Which Danube cruise is best: with drinks, without alcohol, for kids, for groups?

It depends on who is coming.

• Without alcohol: a standard sightseeing cruise with a soft drink or juice. It is calm and relaxed, and the best choice for most travelers. Duna Cruises runs 60-minute cruises on historic paddle steamers, and on two of its boats you can choose orange juice as the welcome drink.
• With drinks: unlimited-drinks boats are more of a party, and louder. Some cap the offer at beer, wine and soft drinks, so check what is included and for how long. Silverline Cruises runs cocktail and drinks cruises, for example a folklore cruise with drinks.
• For kids: pick a daytime or sunset sightseeing cruise rather than a late party boat, and ask the operator about child fares. Legenda runs both daytime and evening sightseeing cruises and is often recommended for families, but check its current child fares.
• For groups: a dinner cruise (roughly 15,000–35,000 HUF, about €38–87 per person, for around 2 hours) suits a celebration. Private hire gives you control over the route and timing but costs more per person. Silverline Cruises offers dinner cruises and private boat rental, so ask them for a group quote.

Not sure it is worth it? See is a Danube night cruise worth it, and check when to book and where the boats depart from.