Wachau Valley vineyards along the Danube River, Austria. Photo via Flickr:alchen_x

Belvedere Castle in Vienna, Austria. Photo via Flickr:Miguel Mendez
4.8/5 (21 ratings)

Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna

Austria, Germany Bike + Barge Tours

Bike Austria and the Historic Cities on the Danube Cycle Path!

  • Beginning in the German town of Passau, this tour quickly crosses the Austrian border as it follows the Danube Bike Path east downstream through tucked-away villages and serene landscapes.

    You experience the mighty Danube as it meanders through the "Great Loop" and enjoy the gorgeous landscape of the legendary Wachau with its castles and fortresses.

    Vienna, rich in architecture and history, cannot be described! You have to see it and feel it! At the Naschmarkt (famous food market), a stroll will become a cultural and culinary adventure. You can also relax at any of the cozy coffee bars or at a typical Viennese wine tavern.

    Highlights:

    • Passau - The City of Three Rivers
    • The Schloegen Danube Loop
    • Wachau - World Cultural Heritage site
    • Linz - Northern Austria's Capital
    • Vienna - City of music and culture

    Want to check out more bike and barge tours in Germany?

  • 2017

    MS NormandieMainUpper
    Apr 22 and Oct 7 £ 631 $ 993 € 685 NOK 6622 kr 6112 $ 795 £ 760 $ 1,196 € 825 NOK 7975 kr 7362 $ 957
    Single cabin- £ 990 $ 1,559 € 1075 NOK 10392 kr 9592 $ 1,247
    May 6 and Sept 23 £ 723 $ 1,138 € 785 NOK 7588 kr 7005 $ 911 £ 852 $ 1,341 € 925 NOK 8942 kr 8254 $ 1,073
    Single cabin- £ 1082 $ 1,704 € 1175 NOK 11358 kr 10485 $ 1,363
    May 20 and Sept 9 £ 787 $ 1,240 € 855 NOK 8265 kr 7629 $ 992 £ 916 $ 1,443 € 995 NOK 9618 kr 8878 $ 1,154
    Single  cabin- £ 1146 $ 1,805 € 1245 NOK 12035 kr 11109 $ 1,444
    Jun 3, Jul 1, July 15, July 29, Aug 12, Aug 26 £ 833 $ 1,312 € 905 NOK 8748 kr 8075 $ 1,050 £ 962 $ 1,515 € 1045 NOK 10102 kr 9325 $ 1,212
    Single cabin- £ 1192 $ 1,878 € 1295 NOK 12518 kr 11555 $ 1,502

    Additional Charges: 
    Port Fees (mandatory for guests over 12 years):  £ 54 $ 86 € 59 NOK 570 kr 526 $ 68 Electrical bike rental:  £ 87 $ 138 € 95 NOK 918 kr 848 $ 110 Helmet purchase (payable on board):  £ 37 $ 58 € 40 NOK 387 kr 357 $ 46 Twin cabin, single use: Approximately 50% supplement applies!

    2018

    MS NormandieMainUpper
    Apr 7 & April 14 £ 542 $ 854 € 589 NOK 5694 kr 5256 $ 683 £ 671 $ 1,057 € 729 NOK 7047 kr 6505 $ 846
    Single cabin--- £ 901 $ 1,420 € 979 NOK 9464 kr 8736 $ 1,136
    April 21 & Oct 6 £ 690 $ 1,086 € 749 NOK 7240 kr 6683 $ 869 £ 818 $ 1,289 € 889 NOK 8594 kr 7933 $ 1,031
    Single cabin--- £ 1049 $ 1,652 € 1139 NOK 11010 kr 10163 $ 1,321
    May 5 & Sept 22 £ 800 $ 1,260 € 869 NOK 8400 kr 7754 $ 1,008 £ 929 $ 1,463 € 1009 NOK 9754 kr 9003 $ 1,170
    Single  cabin--- £ 1159 $ 1,826 € 1259 NOK 12170 kr 11234 $ 1,460
    Jun 2, & Sept 8 £ 874 $ 1,376 € 949 NOK 9174 kr 8468 $ 1,101 £ 1003 $ 1,579 € 1089 NOK 10527 kr 9717 $ 1,263
    Single cabin--- £ 1233 $ 1,942 € 1339 NOK 12944 kr 11948 $ 1,553
    Jun 16, Jun 30, July 14, Aug 11 & Aug 25 £ 911 $ 1,434 € 989 NOK 9560 kr 8825 $ 1,147 £ 1039 $ 1,637 € 1129 NOK 10914 kr 10074 $ 1,310
    Single cabin--- £ 1270 $ 2,000 € 1379 NOK 13330 kr 12305 $ 1,600

