The Blue Danube River Cruise - MS William Wordsworth

The Blue Danube River Cruise - MS William Wordsworth

Ref: RIVIERA103122
Departure Friday, 24 October 2025
Return Friday, 31 October 2025
Duration 7
Ship MS William Wordsworth
Price From:
£1899 per person
Cruise line Riviera Travel

Itinerary details

Arrives on: Friday, 24 October 2025
Location: Budapest - Hungary
Programme: Arrival in Budapest - On arrival, a coach will take you to your cruise ship. The dedicated crew are there to welcome you on board, ensuring you settle in and familiarise yourself with this first-class floating hotel.There’s always a sense of expectancy and excitement on the eve of a cruise and, after an excellent dinner in the stylish restaurant, conversation is sure to revolve around the delights ahead.
Arrives on: Saturday, 25 October 2025
Location: Esztergom - Hungary
Programme: Esztergom - Overnight we have cruised upstream to Esztergom, one of Hungary’s oldest towns, a royal capital during medieval times and today the seat of the country’s archbishop. We have a guided tour of the famous neoclassical basilica, standing sentinel over the Danube on the border with Slovakia, and boasting one of the world’s largest altarpieces and a wealth of priceless religious artefacts.The castle is also worth exploring; it was the seat of government until the Ottomans invaded in the 16th century. Nestling below are myriad atmospheric churches resonating with the enchanting sounds of choir; this is the best of provincial Hungary and is little changed since Habsburg times.As you enjoy your first lunch on board we gently leave Esztergom in our wake, affording a fascinating opportunity to compare the different landscapes, towns and villages of Hungary on one riverbank and of Slovakia on the other.
Arrives on: Sunday, 26 October 2025
Location: Bratislava - Slovakia
Programme: Bratislava - This morning we explore Slovakia’s fast-emerging capital city, Bratislava, on a guided tour. Until recently swathed in the drab uniformity of Communism, the city has rekindled the splendour of its imperial past in its beautifully restored Old Town. Equally impressive is the imposing 17th-century castle commanding expansive views across the Danube.This afternoon we cruise into Lower Austria, a peaceful, bucolic region and home to some of the country’s best wines. By now the stresses of everyday life seem distant as you absorb the ever-changing scenes, we pass children playing on the riverbanks, young couples strolling arm in arm like generations before them, vignerons carefully pruning their vines, and cobbled quaysides lined by half-timbered buildings.You’ll marvel as the Captain skilfully navigates the ship along the serene river and through locks whose mechanisms never cease to fascinate, as we cruise towards Dürnstein.
Arrives on: Monday, 27 October 2025
Location: Dürnstein - Austria
Programme: Dürnstein & Melk - Dürnstein is known principally for the ice-blue tower of its abbey, which dominates the view, and the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192 after being shipwrecked on his return from the crusades.This morning we take a guided walking tour to explore this memorable city further. Set on a rocky outcrop high above the river, the castle is now ruined, but it’s easy to imagine England’s legendary monarch seething with frustration far from home, while waiting for his family to raise funds to pay his ransom.After lunch you visit the remarkable Melk Abbey. Nothing quite prepares you for your first sight of this enormous honey-coloured building, standing resplendent above the surrounding countryside. Originally a castle, it was gifted to the Benedictine Order in the 11th-century and, although reconstructed in Baroque style during the 18th century, it has remained a monastic school and monastery ever since.The Abbey is renowned for its 214-yard-long Emperor’s Gallery lined with portraits, many fine rooms and an ornate library. After we re-join the ship, dinner is served during the final part of our cruise upstream through the pretty Nibelungengau, immortalised in the music of Wagner.
Arrives on: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Location: Linz - Austria
Programme: Salzburg or Linz - Reaching Linz, you will have the choice to stay in the city and take a guided walking tour, exploring its charming baroque old town. At its heart you’ll see one of the finest squares in Austria, lined by grand pastel-coloured facades with an impressive central Trinity Column of white marble, crowned by a gilded sunburst. There’s also the fortress-like castle, built high above the city by Emperor Friedrich III, now a museum housing a fine collection of nineteenth and twentieth-century artworks.Alternatively, we drive to Salzburg, once an independent state whose archbishops turned it into one of the most sophisticated cities north of the Alps. Dominating the skyline is one of Europe’s largest stone fortresses, the Hohensalzburg, while beneath its walls church domes and spires rise from the delightful Altstadt, or Old Town. Then there’s the wonderful Hellbrunn Palace and the splendid formal gardens of the Mirabell Palace – a must for horticulture fans.This morning, discover some of the city’s main sights in the company of an expert local guide, then you’re free to explore as you wish. Everywhere there are sights associated with the city’s most famous resident, Mozart, who played the harpsichord aged three, composed rudimentary music at five and wrote his first opera when he was 11!We return to the ship for another splendid dinner.
