the biggest locks
The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe. Stretching from Central through Southeastern Europe it runs from the Black Forest south into the Black Sea. Only the Volga River in Russia is longer.
in a lock waiting for the back gate to close
Early in our river cruise on Viking Skirnir we passed through a set of locks, the first of over 60 on the journey. We were told the first one was the largest lock of the entire journey.
sunrise at the top of the locks
At first all of the locks started out with the water low, then raised us to a higher level. About halfway through the cruise we started going into high water and getting lowered instead, though that was on other rivers farther into the cruise. On the Danube they were all going up as we worked our way from the start of the journey in Budapest to the end in Amsterdam.
bridge on the Danube River
We passed under many bridges on our journey. The ones on the Danube were high enough for the Viking longship to pass under easily, but later in the journey there were some low bridges where everything on the top deck including the pilot house had to fold down in order to fit under them.
sailing past a town
The Danube wasn’t just historically an important means of transportation for the area, it still is. It’s not just river cruise boats sailing there, though there are a lot of them. Many different companies that we’d never heard of before we saw their ships on the river. There’s also plenty of barges still transporting cargo by river.
mistletoe in trees on the riverbank
In some areas trees full of mistletoe dot the banks of the river.
passing by a town called Weißenkirchen in Austria
Picturesque towns and the occasional castle dot the riverbanks with countryside and vineyards in between. And of course churches. No matter how small the town it has at least one church. Often more.
Spitz an der Donau, Austria
One day we had scenic sailing through a UNESCO World Heritage area along the Danube called Wachau.
a castle perched on the hill above Spitz au Donau
The scenic area included castles as well as picturesque towns.
Schönbühel castle
Schönbühel Castle was built in the 12th century. It sits on a rock about 40 meters above the Danube River.
another riverside town
Cruise Stories 
Such a wonderful and vivid account of your Danube River cruise! Your descriptions bring the journey to life, from the fascinating lock system to the picturesque towns and historic castles. The mix of history, scenery, and personal experience makes this an engaging read. Sounds like an unforgettable adventure!