During our overall trip planning for 2025, we decided to do a river cruise starting in Amsterdam and concluding in Budapest. Our goal for this post, is to cover the 2 week cruise as condensed appetisers of the various destinations and events along the way.
There was a special reason for undertaking the cruise and that will be shared near the end of the post and the intent is to keep everything as succinct as possible and let photos do more of the ‘talking’.
To get started, below is the route we took covering our cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Budapest, Hungary.
 |
| The route shows the main cities visited and country borders crossed and the cyan colours show the ship route and red sections show where buses were used to visit specific cities and return to the ship |
Amsterdam
We flew into Amsterdam from Tallinn and found our way to our accommodation for 1 night, an old hotel located off a cobblestone road in the old quarter of Amsterdam and overlooking one of the many canals.
 |
| Amsterdam is a city of canals and buildings overlooking them |
We had been to Amsterdam before, but still took ourselves off re-investigating the city with its many large very ornate buildings, most of which were well illuminated with Christmas decorations. We were surprised by the number of tourists roaming the streets and the amount of rubbish also.
 |
| Some of the Christmas decorations in the streets of Amsterdam |
Didn’t take long to be reminded to watch out for people riding bikes everywhere after nearly being taken out by some, our fault not theirs when you step out onto a bike lane without looking. There were some very compact ‘cars’ chained to fences that are the same length as a bicycle.
 |
| Lots of bicycles and canals |
 |
| A 'micro' car chained to a fence like a bicycle |
Next day we were collected and taken to our ship, the Vega where we would spend a night moored and met some of our fellow cruise travellers and the following morning were all taken on a glass top canal boat cruise around the canals.
 |
| Glass top canal boat taking tourists like us around the canals of Amsterdam |
The commentary was very informative and helped explain why Amsterdam has so many old and large buildings. The city was not really bombed during WWII.
 |
| There are many large ornate buildings in Amsterdam |
Learnt about the canals being dug by hand so the original marshy land recovered for building the city on drier land and for trade on the canals to flourish. There is still a lot of moisture in the land as evident by the lean on numerous older buildings.
 |
| It was very easy to find leaning buildings |
During the canal cruise we saw how they use bubble curtain systems within the canals to collect and push plastics into specific areas of the canals to be collected and removed… clever.
It is an expensive city to live in with rental prices of €2,000 per month for a 100 square metre apartment and a hard city to get around in with its narrow roads and lack of car parking, hence all the bikes.
 |
| Where there are canals there are all sorts of bridges |
Our ship had left the port of Amsterdam while we were on the tour and after visiting a windmill built in 1763 and now used as a home, our bus arrived in Utrecht where we re-boarded the ship and cruised smoothly down a canal heading towards Germany and the Rhine River.
 |
| There are still some remaining windmills near Amsterdam |
Just very quickly about the ship we cruised on! The company we used is called Travel Marvel, the baby sister of APT, an Australian company. They built and own the ships and here are a few fun facts:
- its 133 metres long and 12 metres wide
- has 4 decks, 3 with cabins
- max. of 183 guests and our cruise had 122 guests and 44 crew
- free wifi, very good food and wine & beer included with lunch and dinner.
- there were included tours offered and a few optional tours
- the ship would transit at least 68 locks during the voyage
 |
| Our ship Vega we cruised on |
 |
| The lounge/bar area on the Vega |
 |
| The bedroom was comfortable |
 |
| The ship also had country based food tastings, in this case Germany |
Many of the cities we visited during the cruise have either ‘burg’ or ‘berg’ at the end of their names. Those cities with ‘burg’ have a castle or fortress and those with ‘berg’ are towns located on a hill.
Cologne
After an overnight but peaceful cruise and with undoubtably multiple locks passed through, we arrived into Cologne, famous for its massive cathedral dominating the skyline. Our walking tour took us along the river and under a massive bridge which is claimed, carries up to 1,200 trains across it per day.
 |
| The 6 railway line Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne also adorned with thousands of 'love locks' |
 |
| The Cologne Cathedral is very dominant across the skyline |
 |
| The cathedral is visible from almost anywhere |
The walk was very informative and our guide describes other important buildings, the rules around beer brewing only being allowed 4 ingredients and their local brew which is top fermented, and if you order one, they will bring you a glass of beer and a coaster.
