River cruise alternative from Regensberg to Budapest

It would be pretty easy to take trains to visit places, although it depends on where you want to go. But if it's the larger towns and cities, you shouldn't have any problem. And of course, cruises will almost always be more expensive, but you're paying for the cruise experience there.

Honestly, I think you would have a better experience planning it and traveling on your own. You would not be subject to the cruise ship's schedule, you could go where you like, and if there is some place that would be difficult to get to by train, just rent a car for a day or two. Cruise ships are nice but really are designed to give you a taste of places, and provide a river boat experience. If you are really interested in the actual towns and villages and cities, then take the trains. Not only is it cheaper, but it's more personal (IMO) and will give you a different but more real experience.

Yes, hotels do take time out but I love the experience of staying in B&Bs and hotels in foreign countries. Of course, I am speaking as someone who has never taken a river cruise. My only experience was a Caribbean cruise back in 1980 and I very much doubt if that is similar. 😂 But regardless, I do think that staying in unique hotels and B&Bs can enrich your travel.

The key will be to first decide on the route; maybe Munich > Salzburg > Vienna > Budapest. Then pick some dates. Dates are important for people to be able to really give accurate help. You can change them after the discussions but it is good to have a start. That way if there is something special going on in one city or the other you can move things around a bit and have a better or a more unique experience.

Then post in the German, Austiran and Hungarian forums. A few on the forum sort of have specialities. Emily for Vienna for instance. There is three or four of us that do Budapest in pretty good detail. We have a few who are pretty good on trains who can give you their two cents.

So I will start you on Budapest.
First you have to get there. Its 2.5 hours on the train. Hotel door to hotel door, maybe 4 hours. So leave for the train station at 8am and eat lunch in Budapest. If you go to the MAV (Hungarian) rail site you might (not always) find out that 1st class seats are half the cost of the OBB (Austrian) rail site. Same train, same seat. So give that a try. Train to hotel. Once you pick a hotel ask on the Hungary forum and I bet someone gives you door to door directions.
Then you will need a hotel: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/rs-forum-favorite-hotels-and-their-cost is a good start. Hotels in Budapest might be among the least expensive on your trip so splurge. Book early and 4 stars go for $150 and up and 5 starts $200 and up (way, way up).
Of course you will need food: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/restaurants-in-budapest-revisited.
And you are coming for the Markets: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-christmas-markets-d26f8ab1-2048-4160-bfb3-bf13b096683e
And getting around town, the whole town is the attraction here so you will need to explore with the tram system. If you are over 65 its free by the way. When you start asking on the Hungarian forum you will find out how easy it is and how it can be part of the fun.
And what to expect: Favorite Tourism Video of Budapest https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared
Anthony Bourdain describing how visually pleasurable Budapest is https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX
Favorite Guidebook because its small and does the essentials DK Eyewitness Budapest Top 10 https://a.co/d/6JD82mf

The cruise is certainly putting some significant emphasis on the „cruise experience“, for which you pay quite a premium. How exactly your experience of towns is impacted will heavily depend on the schedule - how long are your stays, and when. I do not know what your exact schedule would be, but second the previous post in that a cruise is just a „sample taster“ for a destination, and you will only get a small glimpse at the larger cities.
Generally speaking, Austrian trains are nice, German ones are decent but somewhat suffering from a lack of investment to the infrastructure since about 2000, so are more prone to delays - but I would recommend to plan the trip with an overnight base every direct connection, so a delay plays not as big a role anyway - no connection can be missed.
Short idea:
From Munich (2 nights) you can go to either Passau or Salzburg (choose one), then Linz, then Vienna (2 nights), then one or two stops toward Budapest (maybe Bratislava, then maybe Gyor), finally Budapest (2 nights). Some people here certainly have better knowledge on Hungary and can give more details.
An addendum: Since Neuschwanstein is quite a detour from Munich, consider another castle/palace that is closer, unless it is a must see for you.

