I would have enjoyed a little more independence but overall I loved almost every minute of it. I found the group leaders to be delightful, helpful and informative and my fellow travelers, in the main very enjoyable to be with.
— Review left October 7, 2023
If you are interested in learning and seeing an amazing part of the world, the trip on the Danube, along with a visit to Prague, is a must. Road Scholar with a dedicated smaller river boat, made this a wonderful experience.
— Review left September 27, 2023
I selected this trip in part because I saw that Croisi was providing the food. I had experienced their food on a previous trip sonducted by the Croisi cruise line. The food on the RS trip was terrific, even better than I had hoped.
— Review left September 27, 2023
Sailing the Danube River through Central Europe was an experience of a lifetime. The ship, accommodations and food were all wonderful. Great group leaders and local guides to help you understand Central Europe. Felt safe everywhere and had so many wonderful experiences. So nice you don't need extra money for tips or anything other than items you want to purchase. All inclusive for sure. Highly recommend
— Review left September 19, 2022
Road Scholar provides an informative and delightful experience in their program “Sailing the Danube River”.
If coming from North America, I would suggest arriving a few days early to overcome the jet lag.
The program is well balanced with structured activities as well as free time. As well, the tours of the cities are experienced on the tour bus and walking about to various sites. The Douce France is exceptional in the size of the guest rooms, their French cuisine and the various public areas. Spending the first 3 nights in Prague is a good start as it keeps the cost of a danube river cruise down. The lectures were educational and provided practical information for what we were experiencing. The leaders of the tour and the staff on the ship provided excellent service and attention.
— Review left September 14, 2022
Wonderful program for lifelong learners and travelers interested in engaging with new cultures
— Review left October 15, 2021
This program is on the go with lots to see and do
— Review left October 15, 2021
A wonderful trip for those interested in architecture and history. The Symphonie has amazing French food, and the guides are great teachers, one of whom is a citizen of Budapest.
— Review left October 14, 2021
We have participated in three Road Scholar tours. Each has surpassed our expectations. We are continually delighted with content and scope of these educational tours.
— Review left September 24, 2021
How fascinating to see how the people of former Eastern European countries have progressed and changed their world since 1990. I’ve seen the before (East Germany) and lived under Marxism (Chile). This is a remarkable testament to human resilience.
— Review left September 24, 2021