    Additional Charges: 
    Electircal bike rental (E-Bike protection included):  £ 87 $ 138 € 95 NOK 918 kr 848 $ 110 Helmet purchase (payable on board):  £ 37 $ 58 € 40 NOK 387 kr 357 $ 46 Twin cabin, single use: Approximately 50% supplement applies!

    extra options

    Extra nights:

    Please contact us.

    20% discount available for children under 13 sharing cabin with one adult

    please note

    If you want to purchase a helmet, please let us know when you submit your reservation. 

    Rates are based on double occupancy.

    Information to read before you book.

    We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.

    Please see our FAQ.

Tour Dates

2017

Saturday Departures: April 22, May 6, May 20, June 3, July 1, July 15, July 29, August 12, August 26, September 9, September 23, October 7, 2017

2018

Saturday Departures: April 7, April 14, April 21, May 5, June 2, June 16, June 30, July 14, August 11, August 25, September 8, September 22, October 6, 2018

Where You’ll Stay

Accommodations aboard the MS Normandie, a Comfort Plus vessel.

What’s Included

  • Accommodations for 7 nights on board
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Full meals (breakfast, on board lunch for noncyclists/bag lunch for cyclists, and dinner)
  • Afternoon coffee break or snack
  • Daily cabin cleaning
  • Farewell dinner on last night including cocktail
  • Daily live music
  • Tour leader on board (does not cycle with the group)
  • 7-speed unisex bicycle
  • Bicycle protection
  • Information packet with route book (one per cabin)
  • Daily informational meeting
  • 1/2 liter of water daily
  • Port fees (2018)

What’s Not Included

Extra Stay

Extra nights can be arranged in Passau!

Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna Map

TourBike+Boat
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€685 Rates
Client Reviews

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Skill Level

Relatively easy tour following the flow of the Danube. Route is mostly flat but there are some rolling hills especially coming out of the Danube valley. It takes place on good, asphalt bike paths very suitable for beginners and children. Daily distances can be adjusted.

Tour Boats

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna Map

Day 1: Passau - Engelhartszell, boarding time at 5 p.m. Departure at 7 p.m.     (2018: boarding at 4:30PM)
Day 2: Engelhartszell - Untermühl - "Great Loop" - Linz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Linz - Mauthausen - Grein, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Grein - Melk - Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Tulln - Vienna, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 6: Rest day in Vienna, city tour otional, Waltz and Operetta concert optional
Day 7: Wachau - Dürnstein - Pöchlarn, wine tasting optional, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 8: Passau, departure

Day 1: Arrival in Passau, Passau - Engelhartszell
The Episcopal city of Passau, close to the Bavarian/Austrian border is also known as the "City of three Rivers." Boarding time is at 5 p.m. and departure around 7 p.m. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening cruise to Engelhartszell.  (2018: Boarding at 4:30 p.m.)

Day 2: Engelhartszell – Untermühl – "Great Loop" – Linz, 22 mi. (35 km) 
Try some of the special cordials and liqueurs in the Trappist monastery in Engelhartszell. It is said that they have special healing power. Downstream, the route leads you to pretty villages amid natural landscape. For a change, take the little ferry boat through the romantic Schlögener loop, where the river makes a very abrupt 180-degree turn. The boat takes you from Untermühl to Linz. After dinner, ride on the bright yellow City-Express (optional, not included) and discover Linz, the capital of upper Austria.

(2018: 22 mi. /35 km)

Day 3: Linz – Mauthausen – Grein, 26 mi. (42 km)
In the early morning, the boat cruises to Mauthausen. Here you have the opportunity to visit the Mauthausen Memorial. The Celtic town of Mitterkirchen gives you an insight of the past. Cyclists that would like to take the easy route can ride along the Danube. The alternative route leads through the beautiful back country of the "Strudengau". It is slightly hilly, but the landscape is fantastic. In Grein, the impressive Castle of Greinburg is worth a visit (optional, not included).

