Danube Express Luxury Train: Balkan Explorer: Venice to Istanbul

We have experienced Tour Managers on board and they are renowned for their travel knowledge and their organizational abilities which allow you to relax and enjoy your rail cruise. Also we receive exceptional passenger comments about our Tour Managers and they ensure you enjoy every minute of your holiday. Usually there is one Tour Manager on board a train, and also a number of assistants depending on the total number of passengers.

At the start of the tour, arrival transfers from the international airport to our tour hotel are covered. As the tour ends departure transfers from our tour hotel to the airport are included.

During the tour on the Golden Eagle Danube Express you will spend much of your time sightseeing or relaxing in the train’s public areas. However, you will find your hotel room or cabin on board the train a welcome retreat at the end of a rewarding day. All hotels that you stay in will be of five-star standard, or the best available. Room upgrades are available on request, subject to availability and at additional cost.

The price of all the meals is included in the tour cost. This starts with dinner on the first day and ends with breakfast on the last day, unless otherwise stated. The Golden Eagle Danube Express features one or two Restaurant Cars where you can dine on excellent food and wine served by waiters. During the course of the tour you will also be able to sample authentic local cuisine with wine and a selection of drinks on the train, and this is also included in the tour price. 

Generous amounts of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are included with lunch and dinner whether you are on or off the train.

On board the Golden Eagle Danube Express you can expect service which is attentive, friendly and yet un-intrusive. Attendants in your train car will provide housekeeping and bedding turndown services and they will also assist you to ensure that you are comfortable in your cabin. Complimentary tea, coffee and bottled drinking water will be served to you in your cabin.

During the off train excursions, guides will bring alive the history and culture of each place you visit on our rail cruise. All our tours come with a packed sightseeing schedule to make the most of the time you have off the train. These will bring you closer to the culture, people and history of your destinations. Also you will find special little touches included and these will help create magical memories.

All our tours have a doctor on board and he will travel with the group during the entire journey. This means that medical assistance is always available. Importantly the doctor is on call 24 hours a day and can deliver primary care to you on board the train. Usually the doctors will speak in English and be registered with the General Medical Council in the UK. In the case of exceptional circumstances and the doctor does not speak English, translation will be provided.

Once you are on board the train, you will only have to unpack once. Then your luggage and belongings will stay with you on the train throughout the journey. However if necessary, Porterage will be provided between the hotels and stations.

During the tour, you will not have to worry about tipping anyone on or off the train. On your rail journey with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains all gratuities are included in the tour price. We encourage passengers to refrain from offering gratuities to crew/hoteliers/drivers etc as we will tip on your behalf. In case of any exceptional service received please inform us and Golden Eagle Luxury Trains will reward people accordingly.

On board the Golden Eagle Danube Express one or two restaurant cars will be available to guests. However, this depends on the number of guests that are booked for a particular tour. In each car you can enjoy meals prepared by our Executive Chef who is assisted by his on board restaurant team. Meals are prepared using the very best ingredients and these are locally sourced wherever possible.

The breakfast on the train includes a wide selection of fruit, cereals, orange juice and cold plates and these are presented to you as a buffet. Alternatively you can enjoy a cooked breakfast delivered by waiters to you table along with tea and coffee.

During lunch and dinner you will enjoy fine food created by the Executive Chef that is served along with great wines. Attentive service will ensure you experience a welcoming atmosphere within the restaurant car. We also ensure that your culinary experience reflects the very essence of the countries we travel through, as well as international cuisine. However, vegetarian and other dietary options are also available for our guests.

Lunch and dinner are complemented by an excellent choice of wines from around the world. These are personally selected by Golden Eagle Company Founder, Tim Littler, but you can also choose to accompany your meals with bottled water, beer and soft drinks.

On board the train the restaurant cars can accommodate all guests in a single sitting. Also you can make use of our open-seating policy to dine wherever, and with whomever you please.

Throughout the journey there is a casual dress code. In the evening we suggest smart casual.

The Bar Lounge Car is the social heart of the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Here you can rest and relax in comfortable surroundings as you read or enjoy a game of cards with friends or fellow passengers.

In the Bar Lounge Car the Tour Manager will outline the activities included for the day. Passengers will be given printed daily itineraries throughout the tour detailing train arrival and departure timings. Up to date weather forecasts for the next destination and information on the following day’s excursions and activities will also be provided here.

In the Bar Lounge Car and Restaurant Cars you can partake in language lessons and engaging talks hosted by experts and you can learn more about the local history and culture of countries you are traveling through. In the evenings the resident pianist will entertain you in the Bar Lounge Car and you can make use of the bar which stays open until the last person leaves.

In specific cities you can customize your journey and enjoy the opportunity to select from an array of Freedom of Choice tours. In these cities off-train excursions will take in all the major attractions but in addition you can choose from a variety of activities and enjoy a tailor-made experience. All these optional activities are included in the tour cost and there are no extra charges which ensure that you get the ultimate in terms of flexibility. However, Freedom of Choice options may vary depending on train timings, minimum number of people and local weather conditions. Occasionally we may offer an optional excursion that requires extra payment. In case you do not wish to take an off-train excursion you can either stay on board the train (Golden Eagle only) or make arrangements privately to go on your own tour. However, you will have to ensure that you are back by the departure time. In case you are not back in time, the train will not be able to wait and must leave as per the schedule.