I have a lot of experience with cruises however, the river cruises ate mostly buses once in your destination for the day.
I’ve had very enjoyable experiences using a car on many road trips in Europe and, the roads in Germany are lovely. Perhaps you’re afraid of driving in ice or snow? You can see everything without being subject to getting on and off trains, you can stop where you want, and I find them more convenient to pull up to your hotel and then park. That’s just my take.
Cars in Germany are required to have snow tires/ all weather tires in winter conditions.
I love Vienna and Budapest and Regensburg and munich. They each deserve more than one day.
you’ll have a wonderful time whatever you do, and pack your warm clothes- it seems always colder on the water.

I’d love to know if you only looked at the high price cruise lines (Viking, Tauck, AMA waterways) and forgot to check other cruise lines? Gate 1 River cruises has Christmas Market Cruises starting at $7000 per couple

We would fly from NY to Munich, explore the market there and visit
Neuschwanstein castle. Other must-see stops will be Vienna and
Budapest.

We plan to arrive 2 days before the sailing. Therefore, this would be
a 10 day itinerary.

Am I correct that your plan might look like this within a 10-day period?

Days 1-3: Arrive MUC, train to Munich (40 min.) sightseeing + day trip to N'stein
Days 4-6/7: Train to Vienna (4-4.5 hours) + sightseeing
Days 7/8 - 10: Train to Budapest (2.75-3 hours) + sightseeing

It is true that you will have more time in these large cities for sightseeing than you would if you were tied to the cruise. But getting around these large cities on your own is a major challenge. I'd advise as follows:

• Book your accommodations to be near the train stations in question so that your check-outs / transfers are simplified.
• Book walking/sightseeing tours you might want in advance.
• The local transportation systems in these huge cities are pretty awesome but also very complex and confusing. Expect to waste more time than you think getting from place to place if you use them.

I am a huge fan of Regensburg. It's not just someplace to get on a ship. It's Germany's best-preserved medieval town and easy to manage on foot. And just like Munich, there are DIRECT trains that take you to Regensburg from MUC airport (a ride of 1 hr. 20 min.)

hhttps://tallgirlbigworld.com/things-to-do-regensburg-germany/
https://tallgirlbigworld.com/regensburg-germany-christmas-markets-guide/

If you have never been to Salzburg... that should be considered as well IMO.

If Vienna and Budapest are musts, I think you owe it to yourselves to visit some smaller places. I would gleefully give up Munich and Neuschwanstein in favor of Salzburg and Regensburg for 30-40% of those 10 days.

You must not have checked Gate 1 Travel for your river cruise.
We did one last summer from Regensberg to Budapest, with a 6 day bus tour of Romania after the cruise and it didn't cost $10,000.

Our cruise and tour ran about $3.400 pp so for two $6,800. The cruise and tour were great. We have used other river cruise companies and Gate 1 Travel is just as good.

Here is the cruise we took that is now about $3,500 pp.
https://www.gate1travel.com/river-cruises/europe-river-cruises/2026/danube/danube-river-cruise-15drozpmbud26.aspx

Soraya, as Mr. E has suggested, think of where you would like to go. My wife and I did a Christmas market self tour a few years back (we were in our late 50's). While I prefer to drive when in Europe, we took the train on that trip. We landed in Frankfurt and departed out of Budapest. The trains were an easy part of the trip with a few exceptions. To get to Rothenburg required a change of trains at Aachen. To get from Nurnberg to Prague, DB used a bus. We visited 7 markets on that trip. Our favorites were Strasbourg, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest.
Since that trip we have taken a number of Viking river cruises with the Christmas market trip being one of them. My wife likes the cruises because you only unpack once. River cruises give you a taste of the places you visit. On our trip we were in Vienna in the evening, Since you end in Budapest you will also have a chance to visit their Christmas market in the evening. My wife pointed out that, while it is your preference, there is limited need for a balcony as it is quite chilly that time of year to be outside and the ship cruises at night (where you can't see outside), you may be able to save some money on a french balcony or lower level cabin (note, there is not elevator access to the lower level).
Either way of travel that you chose, you will have a good time and see some beautiful places.
Good luck!