Day 4: Tuesday, Grein – Melk – Tulln, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today you'll cycle through the Strudengau – a narrow point of the Danube which used to be notorious amongst skippers. The valley expands from Persenbeug and the bike tour leads you further to Melk with its gorgeous baroque monastery of the Benedictine brethren. On deck, you enjoy the sunset and the beautiful evening illumination of the Wachau. Today's final destination is Tulln, famous for its numerous market gardens where the famous Art Nouveau artist Egon Schiele was born.

Day 5: Wednesday, Tulln – Vienna-Nussdorf / (Korneuburg may also be possible), 35 km | city tour  Hop on – Hop off (optional)
The monastery of Klosterneuburg is situated at the entrance of Vienna. You can see the cupola of this 900-year-old baroque structure from a distance. "Kahlenbergerdorf" with it's wine taverns is definitely worth a visit. After a stroll through the vineyards, you can enjoy the panoramic view over Vienna. During the city tour by bus (optional, not included) in the afternoon, you will pass most of the famous sights of the beautiful city.

Day 6: Thursday, Vienna (day of rest) | city tour (opt.) | Waltz and Operetta concert (opt.)
You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the Prater, the St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the Hofburg. You can take a city tour by bike (optional, not included). The gorgeous boulevard "Ringstraβe" with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House, and the town hall are all historic structures that take you back in time. There is enough time in the afternoon to stroll or visit one of the famous Viennese coffee bars. The evening ends impressively with a Waltz and Operetta concert (optional, not included). In the evening, the boat takes you to Dürnstein or Rossatz.

Day 7: Friday, Wachau | Dürnstein – Pöchlarn, 24 mi. (39 km)
Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries, and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In Weißenkirchen (possibility for a wine-tasting – optional) you will find comfy wine taverns right along the bike path. You owe it to yourself to take a break! In the evening farewell dinner and cocktail.   (2018: In Spitz (possibility for a wine-tasting – optional) 

Day 8: Saturday, Passau

Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take one last look at the Schlögener Schlinge ("Great Loop") before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Arrival is about 10 a.m., disembarkation half an hour later. We recommend arranging connecting trips from 12 p.m. onwards.

*Important Information:

In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages with buses. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. (Water level is force majeure). The same applies for officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges or in the event of mechanical breakdown of engine or power unit.

Please be aware that your ship,  like all other ships on the Danube, is not only your hotel for the tour,  but also a machine, working with engine power also during the night. Especially crossing locks and bridges - and the preparation work - may cause noise. If you are sensitive to noises, please bring your own ear plugs.

Be sure to check out all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bicycle tours.

Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064

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Customer Feedback

  • Mari H. 3 weeks ago

    The new friends we made! We absolutely enjoyed the other travelers we ate with every meal! They became great friends despite language differences. It was a fantastic trip. We blogged our trip!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Kimberly W. 3 weeks ago

    The scenery along the Danube was outstanding and riding thru the vineyards on our last day was beautiful. Would do it all over again!!

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  • Kimberly W. 1 month ago

    The MS Normandie took us on a fabulous adventure down the Danube from Passau to Vienna. The last day of biking was the most memorable as we rode thru some gently rolling hillsides and were enveloped by vineyards and orchards. The quiet and the beauty of the scenery was breathtaking!
    Because it was all so beautiful we would on a daily basis become distracted and veer off the designated route (or maybe we were lacking in the map-reading skills). Therefore, after the second day we decided to each rent an e-bike so that it wouldn't be a huge deal if we got off the beaten path and put on extra miles. Best decision we made all week! Our new equipment helped us to keep up with some new found(older) friends who were rocking the routes every day.
    The evenings were mostly composed of a nice slow 4-course meal (stellar offerings) and catching up with friends and family via the sketchy internet service. I would suggest you bring along a game or two and some books.
    Couldn't have imagined a more complete and perfect vacation. We just had to get ourselves to and from the launch and dock sites and the staff of the MS Normandie took care of the rest!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Patricia L. 1 month ago

    The majority of the Danube cycling routes are truly beautiful. We were worried about the bikes only having 7 speeds, however it was only an issue when we made the climb to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Otherwise, they were fine. The staff on the Normandie were fabulous, as was the food. I esp. want to thank Ani and Mikki who were a huge help to us prior to the trip. We had lots of questions and they always answered them quickly and thoroughly. I plan on continuing to book my trips with Tripsite. What a great company!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Robert W. 2 months ago