Arrives on: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Location: Vienna - Austria
Programme: Vienna - For many, today’s visit to Vienna will be one of the highlights of the cruise. The city’s very name provokes images of elegance, fine music, wide boulevards, Baroque architecture and a rich tapestry of peoples who were drawn here from all corners of Europe.For 200 years until the First World War, Vienna was the cultural centre of Europe and many of the showpiece buildings, galleries, aristocratic palaces and magnificent churches you see today were built to reflect its imperial status. The city’s most iconic monument is the breathtaking Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, whose striking multi-coloured roof and huge Gothic South Tower dominate the skyline.There’s also the colossal Hofburg, the former royal court that is now home to a collection of museums, the Crown Jewels and the Spanish Riding School, and where the Vienna Boys’ Choir performs. Then there are the lavish Imperial Apartments and an outstanding collection of relics of the Holy Roman Empire, including, allegedly, the sabre of Charlemagne himself. The Kunsthistorisches Museum, which contains the world’s fourth largest collection of paintings, is just across the road.This morning we have a tour with a local guide offering insights into why Vienna is one of Europe’s great capitals – the seat of the Habsburg emperors and home to some of the world’s finest classical composers, including Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and, of course, a whole family of Strausses.During the afternoon you’re free to explore as you wish. Take a stroll in the Prater, notable for the huge Ferris wheel that features in several Cold War spy thrillers. Or, for something quite different, visit the Schönbrunn Palace, a former royal residence now housing a range of world-class museums and galleries. Perhaps, though, just take a stroll through Vienna’s atmospheric side streets, or enjoy a coffee and a slice of delicious Sachertorte in one of the lovely coffee houses.This evening we have something special in store. Not only do we have our indulgent Chef's Dinner, but we've also organised for a live musical experience on board. So after this special dinner, sit back and enjoy an intimate classical recital. To hear this exquisite music in Vienna - where it was created - is truly the icing on the cake.Personalise your holiday -Visit the Spanish Riding School, ViennaEnjoy a visit to the Spanish Riding School, the only institution in the world that has practised classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the haute école for over 440 years and continues to do so. Available events and tours vary depending on the day of the week of your visit and season. Details can be found on www.srs.at/en/tickets-events/ where we recommend you book your tickets directly prior to travel.From €17.00ppPlease contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
Arrives on: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Location: Budapest - Hungary
Programme: Budapest - Enjoy a leisurely morning as we cruise majestically through Hungary’s peaceful pastoral landscape towards Budapest. After breakfast head up onto the magnificent sun deck to enjoy some fabulous river views as we cruise along the 'Danube Bend', surrounded by historic and picturesque cities like Visegrad and Szentendre. Castle ruins, churches, pretty houses perching on the hills, and thick forests are reflected in the waters of the river. Squeeze in a spot of reading on the sun deck or simply recline, letting the gentle breezes lull you into a relaxing doze.After lunch we enjoy a sightseeing tour of this captivating city, which truly lives up to its reputation as the ‘Pearl of the Danube’.The twin cities of Buda, built around the hilltop fortress, and Pest, with its wide boulevards, were fought over through the centuries. The Ottomans ruled here for 150 years before being ousted in the late 17th century, but their legacy lives on in the many thermal baths fed by hot springs, giving rise to Budapest’s other sobriquet – the ‘City of Spas’.After the end of Ottoman rule, Budapest became an imperial city of the Habsburg Empire, attracting great cultural and commercial wealth. Castle Hill is Budapest in microcosm: two churches, seven museums and a theatre among streets and squares with their own special atmosphere and a dramatic view across the river to the awe-inspiring neo-Gothic Parliament Building. Budapest’s endless galleries, museums, outstanding Art Nouveau architecture and excellent shopping offer a fittingly elegant end to your Danube cruise.This evening’s dinner closes with a Hungarian folklore show, giving you time to bid farewell to your travelling companions and reflect on all the inspirational places, sights and sounds you have experienced on a truly ‘imperial’ cruise.
Arrives on: Friday, 31 October 2025
Location: Budapest - Hungary
Programme: Return home