12 days (3 nights per location for a simple example) at $250/night in a hotel for a couple would be $3000. Daily meals for two for 12 days in restaurants could be $200+/- per day or near $2400. Munich three nights, Salzburg three nights, Vienna three nights and Budapest three nights with a slightly expanded itinerary would include travel (M to S is 2 hours ~$200 for two; S to V is about 3 hours ~$300; V to B is about 2.5 hours ~$200). of $700 for trains first class. You would lose three mornings to travel if you manage this by train and you can have two morning side trips in each location and spend your afternoons and evenings at the Christmas Markets. For less than $10,000. Maybe the next step is to decide on a more detailed agenda of what to see and do besides several Christmas markets and how easy it would be to do them from a cruise compared to from individual hotels. Remember that in December sunrise is about 8 am and sunset is about 4 pm. Have fun.

Whichever line you choose, read reviews on the value of a room with a veranda on places like "cruise critic".

There are lots of reports of people being disappointed, If you cruise at night, then the veranda is not much use, if cruising during the day, then you usually want to be up top to see both sides of the river, if you are docked, boats are often berthed side by side, so your veranda is up against another veranda.

The advice I saw the most, was do not get the most expensive class room, nor the cheapest. There seems to be a sweet spot.

One of the beauties here is that you will get so many differing opinions. One of the frustrating things here is that you will get so many differing opinions.

Days 1-3: Arrive MUC, train to Munich (40 min.) sightseeing + day trip to N'stein Days 4-6/7: Train to Vienna (4-4.5 hours) +
sightseeing Days 7/8 - 10: Train to Budapest (2.75-3 hours) +
sightseeing

I would not blow past Salzburg. Worth a few nights. Munich to Salzburg is 1:45 hours on the train, and Salzburg to Vienna about 2.45 hours on the train. Trian to Budapest is 2:40 hours. But I know a nice stop for the night along the way if you budget enough time for the trip (Gyor and the Archabbey at Pannonhalma. Maybe plan it right for a concert at the archabbey).

It is true that you will have more time in these large cities for ...
But getting around these large cities on your own is a major
challenge. I'd advise as follows:

I suspect Emily will argue with you about Vienna. I will suggest that the tram system is one of the tourist activities in Budapest and with it there is very little you can not get to with ease … not to overlook that the places in between the major sights are fascinating in their own right.

Book your accommodations to be near the train stations

Gwad no. Book your accommodation not for escape, cause in these cities you won’t want to escape. Book accommodation in the heart of what you came to see so that every moment of the 4, 5 or 6 days in the city goes to enjoyment.

The local transportation systems in these huge cities are pretty
awesome but also very complex and confusing. Expect to waste more time
than you think getting from place to place if you use them.

In Budapest if you were raised in an area like I was where there was no public transportation the thought of a tram or a metro is a bit daunting, but without need. But I can put you on a training route, once done, you will be a pro. And the route is a great tour. If you are over 65 its free 😊 under 65 and it’s a few dollars a day.

I am a huge fan of Regensburg. It's not just someplace to get on a

You mean skip Munich? Noooooooooo. Okay, Regensburg does interest me because its one of the few towns in Germany that isn’t a postwar reconstruction. But it’s the wrong way from Vienna and you will miss Salzburg. But if it lights the fire of the OP, nothing wrong with it either. But now I know why the attitude towards the cities. You just prefer towns. That’s reasonable.

And now I will agrue, in good spirit with NickB. We just look at things from different perspectives.