    The entire trip was memorable for me. I took lots of video and still shots. My plan is to create some YouTube videos to share the experience. I have wanted to do the ride along the Danube for several years and I finally got my chance. It was everything I expected and more. I am now looking at the choices for my next cycling adventure in Europe.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Margaret M. 2 months ago

    Walking and biking around Vienna. It is a beautifully restored city with so many historic buildings and places to take your breath away. Our bike guide Bernd added to the experience by translating for us all the history and important information as we were the only English speakers on the trip.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Jim and Margaret Molineux 2 months ago

    We have just returned from our boat/bike adventure and enjoyed it immensely. Being the only English speaking passengers on the trip, we were in the care of the multilingual SE bike tour guides; Bernd, Andreas and Wolfgang. And look after us they did. With all the tours and information in German, we would have missed so much if it hadn't been for Bernd showing up everywhere to translate for us. The staff on board were helpful, courteous and efficient. Food was gourmet and even with cool and often wet weather, tours were interesting and biking was exhilarating. Bikes were brand new, maps were clear and information given beforehand made navigating easy. Ebikes are the way to go if climbing hills is difficult; although it is mostly flat.
    We would absolutely do this again with Trip Site or SE Tours.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • H. Hausch 1 year ago

    Really liked our trip director Andreas. The Theodor Koerner excellent boat with superb staff.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • E. Heide 1 year ago

    We would have like more written details of the areas we were seeing. We also would have liked a stronger wifi connection. Food and service was excellent.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • E. Correll 1 year ago

    Bicycling Passau to Vienna with the MS Normandie was a great experience. The bicycle route was mostly flat and in top condition. The views along the way were scenic and enjoyable. The small villages were charming and the larger cities were very beautiful. Our accommodations and meals on the boat were wonderful. One of my favorite experiences of the week was the optional trip to the opera house in Vienna. I am especially glad I didn't miss it. This was my third Tripsite tour and overall this adventure was everything and more that I had hoped for. I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves cycling. I think it is suitable for all skill levels. I will say that on this tour the guides daily instructions were minimal. His input was very basic and quite a disappointment compared to past guides. No photo slide show with instructions such as, "when you see this landmark or sign be sure to turn here." The guide books with maps that were provided were of great assistance, however, and we were able to compensate for the most part by carefully following these written instructions. There was also a small tourist guide book in each room from which you could read about points of interest in each city and village along the way. As I said, overall this was a fantastic week and my friend and I loved every minute!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • J Lillis 1 year ago

    Wonderful trip. Our room smelled really bad when we arrived. Mentioned it to the cleaning staff and they said it was the air conditioner. They were on the problem immediately and made sure we had no further problem. Bit of confusion with bike insurance, but on contacting Tripsite on our return this was dealt with immediately (thank you!). Might want to consider having a basic first aid kit onboard I fell in Vienna and badly sprained my ankle - no breaks fortunately. Had to get ice from he bar as there was nothing else available they couldn't give me much as it was needed for the drinks.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Susan Dawood 2 years ago

    Never brought it up to the bike staff, but gears on my bike were difficult to manage. I attributed it to my having small hands, but I also thought the gears should be replaced soon, for the next "small handed" guest.

    It was a wonderful experience and we were fortunate to have beautiful weather the entire week.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • David Pomfret 2 years ago

    We had a fantastic time it was a highlight of the trip; can't say about the bikes as we had our own.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Brent McLean 2 years ago

    Would be nice to sit with other people at meals. Everyone was great and it felt like we were on a camping trip.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Hong Gao 2 years ago

    It was a great trip, thank you.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Sharon Cratsenberg 2 years ago

    Perfect weather, gorgeous scenery, wonderful riding--loved every minute of the trip.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Corinne Bauer 2 years ago

    Fabulous guides, wonderful scenery, food, very helpful Tripsite staff. Will be taking another trip as soon as I can!

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • John Bowyer 2 years ago

    Wonderful trip along the Danube. If you are biker you will find the bikes lacking. My wife with her spinal cord injury used an electric assist which worked very well.

