GTC

General Terms and Conditions of DDSG

GENERAL

To improve readability, personal designations that refer to both women and men are generally stated in the masculine form on this website. All personal designations apply equally to all genders.

The conditions of carriage of DDSG Blue Danube Schiffahrt GmbH apply. For journeys operated by the Twin City Liner and cruises, the terms and conditions of the respective operator apply, which we are happy to provide upon request.

PROGRAM, ROUTE & VESSEL CHANGES

Please note that changes to vessels and timetables may occur. Information regarding such changes is available at all sales points via telephone, email, or in person, and can also be found online under Current Schedule Changes (http://www.ddsg-blue-danube.at/fahrplanaenderungen). Due to unforeseeable events such as high or low water levels or delays at locks or bridges, changes to the program and/or route may become necessary. We reserve the right to make changes to services in cases of force majeure (high water, low water, etc.). For themed cruises, program changes may occur due to unforeseeable events such as illness of an artist.

DISCOUNTS

Vienna line

Children (accompanied by a family member): 0–9 years free of charge, 10–15 years 50% discount
Pupils, students, compulsory military or civil service personnel (with valid ID): 20% discount
Seniors 60+: Monday–Friday 20% discount
Persons with disabilities: 20% discount, also valid for one accompanying person
Groups (from 20 full-paying adults): 10% discount, every 21st person free, 1 tour guide free of charge
Children’s groups (from 10 children): kindergartens, clubs, schools and universities: 50% discount, one accompanying person free per 10 children

Combi tickets Vienna

Children (accompanied by a family member): 0–9 years cruise free, combination services charged separately;
10–15 years 50% discount or specified children’s price
Groups (from 20 full-paying adults): every 21st person free, 1 tour guide free of charge

Wachau line

Children (accompanied by a family member): 0–9 years free, 10–15 years 50% discount
Pupils, students, compulsory military or civil service personnel (with valid ID): 20% discount
Seniors 60+: Monday–Friday and Sunday 20% discount
Persons with disabilities: 20% discount, also valid for one accompanying person
Groups (from 20 full-paying adults): 10 % discount, every 21st person free, 1 tour guide free of charge
Children’s groups (from 10 children): kindergartens, clubs, schools and universities: 50% discount, one accompanying person free per 10 children

Combi tickets Wachau

Themed Cruises Vienna

Children (accompanied by a family member): 0–5 years free, 6–15 years 50% discount
Persons with disabilities: 20% discount, also valid for one accompanying person
Groups (from 20 full-paying adults): every 21st person free of charge

Themed Cruises Wachau

Day Trips

Twin City Liner

Apprentices: 50% discount
Seniors 60+: Tuesday 50% discount
Persons with disabilities: Tuesday 50% discount
Students, civil service personnel: Tuesday 50% discount

CANCELLATION POLICIES

Vienna Line | Wachau Line | Combi Tickets | Eurofan Cruises

Individual and group bookings:
Free of charge up to 2 weeks before departure
20% up to 24 hours before departure
50% from 24 hours before departure
100% for no-shows

Theme Cruises Vienna | Theme Cruises Wachau | Day Trips

Bookings of 1–19 persons:
Free of charge up to 2 weeks before departure
50% up to 48 hours before departure
100% from 48 hours before departure or no-shows

Group bookings of 20 persons or more:
Free of charge up to 6 weeks before departure
Free of charge up to 2 weeks before departure for up to 20% of booked passengers
50% up to 2 weeks before departure more than 20% of the booked passengers
50% up to 48 hours before departure
100% from 48 hours before departure or no-shows

Separate cancellation policies apply to the Wachau & Nibelungengau Solstice Cruise and the New Year’s Eve Cruise:

Wachauer & Nibelungengauer Solstice
Bookings for individual travellers as well as groups:
Free of charge up to 20 weeks before departure
50% from 20 weeks before departure
75% from 8 weeks before departure
100% from 48 hours before departure or no‑show

New Year’s Eve Cruise
Bookings for individual travelers as well as group bookings:
Free of charge up to 8 weeks before departure
20% cancellation fee up to 4 weeks before departure
50% cancellation fee up to 2 weeks before departure
100% cancellation fee from 2 weeks before departure or in case of no‑show

Twin City Liner

On request or see Twincityliner.com Opens in new window

Cruises

on request

TABLE RESERVATION

Sightseeing Cruises Vienna |Sightseeing Cruises Wachau

Free seats. Table reservations for group bookings and menu orders are possible.

Combi tickets | Theme Cruises Vienna | Theme Cruises Wachau | Day Trips

General table reservation for the booked number of people. Tables are automatically reserved for the booked number of passengers. Table requests are handled according to availability (number of guests, available tables, etc.) and booking order but cannot be guaranteed.

CYCLES

Vienna line

No transport possible.

