Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll get picked up at the airport and head to your hotel in central Paris. Later this evening, there's a Welcome Reception where you'll meet the other travelers and your Tour Director.
- Day 2
Paris
After breakfast, join a guided tour checking out some of Paris's classic spots like the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. The rest of the afternoon is free to wander around the city on your own.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avenue des Champs-Élysées
- Guided tour of Arc de Triomphe
Landmarks/POIs Avenue des Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe - Day 3
Paris
You have the full day to explore Paris however you'd like. Head to the Latin Quarter if you want, see the Louvre, or take the optional culinary walking tour. That evening, there's an option to catch dinner and a cabaret show at Moulin Rouge.
Optional Activities
- Culinary walking tour of the Marais district with food sampling
- Dinner and cabaret show at Moulin Rouge, featuring the legendary French Cancan
Landmarks/POIs Louvre Museum Latin Quarter Moulin Rouge Marais - Day 4
Paris to Amsterdam
From breakfast, you'll board a coach and drive through the landscapes of northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. You arrive in Amsterdam and board your river ship, which is parked close to major sights. This evening, join a Welcome Reception with the group on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coach transfer through northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands to Amsterdam
- Day 5
Amsterdam to Utrecht
Hop on a glass-top boat and glide through Amsterdam's canals with a local guide, then you'll have some free time. Later, drive to Utrecht to get back on your river ship for a special Gala Welcome Dinner that evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Gala Welcome Dinner)
Included Activities
- Glass-top boat tour of Amsterdam's waterways with local guide
- Day 6
Cologne
The ship cruises into Cologne and you'll learn about the Kölner Dom cathedral, which took over 600 years to build. Then you disembark and drive to Brühl to see Augustusburg Palace. By afternoon you're back in Cologne with time to explore the city centre on your own.
Included Activities
- Cruise to Cologne with cathedral information
- Insider Experience: Tour of Augustusburg Palace in Brühl, including the landscaped parks and gardens, and Falkenlust hunting lodge
Landmarks/POIs Kölner Dom Augustusburg Palace Falkenlust - Day 7
Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim
Experience the Rhine Gorge cruise, which is the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River. Your ship docks in Rüdesheim where the Winzerexpress mini train takes you through town to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum to check out one of Germany's best collections.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
- Winzerexpress mini road train tour through Rüdesheim
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Landmarks/POIs Rhine Gorge Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - Day 8
Miltenberg
Spend the day in Miltenberg, a well-kept town with half-timbered buildings from the 15th to 18th centuries. There's an optional culinary walking tour where you'll try regional foods at a local butcher and baker, then finish with a tasting at a distillery.
Optional Activities
- Culinary walking tour of Miltenberg with regional specialties sampling at local butcher, baker, and distillery tasting
Landmarks/POIs Miltenberg - Day 9
Würzburg
Take a coach through rolling hills to Würzburg and see the baroque palace and the beautiful Court Garden. Later, you can join an optional excursion to medieval Rothenburg, a walled town on the Romantic Road in Franconia.
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to Würzburg
- Visit to baroque palace and Court Garden in Würzburg
Optional Activities
- Excursion to medieval Rothenburg, a walled town on the Romantic Road in Franconia
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Palace Rothenburg - Day 10
Bamberg
Spend a relaxed morning cruising the final stretch of the Main River, arriving in Bamberg. A guide will show you around, stopping at the Old Town Hall and Bamberg Cathedral, then you'll have free time to explore. By evening, your ship moves onto the Main-Danube Canal.
Included Activities
- Cruise along Main River to Bamberg
- Guided tour of Bamberg including Old Town Hall and Bamberg Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Old Town Hall, Bamberg Bamberg Cathedral - Day 11
Nuremberg
You'll walk around Nuremberg, once the location of Hitler's rallies, discovering its cobblestone streets with hidden boutiques and artisan shops. As evening comes, the ship travels through the Main-Danube Canal, crossing the Continental Divide via 16 stair-step locks.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Nuremberg
Landmarks/POIs Nuremberg - Day 12
Regensburg
After reaching the Danube River overnight, you'll spend your day in Regensburg, docked right in town. Join a guided walking tour to see the main sights. There's an option to visit Kuchlbauer's World of Beer brewery in Abensberg. That evening, enjoy an authentic Bavarian experience on board with local beer, snacks, and traditional folk music and dance.
- Meals
- Dinner (Bavarian Evening on board with local beer, snacks, traditional folk music and dance)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Regensburg
- Bavarian Evening on board with local beer, snacks, traditional folk music and dance
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Kuchlbauer's World of Beer brewery in Abensberg, including the Kuchlbauer Tower (available on Amsterdam to Budapest cruises only)
Landmarks/POIs Regensburg Kuchlbauer's World of Beer Kuchlbauer Tower - Day 13
Passau
As you have breakfast, your ship arrives in Passau, the 'Three Rivers City' where the Ilz and Inn rivers meet the Danube. You have choices here: an optional tour to Český Krumlov in Czech Republic, travel to Salzburg, or stay on board for a relaxing sail to Linz.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic, home to more than 300 historical buildings
- Day trip to Salzburg with visit to Mondsee and its Wedding Church from The Sound of Music, guided tour of Salzburg town, and free time to explore before returning to ship
Landmarks/POIs Passau Český Krumlov Salzburg Mondsee Wedding Church (Mondsee) - Day 14
Melk to Dürnstein
After sailing into Austria, you dock in Melk for a tour of Melk Abbey with a local guide. This Benedictine monastery has been on a rocky outcrop since 1089 with great views of the Danube. The ship cruises through the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, where you can explore cobbled streets. There's an option to join a wine tasting of local wines.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Melk Abbey
- Cruise through Wachau Valley to Dürnstein
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting tour at Dürnstein Abbey featuring local Grüner Veltliner or riesling and brandy
Landmarks/POIs Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein Dürnstein Castle Dürnstein Abbey - Day 15
Vienna
Join a walking tour of Vienna covering St Stephen's Cathedral, the Graben, Hofburg Palace, and the Albertina. After that, you can visit the Naschmarkt on your own. This evening, there's an option to hear a Mozart and Strauss concert with music from Mozart to The Sound of Music.
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of St Stephen's Cathedral, the Graben, Hofburg Palace, and the Albertina
Optional Activities
- Mozart and Strauss concert in a Vienna palace or concert venue, followed by an evening drive around the Ringtrasse
- Visit to Naschmarkt
Landmarks/POIs St Stephen's Cathedral Graben Hofburg Palace Albertina Naschmarkt Ringtrasse - Day 16
Vienna
Vienna is yours to explore at your pace. Head to the Hofburg area and Imperial Treasury, or join optional tours to Schönbrunn Palace or Bratislava. Later, the ship sets sail for Hungary and you'll celebrate with a Captain's Farewell Dinner this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, exploring lavishly furnished rooms and beautiful gardens
- Bratislava city tour with guided exploration of the charming Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Hofburg Palace Imperial Treasury Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava Old Town - Day 17
Budapest
Your ship arrives in Budapest, Hungary's capital. After breakfast, a local guide takes you through the city. Later, you have the option to tour the Hospital in the Rock Bunker Museum, a former World War II hospital in caves below Buda Castle.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Budapest with local guide
Optional Activities
- Hospital in the Rock Bunker Museum tour - a former World War II hospital constructed in 1941 in caves beneath Buda Castle
Landmarks/POIs Budapest Hospital in the Rock Buda Castle - Day 18
Budapest to Airport
After breakfast, you'll disembark and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
