Itinerary
The classic Danubian cycle path by bike & boat
Passau – Vienna – Passau
8 days / 7 nights | Ship: Prinzessin Katharina | Individual bike tours
The bike tour along the German / Austrian Danube is a very special pleasure, because your “swimming hotel” is always with you! Gently downhill, you will cycle along lush green river banks, through small, dreamy villages in the impressive Danube landscapes. You will discover the breathtaking natural wonder of the “Great Loop” (a swift 180º turn!) and immerse yourself in legendary Wachau with its vineyard terraces and enchanted castles and monasteries. Then Vienna – an abundance of sights! A city, hardly to describe – you have to see and feel it! Sights like St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the city hall are easy to reach during a wonderful sightseeing tour by bike. A stroll through the Naschmarkt (famous food market) is a wonderful cultural and culinary adventure. You can also relax at any of the cosy coffee houses or at a typical traditional Viennese wine tavern in the suburbs. The highlights of the tour:
Passau, the City of 3 rivers, the Schloegen Danube Loop, the World Heritage Site Wachau, Upper Austria’s capital Linz, the cosmopolitan city Vienna with a plethora of sights.
Itinerary
Day 1: Passau – Engelhartszell
The Episcopal city close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of three Rivers." Boarding time is at approx. 4-5 pm, departure around 7 pm Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.
Day 2: Engelhartszell – Untermühl – „Great Loop“ – Linz (Cycling 35 km / 22 miles)
Need a boost? Try some of the special cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell. Supposedly, they have "special healing power." Downstream, the way leads you to pretty villages amid natural landscape. For a change take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180 degree turn (approx. € 3,- per pers.). Shipping from Untermühl to Linz. Tip: discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria while riding on the bright yellow City-Express.
Day 3: Linz – Mauthausen – Grein (Cycling 36–42 km / 22–26 miles)
In the early morning shipping to Mauthausen.
You have the possibility to visit the memorial-place KZ-Mauthausen. The Celtic town Mitterkirchen gives you an insight of the past. For easy cyclists the tour leads along the Danube, the alternative route, "Clam Castle," through the beautiful back country of the "Strudengau" is slightly hilly, but a fantastic landscape. Worth a visit in Grein: the impressive Castle of Greinburg.
Day 4: Grein – Melk – Tulln (Cycling 50 km / 31 miles)
Today's stage is marked by a diverse landscape. At the beginning, there is the Strudengau – a narrow point of the Danube which used to be notorious amongst skippers. The valley expands from Persenbeug and the bike tour leads you further to Melk with its gorgeous baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren. On deck, you enjoy the sunset and the beautiful evening illumination of the Wachau. Today's final destination is Tulln, famous for its numerous market gardens where the famous Art Nouveau artist Egon Schiele was born.
Day 5: Tulln – Vienna-Nussdorf / (Korneuburg may also be possible) (Cycling 35 km / 22 miles)
Right in front of Vienna's entrance, embedded in a breathtaking landscape, the monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated. You can already see the cupola of this 900 year old baroque building from a distance. "Kahlenbergerdorf" with it's wine taverns is definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna.
Day 6: Vienna – Nussdorf / Korneuburg (day of rest)
You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephens Cathedral and the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House or the town hall that takes you back to the past. Take your time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars.
In the night shipping to Dürnstein or Rossatz.
Day 7: Wachau – Pöchlarn (Cycling 39 km / 24 miles)
Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the evening farewell dinner and cocktail.
Day 8: Departure from Passau
Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take a last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Arrival is about 10 am, disembarkation half an hour later. We recommend to arrange connecting trips from noon onwards
Map

Ship MS Prinzessin Katharina
MS Prinzessin Katharina
The comfortable MS Prinzessin Katharina provides the right ambience to make you feel at ease. On board the premium ship you can expect classic elegance, a tasteful interior and a friendly crew. Enjoy the special atmosphere and let yourself be spoilt by the good cuisine. On two passenger decks you will find a panoramic restaurant, a comfortable salon, two bars and an inviting foyer, a book corner, a small shop and a hairdresser's salon. On the spacious, partly covered sun deck there are enough deck chairs available.
All 71 cabins are outside cabins and comfortably and tastefully furnished featuring en-suite facilities with shower/WC, hair dryer, air-conditioning, TV, on-board-radio, telephone and a small refrigerator.
Cabins
Upper deck: 29 two-bed cabins, 1 triple cabin und 2 single cabins; all cabins have approx. 11 m2 with French balcony (= floor-to-ceiling windows which can be opened). 2-bed cabins with a sofa bed and a pullman bed (stowed during the day for more comfort). In the triple cabin a 3rd bed is folded down from the wall (max. 80 kg).
