Exclusive for Mail on Sunday readers: Meet your favourite authors on a superb cruise of the Danube

The UK’s most popular literary festival takes place in Oxfordshire in October – and we’re giving readers a chance to be part of an unmissable experience a few weeks later as the event takes to the water.

You’ll mingle with some of your favourite authors while enjoying wonderful food and drink and breathtaking vistas on the eight-day Henley Literary Festival cruise through the heart of Europe.

Talks, interviews and more from a host of top writers will take place on board an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship during this unforgettable cruise.

Highlight: You’ll visit the towns of Melk and Durnstein in the beautiful Unesco-listed Wachau Valley (pictured)

Unforgettable: Talks, interviews and more from a host of top writers will take place on board an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. Pictured is an Emerald Grand Balcony Suite

MEET YOUR SPECIAL GUESTS 

Kate Mosse 

Louis de Bernieres

KATE MOSSE is a bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 38 languages. 

LOUIS DE BERNIERES’S best-known work is Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, which won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Novel in 1994. It was later adapted into a major Hollywood film starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz.

Joanna Trollope

Ruth Jones

JOANNA TROLLOPE OBE is the author of 17 highly acclaimed bestselling novels such as A Village Affair, The Choir and The Rector’s Wife. Trollope has written a number of historical novels, many under the pseudonym Caroline Harvey.

Actress, comedian and author RUTH JONES is best-known for her award-winning television writing, most notably Gavin & Stacey.

The Danube is one of Europe’s greatest rivers, flowing through ten countries and four capital cities: Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Belgrade. Our unique itinerary starts in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on October 27. Your ship will stop at Linz for Cesky Krumlov, the towns of Melk and Durnstein in the beautiful Unesco-listed Wachau Valley, Bratislava and Vienna, before the cruise finishes in ancient Passau on the edge of Germany’s Black Forest.

With a brilliant line-up of bestselling authors set to attend, including recently added Ruth Jones, Joanna Trollope, Kate Mosse and Louis de Bernières, it promises to be an epic journey through central Europe that book-lovers will not want to miss.

For added peace of mind, Emerald Cruises offers a Flexible Booking Policy which allows you to defer your travel plans and transfer to an alternative departure date or itinerary up to 60 days before departure*.

REASONS TO BOOK

An incredible line-up: You will meet some of your favourite personalities from the world of books, hand-picked by Henley Literary Festival, now one of Britain’s most popular literary festivals. With more speakers to be announced, you’ll get to hear them talk and attend exclusive Q&A sessions on board the ship.

Discover the Danube: During this voyage, you’ll sail through stunning scenery and visit two of Europe’s great capitals – Vienna, famous for its art and culture, and historic Budapest in Hungary.

Your deluxe Star-Ship: Emerald Cruises’ fleet offers spacious and stylishly designed staterooms, an indoor heated pool with retractable roof, fitness centre, large open-air sun deck with putting green and an evening cinema.

Flexible booking policy: Emerald Cruises’ Flexible Booking Policy allows guests to change their travel dates or itinerary up to 60 days before departure at no cost*.  

YOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 Fly to Budapest and board DAY 2 Budapest DAY 3 Bratislava DAY 4 Vienna DAY 5 Durnstein and Melk DAY 6 Linz for Cesky Krumlov DAY 7Passau DAY 8 Disembark and fly home.