Wachau line

Transport possible, no prior registration required.
Price per bicycle: Adults € 3.00 | Children 10–15 years € 1.50 | Children 0–9 years free

Day Trips

Transport possible, booking required.
Price per bicycle: Adults € 10.00 | Children 6–15 years € 5.00 | Children 0–5 years free.
Max. 10 bicycles per route

WHEELCHAIR

Wheelchairs must be registered for all journeys.
Please refer to information on wheelchair-accessible vessels and piers (https://ddsg-blue-danube.at/menschen-mit-behinderung/).
Bus transfers in combination with cruises are not barrier-free.

DOGS

Free of charge. Muzzle and leash mandatory during the whole boat trip. Trips to Bratislava: additionally valid EU vaccinatin card with proof of the rabies vaccination.

SMOKING ON BOARD

Smoking on board is expressly prohibited in closed areas. However, it is partially permitted on the open decks.

DATA

The customer agrees that the data disclosed in the context of the order and the order processing for accounting purposes as well as for use in internal marketing , stored and used.

TICKETS & SUPPLEMENTS

Round trip tickets must be used for domestic journeys (Vienna line, Vienna line, Wachau line) are consumed within one day, after which they are no longer valid . When traveling abroad with the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth and the Twin City Liner, the outward and return journey can take place on different days.

All prices are subject to a fuel surcharge. Price changes due to a tense fuel situation and the associated levying of a fuel surcharge on all trips are possible . Unused services cannot be reimbursed.

Discounts cannot be granted retrospectively on tickets that have already been paid for. No discount on already discounted tariffs! Discounts cannot be combined.

ENTRY AND DEPARTURE

For entry into or exit from Bratislava as part of the Culinary Day Trip Bratislava, no passport control currently takes place; however, a valid travel document (passport or ID card) must be carried. For journeys to Bratislava with the Twin City Liner, passport controls are carried out and a valid travel document is mandatory. Information on current entry requirements is available from the relevant consulate or the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://www.bmeia.gv.at/ Opens in new window).

FILM AND PHOTO RECORDINGS

The passengers acknowledge that occasional pictures of the passengers are taken and subsequently used (television broadcasts, photos, videos, etc.). The passengers therefore acknowledge that the recordings made by them during or in connection with the journey may be evaluated using any current or future technical process and may also be used for commercial purposes, provided that the use does not unduly harm their personal interests. Customers are not entitled to any compensation for their use.

LOSS ON BOARD

No liability is accepted for lost or stolen items on board.

WARRANTY

Errors on the website and in the timetable reserved. Changes, printing and typographical errors as well as errors reserved. The information on this website is provided for general information. We reserve the right to adjust dates and content. The information on our website is created with the greatest care. DDSG Blue Danube Schiffahrt GmbH. however, does not guarantee its completeness. The use of the content made available on the website is entirely at the user’s own risk.

TRANSPORTATION AND ONGOING

The transport or onward transport of persons or animals can be refused with justification without claims for damages; such reasons exist in particular

1.) in the event of force majeure and in the event of other circumstances beyond our control, such as technical defects and damage to the ship, which make transport or further transport impossible or unreasonable, as well as in unfavorable weather conditions and in compliance with official orders and compulsory measures.

2.) if the transport or onward transport contradicts statutory provisions, or if it violates public order and security.

3.) if the conditions of carriage or other general instructions of the company or instructions of the nautical or staff ashore are not complied with, or

4.) in the event of violations of §1.03 point 2 waterway traffic regulations, BGBl. II No. 289/2011 as amended

TICKETS AND TICKETING

The traveler or passenger must be able to carry and present a valid ticket.

DDSG Blue Danube reserves the right to refuse transport to anyone who does not have a valid ticket. The traveler or passenger must carry the ticket with them during the entire journey.

The information on the ticket is decisive for the transport.

The tickets issued by DDSG Blue Danube are not provided with the name of the buyer or with a booking number. The tickets are transferable so that the ticket holder does not necessarily have to be identical with the ticket buyer. If a ticket is lost, DDSG Blue Danube is not liable for any damage that the ticket purchaser incurs as a result of unauthorized use or in connection with it.

Passengers or travelers are obliged not to make print @ home tickets accessible to third parties and to keep them safe. When entering, the principle of first access applies (this means: the print @ home ticket that is accepted first with its unique identification is the valid one. Subsequent tickets with the same identification are automatically canceled by the entry of the first ticket – this only applies if the reasons for any incorrect cancellation are not attributable to DDSG Blue Danube or if this was otherwise caused by DDSG Blue Danube.

If a traveler loses his ticket, he has no entitlement to transport on the section of the route for which the original ticket was issued until he has purchased a new ticket for the route in question at the currently valid tariff.

DDSG Blue Danube can refuse transport if a passenger or traveler presents a ticket that was purchased in violation of legal or official regulations or at a price that deviates from the published tariff. DDSG Blue Danube is also entitled to this right if the price deviates from an agreement made with DDSG Blue Danube.

SURCHARGES, ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS AND REFUNDS

Count

If the fare was demonstrably too low when purchasing a ticket, the traveler must pay the difference immediately upon request. The DDSG Blue Danube bears the burden of proof in this regard.

