Best Unlimited Prosecco Cruises
If you look for Budapest Prosecco Cruises on the Danube River, you will find no shortage of options. All the major boat tour companies in Budapest have variations of this tour, adding variety to the drink options, creating a special theme, and even simply by choice of boat on which you get the experience. Picking the right cruise is all about checking your options, and factoring in our key local insights about when its better to arrive early to your Prosecco cruise, or which ship is better for rainy days or harsher weather conditions.
Party vs Peaceful Prosecco Cruises
These cruises have become one of the hottest trends in recent years, and there are loads of operators who have jumped on the bandwagon. Generally speaking, you can divide the various Prosecco cruises into 2 categories:
- The bottomless drinks party experiences
- The atmospheric and quiet cruise
There are good options for both, but depending on what kind of cruise you are planning, you should definitely be sure to book the right one.
Comparing 7 Unlimited Prosecco Cruises
| Cruise | Provider | Price | Schedule | Duration | Drinks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Prosecco, Beer, Aperol and Limoncello Spritz | Duna-Weser | €24.80 | 10 slots across 3 starting points, 15:30 to 23:00 | 75 minutes | Unlimited Aperol, Hugo, Rossini, Limoncello, beer, soft drinks |
| Evening Cruise with Unlimited Prosecco | Danube Flow | €25 | 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 | 55 minutes | Unlimited wine, beer, Prosecco and soft drinks |
| Unlimited Prosecco and Aperol Rooftop Terrace | CEE Gastro Group Kft (Flying Lotus) |
€25 to €38 €52 to €64 (VIP) |
18:00, 19:30, 21:00 | 75 minutes | Unlimited Aperol Spritz, craft beer, Heineken, Hungarian wines and soft drinks. Option for VIP upgrade |
| Sip and Sail Prosecco with Photos | Budapest Boat Party | €30, €45 (Premium) | 18:00, 20:00 | 90 minutes | Unlimited Prosecco, Prosecco cocktails and beer. Option for Premium drinks upgrade |
| Unlimited Prosecco Cruise | Silverline | €27 | Every 90 minutes from 16:15 to 22:15 | 60 minutes | Unlimited Prosecco and cocktails |
| Unlimited Prosecco Sightseeing Cruise | Mahart Cruises | €33 (11,990 HUF) | 19:00, 20:45 | 60 minutes | Unlimited Prosecco / Unlimited Mulled Wine (Christmas) |
| Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante | Duna Cruises | €12 to €36 | Every 90 minutes from 13:30 to 21:00 | 60 minutes | 1 glass Tokaj Frizzante |
Best 7 Budapest Prosecco Cruises
The scheduled time slots, specifically when they run and how much time in between slots, already gives you an inkling about when the best time to arrive is. More frequent cruises = less time queuing in between. Also dock location, any cruises that start in the 5th District or 1st District (addresses in 1051, 1052, or in 1011) also tend to attract larger crowds. We touch on this in our mini reviews, and indicate boat size and target audience (party vs peaceful cruises).
#1. Unlimited Prosecco, Beer, Aperol and Limoncello Spritz (Duna-Weser)
Pick between 3 starting points in Pest and head out for a 75 minute cruise on the Danube River, with unlimited refills of Prosecco, Aperol, and other drinks. This cruise by Duna-Weser is easily the best seller among Danube River Prosecco Cruises and Wine Cruises.
- Starting times: 10 slots across 3 starting points, 15:30 to 23:00
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Ticket prices: €24.80
- Starting points: 3 points, see below
- Provider: Duna-Weser
- Drinks: Unlimited Aperol, Hugo, Rossini, Limoncello, beer, soft drinks
The impressive selection of 6 Spritzers and the casual atmosphere of this cruise (no special dress code), and even the price of this cruise easily explain why it is a best seller. What is a little tricky is that, due to overwhelming sales, Duna-Weser has three starting points, each with their own starting times. You have:
Rakpart Dock 0: 18:45, 20:30
This is further up North on the Pest embankment, beyond the Margaret Bridge and near St Istvan Park. It is a bit out of the beaten path for most tourists.
