When: March 9-16, 2026
Where: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary
Trip Status: Full, with a waitlist. Sign up to receive a text notification when spots come available.
Join us on our 7-night cruise on the Upper Danube, beginning in the Black Forest and traveling through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. We’ll visit the three regal capitals of Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest and enjoy these highlights along the way:
- Full-Day Salzburg “Sound of Music” excursion, including a tour of the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, and the Old Market. We’ll also stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed.
- Scenic cruising through Strudengau and UNESCO Wachau Valley
- Tour of Passau, the “City of Three Rivers”
- Tour of Dürnstein and visit to Melk Abbey
- Tour of Vienna, including the majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace, and the historic city center, with a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
- Tour of Bratislava, the “Coronation City”
- Tour of Budapest, visiting both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the river, the 19th-century Chain Bridge, which connects the Buda district with Pest; and the UNESCO-designated Castle Hill district
- A selection of food and wine tastings during the cruise
- A selection of hikes and bike tours
- Ports have multiple excursion options to choose from (all included in the price), so you can personalize your experience.
A cell phone and international data plan for one adult in your party is required for the duration of the trip. Dates and itineraries for 2026 are still being finalized, but this is what we’re planning so far. This trip is recommended for ages 7 and up.
*NOTE: We’re adding a second cruise on the Lower Danube through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, increasing to 14 nights for a “Grand Danube” adventure! (Families doing both cruises will have extra excursions on our “transition day” from the first cruise to the second.)
Cabins, Cost, and What’s Included
We have a private charter, so our group will be the only travelers on board. Our cruise fare is deeply discounted and includes almost everything outside of flights and airport transfers.
Cabins have two twins or one queen bed (your choice of configuration) and are meant for two people. We have a limited number of triple cabins with sleeper chairs that will accommodate a third person. (Register early for triple cabins – they usually go fast.)
One person in each cabin must be at least 18 or older. (Age is determined as of the day we embark.)
Cabins are on three decks:
- Lowest cabin deck is mostly below the waterline, except for windows.
- Middle cabin deck sits above the waterline.
- Highest cabin deck is higher above the waterline.
French balconies are similar to a regular balcony, but the space is inside your room. When the patio doors (floor-to-ceiling windows) are closed, it’s an indoor sitting area with a full view. When you slide the doors open, it’s like a balcony, but you can’t step out (there’s a railing there to keep you from falling into the river). There isn’t a separate outdoor space.
Twin balcony cabins have a French balcony as described above, plus a separate outside balcony.
PRICES ARE PER CABIN, NOT PER PERSON
Category E – Lowest cabin deck, 170 sq ft
No balcony, windows are smaller and don’t open, closer to crew cabins
1 person: $3,202
2 people: $3,590
Category D – Lowest cabin deck, 170 sq ft
Same as Category E with fixed windows, but cabins are a little farther from crew cabins
1 person: $3,472
2 people: $3,860
Category C – Middle & highest decks, 170 sq ft, some single cabins
Same size as previous categories but has a French balcony, at the end of the deck on both levels
1 person: $4,462
2 people: $4,850
Category BB – Middle cabin deck, 210 sq ft
Larger than previous categories and has twin balconies
2 people: $5,390
Category BA – Highest cabin deck, 210 sq ft
Same as Category BB with twin balconies, but cabins are on the highest deck
2 people: $5,570
Category AB – Middle cabin deck, 235 sq ft
Larger than previous categories and has twin balconies, some cabins have a twin-size sleeper chair to accommodate a third person (no triples left)
2 people: $5,750
3 people: $8,626
Category AA – Highest cabin deck, 235 sq ft
Same as Category AB cabins with twin balconies, but on the highest deck, some cabins have a twin-size sleeper chair to accommodate a third person (no triples left)
2 people: $5,930
3 people: $8,896
Suite – Highest cabin deck, 350 sq ft
Largest cabin, highest deck, larger sitting area
2 people: $7,100
3 people: $10,650
Your cruise fare includes all excursions and site admissions on our cruise itinerary, port charges, and gratuity for ship staff/crew. (Tips for local guides are at your discretion.)