Main deck: 38 two-bed cabins, 1 single cabin (all cabins have approx.
11 m2) with two sofa beds standing in a right angle and a picture window (not to open).
Technical Details:
Year of construction: 1990. Refurbishment: 2015. Registry: Malta. Length: 110 m. Width: 11,20 m. Draft: 1 m. Passengers: max. 140. Number of crew: 30.
Important remarks:
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, there may be restrictions on board. These are temporary, government-mandated restrictions that may vary regionally. For the safety of all persons present on board, you are obliged to wear a mouth and nose protector and to observe the rules of distance and hygiene. For this purpose, you will receive our ship-specific hygiene concept when booking/inquiring.
Embarkation: ca. 4 - 5 pm, disembarkation: ca. 10:30 am. • Bicycles on board: 7 gears unisex trekking bicycles with normal mount (ladies’ model) and 8 gears E-Bikes with normal mount (ladies’ model). Brand: Velo de Ville (special production for SE-Tours). Each with hand brake, coaster breaking hubs or freewheel hubs (subject to availability - please indicate as non-binding customer request when booking) and pannier bag. E-bikes are available after prior request and at limited number only.
Travel Dates & Prices 2021
Boat and Bike Cruise Passau – Vienna / MS Prinzessin Katharina
Travel Dates and Prices 2021 per Person
Please click at the travel data to open the request form.
Travel Dates
Prices 2021 per Person in €
S. 1
S. 2
S. 3
2-bed MD astern*
599,-
699,-
799,-
2-bed MD
699,-
799,-
899,-
single MD
999,-
1099,-
1199,-
Triple UD
699,-
799,-
899,-
2-bed UD
899,-
999,-
1099,-
single UD
1249,-
1349,-
1449,-
Season 1
Apr 24 + Oct 02
Season 2
May 08 + Sep 18
Season 3
May 22 - aug 28
*Cabins in front and at rear of the ship; perceptive engine and generator noise (when ship is in motion and in locks)
MD = Main Deck
UP = Upper Deck
Optional services / Notes
Cycle hire (7 gears)
75,- €
E-bike hire (on request)
165,- €
Supplement twin for single use
+50%
Parking (garage) in Passau, transfer included
79,- €
Parking space in Passau, transfer included
68,- €
- Child reduction: till 13 years 20% in a triple cabin with 2 adults
2-bed-cabin for single use (limited quantity): + 50%. - Minimum number of participants: 80
Services included
- 7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category
- Programme according itinerary from/to Passau
- All passenger fees and port fees
- Captains greeting and Welcome-Drink
- Daily cabin cleaning. Changing of towels and bed cloths as necessary.
- Full meals: 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board (non cyclists), 6x afternoon
coffee break, 6x 3-course-dinner and 1x farewell-dinner with farewell-drink
- On-board musician
- Daily informational meeting
- Information pack with route book (one per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Tour guide on board
Services not included: Journey to and from Passau, shuttles, bike rental, entrance fees and excursions, city maps, ferry fees, travel insurances, parking fees, tips, drinks on board
Profile
The bicycle tours are self-guided. The terrain is flat and a normal condition is sufficient. Subject to changes in the routes. Depending on the weather conditions, water levels and nautical-technical conditions, the captain has the right to change the route, even in the short term.
Bicycles
7 gears unisex trekking bicycles with normal mount (ladies’ model) and 8 gears E-Bikes with normal mount (ladies’ model). Brand: Velo de Ville. Each with hand brake, coaster breaking hubs or freewheel hubs (subject to availability - please indicate as non-binding customer request when booking) and pannier bag. E-bikes are available after prior request and at limited number only.
To bring your own bike: on request only – due to lack of space on sundeck
Travel safe and secure: we recommend to wear a bike helmet (compulsory use for helmets: In Austria for children till 12 years; in Slovakia for children till 15 years and for all cyclists outside built-up areas.). Onboard Selling: UVEX I-VO € 40.- per helmet, limited number.
Cycle tours
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour. The bike tours are individual, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and directions. All cycle tours can be classified as being easy. This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
Land excursions
We offer an optional (surcharge - not included in the tour price) excursion programme which can be booked directly on board at the cruise director only. Together with your travel documents you will get a brief description. Depending on the number of participants some excursions could be carried out in 2 languages (German/ English)
Routing/Program
Basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages by buses. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. The same applies for officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges. Please be aware that a cruise ship on the Danube is not only your hotel but also a machine, working with engine power also during the night. Especially crossing locks and bridges - and the preparation work - may cause noise. If you are sensitive please bring your own ear plugs.
Languages on board
German and English
Arrival and parking
You can park in a parking garage or on an enclosed outdoor area including transfer to the ship and back. A form for reservation you will receive with your travel documents.
This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.