Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1, DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight to Holland.

DAY 2, ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND – EMBARKATION
Arrive in charming Amsterdam and embark your luxurious river cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. (D)

DAY 3, AMSTERDAM
After breakfast, admire beautiful 18th-century homes, charming churches and 17th-century merchant houses on a guided canal boat tour. Then enjoy a motor coach tour of Amsterdam, including a photo stop at the Rembrandt Windmill, followed by free time in Amsterdam. Enjoy an afternoon information briefing as you cruise towards Germany. Tonight you'll be a guest at the Captain's Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 4, COLOGNE, GERMANY - KOBLENZ
This morning, arrive in Cologne for a guided morning walking tour through the old part of the city and a visit to the fabled 13th-century Gothic cathedral. You will return to the ship in Bonn, then continue on to 2,000-year-old Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. After dinner, your Cruise Manager will lead a walk through this charming town. (B,L,D)

DAY 5, KOBLENZ - RÜDESHEIM
Today, sail through the fascinating Rhine Gorge, passing castle after castle and the famous Lorelei Rock. After lunch, arrive in Rüdesheim and take a mini train to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants, during your free time. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, MILTENBERG, WERTHEIM
Arrive in Miltenberg for a walking tour of this delightful old Franconian town with its narrow cobblestone streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. During lunch, the ship will cruise to Freudenberg. A motor coach tour will take you to Wertheim, where you will have free time to explore the town on your own before boarding your ship for an overnight cruise to Würzburg. A guided bicycle tour of Wertheim is also available (capacity controlled). (B,L,D)

DAY 7, WÜRZBURG - KITZINGEN
During your guided tour, visit the magnificent Residenz Palace and see the major sights. This afternoon, take an optional tour along the Romantic Road to medieval Rothenburg, and visit its World Famous Christmas Museum. Or relax on board this afternoon as you cruise to Kitzingen. After dinner on board enjoy an evening walk and wine tasting in Kitzingen, Germany’s oldest wine cellar. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, BAMBERG
Arrive this afternoon in enchanting Bamberg, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Disembark for a guided walking tour of this medieval gem. Enjoy free time in Bamberg before you continue your cruise late this evening to ancient Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. (B,L,D)

DAY 9, NUREMBERG
Today decide to either tour the medieval history of Nuremberg to see the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround this historic city and the Imperial Castle, or join the “modern tour” of the city’s role in the 20th-century, which includes the Zeppelin field and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunchtime, return to the ship and cruise the Main Danube Canal to the highest point of your cruise - 1,332 feet above sea level, where you cross Europe's Continental Divide, then start descending through stair-step locks. (B,L,D)

DAY 10, REGENSBURG
A guided morning tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria - gates to a Roman fort built in 179 AD. You will also have the opportunity to tour the Audi Car Factory (when available). The afternoon is free to shop or relax along the Danube. In the evening, enjoy a music performance on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 11, PASSAU - LINZ, AUSTRIA
After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau for a walking tour, or join the optional excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” Those staying on board can enjoy a scenic journey to Linz, Austria. (B,L,D)

DAY 12, MELK - DÜRNSTEIN - WEISSENKIRCHEN
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries. After lunch, enjoy a scenic cruise through the lovely Wachau Valley, dotted with castles, to Dürnstein, for a walking tour through cobblestone streets that reveal quaint 16th-century town houses and taverns. A guided bicycle tour from Melk to Dürnstein is also available (capacity controlled). From Dürnstein, continue on a short cruise, to the town of Weissenkirchen, for some wine-tasting tonight. (B,L,D)

DAY 13, VIENNA
Enjoy a guided city tour followed by free time in the city center, then a walking tour from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Take an optional excursion to the Schönbrunn Palace and the Carriage Museum. Or simply use the free afternoon to stroll along the main shopping street, Kärntnerstrasse, or sample some of Vienna's famous pastries. Tonight, explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or join an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 14, VIENNA - BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA
Enjoy a morning of scenic cruising to Bratislava followed by your choice of a “Communist Tour” or a walking tour of Bratislava, which reveals the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. The rest of the afternoon is free to shop or explore on your own. Tonight there is an evening music performance on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 15, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the Royal Palace and St. Stephen's Basilica. Tonight, enjoy a Gala Farewell Dinner with Gypsy music. Afterwards, the ship will sail a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the illuminated river front of Budapest. (B,L,D)

DAY 16, DEPART BUDAPEST
Your cruise comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your homeward flight. (B)