The servers will keep topping up your glass until you put the coaster atop it, then you’re charged for what you have consumed.
 |
| If you didn't want beer there was plenty of mulled wine |
The city has been around for ~2,000 yrs BUT like so many other cities, it was bombed during WWII and much had to be rebuilt. Their famous cathedral, was hit ‘slightly’ by stray bombs aimed at the nearby railway station but remained largely intact.
 |
| But it was not all about the cathedral as there are other things to see |
The cathedral, which took 600+yrs to finish building, receives over 20,000 visitors per day and it also home to the artefacts of the 3 wise men, whatever that really means, contained in a gold covered ornate box.
 |
| Inside the cathedral |
 |
| The gold box with the artefacts of the three wise men |
We were shown some rather quirky statues or figurines mounted on the sides of key buildings which may indicate a little of the local German culture.
 |
| Many of the buildings were highly decorated with very detailed statues |
 |
| Some building statues were a little more risqué |
They had 9 Christmas markets scattered throughout the city, one right next to the cathedral and another we visited as the sun was setting and again, these were different to others already experienced in other countries.
 |
| The Christmas markets near the cathedral |
 |
| The Christmas markets were also very busy |
 |
| One of the other Christmas markets |
 |
| The other Christmas markets which were also very busy but more intimate |
Rhine Gorge
After another overnight cruise, we reached the Rhine Gorge, a narrower section of the Rhine River with blind shipping corners. Being a gorge there are higher sides to it but still has enough space either side of the river for small villages and railway lines on both sides. A significant number of trains use these tracks.
The gorge is ~65 kms long from Koblenz to Bingen and we were provided with a list of 30 castles we might see, weather dependent.
 |
| The list of Castles in the Rhine Valley we may have been able to see |
The morning greeted us with quite dense fog at the start of the gorge which was met with a silent groan throughout the ship, but as we started through the gorge, the fog started to ‘dance’ by thinning out, wafting sort of away but then returning to invitingly mask the scenery in an enticing manner.
 |
| The first castle we could see in the Rhine Valley |
Not all castles unfortunately were visible, but those that were… were beautiful albeit many having been destroyed by the French during the 9 years war around 1689 and some later during the Napoleonic Wars.
 |
| Each castle had dominant positions and views over the river |
 |
| Some castles were very large |
 |
| During our cruise through the valley the sun tried to join us and the remaining fog |
The castles were historically owned by various German princes, archbishops and counts and often used as toll collection points or military strongholds and therefore very unpopular. Later, many became Prussian royal property and were restored or are now in private ownership.
 |
| It wasn't all castles as this is a church with pub attached to it... maybe a good way to increase attendance |
The fog made the ones we saw quite beautiful, as were many of the villages stretched out along the river banks.
 |
| Castle overlooking the village below |
 |
| There were other structures in the river itself |
Our day was completed with a visit to Rudensheim, a very small cute village also with a very quaint yet lively Christmas market. The village during the entire day was going to receive visits by 16 river cruise vessels, a surprising number.
 |
| Rudensheim had some nice architecture |
Part of our visit included a tour through a music museum, dating back to the 15th century, filled with amazing machines which played music, many hundreds of years old and very complicated. Some had little drums in them, some emulated small orchestras and included violins and pianos inside the cabinets. Incredible workmanship from a bygone era. Yes... there were also Christmas markets.
 |
| Some of the music machines were engineering works of art |
 |
| Well attended Christmas markets of Rudensheim |
Miltenberg
We awoke to having overnight left the Rhine River and now gliding along Main River, and its many locks to pass through, the fog gone and a cautious sunrise trying hard to claw its way through the clouds.
 |
| One of the easier locks we passed through |
This was a self guided walk so people bundled off the ship and headed any way they wished following the river towards the bridge.
 |
| The bridge stood out and was where the centre of Miltenberg was |
 |
| As we walked towards the city its 'style' became clearer |
 |
| It was quite a scenic walk along the rivers edge to the city centre |
Miltenberg is known as the ‘Pearl of the Main’ with its well-preserved timber-framed architecture and in the main square is a fountain dating back to the 16th century and equally, a mischievous fountain of 3 statues of younger boys doing what they are known to do.
 |
| A very down to earth fountain |
 |
| A city square showcasing the timber framed architecture |
We ventured past the small but quaint Christmas markets and strolled down the long main street towards the Hotel Zum Riesen, one of Germany’s oldest continuously operating inns, dating back to at least 1411 and likely going back to the 12th century. It has hosted Napoleon and Elvis Presley.
 |
| The lone central building is Hotel Zum Riesen and the beer was good! |
 |
| It was pleasant walking along the main street |
So it was a very relaxing afternoon enjoying the environment of a very nice little town during a very mild Friday afternoon.