Akadémia 3: 17:15, 19:00, 20:45
Close to the Parliament, this is a prime spot to start your cruise, and most people pick this option. But it is also the most crowded
Vigadó 8/A Dock: 16:00, 23:00
Another good location, more central along the Pest embankment, between the Chain Bridge and Liberty Bridge. It is not always offered, but less crowded than Akademia
The main concern you are going to have is clinching a good table to sit at, which if you are picking the Akademia or Vigado starting cruises, may require arriving 30, preferably 45 minutes earlier (it is a best seller).
#2. Evening Cruise with Unlimited Prosecco (Danube Flow)
Danube Flow’s Prosecco Cruise seats up to 150 guests, with a large open rooftop deck and a cosy indoor lower deck, with waiters to keep your glass half full.
- Starting times: 19:00, 20:00, 21:00
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Ticket prices: €25
- Starting point: 1138, Budapest, Carl Lutz rkp. 9
- Provider: Danube Flow
- Drinks: Unlimited wine, beer, Prosecco and soft drinks
The starting location of this cruise is on the Carl Lutz Rakpart, way up North past the Margaret Bridge and St Istvan Park, which is more of a secluded area. That means, the main crowds don’t pick this cruise so it rarely gets fully packed, but the cruise is still just 55 minutes long. So it only goes as far down as the Citadel (but you aren’t missing much outside the Universities on Buda and Pest after that).
You have waiters to continuously top up your Prosecco, but if you opt for beer or wine, you will have to go to the bar to get a top up.
#3. Unlimited Prosecco and Aperol Rooftop Terrace (Floating Lotus)
The Floating Lotus is a top choice if you are looking for rooftop comfort at the golden sunset time slots. A large boat with plenty of space, it has a VIP upgrade with important skip-the-line access and other perks.
- Starting times: 1800, 19:30, 21:00
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Ticket prices: €25 to €38, €52 to €64 (VIP)
- Starting point: 1138, Budapest, Carl Lutz rkp. 9
- Provider: CEE Gastro Group Kft (Floating Lotus)
- Drinks: Unlimited Aperol Spritz, craft beer, Heineken, Hungarian wines and soft drinks
- VIP upgrade: skip the line, private area on top with bar and bartender
The standout feature of this Prosecco Cruise is the Floating Lotus boat, which has the largest rooftop terrace among Danube River boats. The seating on the deck tends to run out very quickly, and queues can start to build even 30 minutes before each start (remember, this is sunset – peak cruising time across the Danube). You can always stand and walk around the top deck, and if you get tired, head down to the lower deck where you will always find a seat.
But it is also worth considering the VIP upgrade, which comes with a skip-the-line pass and you get the best seats in the house, right at the front. It saves you the extra 30 or so minutes you’d otherwise spend queuing up, and you won’t have to rush to secure a good spot, you are guaranteed one.
#4. Sip and Sail Prosecco with Photos (Budapest Boat Party)
This energetic party cruise by Budapest Boat Party is also sold as “Unlimited Drinks with Chilled Beats”. The entire programme lasts 90 minutes, with unlimited Prosecco, signature Prosecco cocktails and beer, and there is a professional photographer onboard to capture every moment.
- Starting times: 18:00, 20:00
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Ticket prices: €30, €45 (Premium)
- Starting point: 1052, Budapest, Akadémia 2
- Provider: Budapest Boat Party
- Drinks: Unlimited Prosecco, Prosecco cocktails and beer
- Premium upgrade: Spirits and mixers
Budapest Boat Party is a company that provides pub crawls, bingo bar crawls and boat parties, and this Sip and Sail cruise follows the same theme. It has a DJ providing the background beats, is hosted on a massive 3-deck boat, and can pack up to 400 people in one cruise. It gets loud, there’s dancing onboard, and it is not uncommon to have stag or hen parties, groups of exchange students, and first-time Budapest visitors all in one party.
