Holiday Magic Danube cruise December 28, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Hello! We've got 5 adults and 2 kiddos (1 young teen, 1 under 10) booked for this sailing, staying on our own an extra night before and after. Would love to connect with other families on the cruise 🙂.
Also interested in any tips from those who've done this itinerary before.
We've done several river cruises, but this is our first time with family, and first with Tauck - looking forward to it!
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Definitely pack for the weather and the holiday spirit not fancy dress unless you just enjoy that. Its basically a week long Christmas party.
Thanks! We usually travel carry-on only, even in winter, and were trying to figure out how to cram a sport coat, fancy dress and extra shoes in there!
At the one evening the TDs mentioned dressing up I saw everything from warm sweaters (mostly Christmas themed) to fancy beaded dresses. I get the desire for carry-on only but unless you don't plan to do any shopping at the markets you might do better to bring full sized partially empty suitcases.
The family tours that Tauck do are always very casual and geared exactly to children of that age. Have a great time!
The winter RiverCruises are way more casual - no need for a dress or sports coat unless you just want to wear one. We take these cruises every other year - and everyone dresses for comfort & warmth.
Read the itinerary. We are on the same trip but departing 12/22 .There’s a Roaring Twenties night. My family of 10, 6 adults a 18, 15, 13, 11 haven’t been told this 'bad news' as it means additional attire!
Don't see that one in our itinerary... Sounds like something we'd skip, though 😅
The Roaring Twenties theme party has been mentioned a lot on the forum this year. From reading here, it seems that many do not dress up. Some have taken a cheap 20’s kit you can buy on Amazon and some have gone all out.
I got the impression it is part of a dinner evening, so skipping it might mean you have to eat at the alternative restaurant. Perhaps people who have been on a ship with one of these events could resurrect what it is like.
We had one of these parties on our Impressions of the Seine tour. We had purchased an Amazon 1920s accessories kit. The party was separate from dinner - it was in the lounge shortly after dinner so we didn't put our accessories on until it was time for the party. Not everyone participated and some people who participated didn't dress in the 1920s theme. It was low key - no pressure. There was dancing, music and a photo area. Actually, it was more fun than I anticipated.
Thanks for the information CVC. Although I’ve only taken one river cruise with Tauck, the 5 or 6 small ship cruises I’ve taken with Tauck, the after dinner entertainment has not been well attended at all. Is this difference on the river cruises?
British, I am probably not the best person to answer that question - we seldom attend the after dinner entertainment - the 1920s party was an exception for us.
😀
Grandmas, in our Final Tour document (emailed as a link to a PDF) the 1920 party is mentioned in a short paragraph just before the recommended packing list. You don't need to do anything. Most people on our cruise didn't. They provided some props and a photo booth if you want to use them.
Sounds good. I am firmly committed to carry-on only, and not purchasing single-use toss away merch 🤪. I might go enjoy the music and dancing as long as costuming is optional 😁. But the days sound pretty busy - I might just need the down time!
British - depends on what the entertainment/theme is as to how well they are attended, as well as the make-up of the guests. Been to both heavily and sparsely attended after dinner events on Tauck river cruises.
For those who've done the family cruises before, what are some examples of activities on board the boat geared toward kids? Are there separate activities just for them, or are the general ones adapted to include them?
Yiyak, basically the party is just in the lounge after dinner where the kitchen crew brought out a fancy cake. We had brought a few items that mostly we already owned and used the photo booth to get some nice shots. During the cruise they also handed out special Anniversary coins.
Getting more excited every day anticipating this cruise!
I was on this cruise! It was my first Tauck tour and I was a little disappointed that we weren't able to sail. What did everyone else think? Anyone else a first timer or more experienced?
Nicole - Could you explain your comment "I was a little disappointed that we weren't able to sail".
Are you trying to say you were signed up for this cruise(tour) but you weren't actually able to go on it (sail)?
I'm confused as to what you are actually asking? Are you asking for a review of the tour from anyone that actually went on the tour for the mentioned dates, since you were unable to go?
Hi Sam! We got on in Vilshofen and after our first night in Passau, one of the locks broke. So we were stuck in Passau for the first 4 nights, and took coaches everywhere. There were some changes to the itinerary, including where we spent NYE which was supposed to be in Vienna. We spent it on the ship docked near Passau. No scenic views. After January 1st they transferred us to hotels and they were very nice, but I was really looking forward to the actual cruising on the river. Curious to know if anyone that's done this before felt like we missed out, and generally what they thought about the cruise. I think the staff really did the best they could to give us a good experience.
Nicole - I see, you had a ‘River cruise’ that became a land tour. 🥲
All of the cruise tours - small ship or river cruise can be impacted by various things like river water levels, non-functioning locks, etc for river cruises and sea conditions for small ship sailing that impact ability to moor in certain locations, the ability to launch/recover tender ships, etc.
Land tours / land portions of tours also can be impacted by unplanned/unforeseen activities, weather conditions, etc.
If you tour enough, you’re bound to be impacted at some point in some form. It’s just unfortunate that it happened to you during your first Tauck tour.
From what I've read your ship isn't the only one impacted by low water levels. Disappointing I'm sure.
As Sam said, all sorts of things beyond Tauck's control can impact a tour. Things I've had happen on tours - a broken lock stopping all traffic for a couple of week resulting in a ship swap, on another cruise the ship got delayed at a lock and wasn't where they were supposed to be to pick us up after the D-day beach excursion, concerts that impacted our activities, a marathon race thru Lucerne that blocked traffic, traffic accidents and road work in Canada, a ferry that got canceled and more I've probably forgotten. The real measure of a good tour company is how do they handle these difficulties.
Another boat damaged one of the locks, so all traffic on the Danube was halted for days. We sailed our first night - to Passau, stayed stationary on the boat there for 3 more nights while doing bus transport to tours during the day. We then spent 2 nights at a 5-Star hotel in Vienna while doing the scheduled activities there, and the final night at Tauck's Hotel Kempinski in Budapest to finish the "cruise".
Passengers were given the opportunity to leave the cruise once it was clear the boat would not be able to move, but most opted to stay. Joyce, our cruise director, and all our TDs went way over the top to deliver the best possible experience for everyone!
This was our first trip with Tauck, and though there were aspects - not relating to the lock problem - that I didn't think measured up for the price we paid, and though all the extra bus travel was uncomfortable for me, I do believe the Directors pulled off a miracle under the circumstances. I was very impressed.
A funny coincidence - on my first river cruise ever (with another company) years ago, we were supposed to end at Passau, but - a boat damaged a lock ahead of us so we were stuck and never made it. This time, we got stuck at the place I didn't get to the first time 🤪!
On our way to Silky Oaks a bridged was blocked because of rain, we spent the night in a Sheraton which was OK and these things happen but after staying at Silky Oaks and realizing what a special place it is, I wished we could have that day back.