12 days (3 nights per location for a simple example) at $250/night

Vienna and Budapest and maybe Munich you want not less than 4 nights and 5 is better. Then there is your cost; especially in Budapest. Let’s say the 4-star Hotel Oktogon which is nearly perfectly situated on the most beautiful avenue in Europe and perfect location for tourism. https://maps.app.goo.gl/zgp17bb6DPbzfw1u8 December 15 – 20 is 575€ for 5 nights (that’s a tad more than $125 a night). A similar hotel, the 4 star Up Hotel https://maps.app.goo.gl/tUwKA3ZcJnpb2JL7A in another darn near perfect location is 619€ for 5 nights. Or you can spend 1300€ for the 5 star Hotel W https://maps.app.goo.gl/C7Yh519SZDimfQdJ6

Daily meals for two for 12 days in restaurants could be $200+/- per day

Even in Budapest I might budget $200 for the great night out; maybe a Michelin restaurant, but that’s not every night. Most days $100 will cover the two of you.

travel (M to S is 2 hours ~$200 for two; S to V is about 3 hours
~$300; V to B is about 2.5 hours ~$200). of $700 for trains first
class.

I wont look them all up, but Vienna to Budapest first class is 30€ or 60€ for two not $200 and Salzburg to Vienna for two first class tickets will be about 120€ not $300.

Maybe the next step is to decide on a more detailed agenda of what to
see and do besides several Christmas markets and how easy it would be
to do them from a cruise compared to from individual hotels.

True, if all you want to do is spend a day and a half or two days in a city, and see nothing but the markets, that’s what the cruise will get you.

.... December sunrise is about 8 am and sunset is about 4 pm. Have fun.

Fantastic, the lights will blow your mind. Its stunning in the winter.

One poster earlier recommended a driving trip instead of taking trains. We've taken many driving trips in Europe that were a pleasure. However I would not recommend them in this case. First is the cost- the one way drop off fee, in a distant country from the city you rented from, would be likely to cause palpitations. Especially if budget is a factor. Add in the problems and expense of city parking (very rarely at your hotel), plus add on costs, short daylight hours for driving, and wasted time getting lost or turned around.....taking the train would be so much easier, and very probably cheaper.

And I agree with Mr E that Nick B 's cost estimates seem very high. My WAG is that you could easily and comfortably do the trip for half that.

Driving in the winter in that part of the world wouldnt light my fire either.

Here is my WAG on the cost and a schedule.

16 Day trip. That’s two weeks with the following weekend:
Four Star Hotels and few nice nights out and a few entertainment venues like river cruises with drinks to see the lights of Budapest from the river (Really beautiful), public transportation passes, trains, food and taxis to and from the airports.
1 night on a plane > 4 nights Munich > 2 nights Salzburg > 4 nights Vienna > 4 nights Budapest. My hard cost came up to $5600, so with a nice contingency fund, I would budget $6500.00 to $7000.00. You could substitute a train for a private transfer or two legs and still stay under $7000 and see a few places in-between. Pannonhalma for instance. Maybe one of the -bad Austrian towns.

I would give you the breakdown, but the guy a few posts up did that and got eaten up LOL. But I can PM it LOL

In the end, it is all about choosing the plan and experience that is best for you and your goals. Hopefully, the variety of responses you have received will help you clarify what your goals really are and help you plan a wonderful trip.

Carol now retired, nailed it again.

Thank you, everyone, for all your wonderful and well-thought-out suggestions. It helps me frame out the trip. I do want to see more than Christmas markets. It is difficult to choose the stops but this helps tremendously. If I could make Salzburg work, I will add that in. I will also check out Gate 1 for comparison. The $10K is for french balcony and it is not a walk out but you get a full window. The next lower-cost option is a room where the window is at the waterline. I would feel uncomfortable about that.

I do like the freedom of car rentals but driving in an European city has its challenges, along with finding and understanding parking. Last year, we rented a car in Portugal for 2 weeks, and it was both a convenience and an inconvenience, depending on where we were driving. Don't get me started on rotaries in cities. lol.

I have lots of work to do now but very excited!