When traveling on our tours you must be fully insured for any medical expenses that may be incurred. To buy travel insurance contact Palace Tours. Please contact us for more details.

On board the train US Dollars and Euros are used but guests will not need much currency. However, charges for laundry and bar bills have to be met so bring $500 in cash per person. 
You can also run a 'tab' on board and make a CASH payment at the end of the tour. We do not accept Credit cards on board any of the trains. We also recommend passengers travel with small denominations and clean bills. Importantly, marked or torn US Dollar bills are not accepted in Russia. You will also need money to pay for souvenirs and any shopping done off the train. This can be paid for in local currency and in some instances in US Dollars. If you need to change money contact the Tour Manager and/or guides and they will provide you with more information. 

Each cabin has a safe in which you can store any cash or valuables.

ATM machines are now available in all large towns and cities and all the hotels that we use accept major credit cards. Traveler’s checks however, are virtually impossible to exchange.

When you arrive one of our representatives will be waiting with a Golden Eagle Luxury Trains sign. In case you are arriving by air, you will be met after immigration, and once you have collected your luggage and cleared customs. Our representative will then assist you to your transfer vehicle to the hotel.

Within the train there is very limited space inside the cabin for storing luggage therefore, we advise passengers to bring soft-topped luggage as it is easier to store. There is also no space to store luggage under beds. However, there is luggage storage area at the end of each carriage and we recommend that passengers unpack and store their empty luggage here. Our cabin attendants will assist with this process.

Each bus can carry up to 35 passengers and tours may be divided into groups.

Passengers in wheelchairs can go on off-train excursions but if they require a wheelchair this must be specified at the time of booking the tour. We will do our best to accommodate the request (charges will apply if assistance is required for maneuvering the wheelchair). However, please note it may not be possible to go on all of the excursions.

During the off-train excursion period, the train may be moved to another platform or depot so you should inform the Tour Manager if you intend to make you own tour plans during the day.

If you require a foreign language interpreter please contact our Reservations Department, and they will do their best to accommodate all requests (charges may apply).

Upon boarding the train you will be given a brochure that is specific to the route and it will have details about the journey and the places covered. Additionally, passengers will receive daily updates throughout the tour with detailed timings, weather forecasts and excursion information.

During a tour 2 cabin attendants look after 10 passengers.

Gym facilities are only available in the tour hotels. There are no such facilities on board the train however, tours involve a moderate degree of walking. 

Going on tours depends on your personal preference.

We recommend that guests arrive between 11.00 and 16.00 hours, as this will give them time to join the Welcome Dinner. In most hotels check-in is at 12 noon. Early check-ins are dependent on hotel availability (charges may apply).

When you are on a tour you can extend it by choosing extensions that take you to St Petersburg, Beijing, Gobi Desert and Shanghai. Please contact our office for further details

When using your mobile phone on board the train you will notice that coverage is limited. It may also be limited in rural areas. Please check with your service provider for more information on coverage.

The train does not have Wi-Fi, however there are a number of internet USB adaptors, which you can use in the Golden Eagle Bar Lounge Car. These can only be used on personal laptops carried by passengers and are provided on a first come, first served basis. However, internet coverage is limited and is usually available when the train passes through larger cities and towns.

Beauty treatments are not available on board but are available in tour hotels

Most of the special dietary requirements that passengers have can be catered for. Please contact our office for further details.

The main language used for tours is English. However, guides speaking other languages are available on selected tours and these are often subject to minimum numbers of passengers requesting for a particular language, or on request at additional cost. Please contact us for more information.

We advise guests to contact their GP or local travel clinic to get up to date information on what vaccinations are required. In case you are traveling from America you can check the CDC website if you need further information. We advise guests to contact their GP or local travel clinic to get up to date information on what vaccinations are required. In case you are traveling from America you can check the CDC website if you need further information.

We advise guests to bring enough medication to last the duration of the tour. Also ensure that you have spoken to your primary care physician and received a medical clearance prior to traveling. Finally, our doctor on board the train must be advised of prescription medication that you are traveling with.

A range of L'Occitane toiletries are provided in each cabin and these include shower cream, shampoo and conditioner. Within the cabin you will also find a hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers and towels.

All our tours require some walking so we recommend that passengers bring comfortable walking shoes with rubber soles to avoid slipping.

We will ensure that you are escorted to a hospital and make every effort to ensure that you receive the highest possible level of care. If needed we will also get in touch with your relatives at home. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance as it will cover expenses associated with hospitalization and loss of luggage. 

Empty suitcases are stored at the end of each carriage. Ask your steward if you need to access your suitcase during the journey. Generally, the Danube Express follows an, “unpack once,” mentality whereby passengers unpack their items into their cabin at the beginning of the trip, and use a smaller carry on bag at excursions and hotel stops.

There are certain safety measures already in place for passengers. Smaller numbers in group tours allow for more accountability and personal attention, and therefore a heightened sense of safety during excursions. While there has currently been no trouble in areas of Golden Eagle’s tours, if necessary, changes will be made to the itinerary. The safety of the passengers is Golden Eagle’s top priority.

There are no interconnecting rooms on the Danube Express, but families spread across multiple cabins will be placed next to each other in the carriages. The Danube Express train is an adult-oriented train and there are no cots or changing facilities. It is up to parents if they choose to bring their children, but there is a wide range of ages aboard the train.