Danube River Cruising

Overall, the River Beatrice fairly gleams, from the white Murano crystal chandelier in the two-story lobby to the smartly appointed staterooms. Some 2,085 mirrors — from beveled wall insets to cabin table tops to full-length in the bathrooms — enhance the luminosity and sense of space. Silk wallpaper, velvet curtains, original art (Chagall, Picasso and Matisse, among others) and a soothing cream and brown color scheme complete the understated elegance.

There's no skimping on cabin amenities, either: flat-screen TVs, in-room safes, mini-fridges, hair dryers, fluffy robes and slippers, and crisp white-on-white Egyptian cotton linens. Bathrooms boast floor-to-ceiling white marble and luscious L'Occitane toiletries. Several unexpected touches stand out: espresso makers in the mini-suites, delicate white orchids, and complimentary bottled water. One quibble: Although rooms are equipped with Internet access, service was slow to non-existent.

Visitors are immersed in the flavor of Europe from the minute they step aboard. Start with the 53 crew — from the Dutch captain, Austrian hotel manager and German cruise director, to the Romanian concierge, Hungarian masseur and Slovakian engineer.

Well-prepared meals — some five-star worthy — spotlight regional specialties, too: Hungarian goulash and cabbage soup (better than it sounds); Wiener schnitzel and Sachertorte; Bavarian sausages and potato pancakes. But there's plenty for the less adventuresome, with two entrees plus a vegetarian choice at dinner.

After dinner, forget cabaret shows, casinos or Broadway revues. Instead, cruise director Christine Bremberger showcases the local culture — especially fitting for a region as famous for its musical heritage as Central Europe. Highlights include a magical night at the Kursalon concert hall in Vienna, where a chamber music group played selections from the Strauss brothers, Mozart and Haydn— all of whom lived in this music capital — as well as an unforgettable organ recital at St. Stephan's Cathedral in Passau, which boasts the world's largest cathedral organ with nearly 18,000 pipes. You can even take onboard Viennese waltz lessons.

The makeup of passengers is international, too — Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and the USA — but all are English-speaking to avoid language barriers.

As comfortable as the ship is, this voyage draws you into the destinations. Slicing through the heart of the Continent, the Danube historically was the lifeblood of its communities. Quiet country scenes and vineyards, citadels and castles, monasteries and cathedrals form a never-ending tableaux along its 1,770 miles. This itinerary features some of Europe's great capitals: sophisticated, stylish Vienna with its reminders of Austro-Hungarian imperial grandeur; historic Budapest, where coffee culture percolates again in some 300 cafes; Bratislava with its cozy cobblestoned Old Town.

But the less-known stops offer the most unexpected treats: tiny baroque Dürnstein (pop: 900), gateway to Austrian wine country (bike tours to the vineyards are available). Melk, Austria, home to a 900-year-old cliff-top abbey famous for its 80,000 medieval manuscripts. Storybook Salzburg, which is still alive with the sound of music on every street corner and courtyard, and Passau, set in pastoral Bavaria.

As Harvey King, an association executive from Scottsdale, sums it up, "This cruise is a no-brainer."

The Danube, through its rich history, has remained timeless and truly enchanting. German poet Friedrich Hölderlin called the Danube “a refreshing, melodious river, sometimes foaming with high spirits, at other times dreaming serenely.” For many centuries this river has been a reflection of Europe’s history and destiny—an economic lifeline, a great highway to conquest, and a source of inspiration for poets and musicians. Now it is your turn to be inspired.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Those longing to discover the best of Eastern and Western Old World Europe, and those who love history, food and wine, architecture, music, and diverse cultures will want to join this cruise along the Danube.

See below for Passau to Budapest direction.

See above for Budapest to Passau direction.