All meals are included – breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, desserts, snacks, sandwiches, and multi-course dinners. Drinks include sparkling wine and juices for breakfast, regional wines, beer, and soft drinks for lunch and dinner, with cappuccino, latte and espresso available upon request. Coffee, tea, and water are available all day, and bottled water is provided in the cabins.
Your cruise fare doesn’t include airfare, airport transfers, any extra tours or excursions you do on your own, any meals while off the ship, trip insurance, and any optional pre- and/or post-cruise extensions (if we add any).
Payment Schedule, Cancellation, and No-Refund Policy
A registration fee of $100 per-person (non-refundable) is required when you submit your registration. This fee is separate from your cruise fare. If I can’t accommodate one of your cabin category choices, this fee will be returned.
Half of your cruise fare is due within 7 days of my confirmation of your spots. I can’t hold spots after 7 days. The remaining balance is due by July 31, 2024.*
*NOTE: I need full payment in advance because this a deeply discounted custom cruise with unforgiving contract terms. The contract must be signed a year or more in advance, and once signed, I’m responsible for paying for the entire ship, regardless of whether all cabins are filled or not. This is also why I can’t refund any payments for any reason (medical, job lay-off, death in the family, anything). Your cabin/spots aren’t transferable.
Please make sure you understand and agree with this before you register – no refunds, no matter what. I can’t afford to pay for empty spots. Your signed registration form and payment acknowledges your understanding and agreement with my no-refund policy. Spots/cabins are non-transferable.
I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers through your bank (if your bank allows you to transfer the full amount – no split payments).
I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, anything that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
Travel insurance that covers your expenses if you cancel the trip is highly recommended. Thoroughly research policies to understand the reasons you can cancel, and make sure it covers emergencies and any unforeseen circumstances such as sickness, death of a loved one, and acts of God (natural disasters, etc.). Pandemics and civil unrest usually aren’t covered, so make sure you check carefully.
Food Allergies, Special Needs
Make sure you list any food allergies or other special needs on your registration form. I’ll check to see if your needs can be accommodated before I confirm your registration. (No refunds or special accommodations can be made due to allergies or other special needs if you don’t tell me about them when you register.)
Transportation
Airfare and transfers to and from the airport are not included in the price. Don’t purchase non-refundable airfare until the trip is confirmed. Airlines have their own refund policies and I have no control over them. I’ll email flight recommendations and more details after the cruise is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this trip still open? Are any spots left? Will you have a waitlist? Is it first come, first serve.
I’ll update this page if we run out of spots. I can’t answer “do you have spots left” questions because I receive registrations throughout the day. What’s available when I get your email may not be available five minutes later.
Waitlists are based on a lottery system (not first come, first serve). Notifications go to everyone who signed up, and everyone has an equal chance of getting spots, regardless of when they sign up.
When the cancellation period for a trip closes, the waitlist also closes since we can no longer replace spots.
To increase your chance of getting spots on my waitlist “lottery,” make sure to follow the instructions in the text you receive and provide the requested information.
Is the price per person?
It’s per cabin, not per person. For example, a Category E cabin is $3,590 total for two people, not $3,590 each.
This is a lot of money to send to someone I don’t know, especially so far in advance and with no refunds. Can you provide references?
I could provide references from families who’ve traveled with me since I began doing these trips in 2006, but references can be faked.
Instead, read my About page to find out more about us, then do a search of “Carolina Homeschooler trips” and “Traveling Homeschooler trips.” If I’ve cheated anyone, it’ll be all over the internet.
My “Traveling Homeschoolers” name is newer, created in 2016 to differentiate between my local member trips, and trips that are open to everyone, so search both names.
You can also get a sense of who I am and what I do if you follow me on Facebook and read the pinned Featured Post at the top, plus the comments and feedback from over 40,000 followers.
It’s too stressful to send money if you don’t trust me. Please research before you register and pay.