This is not really recommended for families or couples who want a quieter experience; it is really geared toward people who want to go out and have a ball. As far as parties go, this is a great starter before exploring the Budapest nightlife, and you are bound to meet like-minded groups of tourists or exchange students on board, in rare cases, a few locals too.
#5. Unlimited Prosecco Cruise (Silverline)
A reliable, budget friendly option, this Prosecco cruise is hosted by Silverline, a company famous for its medium sized purple boats that cover all the bare essentials for a fair price.
- Starting times: Every 90 minutes from 16:15 to 22:15
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Ticket prices: €27
- Starting point: 1052, Budapest, Jane Haining Rakpart, Dock 11
- Provider: Silverline Cruises
- Drinks: Unlimited Prosecco
It can be misleading because Silverline (alongside Mahart) is better known for standard Danube River boat tours, with audio guides and taking you in the standard loop to see all the main sights along the embankment. This is basically the same trip, but without the audio (and sometimes live) guide, and with unlimited Prosecco instead. The boat is smaller than some of the other Prosecco cruises, which means it can get a little crowded.
However, this is generally not a party crowd, as some of the noisier, larger cruises have. The ticket includes Prosecco and cocktails, and you can sit out on the top deck or indoors, but the top deck tables can run out. So coming a good 45+ minutes early during summer is a must to secure these seats.
#6. Unlimited Prosecco Sightseeing Cruise (Mahart)
The Mahart-run cruise sets off from the Buda side, which is a rarity among unlimited Prosecco cruises, with starting times around sunset. Also, at Winter Mahart changes the menu to unlimited Mulled Wine.
- Starting times: 19:00, 20:45
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Ticket prices: €33 (11,990 HUF)
- Starting point: 1011, Budapest, Batthyány tér 1
- Provider: Mahart Cruises
- Drinks: Unlimited Prosecco / Mulled Wine (Christmas
For context, Mahart is one of the main Danube River sightseeing tour companies, and so it uses a standard medium-sized Moskva-class boat. It has unlimited Prosecco served by waiters, and a self-service lemonade station. It is fair service for what you get: a full hour on the Danube, a more peaceful atmosphere than the party cruises, and despite their vintage – the Mahart boats have quite a lot of rooftop deck chairs. It is also the only cruise, among the main ones, that starts on the Buda side.
During winter, the unlimited prosecco upgrade is swapped for unlimited mulled wine. It is the perfect festive alternative for those winter months when sweet, traditional mulled wine can liven up the experience and keep you warm.
#7. Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante (Duna Cruises)
A rare treat aboard Duna Cruises’ smaller luxury boats, the Sightseeing Cruise with Tokaj Frizzante is a very different kind of experience. There is no bottomless Prosecco, but you get a classic Hungarian sparkling white wine in a more lavish, elegant cruise.
- Starting times: Every 90 minutes from 13:30 to 21:00
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Ticket prices: €12 to €36, depending on time and weekday/weekend
- Starting point: 1052, Budapest, Jane Haining Rakpart, Dock 10
- Provider: Duna Cruises
- Drinks: 1 glass Tokaj Frizzante (Hungarian sparkling white wine)
There is a bar on board, so you can always get more drinks but these are not included in the price of the ticket, only that first welcome drink. The charm of this cruise is that the Duna Cruise boats are a lot smaller than the commercial ships that most Budapest Prosecco Cruises use. Fewer people, fewer chairs, and so a less obstructed view. The cruise also comes with an audio guide in 30 languages, but it is completely optional.
Seating is not assigned with your ticket, but this cruise doesn’t get overcrowded. Also, another draw of not having unlimited Prosecco is that this cruise doesn’t attract guests who go only for the booze, it is a more peaceful affair.