Ship details

MS William Wordsworth

MS William Wordsworth

Swiss operated and truly world-class, we are absolutely delighted to present the five-star MS William Wordsworth.

It is extremely difficult to convey just how extraordinary this outstanding ship really is and exactly what distinguishes it from similar vessels. It would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that; we have deliberately avoided the current trend for a minimalist style where you could be anywhere in the world, creating instead a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. Immediately striking is just how exceptionally spacious this new vessel is as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. Moving inside, exceptional creativity from Europe’s finest design studio has produced a superbly balanced masterpiece of onboard style, utilising sustainable rich hardwoods, gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate wrought iron. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout – including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising which time after time you tell us you adore.

Launch 2018
Weight N/A
Length 135 m
Width 12 m
Speed 13 kn
Capacity 167 psgr
Cabins 88

A gleaming wood door opens revealing your exceptionally appointed suite. At 17 square metres (183 square feet), its generous dimensions are amongst the largest you will find on a cruiser gracing any European river. Imaginatively designed and appointed to the highest specification, with all the luxury you would expect to find in a smart ‘boutique style’ hotel, your comfort definitely won’t be compromised on any level!

The sparkling marble bathroom features a powerful fully glazed shower with a large ‘rainshower’ head, superbly refreshing after a hard day’s sightseeing. Clever design allows for ample space, and contemporary lighting, complimentary quality cosmetics and fluffy towels, makes preparing for the day ahead an absolute pleasure.

The chic styling of a talented designer’s eye extends to the entire suite with generous use of hand-crafted tropical hardwoods blended with premium fittings, discreet thoughtful lighting and a colour scheme of calming neutral tones, creating an ambience to put you in the most relaxed frame of mind from the very first minute! A full size bed assures a good night’s rest in crisp cotton linen of the finest quality - a turndown service each evening adds the finishing touch. Please note all suites have two twin beds with individual bedding which can be moved together or separated accordingly.

You will enjoy a particularly generous seating area with two chairs and a table, enabling you to unwind in comfort in the privacy of your own suite whilst a bow camera conveys live images of the ship’s progress to your flat screen TV, ensuring you won’t miss a thing. Careful consideration has been given to the tiniest details with individually controlled air-conditioning so you set the temperature that you desire, a hairdryer, safe, mini fridge, telephone and the convenience of tea (our meticulous planning even extends to familiar teabags!) and coffee making facilities ensure a home from home experience.

Suites on the Diamond and Ruby Decks have ‘French Balconies’ – panoramic floor to ceiling sliding glass doors bringing riverside life just that little closer!

*Please note: The colour scheme of the cabin interiors may vary.

Stunning restaurant on the Main Deck serving buffet breakfast, buffet lunch and four-course dinner 

Thanks to the ship’s small size, your shore excursions are far more personal and rewarding.

Enjoy cocktails in one of the bars onboard.

On board you'll find a Spa and wellness area featuring Nail Salon and Hairdressing Service and Small splash pool and putting green on the Sun Deck.

Please note: there are no dedicated kids or teens facilities onboard.

Deck plans

  • Fitness Centre
  • Hairdresser
  • Wellness Centre
  • Emerald Deck Suites

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  • Restaurant
  • Kitchen
  • Ruby Deck Suites
  • Superior Suites

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  • Bistro
  • Travel Desk
  • Reception
  • Souvenir Shop
  • Panorama Lounge
  • Bar
  • Superior Stern Suites
  • Diamond Deck Suites
  • Deluxe Balcony Suites
  • Superior Suites

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  • Sun Loungers
  • Splash Pool
  • Putting Green
  • Wheelhouse

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Accommodation

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Deluxe Balcony Suites (DBS)

Welcome to the Deluxe Balcony Suites aboard the MS William Wordsworth from Riviera Travel, your home away from home. Your private abode includes a range of amenities for your enjoyment, relaxation and comfort. The thoughtfully presented suite provides a wonderful space to relax after another fulfilling day exploring the world's waterways. Discover the full details and specifications below.


Grade: DBS
  • Type: Suite
  • Occupancy: 1-2 people
  • Size: 269-269 sq ft
  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Suite Benefits
  • Telephone
  • Air Conditioning
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Superior Suite (RS, DS, DSS)

Welcome to the Superior Suite aboard the MS William Wordsworth from Riviera Travel, your home away from home. Your private abode includes a range of amenities for your enjoyment, relaxation and comfort. The thoughtfully presented suite provides a wonderful space to relax after another fulfilling day exploring the world's waterways. Discover the full details and specifications below.


Grade: RS
Grade: DSS
Grade: DS
  • Type: Suite
  • Occupancy: 1-2 people
  • Size: 247-247 sq ft
  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Telephone
  • Suite Benefits
  • Air Conditioning
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Suites (Diamond and Ruby) (D, R)

Welcome to the Suites (Diamond and Ruby) aboard the MS William Wordsworth from Riviera Travel, your home away from home. Your private abode includes a range of amenities for your enjoyment, relaxation and comfort. The thoughtfully presented suite provides a wonderful space to relax after another fulfilling day exploring the world's waterways. Discover the full details and specifications below.


Grade: R
Grade: D
  • Type: Suite
  • Occupancy: 1-2 people
  • Size: 183-183 sq ft
  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Suite Benefits
  • Telephone
  • Air Conditioning
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Suite (Emerald) (ES, E)

Welcome to the Suite (Emerald) aboard the MS William Wordsworth from Riviera Travel, your home away from home. Your private abode includes a range of amenities for your enjoyment, relaxation and comfort. The thoughtfully presented suite provides a wonderful space to relax after another fulfilling day exploring the world's waterways. Discover the full details and specifications below.


Grade: E
  • Type: Suite
  • Occupancy: 1-2 people
  • Size: 172-172 sq ft
  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air Conditioning
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