Additional payment

If a passenger or traveler is found during the journey or after the end of the journey without a valid ticket, he or she must immediately pay the fare according to the timetable for the route already traveled to the next station where the ship docks or to the self-selected disembarkation point. DDSG Blue Danube reserves the right to refuse transport if requested.

If the immediate additional payment is refused in accordance with the provisions, the ship’s personnel or station personnel are entitled to record the name and address of the traveler on the basis of valid identification documents to be presented and to exclude him from further transport or to hand him over to the responsible official bodies.

Refund

If it can be proven that the fare was too high when a ticket was purchased, the difference is to be reimbursed to the traveler by the relevant cashier as soon as possible. The passenger or traveler bears the burden of proof in this regard.

In the following cases, a refund will be made by DDSG Blue Danube at the request of the traveler:

– if a trip is canceled or has to be broken off for operational reasons (official shipping barriers, technical defects) or as a result of force majeure.

Tickets that have been purchased from tour operators are usually to be submitted to the direct biller for reimbursement.

DDSG Blue Danube will not provide a replacement or refund for lost tickets.

The DDSG Blue Danube decides on all reimbursement claims.

TICKET INSPECTION

The passengers or travelers have to show the tickets individually and without being asked to board. During the journey, these tickets must be shown to the ship’s staff at any time upon request.

Travel groups with vouchers must exchange the relevant and correctly filled out voucher with booking number, number of travelers, company stamp and signature of the issuing employee at the ticket counters or at the purser for tickets. Each passenger receives one ticket for each route.

Changes to the content of tickets make them invalid, without prejudice to criminal consequences.

FIREWORKS

Wachau Midsummer Cruise, Melk Midsummer Cruise & Nibelungengau Midsummer Cruise
We are not the organizer of the midsummer bonfires or fireworks. If the midsummer bonfires cannot be lit
or the fireworks cannot be set off, the boat will sail a round trip with dance music in the
Wachau. If the midsummer bonfires or fireworks are canceled, there is no entitlement to a price reduction or
free cancellation.

Midsummer Night’s Dream, New Year’s Eve
We are not the organizer of the fireworks, which are set off as part of the Tulln Horticultural Fair or during New Year’s Eve. If the fireworks cannot be set off, the ship will make a round trip with dance music. If the fireworks are not set off, there is no entitlement to a price reduction or free cancellation

ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (ODR) (https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/). We are ready to take part in an out-of-court arbitration procedure before a consumer arbitration board. You are also welcome to submit your complaint directly to us at the following email address: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

PRIZE DRAWS – TERMS OF PARTICIPATION

How can I participate?
The conditions of participation for the respective Facebook or Instagram prize draw will be specified in the corresponding prize draw post.
What can I win?
The prize will be stated in the respective prize draw post. Cash payment, exchange or transfer of the prize is excluded.
Duration of the prize draw
The prize draw begins with the publication of the prize draw post on our Facebook or Instagram page. The end date will be stated in the respective post.
Who is eligible to participate?
All persons aged 18 years and over are eligible to participate. Employees of DDSG Blue Danube Schiffahrt GmbH, their relatives, authorized representatives, legal successors, agents and involved agencies are excluded from participation.
In addition, participation requires following the respective DDSG Blue Danube Schiffahrt GmbH social media channel.
Selection of winners
Unless otherwise stated, winners will be selected at random and without public disclosure. Any exceptions (e.g. jury decision or highest number of likes) will be communicated in the respective prize draw post. Each participant may receive only one prize.
Notification of winners
Winners will be notified after the end of the prize draw via direct message or email. The prize will be delivered personally, by post or by email. Personal handover or shipment of the prize will be arranged individually with the winner.
Deadline for claiming the prize
Unless otherwise stated, the winner must respond within 14 days of notification. If no response is received within this period, a new winner will be drawn from the existing pool of participants.
Data protection
In the event of a win, we require your contact details (name, email address, postal address) in order to process the prize draw. The data will be used exclusively for this purpose and deleted after completion of the prize draw, provided that no statutory retention obligations apply. Participants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the data provided. By participating, you agree that your name and, if applicable, your image may be published in connection with the prize draw on our social media channels and our website. Further information can be found in our data protection policy.
Photo competitions (additional conditions)
If a photo upload is required, the following applies: the photo must be taken by you and must not infringe any third-party rights. Any persons depicted must have given their consent. Unlawful content (e.g. pornographic, racist or degrading material) is prohibited. By posting your entry, you expressly agree that we may use your photo in connection with the prize draw and for further marketing purposes. This includes, in particular, publication on our website, social media channels, newsletters and, where applicable, print materials. This consent is given voluntarily and may be revoked at any time with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection policy.
Disclaimer of liability and manipulation
The organizer accepts no liability for technical disruptions or data loss. In the event of suspected manipulation or violation of the conditions of participation, the organizer reserves the right to exclude participants from the prize draw.
Miscellaneous provisions
Legal recourse is excluded. Austrian law shall apply.
The prize draws are in no way affiliated with Facebook or Instagram and are not sponsored, supported or administered by them. The organizer of the prize draws is DDSG Blue Danube Schiffahrt GmbH.