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • Susan Knight 2 years ago

    Amazing scenery, great company, delicious food, kind staff and somewhere comfy to sleep - with no unpacking! However,the crux of these trips stems from the quality of the guides. Our first trip, to Vienna, Had a guide that knew the route well, but smoked at every stop, and wanted to always eat dinner at somewhere he could buy alcohol; we preferred to eat our rolls in the fresh air, which sometimes was tricky. He tended to ride off without checking we were all ready, leaving riders behind until someone caught him. Our second trip (Merzig to Koblenz) had a lady guide who was not at all familiar with the area, but used her GPS to locate landmarks and routes (sometimes taking the shortest, not the most scenic). She didn't give an initial safety talk, she changed the route from the easy one offered to a more scenic but quite difficult one, causing one older, inexperienced lady to fall (end of trip for her and her husband,, hospitalisation for almost a fortnight, skingraft). Our replacement guide tried hard, but couldn't seem to match the route to the one we'd booked, so we missed seeing things we'd looked forward to. So our last trip, Koblenz to Amsterdam, was not one we would recommend unless they sorted the route out. Apart from the above, we'd recommend this mode of travel.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Margaret Knode 2 years ago

    Staff was incredible. Only change I would make is in the dining room. To be allocated to a table with the same people for every meal was restrictive. We go on trips to meet people from different countries and to make new friends. On speaking with other travellers they mentioned that open seating would have made the whole experience that much more enjoyable. We thoroughly enjoyed our dining companions, but what if you didn't you were stuck all week.

    Can't say enough about how accommodating the staff were, especially in the dining room. Many thanks! Want to do the trip again next year add bring my siblings.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Brett McGillivray 2 years ago

    Besides information on the bike routes, I enjoyed the information on side trips.

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Harvey & Sharon Rishe 2 years ago

    Although we are seasoned travelers and fairly fit cyclists, we were new to bike & boat touring, and as a result we probably drove TripSite's Carla crazy! But her patience never faltered; she was generous and gracious with answers to our interminable questions and we arrived in Passau well informed and ready to have a great time.

    Our expectations were met and exceeded. Not only had Carla prepared us well, but Rad & Reisen proved to be a world class organization. The accommodations were lovely, the gourmet meals splendid, the route information excellent, the professionalism and friendliness of the crew impeccable, and the camaraderie among fellow travelers delightful. Not to mention the gorgeous Danube scenery, the interesting villages, and beautiful Vienna!

    We were so happy with TripSite and Rad & Reisen that we are already researching our next bike and boat trip with them! Thank you for a lifetime of wonderful memories.

    Harvey & Sharon Rishe
    Salt Lake City, Utah

    Boat: MS Normandie

     Reply

  • K. Augustyn 3 years ago

    I will say that this Danube barge/bike trip was probably one of the best vacations I have ever taken. My friends who took the trip with me feel the same way and we are considering doing another one next year. We will definitely consider the barge/bike cruises that you have to offer. Again, thank you very much!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Joanne MacRae 3 years ago

    This was our best trip to Europe as it involved lots of fresh air and exercise in a dream like setting. We sang "the Sound of Music" as we cycled across the German border into Austria.

    The bicycles were top notch. The food on board was fabulous and the customer service was excellent. We were so pleased with the Pack and Pedal Europe organization for giving us lots of valuable information before we arrived on board. We felt we were well prepared for the bike and boat adventure. The whole experience exceeded our expectations! I would definitely advise anyone to take the "Comfort Relaxed Tour" as it identified us with a group of fellow cyclers on journey with an experienced guide who introduced us to the culture and cuisine of local villages in Austria. We appreciate all of the travelling tips and advice we received from Pack and Pedal as all of our inquiries were answered promptly. I highly recommend this tour to anyone. The bicycles were in top working order and cycling on the paved pathways along the Danube was a breeze for anyone in decent physical shape. We can't wait to return and take another trip!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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  • Emily Hull-Parsons 4 years ago

    We just returned from our trip and wanted you to know how much we enjoyed it! Thanks for your help.

    The shirt and shorts were a big hit!

    Boat: MS Normandie

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Along the Danube - Passau to Vienna Boats + Barges

MS Normandie Photo

MS Normandie Austria, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia Comfort Plus Class Boat Last refurbished in 2011, the MS Normandie has a total of forty-nine 2-bed cabins and two single cabins with one bed. The cabins are equipped with two lower beds, shower / toilet, shampoo and soap, TV, safe, hairdryer, individually controlled air conditioning and panoramic windows. The windows on the upper deck can be opened. The beds during the day turn into sofas. The 1-bed cabins have a lower bed. On the upper deck you will find the cozy Panorama Lounge with bar and on the main deck, a lovely restaurant.

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