Würzburg
We walked the city starting with the Würzburg Residence which is actually more like a palace for the Prince Bishop, spending time in its gardens before entering a small but unbelievably ornate chapel. The residence was used in an Orlando Bloom, 3 Musketeers movie to depict Versailles.
 |
| Yes... this is someone's home! |
 |
| Section of the garden around the back of the residence |
 |
| Part of the very ornate chapel in the Prince Bishop residence |
The city itself was typically German, neat with the obligatory churches, Catholic on one side and Lutheran the other of the river, with lions at either end of its 15th century Marienberg Bridge (1473). There is a competition of claims between the bridge in Prague and this one in Würzburg as to which is the oldest… they are both nice.
 |
| 'The' bridge in Wurzburg competing with the one in Prague |
 |
| Section of the shopping centre of Wurzburg |
There were of course Christmas markets underway, small and also very neat and decorations were hung up above the small roads off the main street.
 |
| Part of the Christmas market in the main city square |
On the opposite side of the Main River sitting higher on a hill is the Marienberg Fortress in a very dominant position overlooking the city. Looked quite the spectacle during both day and then at night when we departed.
 |
| Marienberg Fortress by day... |
 |
| ...and by night as we departed |
Rothenburg
After an hours bus drive we arrived for our walking tour through Rothenburg, a very well preserved medieval town, known for its half timbered houses and location on a section of the ‘Romantic Road’ through Germany.
 |
| Some of the classic timber house architecture in Rothenburg |
Rothenburg is a walled city and we walked a section of the ancient wall before descending back down into the hordes of people who were also enchanted by the nature of this city and its, yes, you guessed, Christmas markets.
 |
| Walking along the wall around Rothenburg |
 |
| Rothenburg truly is a beautiful city to explore |
 |
| Now did we say Rothenburg is popular with visitors |
We spent a few hours here simply wandering throughout many of the back streets looking at the old houses before rejoining the crowds, especially as it was a Saturday, shuffling down more main streets, covered in all sorts of decorations, including in the shop windows.
 |
| We walked out through one of the gates in the wall |
 |
| A very attractive city to visit |
Don’t get us wrong, we did enjoy it and we relaxed on the bus trip back to the boat for those of us interested, by the sale and consumption of schnapps, local wine and beer, a small side business of the bus driver. Only in Germany we all guessed.
Bamberg
So by now the routine is to do some sort of tour through each city and this one started with our guide walking us down along the river in the city of the 7 hills, each with some sort of church on it.
 |
| To reach the city we walked along the river |
Bamberg whilst it did suffer from some allied bombing was left relatively unscathed, but Jews did endure the wars impacts.
We made our way along the cobblestone paths to the Bishop Prince ’residence’, yet another massive home befitting a person who had power over both the religious elements and those of royalty for the area. Part of the residence included what was described as large farmhouses… yep, big!
 |
| The Prince Bishop's residence in Bamberg |
As we made our way down to the centre of town we were shown and had explained, ‘stumble blocks’ or brass blocks with an individual name engraved on them, carefully placed amongst the cobblestones in front of a house. Each stumble block signified a Jew, taken from the house and eventually executed.
 |
| These are stumble blocks and the people who were killed in WWII |
The children in Bamberg are allocated a stumble block to research the history of, care for and ensure is okay in the event the cobblestones around it are repaired. It is done to ensure the younger generation is aware of Germany’s sad history.
Bamberg has a much photographed and fabulous bridge, so we added to the photographic ‘collection’, including the other buildings nearby, one of which with artwork on its wall and a sculptured leg poking out of it placed there by the artist.
 |
| The famous and much photographed bridge in Bamberg |
 |
| Plenty of old buildings in Bamberg |
With early sunsets now, we managed to roam through yet another Christmas market and more colourful displays before concluding the night by tasting Bamberg’s famous ‘Rauchbier’, a smokey smelling and tasting beer with a hint of bacon taste.
 |
| The Christmas markets in Bamberg |
 |
| Standing outside a pub in Bamberg trying their local smokey bacon tasting beer |
Nuremberg
Nuremberg was the 2nd most bombed city in Germany next to Dresden and the primary reason was MAN, a manufacturer of engines to this day. MAN made engines for tanks, submarines, trucks and many other war machines, so the allies went after it.
