Germany & Austria - Danube Bike and Boat Tour. ****
We once again booked a cycle tour in Europe with Rad & Reisen (otherwise known as Eurocycle). For this tour we were travelling on the MS Theodor Korner, a Rad & Reisen boat with 61 cabins including junior suites on the main deck, one of which we booked. At 87m the boat was substantial and had a large crew. While not up to the standard of 5 star river cruise boats, it was still nicely maintained and provided lovely accommodation, great meals and a lots of space to lounge around with a nice bar. On our tour the 61 cabins accommodated about 100 riders of whom 12 of us had paid for a guided tour. Overall, most riders rented their step through hybrid bikes from the operator, but several brought their own. This was the first time we started to see ebikes being used for tours with people either renting them or bringing their own, particularly the Dutch. Over 5 days we rode along the Danube from Passau to Melk before sailing to Vienna for a day and then we spent the final day riding from Wachau to Rossatz before sailing back to Passau to disembark. Our guide was great and we got to see and experience many sights along the Danube that were mostly missed by those making their own arrangements. Overall a brilliant ride encompassing many fascinating experiences including a concert in the Schoenberg Palace in Vienna.
It appears that Rad & Reisen no longer does this particular tour with the SS Theodor Korner.