Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1, DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary.

DAY 2, ARRIVE BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship. This evening meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. (D)

DAY 3, BUDAPEST
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. (B,L,D)

DAY 4, BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA
Relax onboard this morning as you cruise towards Bratislava, capital of the Slovak Republic. Choose either a “Communist Tour” or a walking tour of the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace and Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. Later there is time to explore on your own. After dinner you can enjoy an enchanting music performance on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 5, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Enjoy a guided city tour followed by free time in the city center, then a walking tour from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Enjoy an optional excursion to the Schonbrunn and the Carriage Museum. Or simply use your 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 evening Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, DÜRNSTEIN – MELK
Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein and marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche. Above town you'll spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Enjoy a wine tasting with a local vintner. After lunch, the ship will cruise to Melk, where you will have a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries. A guided bicycle tour from Durnstein to Melk is also available (capacity controlled). (B,L,D)

DAY 7, LINZ – PASSAU, GERMANY
After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to fascinating Salzburg and the “Sound of Music” sights, or cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany. In Passau, the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Your city tour takes you on an exploration of this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, REGENSBURG
After lunch, arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided 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. Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. (B,L,D)

DAY 9, NUREMBERG
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmühl Valley. The Main-Danube Canal traverses the Franconian Alps via 16 locks, truly a fascinating feat of modern engineering. In the afternoon, decide between a guided tour of the Medieval history of Nuremberg and see the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround this historic city and the Imperial Castle, or join the tour centered on the modern role the city played in the 20th-century and see the Zeppelin field and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal was held in 1946. (B,L,D)

DAY 10, BAMBERG-SCHWEINFURT
This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the enchanting town of Bamberg, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Marvel at the breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall that straddles the river, and the city's serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. You will have free time after the walking tour to explore this charming town on your own. Later you can enjoy a free evening in Schweinfurt. (B,L,D)

DAY 11, KITZINGEN-WÜRZBURG
This morning, arrive in Kitzingen, where you will enjoy a walking tour and wine tasting. In the afternoon, visit Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. "The Pearl of the Romantic Road" is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. During your guided tour, see the major sights including the magnificent Residenz Palace. Or, you can take an optional tour to Medieval Rothenburg, a beautiful walled city situated on the Romantic Road. The tour includes entrance to the world-famous Christmas Museum. (B,L,D)

DAY 12, WERTHEIM - MILTENBERG
Cruise to Wertheim for some free time to explore the town on your own. A guided bicycle tour is also available (capacity controlled). A motor coach will transfer you to Freudenberg to rejoin the ship. Cruise during lunch on your way to Miltenberg. In Miltenberg, a guided walking tour will take you through narrow, cobble-stoned streets lined with gabled, half-timbered houses. Tonight, the ship sails leaving Bavaria, Franconia and the Main River behind. (B,L,D)

DAY 13, RÜDESHEIM – RHINE CASTLES – KOBLENZ
This afternoon, arrive in Rüdesheim and take a mini train to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants during your free time before the ships sails late this afternoon. You will cruise through the Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the river, passing castle after castle, don't miss the legendary Lorelei Rock, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. (B,L,D)

DAY 14, KOBLENZ – COLOGNE
This morning you will visit the Koblenz Flower Show. This special event features 120 acres of magnificent floral displays, exhibitions and a river side promenade. Exhibit grounds include the hilltop Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, which you will visit. Return to the ship in Bonn, and then continue on to Cologne. Enjoy a walking tour of Cologne and visit the spectacular 13th-century Medieval Gothic cathedral, its twin spires amongst Europe’s tallest. (B,L,D)

DAY 15, COLOGNE – AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Enjoy your last morning leisurely cruising to Amsterdam. Arrive in Amsterdam after lunch for a guided canal cruise and city tour, including a photo stop at the Rembrandt Windmill. Enjoy free time in Amsterdam before gathering on board for a Gala Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 16, AMSTERDAM - USA
Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)