Nuremberg was also the home of the infamous mass rallies held by Hilter due to it being a central location in Bavaria, railways could reach from all over Germany and that is where we started our tour.
 |
| This is what remains of the site where Hitler's mass rallies were held captured in historical films |
We also drove past the Palace of Justice where court cases are still held, but was the location for the now famous prosecutions of many Nazis who were subsequently executed.
 |
| The Palace of Justice where Nazi's like Hermann Goring were tried and convicted |
Nuremberg was a medieval walled city dating back to the 1200s, originally with 183 towers adding to it protection and now, 71 of them remain and we saw a few of them as walked up to the castle which was very large. Some of it wasn’t destroyed which was nice.
 |
| Section of the original wall of Nuremberg and a tower |
 |
| Gate entering the castle in Nuremberg |
 |
| Inside part of the Nuremberg castle grounds |
Again there was a Christmas market and a very active one with 2 major attractions contained within the area, a replica of the Schöne Brunnen fountain, the original now stored in a museum. It stands 19 metres tall and the original was created in 1385.
 |
| The replica of the Schone Brunnen fountain |
 |
| Small section of Christmas markets and the 'Church of our Lady' in the background |
Then there is the Glockenspiel, which translates to "play of bells" and usually refers to a percussion instrument with metal bars and moving figures. It chimes once a day at noon so we stood there with thousands of others and freezing hands, videoing the spectacle.
 |
| The Glockenspiel in action at midday |
It is constructed into the ‘Church of our Lady’ and has been playing since the 1500s with part of its display celebrating the end of the plague.
 |
| A quieter and more peaceful part of Nuremberg |
Nuremberg whilst interesting to visit and with very dark clouds overhead, was not one of the prettiest cities we visited, but maybe its dark history and the Bondi shooting having just happened, adding to our mood of it.
Regensburg
Regensburg is a well preserved medieval city containing an arched bridge built during the 12th century located not very far from what remains of a Roman gate dating back to 179 AD.
 |
| Walking from the ship to the city and the ancient bridge |
 |
| Small remaining part of a Roman wall in Regensburg |
The city is designated ‘burg’ because of St Peter’s Cathedral which houses the world’s largest hanging organ… a modern addition.
 |
| St Peter's Cathedral |
 |
| First for us... a hanging organ |
Our walking tour left us with the impression of a city having an Italian feel due to its very narrow alleys and style of some of its architecture.
 |
| Looking back towards the bridge from the city |
 |
| Throughout Regensburg were tall narrow towers built more for a show of wealth and Italian in feel |
 |
| More Christmas markets with yet another tower |
One of its claims to fame is an ancient small green building from 1140 near the bridge which started serving food to the bridge workers and is now serving very small sausages with sauerkraut and sweet mustard to tourists.
 |
| This green building built in 1140 AD still serves its small sausages |
Cesky Krumlov
After docking in Passau, two optional tours were on offer and we chose to go to Cesky Krumlov, a small medieval town in the Czech Republic rather than visiting Salzburg.
The bus trip through the countryside to Cresky was very pleasant, but when we reached our destination and made the walk uphill to the castle…WOW! This is a true medieval town built in 3 areas within the bends of the Vltava River.
 |
| This is simply to show the layout of Cesky Krumlov from above which will help explain some of the photos to follow |
The castle is massive and with some very impressive decorations and supporting structures and from its ramparts we got great views down to the city.
 |
| This is a viaduct style walkway from one part of the castle to another to try and show the scale of it |
 |
| Quite a view from the castle and the way the river curves throughout the city is very evident |
 |
| Inside a very small part of the ornate castle grounds above the city |
No matter where we walked, what little lane or road we walked down, there was something fascinating to see and a very colourful tower constantly dominated the skyline.
 |
| A little of what you see walking through the city |
 |
| Around every corner there was something beautiful to look at |
 |
| That tower was very prominent |
There was a very small market in the main square but there were other decorations highlighting the Christmas season scattered throughout the city and some of the views from the multiple bridges up to the castle or various towers were impressive.
 |
| The Christmas markets in the main square |
 |
| Down a small lane were even more decorations |
Cesky Krumlov was certainly one of the highlights of our river cruise!
Melk
We have now travelled into Austria along the Danube River having left Linz where the ship was waiting after visiting Cesky Krumlov.
 |
| We had a quick look at the Linz Christmas decorations before the ship departed |
The main reason for stopping in Melk, a very small town, was to visit the very impressive and yellow Melk Abbey, built in 1089 in the baroque style and virtually untouched, apart from renovations over that time.
 |
| The main entrance into the grounds of Melk Abbey |
 |
| After the main entrance we were then greeted with this view |
 |
| To finish the big views of Melk Abbey we then saw this at the back of it |
We had a 1.5hr tour through much of the Abbey where 21 monks currently live, but other visitors have included Marie Antoinette, Napoleon and when the Nazis set themselves up in the Abbey.
 |
| Walking through the extensive Abbey |
There is a library of 80,000 books, very old paintings and many other really old artefacts within its museum but when we walked into the church… OMG!