Can you tell me more about the second cruise, extending our trip to 14 nights?
The Danube is a long river, so we’re starting with the Upper Danube (Germany to Hungary). We’ve filled all cabins, so we’re adding the Lower Danube cruise, sailing from Hungary to Romania, making it a glorious 14-night adventure!
Families on the Upper Danube will have first choice of cabins on the second cruise so they won’t have to change cabins mid-way.
Families can choose to do one or both cruises. Families doing both cruises will have extra excursions on our “transition day” from the first cruise to the second.
I’ve never been on a river cruise before. Can you give me an idea of what the ship is like, activities, etc.?
The ship may change (since it’s 2 years out), but most river cruise ships are similar – the top deck is open for viewing and hanging out with friends. The remaining decks are half cabins, half social areas (lounge, seating areas, restaurants, etc.).
The lower category (smaller and less expensive) cabins have fixed windows, while the higher category (larger and more expensive) cabins have French balconies or twin balconies.
Rooms have two twins or 1 queen (they hook the twins together to make the queen). Some rooms have a chair that transforms into a sleeper for an additional person.
You don’t have to pay extra to get better food (like you do on ocean cruise ships) or pay extra for drink packages (soft drinks and adult beverages). You don’t have to pay extra for excursions, either. They’re all included in the price. Port charges and gratuity are also included in the price.
The focus of river cruising is on the places we visit, not the ship (the opposite of ocean cruises), so there aren’t a lot of planned ship activities during the day (because we’re out touring).
In the evenings, we enjoy socializing, playing games, and just spending time together. They also bring local entertainment (musicians, etc.) on board.
There’s plenty to do, but also time for parents and children to socialize and bond. And we did plenty of socializing on our first Danube and our recent Rhine cruises.
Does the description list everything we’ll be doing?
We usually have a choice of tours each day, so you’ll have a lot of options – tours, walks, hikes, bike rides, etc. However, I’ve listed some highlights of what to expect. (The itineraries for 2026 are subject to change, but they should include the highlights I’ve listed.)
Will you add optional pre- and post-cruise extensions?
Since we’re adding a second cruise that extends our trip to 14 nights, I’m not planning any optional pre- or post-cruise extensions. If we can’t fill the second cruise, I will add pre- and/or post-trip extensions to the first cruise.
I have young children. Can we all share one room? I have a baby, toddler, preschooler – do they count in the price?
We can’t accommodate babies, toddlers, or preschoolers on this trip. It’s recommended for ages 7 and up, and everyone counts in the price. Most cabins are limited to two passengers, but we do have some triple cabins on this ship.
Should people with mobility issues go on this trip?
We’ll have “gentle walker” versions of most tours to accommodate travelers with mobility issues. There’s no elevator access to the lowest cabin deck (Category E and D cabins), or the top (open, non-cabin) deck. There’s very limited access for guests confined to wheelchairs.
Describe your issues in the “special needs” section of the registration form and I’ll make sure we can accommodate your issues before I confirm your spots.
What cities will we fly into and out of?
I’ll provide more flight information when I confirm the trip. Please don’t book your flights until I confirm and send you more details.
What payment methods do you accept?
The non-refundable $100 registration fee must be paid by credit/debit card when you submit your registration. It’s separate from your cruise fare.
For your cruise fare, I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers (if your bank offers that, and if they allow you to transfer the whole amount in one transfer – no split payments).
I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, any payment method that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
What are the health requirements for this cruise? Are vaccinations or masks required?
We don’t know what health requirements will be in place for 2026. Even if we did, requirements could change even a week or two before our cruise. Only register if you’re willing to accept whatever requirements are in place when we travel.
Want to join us?
- Full, with a waitlist. Sign up to receive a text notification when spots come available.
- If you don’t receive a confirmation with payment information within 5 days, please email me.
- Half of your cruise fare is due within 7 days of receiving my confirmation of your spots. The remaining balance is due by July 31, 2024. (Your registration fee is charged upon submission of this form and is separate from your cruise fare.)
- And that’s it! Email me if you have any questions.