Western Europe Danube River Cruise aboard MS Viva Two

• What’s Included:
  • Delicious Glatt Kosher dining, prepared fresh daily, with all meals on the ship in our beautiful Panorama-Restaurant
  • Complimentary packed lunch options for shore excursions
  • Kashrut, under supervision of Rabbi Nechemia Rotenberg and his experienced team of Mashgichim
  • Kosher Traveler’s exclusive weekday program and Shabbat program
  • Synagogue with Sefer Torah
  • Jewish heritage shore excursions tours
  • An exclusive kosher dining restaurant area
  • Guest speakers, and more…

  What’s not included:

  • International flights to arrive at the cruise starting point
  • Airport Transfers
  • Travel insurance – comprehensive travel & health insurance is compulsory.
  • Entry visa if required.
  • Staff Gratuities

Kosher Travelers is committed to providing all its meals of the highest quality and under strict kosher supervision.  All the food serves is Glatt Kosher, and prepared fresh on board the cruise ship by gourmet chefs with uncompromising quality and strict kashrut standards.

All meat is Glatt kosher and milk products are Chalav Yisrael. Our on-board Kosher kitchen is under the full-time supervision of a team of mashgichim, headed by our cruise Rav HaMachshir, Rabbi Nehemiah Rotenberg.

Rabbi Nehemiah Rotenberg came to Vienna to serve as Rabbi in the community in 2002. During his tenure as Rabbi, he was the head of the “Zehut” Beit Midrash,

and during his work in the community he dealt extensively in matters of Kashrus as a representative of many Batai Din (בד”ץ) around the world. Before 2002, while living in Israel he has dealt with kashrus issues and ran a weekly radio program on kashrus.

During the past decade Rabbi Rotenberg’s main specialty is turning hotels throughout Europe to be able to provide food of the highest Kashrus level for Pesach and the summer months.

Kashrus of a hotel is a distinct job and requires much expertise in the field, familiarity with the industrial kitchens, the form of Kashering an industrial kitchen, and of course extensive knowledge of kosher food products in Europe.

His Kashrut team are all hand picked and well versed with many years of experience.

Rabbi Rothenberg has spent many years developing the community Kosher list in Vienna for hundreds of food products sold in large retail chains throughout the Europe.

This knowledge is very important and gives hotel operators in Europe the ability to bring local products and not need to import from Israel or the USA.

His Kashrut experience has further expanded into the Kosher Cruises and he the Rav Hamachshir for Eddie’s Kosher Travel/Destinations Cruise packages.

Rabbi Rotenberg works throughout the year to obtain Kosher meat and poultry throughout Europe at the highest kosher level, at the best price. For every shechita Rabbi Rotenberg sends a special overseer on his behalf in reservation to ensure that the shipment of meat from the start will arrive at the hotel with the utmost supervision.

Rabbi Rottenberg currently serves as part time Rabbi of Savion community in Israel Further enquiries pls contact Rabbi Nechemia Rottenberg on +972 584038543 / +436889171489 or nr@zehut.org

What type of crowd should I expect?

The common denominator of our clients is Shomer Shabbat and kashrut. There are no religious level criteria to join our tours, cruises or hotel programs  and we won’t ask you any questions about your religious observance. We attract a diverse group of Jewish, English-speaking guests from across the globe, and encourage an accepting atmosphere among our group members.

At Kosher Travelers, we’re passionate about travel. Like you, we believe in opening yourself up to new experiences and breathtaking vistas that will forever expand who you are and how you see the world.

Discover… That’s why we put so much care into giving our customers not just a vacation but a life-changing experience. On a Kosher Travelers tour, you can be confident that every detail will be taken care of, from A to Z. No worries, no stress – just sheer delight and the freedom to fully enjoy every moment.

Enrich… We know what’s important to you. You want not just memorable, but meaningful. A pampering, deluxe, full-sensory experience that also has depth and spirituality. That’s why we bring the Jewish dimension to our tours, wherever in the world they are and provide the highest level of kashrut and all the amenities required for the kosher traveler.

Connect… Most importantly, when you travel with Kosher Tours, you travel with family. We take pride in creating a family dynamic among our group members. Lifelong friendships have been formed on our tours!

Come experience for yourself the magic of a Kosher Travelers Tour!

Discover. Enrich. Connect. And give yourself the gift of a lifetime.

DAY 1, WEDNESDAY: PASSAU (DEPART 17:00) 

We will meet at the dock in Passua where there will be time to check-in and settle into your cabins. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with the Captain and our onboard team after your days travel.

DAY 2, THURSDAY: MELK (07:00- 13:00)

DAY 3, FRIDAY: VIENNA / BRATISLAVA Vienna (12:00) Bratislava ( 16:00)

This morning we will start with a visit to the First District and a bus tour of the Ringstrasse, Vienna’s circular boulevard, which boasts some of the city’s most spectacular sights—the Parliament Building, City Hall, the Opera House, palaces, museums, and parks.

After the bus tour, we will continue on foot to the elegant Kärntner Strasse and Graben pedestrian areas and visit the majestic St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Vienna was home to a thriving Jewish community in the Middle Ages, one of the largest and most important in Europe. Famous Rabbis taught and worked here, making Vienna an influential center of Jewish knowledge.

Unfortunately, this lively and creative environment was forced to an abrupt and violent end in 1420, with the expulsion and murder of the Viennese Jews. The ruins of the then-destroyed Synagogue, excavated under the Judenplatz in 1995, bear witness to the life and destruction of that medieval community.