Photos were not allowed anywhere inside the Abbey so any photos shown had to be obtained off the internet with all credit going to those sources.
 |
| Not our photo - this is inside the church of Melk Abbey |
 |
| There is a town of Melk and this is a view of it from the Abbey |
 |
| View of the Melk Abbey as we walked back to the ship |
Dürnstein
Dürnstein is another Austrian medieval town in the Wachau Valley and whilst a quaint little town has 3 main claims to fame: a castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned from 1192-1193 which we also couldn’t see due to fog, vineyards in the valley we couldn’t see due to fog and a beautiful blue abbey we could see but couldn’t get into.
 |
| Cruising towards Durnstein and its blue Abbey |
 |
| Durnstein's blue Abbey |
 |
| We found the door to the Abbey BUT couldn't go in |
We did manage to see blended into the fog, some other castles or very old buildings.
 |
| The streets of Durnstein were quaint and quiet |
 |
| A small cemetery we found |
It was a still a nice little town to walk through, very quiet and interesting, including finding a small cemetery to quietly walk through on the way back to the ship.
Wien or Vienna
This is a city we have visited before but it did not distract from its beauty in the old town section specifically being so close to Christmas. It was very busy.
 |
| There are numerous large ornate buildings in Vienna |
Much of this part of the city is mainly original and contains some very prominent landmarks like: the gothic St Stephen’s Cathedral (circa 1578) we ventured into and highly ornate but dark, the Hofburg, the former residence of the powerful Habsburg dynasty and the Graben and Karntner Street a major pedestrian street with fountain, cafes and decorations.
 |
| St Stephen's Cathedral with Christmas markets in front of it |
 |
| Inside St Stephen's Cathedral |
 |
| Walking the main shopping street in Vienna with the decorations along its length |
Our walking tour took us to these and past so many highly ornate buildings before we broke off to meet part of our family who were visiting Wien on their way also through Europe.
 |
| The beauty of Vienna is constant |
 |
| Vienna is definitely very ornate |
 |
| Special time with daughter, son in law, grandchildren... and mulled wine |
We spent some special time with them visiting a few quite beautiful and one specially large Christmas Market(s) near the world famous Opera House and large Town Hall. Yes we had to try yet more mulled wine before returning to the ship.
 |
| Vienna Town Hall Christmas markets |
 |
| Christmas decorations at the markets |
 |
| Vienna's Opera House as seen from the Christmas markets |
Bratislava
Bratislava is in Slovakia, formerly part of the greater Czechoslovakia before it split up and another city visited 13 years ago. Out tour guide was a Slovak with an interesting sense of humour and quite often politically incorrect in some of her commentary which for us was good.
We visited the castle, we had not seen before but you can’t go into it, however in a central court yard there was a medieval market being staged, including a man running a merry go round turned manually with little kids in baskets.
 |
| The castle in Bratislava we walked around |
 |
| The medieval merry go round inside the castle court yard |
It is a medieval town located close to the border with Austria and Hungary and was first mentioned in the early 12th century. We focussed on walking through the old town which is a blend of modern and medieval buildings, some churches naturally, one of which we visited with the most beautiful roof called St martin’s Cathedral.
 |
| The roof is very decorative |
 |
| Ambling through Bratislava |
 |
| The city was quite busy |
Our visit included seeing where the first witch in Bratislava was killed and a bronze sculpture placed into the footpath at a corner called ‘peeping tom’.
 |
| The peeping tom of Bratislava |
Bratislava had changed since our last visit with more organised and with large Christmas markets and significantly more people enjoying this still interesting and now more vibrant city
 |
| There were multiple large and busy Christmas markets in Bratislava |
 |
| Yes... the food was good! |
Finally… The reason??
There had been a special reason we had chosen this particular cruise at this time of the year and part of it was undoubtably the collection of locations to be visited whilst on board for 13 days. Another part was the numerous Christmas markets we would visit but after awhile they did become less impactful.
The reason we decided to specifically do this river cruise at this time of the year was not just because of the plethora of beautiful Christmas markets we would see, but because it coincided with our 50th wedding anniversary on the 20th December which we quietly celebrated on the ship with new cruise generated friends.
 |
| We did share our 50th celebration with new friends |
Warning: because of the number of cities visited... there are quite a few photos!
CLICK HERE for more photos of River Cruise 2025
 |
| Arriving into Budapest |
 |
| Catching a train to the next stage of this looong trip |
The following morning we left the ship, one day early as it arrived into Budapest, in order to board a train taking us to our next destination into the alps, so with Christmas now well and truly upon us, what happens next, time and another post will tell!
