Our Mother-Son River Cruise on the Danube

By Lara (Bursch) Deppisch – July 2025

It’s our last day of summer, so clearly I’m focusing on the memories of our mother-son river cruise on the Danube vs. of the reality of the 6:30am bus coming tomorrow morning.

So, after taking a Uniworld “Generations” river cruise on the Danube, what were our final thoughts? Can a river cruise really appeal to all generations? ✨YES ✨ Without a doubt.

The SS Maria Theresa truly was our floating boutique hotel. Henry and I visited 4 countries and only unpacked once….A huge win for parents! During our cruise, we often traveled at night, which also eliminated any “are we there yet” issues. (Want more scenic daytime cruising? Your Bursch Travel advisor can find the best river/itinerary for you.)

Each day offered as much structure or “choose your own adventure” as you’d like. Uniworld includes multiple excursion options at each port and, unlike ocean cruising, you don’t need to decide months in advance. Instead, you will sign up at the beginning of your trip — after a detailed presentation from the cruise manager and with all of your questions answered. Don’t want to join the tour? No worries! You can stay on the ship or enjoy the time in port on your own.

Typical Schedule

730-9 Breakfast
9-12/1 Excursion
12-2 Lunch
4-5 Lecture and/or talk from cruise manager
5-6 Cocktail Hour
6-730 Dinner
730+ Possible Evening Excursion
Evening concert/Dancing

Henry and I stayed busy and absolutely loved our time together. But here are things to know before you decide if this is the right trip for your family.

• Most cruise lines do not have adjoining rooms and cap at 3 people per cabin. We had a king bed – separating the bed was not an option.

• Parents do need to join their kids on the excursion so most families stuck to the special options geared towards kids.

• Kids club is small and has very few drop-off hours.

• Have teenagers? Plan for them to join the main “program” as the kids portion was really geared for those 5-10.

I feel like I had a million questions before our trip, and just wasn’t sure what to expect. In the same boat? (Pun intended) Check out our vacation Instagram reels or leave a message in the comments!

If you’re considering a family getaway that caters to multiple generations without the hassle of constant packing and unpacking, a river cruise might just be the perfect choice. Ready to start planning your own unforgettable family cruise? Your local Bursch Travel advisor is here to help every step of the way!