This mighty river running through the heart of Europe has long been romanticized, most famously with the namesake "Blue Danube" waltz by Johann Strauss. But the waterway is not only a European cultural icon, it’s also a key trade route that has played an important role in the continent’s history, from early man to modern times and with all the long and turbulent drama in between.

A cruise on the river offers the very essence of Central Europe: rolling hills and medieval castles, vineyards, bird-lined marshes and cliffs, small river towns and some of Europe’s best known cities.

Cruises on this river typically split into trips on the upper or lower Danube. On the upper Danube, cruises generally sail from Bavaria to Budapest, Hungary, through Austria's scenic Wachau Valley, and include stop-offs at two of Europe’s most important cultural and historic cities, Vienna and Bratislava, Slovakia.

Cruises on the lower Danube take in the dramatic eastern stretch between Budapest and Bucharest, Romania, through Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria, with Dracula-related stop offs among the many attractions.

While both offer bountiful historic sights and attractions, the main appeal of the upper Danube cruise itinerary is more focused on central European culture, most notably opera and classical music, wine and art, opulent architecture, medieval fortresses and museums. Cruises along the lower Danube offer a fascinating glimpse behind the former Iron Curtain and a taste of life in post-Communist Eastern Europe, while also promising medieval fortresses and Orthodox churches, not to mention the region’s dramatic natural scenery.