In 2000, the Museum at Judenplatz was opened as a branch of the Jewish Museum Vienna. The city unveiled the solemn Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial on the square itself: a reinforced concrete cube resembling a library with its volumes turned inside out, designed by British artist Rachel Whiteread.

To this day, new sources and scientific and architectural findings are shedding a more detailed light on medieval Jewish Vienna. Our visit to the museum will include an animated virtual tour of Jewish life.

Allowing us to walk through a reconstruction of the city and showcasing the Jewish festivals and customs of the time. 

As our river ship glides out of the heart of the city via the picturesque Danube River, you’ll pass under several stunning bridges and enjoy views of magnificent architecture lining the riverbanks on both the ‘Buda’ and ‘Pest’ sides of the city.

The Banks of the Danube in Budapest are UNESCO-listed in recognition of their beautifully well-preserved historical landmarks, and when you see wonders such as the awe-inspiring Parliament Building from the deck of your ship, you will soon understand why they are so highly regarded.

We will reach Bratislava for lunch and later travel by coach to the Chatam Sofer’s Burial. The Chatam Sofer is one of the most influential Poskim and the leader of the prestigious Pressburg Yeshiva.  We will return to the cruise ship to prepare for Shabbat. The chazzan will lead Kabalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv prayers.

DAY 4, SHABBAT: BRATISLAVA

On Shabbat morning, we will join the local Jewish community in Bratislava’s Heydukova Street Synagogue, the only Synagogue in Bratislava and only one of four active synagogues in Slovakia. While three other synagogues did survive the Holocaust, they were demolished in the 1960s.

Bratislava’s Synagogue also houses the Bratislava Jewish Community Museum. The Museum is a Slovak National Cultural Monument. Following morning services, a community leader will give us a private tour of the museum located on the upper level of the Synagogue and share with us the fascinating history of Bratislava’s Jewish community,

home to the prestigious Pressburg Yeshiva and whose pre-World War II Jewish population accounted for 12% of the city’s residents. This museum’s remarkable collection of Judaica and religious objects, many formerly hidden, were collected and preserved by the Jewish community. Finally, we will return to the ship for the Shabbat meal.

After the Shabbat meal, we will have some time to rest. In the afternoon, we will hear a lecture and enjoy tea and cake, followed by a lecture, Seudah Shlishit, and singing lead by the chazzan. After Havdallah the ship will start cruising.

DAY 5, SUNDAY: BUDAPEST (09:30 – 16:00)

Discover the magical city of Budapest with a guided bus & walking tour. As the capital of Hungary, Budapest is often called the “Paris of the East” and is a highlight for travelers worldwide.

The time will not only give you a sense of Budapest’s colorful history but also give insight into how the city’s division by the Danube river has played such an essential role in society over the centuries – one side known as “Buda” and the other “Pest.” Our first stop will be at the famous Neolog Synagogue, the Dohanny Synagogue, which is Europe’s largest.

Designed in oriental style, the Synagogue can seat some 3,000 people. Its central location on a leafy boulevard serves as a complex for the Synagogue,

Heroes Temple, Memorial, and Jewish Museum and graveyard. Built on the site of Herzl’s home, it is no surprise that the 13-year-old Theodor celebrated his Bar Mitzvah here.

Our next stop is the Jewish Museum. From there, we will continue towards the famous monuments located on Andrássy Út street, including the exquisitely designed Opera House, Hero’s Square, the famous Great Market Hall, St.

Stephen’s church, and the Parliament, which strikingly resembles the British Parliament building with nearly 20 km of corridors! We will return to the ship for lunch.

In the afternoon, our tour continues as we cross the famous chain bridge towards Buda Castle, where the coronation of Sisi and her husband as Hungarian Hapsburg rulers took place. You’ll have an opportunity for an unforgettable view of Budapest and take in the exotic Fisherman’s Bastion, where you can enjoy the city at your fingertips. 

DAY 6, MONDAY: VIENNA (16:30 – 22:00)

We will visit the Schönbrunn Palace. The palace is the summer residence of the Habsburg family and notably Empress Elisabeth. The history of the palace and its vast gardens spans over 300 years, displaying the changing tastes, interests, and aspirations of the Habsburg monarchs. Today it is mainly in its original condition and is quite a sight to see!

This evening you are welcome to join us for an optional visit to Vienna’s Concert. The German name still suggests that the “Kursalon Palace” was initially intended as a spa resort.

However, over time, this magnificent building has quickly grown into a vibrant hotspot in the heart of Vienna, promoting the very essence of what Vienna is famous for classical music.

In the same place where Johann Strauss himself used to direct his orchestra from the position of the first violin, Vienna’s classical music scene can once again be experienced in modern times.

DAY 7, TUESDAY: DURENSTEIN (05:00: 12:00)

his morning we will dock in Dürnstein, located on the bank of the Danube River in the Wachau Valley. Known as the Pearl of the Wachau Valley, it is surrounded by luscious vineyards.

In addition, we will visit the ancient 12th-century castle, famous for the imprisonment of the King of England, Richard the Lionheart, which is also connected to the city of Akko.

This guided walking tour takes you through the charming center, from where you will have a fantastic view of the surrounding valley and castle ruins. Then, return to the ship for lunch while we sail to Melk. 

Scenic cruise along the Wachau Valley, a picturesque valley between Krems and Melk and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Wachau has inspired romantic legends for centuries, and the castles are full of tales of love and heartbreak, particularly from the medieval days. 

Tonight, we will gather for a Farewell dinner with the Captain and crew.

DAY 8, WEDNESDAY: PASSAU – DISEMBARKATION (09:30)

After breakfast, make your way to the aiport to catch your flight home.