Bike and ship in the Danube Valley 2023 & 24: Round trip Passau-Vienna with the MS Princess Katharina

Your trip

By bike and boat into the heart of the old Danube monarchy

… a very special experience, because your “floating hotel” is always with you!

Forests, rocks, castles and the warm hospitality of the people along the river await you on this tour. You always cycle along the river mainly on car-free cycle paths and cross it now and then on rustic ferries, massive weirs and historic bridges.

Slightly downhill you cycle through the impressive Danube landscape and discover the legendary Wachau.

And then Vienna – a firework of sights! A city that can hardly be described, that you simply have to experience! During a city tour by bike, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the City Hall or the Giant Ferris Wheel are within reach. At the Naschmarkt, a stroll through the market becomes a culinary experience. You can relax in the cozy coffee houses and quaint Heurigen in the suburbs.

Your ship: The Princess Catherine

On board the premium ship MS Prinzessin Katharina you can expect classic elegance, a friendly crew and dignified furnishings. Enjoy the special ambience and let yourself be spoiled by the good cuisine. Spread over two passenger decks are a panoramic restaurant, a cozy lounge, two bars and an inviting foyer.

A book corner, a small store and a massage parlor complete the offer. On the spacious, partially covered sun deck, there are plenty of sun loungers at your disposal.

Board language: German & English

Cabins

All 71 cabins are outside cabins and comfortably and tastefully furnished.

They have shower/WC, hairdryer, air conditioning, TV, on-board radio, telephone and a small refrigerator.

Upper deck

29 double, 1 triple and 2 single cabins; all approx. 11 sqm in size and with French balcony (= floor-to-ceiling windows to open).

Twin cabins with a sofa bed as well as a Pullman bed (stowed during the day for added comfort).

In the 3-bed cabin, a 3rd bed folds down from the wall (max. 80 kg).

Main deck

38 double cabins, 1 single cabin, all about 11 sq.m., two sofa beds (standing across the corner), panoramic windows (cannot be opened).

Technical data of the vessel

year of built: 1990, renovation: 2015, flag: Malta, length: 110 m, width: 11,2 m, draft: 1 m, passengers: max. 140, Crew: approx. 30.

Requirements

> The bike tours are individual and unguided.

> You will cover between 35 and 50 km per day (approximate distances of the recommended cycling tours)

The terrain is mostly flat, has hardly any inclines and is suitable for pleasure cyclists, beginners and children. Should you wish to take a rest, you are welcome to cover individual daily stages by boat.

The trip is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. Please contact us for detailed information if needed.

Rental bicycles

7-speed unisex touring bikes or 8-speed e-bikes (limited availability), Velo de Ville brand (custom made).

Each with handbrake, freewheel or coaster brake (please specify as non-binding customer request when booking)

Equipped with luggage carrier bag; incl. Rental bike insurance

Own bikes

Bringing your own bikes is only possible on request due to limited space. Please be sure to book the option“own bike” with!

You take them with you at your own risk. We cannot be held liable for any damage/loss etc. to your own bike during the entire bike trip or for transport damage. Neither on board nor on land.

For your own safety, we recommend that you always wear a bicycle helmet on all bicycle tours. Helmets are compulsory in Austria for children under the age of 12.

Arrival / Parking in Passau

> Parking lot (fenced outdoor area) incl. Shuttle service to the ship and back: about € 90,- / week. Please be sure to book the option“Parking” with!

> Parking garage incl. Shuttle service to the ship and back: about € 100,- / week. Please be sure to book the option“Prakgarage” with!

You will receive a registration form in your travel documents and can pay on the spot. The prices may differ from the orientation values given here.

Short overview arrival & departure times

Please note:

Timetables and programs are subject to change without notice. If, for example, a route cannot be sailed due to low water, high water or bad weather, the skipper reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this is not a free reason for cancellation). The same applies to lock and/or bridge repairs ordered by the authorities and not announced in advance. Please also keep in mind that your riverboat is on the one hand your “vacation hotel”, but on the other hand it is also a piece of working equipment that moves with engine power and has to be operated constantly, even at night (partly with lock and bridge passages). We recommend that guests who are particularly sensitive to noise bring earplugs. The lock passages are associated with disruptions – this is the case with all Danube cruises – and unfortunately cannot be changed.

Trips

Integrated in the bike tour program we offer you optionally a small excursion program. Please book and pay your participation directly on board. You will receive a brief description with your travel documents. Depending on the composition of the participants, the excursions may be offered bilingually German-English.

Country information

For information on travel advice and entry requirements to Austria, please see our Country Information page. Please also see our notes on package tours.