Cruise the Danube with Gulf Coast Symphony July 11–18

January 20, 2026

This summer, July 11–18, 2026, Gulf Coast Symphony presents an exclusive river cruise – Sounds of Music: A Danube Journey – blending history, art, architecture, fine cuisine, exquisite wines and exceptional classical music into one exciting European experience.

Hosted aboard The Gentleman, this seven-night cruise celebrates the timeless beauty, history and cultural impact of the Danube River through the universal language of music, with stops in some of Europe’s most iconic cities.

The journey begins in Budapest and continues to Bratislava, followed by Vienna, the Wachau Valley, Linz, Salzburg and Český Krumlov, concluding in picturesque Passau, Germany, where the Danube meets the Inn and Ilz rivers. 

Along the way, activities will include tours of the Liszt Academy of Music, Bratislava castle, the Vienna State Opera House, the Baroque Theatre at Český Krumlov Castle, and many of the places in and around Salzburg where The Sound of Music was filmed. Guests will also have the option to add a three-night post-cruise extension to Prague, Czech Republic, from July 18 to July 21.

“This is not a cookie-cutter experience,” says Dr. Andrew Kurtz, Gulf Coast Symphony founder, CEO and music director. “We’ve curated a unique itinerary of fun, fascinating shore excursions designed specifically for the Symphony and our guests, and we’ll be joined by several incredibly talented special guest vocalists and instrumentalists for daily performances aboard The Gentleman.”

Most importantly, Kurtz adds, a portion of the proceeds from the cruise supports the Gulf Coast Symphony’s mission to sustain world-class performances and music education in Southwest Florida.

To learn more about Gulf Coast Symphony’s upcoming river cruise, Sounds of Music: A Danube Journey, go to danube26.gulfcoastsymphony.org.