Crystal Mozart from Budapest to Vienna...how to board the boat in Budapest

We recently booked a Budapest to Vienna itinerary on Crystal Mozart for April 2019. It's still more than a year ahead, but we are starting to think about the logistics of getting there and returning home. I usually like to give my workplace about a request for time off about 10 months in advance.

Anyways, here are my questions for those who has done this or similar itinerary:

1. Where on the Danube does Mozart dock in Budapest? Is there a way to look up what has been the case, for us to get a rough idea?

2. I know that Crystal has "complimentary" transportation from Budapest airport to the boat, only on the day of embarkation. We are planning to arrive in Budapest the day before embarkation. Does this mean we are "on our own" to get to the boat? That was exactly the case, sort of, when we did a cruise on Crystal Esprit out of Dubrovnik. However, I was able to negotiate a complimentary transportation arrangement with Crystal. My argument is that even Crystal would prefer that we get to the port a day early, to avoid the hassle of our flight delays causing them inconvenience. Who knows how that would fly with a bigger boat like Mozart?

3. Does anybody know how the "complimentary" transportation from the boat to Vienna Airport works? Do we have to make sure our flight is after certain cut-off time?

Thanks.

We embark on March 30 out of Budapest and wondering the same thing about the sick location. Trying to book a hotel that isn’t on the other side of the city!

I can answer #3. I leave for the Mozart in 3 weeks - my trip is RT Vienna.

As far as leaving Vienna - it is on my website: *Please plan for the flight to depart no earlier than 8:00 AM. For more details email riverbutler@crystalcruises.com.

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My flight is 9:40 am.

On 1/14/2018 at 1:09 AM, Psoque said:

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1. Where on the Danube does Mozart dock in Budapest? Is there a way to look up what has been the case, for us to get a rough idea?
 

 

If you look at Google maps, look for the Intercontinental Hotel/Four Seasons. Cross the road to the river bank. Go along the river past the Marriott Hotel and possibly a bit further.

All the river boats tend to dock along this stretch. It is busy so it is up to the river authorities where the various river boats dock. Priority is given to river boats with passengers disembarking or embarking against the river bank since they know that luggage have to be loaded/unloaded.

In short it is very central. Have you decided which hotel you are likely to base yourself?

The issue is that the road between the hotel and the river banks tends to be busy making it difficult to drag bags across the road unless you are fairly fit.

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2. I know that Crystal has "complimentary" transportation from Budapest airport to the boat, only on the day of embarkation. We are planning to arrive in Budapest the day before embarkation. Does this mean we are "on our own" to get to the boat? That was exactly the case, sort of, when we did a cruise on Crystal Esprit out of Dubrovnik. However, I was able to negotiate a complimentary transportation arrangement with Crystal. My argument is that even Crystal would prefer that we get to the port a day early, to avoid the hassle of our flight delays causing them inconvenience. Who knows how that would fly with a bigger boat like Mozart?
 

 

 

Crystal uses four large 40-50 person buses. Crystal seldom fill them up but it is a volume exercise.

These busses are not going to drive around the narrow streets of Budapest to the various hotel not knowing if passengers will be on time or not. All ocean/river cruises lines offer transport (paid or complementary) from the airport. 

If you really want free travel, then take a taxi from the hotel back to the airport and meet the Crystal Representative at the Arrivals Hall. Your hotel maybe just across the road from where the Mozart is docked. The choice is your. Taxis are cheap. This is Eastern Europe.

This assumes that the Danube water levels are back to normal (very likely and the Mozart can sail to Budapest. Otherwise, the Mozart is likely to stay up in Vienna. This is when the fun starts. Its a 2.5 hour drive from Budapest to Vienna.

Just hope for a cold winter leading to lots of snow melting to restore the rive levels in April.