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Premium Blue Danube tour of Germany & Austria

September 09 - 16 / 2023

Departure date: 09 september 2023
Average biking distance per day 30 to 60 km

Highlights

One of the newest tours Merlijn offers, the only small-scale Bike & Barge cruise on the Blue Danube!

Bike, Barge and Cruise along the famous Blue Danube. Immerse yourself in Austrian culture, and enjoy all this country has to offer. Take the classic ‘Donau Radweg’ cycle route along the River Danube in the north of Austria. Sample traditional Austrian cuisine by stopping at local bakeries and enjoying an evening dinner. A good mix of cycling and cruising allows you to enjoy the Blue Danube to the full. With a healthy love of cycling, any level of cyclist can undertake this journey, as we offer a variety of routes almost every day. Enjoy included excursions such as a guided tour of the blockbuster Abbey of Melk, and a tasting session of local wines in the Wachau area.

Would you like to stay on board and travel longer on the Merlijn? This is an excellent trip to combine with the successive Passau - Nürnberg Bike & Barge cruise> This combination means your tour will run from Vienna to Nürnberg.

Premium Blue Danube tour of Germany & Austria
Departure port: Vienna Destination: Passau Travel time: 8 days Countries: Austria, Germany Average biking distance per day: 30 to 60 km
Bike, Barge and Cruise along the famous Blue Danube. Immerse yourself in Austrian culture. A good mix of cycling and cruising allows you to enjoy the Blue Danube to the full.
€ 1.740,- p.p.

Day-to-day itinerary

Day 1: Vienna – Korneuburg

Check in: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM. 4:30 PM, Merlijn will set sail for Korneuburg. We’ll present you with a welcome drink and introduce the crew. We will also provide information on the tour and the ship, and offer you a safety briefing. After you’ve got familiar with the ship, your dinner will be served, and following your meal, you can take a stroll or enjoy a relaxing evening in the cosy lounge.

We heartily recommend spending a few days in Vienna prior to joining the ship. Baroque streetscapes and imperial palaces set the stage for Vienna's artistic and musical masterpieces, alongside its coffee house culture and vibrant epicurean and creative scene. Don’t forget to eat a traditional ‘Sacher Torte’ during your stay. A day trip to the Slovakian city of Bratislava is also within close range, and is certain to make your cultural heart beat faster.

Day 2: Korneuburg – Tulln. Bike tour: approx. 34 km - or shorten to 25 km
Day 3: Tulln – Rossatz. Bike tour: approx. 52 km
Day 4: Rossatz – Marbach. Bike tour: approx. 48 km
Day 5: Marbach – Grein. Bike tour: approx. 37 km - or extend to 54 km
Day 6: Grein – Mauthausen – Linz. Bike tour: approx. 32 km + 5 km optional
Day 7: Linz – Brandstatt – Schlögen – Obernzell – Passau. Bike tour: approx. 37 km - or extend to 55 km
Day 8: Passau
  • Please note that Passau is a very busy cruise port. We may not dock in Passau itself but may have to divert to the first available berth outside Passau.

 

Your bike & barge cruise will include:

  • 7 nights on board Merlijn
  • welcome drink
  • daily cleaning of your cabin
  • supply of bedding, towels, facial tissues, hand soap, soap, shampoo, sewing kit, vanity kit, bathrobe & slippers.
  • culinary care: 7 x breakfast buffets, 6 x packed lunches and 6 x 3-course dinners
  • coffee, tea and iced water
  • services of a tour guide
  • daily information about the trip of the next day
  • use of 27-speed bicycle, including a waterproof pannier, towel and universal helmet
  • we will provide you with your own water bottle
  • GPS-tracks on most routes
  • canal, bridge & harbour fees.
  • all ferry fares en route
  • entrance to Schloss Greinburg
  • wine tasting session with local wines
  • entrance and guided tour at Stift Melk

 

Your bike & barge cruise does not include:

  • 1 x dinner
  • drinks other than those mentioned
  • inbound and outbound journey
  • city maps (though a few are available on board)
  • bike maps
  • insurance
  • gratuities

 

For your comfort, we rent out electric bikes at € 30 each per day, reservations in advance are advisable.

 

The general terms and conditions of Merlijn de magie van water B.V. apply to all bookings, offers and agreements. Please find them on our website under ‘Terms & Conditions’.

Merlijn complies the General Data Protection Regulation to protect your privacy. Please find them on our website under ‘Privacy statement’.

We reserve the right to modify schedule and/or program. If (part of) the route is not navigable due to weather conditions and/or other nautical reasons and/or is closed off due to circumstances and/or for safety reasons, the operator and/or the captain has the right to change the schedule. This includes changing the location of departure and/or arrival and temporarily suspending departure. Nautical and/or meteorological reasons are understood to mean, among others, weather conditions, the tide, obstruction of waterways/shipping lanes, and the condition of the ship. Closed off due to circumstances and/or safety reasons are understood to mean, among others, terrorism, diseases, natural disasters. Changes in schedule and/or program do not give the customer the right on free cancellation.

 

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Nancy/Frouard to Koblenz

October 23 - 30 / 2021
Twenty-four members of the Space Coast Ski & Travel Club just finished a 3 Country cruise on the Saar and Moselle Rivers. I was the Trip Leader and the tour exceeded all my expectations! The boat was immaculate, comfortable and well-equipped. Coen, the Captain, and his crew were wonderful and welcoming. All of Capt. Christina\'s meals were delicious in their beautiful new dining lounge. Daniela and Clara really took great care of our group. The bike guide, Ilsa, led us on beautiful trails along the rivers stopping for photo ops and breaks. At the end of the biking day, she then led us on hikes through the villages where we docked and told us the history of each area. It was very enlightening. I highly recommend the Merlijn for anyone looking for a delightful Bike & Barge Tour!