Five family members (female adults) are planning an E. Europe trip June 7 - 28, 2018. We will be in Prague, then Cesky Krumlov and then want to boat through the Wachau Valley on the Danube. We thought we'd shuttle from CK to Melk, visit the Abbey and then take a boat from Melk to Krems and a train to Vienna. The advice I need is timing everything. If we arrive in Melk before noon will we have time to visit the Abbey and then board a boat to Krems and train to Vienna all in one day or is that pushing it? We're not opposed to stay overnight in Melk and take the boat next day. If we stay in Melk, and catch the boat the next day can you suggest boat companies to contact? Ive looked at DDSG Blue Danube and Brandner but having difficulty finding time schedules. Is it best to book in advance or can we buy tickets shortly before departure? How can we find out about scheduled departure and arrival times? Also, we will have our luggage. Is there a place on board boats to store luggage while cruising? How long is boat ride from Melk to Krems? Do most boats make stops in little town along the way? I've read some forums that suggest getting off the bus at Durnstein and taking bus to Krems to catch train to Vienna. Is this easily done or is a lot of lag time involved? Should we stop for a meal in a specific town or eat on boat? Do boats provide food? I know that's a lot of questions. Thanks for your time.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6508 posts
I was on a Viking river cruise when we went through that area and visited those places.
Posted by
Hayden, Idaho, USA
7253 posts
https://www.brandner.at/en/liner-cruises/timetable-fares/
shows the timetable for the Brandner boats. We took the boat from Melk to Durnstein, took a taxi to the train station and onto Vienna. We had our carry-on suitcases with us - no problem. We just bought our tickets when we leaving.
We stayed overnight in Melk at Hotel Restaurant zur Post since it was a full day.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5372 posts
I've been to the Wachau Valley many times. I think it would be a real drag to visit the area in transit and with suitcases. I'd suggest just getting to Vienna and making a day trip visit to the Wachau. It will be more enjoyable.
That said, the boats aren't like cruise ships, keep in mind. DDSG and Brandner are the only two running this route. These are ships with large decks. I think food is served on the boat, but why would you want to eat on the boat? It is really not necessary to book in advance. Just walk up to the dock and buy your tickets before you board. The cruise lasts a little under two hours, so storing your luggage on the boat really makes no sense. Just keep it with you. Yes, the boats stop in the villages as outlined in the schedules below. The boat dock in Krems is quite a long distance from the Krems train station, so, yes, it is best to take the WL1 bus from Durnstein to the Krems train station. Buses run very regularly.
Brandner Schedule - https://www.brandner.at/en/liner-cruises/timetable-fares/#c17
DDSG Schedule - https://www.ddsg-blue-danube.at/wachau/wachauschifffahrten/
I prefer the villages between Melk and Krems - Spitz, Weissenkirchen and Durnstein. These are lovely little towns with excellent eating options. Weissenkirchen, in particular, has many great places for wine. I like to have the apricot dumpling on the terrace of the Richard Lionheart Hotel in Durnstein.
Posted by
1896 posts
Given the limited time budget of a day trip I would not waste time cruising slowly upstream. Take a train to Melk and cruise downstream. Besides the monastery in Melk my favorite is Dürnstein. It is a wonderful medieval village, worth to walk around. If time and weather permits walk up to the ruins of the fortress and climb to the very top; it is easier than it seems at the first moment. You will have a breathtaking view over the Wachau valley.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3044 posts
In 2011, we did just this. We took the train from Vienna to Melk. We started early using the special ticket (see the Rick Steves book for the special family deal). We got to the Abbey about 10:30 or so. The boat to Krems was maybe 2 PM. We bought trip tickets on the boat BEFORE going to the Abbey to be sure we had them. We had just enough time to tour the Abbey, but it was a little fast. We then hot-footed it for the boat. We got there in time, but it was tight. Note that if anyone is mobility-challenged, this will be difficult - the Abbey is 200 M or so above the town square, and there is a climb. The walk down to the boat is on a broad stair case. There was no problem getting tickets on the boat - I doubt that it "fills up" at any point, although if you were there in Aug, I might be wrong.
I agree with Emily - having your luggage would be quite a drag, and would make the whole thing far less pleasant. Get your hotel in Vienna, drop your luggage, and do the trip as a day trip. I would not have enjoyed this with luggage - too much carrying around, and like I said above, you must climb to the Abbey (200 M) and climb back down. With luggage, less enjoyable.