DDSG Blue Danube, Austria's largest passenger shipping company, offers one of the classic Viennese themed cruises on the Danube: the "Heurigen Cruise with Viennese Songs." This weekly evening cruise, which usually takes place every Thursday from April to December, combines a three-hour boat trip with a typical Viennese wine tavern buffet and live music, organized by Marion Zib from Radio Wienerlied.
The trips are aimed at both locals and visitors to Vienna who would like to experience an evening dedicated to Viennese songs and the Danube landscape. The journey, which begins at the Reichsbrücke bridge, travels downstream on the "great Danube" along the Vienna skyline.
Itinerary and route of the themed tour
The "Heurigen Cruise with Viennese Songs" typically begins in the early evening at the Vienna/Reichsbrücke boat station. Boarding is usually possible from 18:00 PM, with departure promptly at 19:00 PM. The cruise lasts approximately three hours and is scheduled to end at 22:00 PM back at the starting point, the Reichsbrücke. The themed cruise route takes guests from the Reichsbrücke downstream on the so-called "Great Danube." The ships pass the modern skyline of the Donauplatte, the Danube Tower, and, depending on the route, possibly also peaceful structures such as the Buddhist Pagoda on the Danube riverbank, before turning around. Unlike some other DDSG (Danube Steamship Company) offerings, the cruise does not primarily take place on the Danube Canal, but rather on the wide main channel of the Danube. This provides passengers with a view of the Danube riverbanks and the Viennese landscape at dusk.
The musical accompaniment is provided by a rotating cast of carefully selected Viennese folk music duos, offering authentic Viennese folk songs rather than a purely touristy act. The program is organized by Marion Zib and Erich Zib from Radio Wienerlied. A special feature is that after dinner, the musicians often circulate from table to table to accommodate guests' personal song requests, provided they fit the theme of the trip. The music is transmitted via wireless microphone to the ship's sound system, ensuring it can be heard discreetly throughout the vessel, encouraging guests to sing and sway along.
The floating ambience: The ship
Ships of the DDSG Blue Danube serve as floating venues for the traditional wine tavern cruises. In the 2025 season, the MS Admiral Tegetthoff will generally be used. On rare occasions, the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth, among others, will be used. The MS Admiral Tegetthoff, a motor vessel designed for themed and sightseeing cruises, offers guests a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
The ships feature indoor and outdoor decks, allowing passengers to enjoy the journey with music and a buffet either inside or in the fresh air. For guests with reduced mobility, access to the ship is often facilitated by an elevator at the shipping center near the Reichsbrücke bridge. Smoking is prohibited in the indoor areas, while it is permitted on the open decks.
Culinary offerings and prices
The price for the "Heurigen Cruise with Viennese Songs" was €65,00 per adult in the 2025 season. This price includes the three-hour boat trip on the Danube, live music, and a cold and hot Heurigen buffet. Children and teenagers up to 15 years of age generally receive a 50% discount, while children under six travel free. Discounts are also available for people with disabilities.
The included buffet features a selection of cold and warm Viennese specialties. Typical Viennese delicacies such as schnitzel, various spreads, soups, main courses, a salad bar, and classic desserts like apple strudel and cakes are offered. The meal is served buffet-style at the beginning of the trip, while the musicians initially play more discreetly in the background.
Price-performance ratio and comparison with other DDSG journeys
In addition to the Heurigen tour, DDSG Blue Danube offers a range of other themed and scheduled boat trips in Vienna, which can be used for comparison. A journalistic review is available on the portal. Aviation.Direct For example, it highlights the "Autumn Danube cruise with game buffet" such seasonal special trips are often priced similarly to or higher than the ones mentioned there.Swedish Night with ABBA Hits“for €75,00 or the “Brunch on Danube Waves” for €69,00. The “Christmas Dream Ship” cruise, at €75,00, is also in a higher price range. Also worth mentioning is the “culinary excursion to Bratislava".
In contrast to the “wine tavern tour with Viennese songs” (65,00 euros including buffet and music), which offers the Viennese song as a traditional unique selling point, these events are often tailored to a specific, mostly international audience (ABBA, Elvis Forever) or offer a different culinary experience (brunch, game).
Looking at simple round trips without buffet and music, such as the Grand Danube Cruise (A+B) or the City Cruise (C), prices for adults range from approximately €25,00 to €34,00 for the boat trip alone. The DDSG's "Ship + Dinner" package, however, costs around €65,00 per adult for the three-hour evening cruise with a three-course meal and no live music. Therefore, the surcharge for the included wine tavern buffet and three hours of live music on the "Wine Tavern Cruise with Viennese Songs" appears to be standard within the context of DDSG's own pricing structure.
Overall, the "Heurigen Cruise with Viennese Songs" offers a three-hour experience for €65,00, consisting of a boat trip, an all-you-can-eat buffet, and live music. It thus positions itself in the middle range of DDSG's themed cruises and, with its focus on Viennese songs, caters to a specifically local cultural heritage, which distinguishes it from purely party or dinner cruises.
