Grand Wachau Cruise Krems - Melk - Krems

Following the motto ‘Moments of Happiness’, DDSG’s red-white fleet depart for numerous journeys during the day and at night. The fleet is all about relaxation, recreation and experiences. The friendly crew is dedicated to making your stay on board unforgettable. Between late March and early November, the proud red and white DDSG fleet departs for relaxed cruises through the Wachau region, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, up to 3 times per day in each direction. A cruise in the Wachau region is always a special experience – no matter if in spring when the apricot and other trees are in full bloom, in summer when you can enjoy bright blue skies, or in autumn when you can watch the afternoon sun bathing the vineyards in red and gold. The dense timetable gives you many options of experiencing the region from the water between Krems, Dürnstein, Spitz, Emmersdorf and Melk.

During the cruise you will see imposing buildings such as the Benedictine Abbey Göttweig or the Dürnstein Abbey. The ruins of Dürnstein Castle, which is known from the legend of Richard the Lionheart, sits enthroned on the mountain.

The English King Richard the Lionheart tore the Austrian flag on the return journey of his crusade and refused to share the war booty with Leopold V. Then Leopold V captured the English king in the built castle 1192-1193.

The royal prisoner was allowed to receive moving singers for his conversation, which later became the legend of singer Blondel. His faithful minnesinger moved from castle to castle until he discovered his king in Dürnstein by singing a song stanza, which the prisoner supplemented. Richard the Lionheart was set free again after paying a ransom of 150,000 marks of silver.

Then you pass the fortified church of St. Michael and the ruins Hinterhaus in Spitz. The castle and monastery Schönbühel you can still see beautifully placed on a rock. Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria, later Empress Sisi, visited the monastery in 1844. In the first part of the Sissi films this scene is also re-enacted.

Arrived in Melk it goes back after a short stay through the Wachau to Melk. The ride downstream takes only half as long as upstream. You arrive at the starting point again.

Let yourself be pampered in the on-board restaurants. The gastronomy offers a varied food and beverage offer at moderate prices. The menu focuses on regional products and modern interpreted classics from the Wachau. How about a summer salad with apricot pieces, a Wachauer Brettljause or a captain's burger accompanied by a matching Wachauer wine?