Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and transfer directly to the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. After getting settled into your cabin, you'll meet the captain and crew. This evening features an authentic Hungarian folklore show right on board, so you can relax and start experiencing the local culture without leaving the ship.
Included Activities
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show
Landmarks Danube River 
- Day 2
Budapest
A guided coach tour takes you through both Buda and Pest, with the iconic Chain Bridge as a highlight. You'll see how the city blends different cultures and architectural styles throughout the tour. Later, you have free time to wander through the beautiful Christmas Market at your own pace before heading back to the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
Optional Activities
- Explore Christmas Market in Budapest
Landmarks Chain Bridge Danube River - Day 3
Bratislava
You'll travel to Bratislava and walk the cobblestone streets with a local guide showing you Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Time to browse boutiques is built in, then in the afternoon you're invited to a local family's home for traditional sweet treats and coffee, which gives you a real sense of Slovakian hospitality.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
Optional Activities
- Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
Landmarks Old Town Hall Episcopal Summer Palace - Day 4
Vienna
The ship continues to Vienna, where a guided tour covers the Ringstrasse and its imperial palaces. You'll pass the Vienna State Opera House and learn about the composers who lived and worked in these streets. The tour provides good context for understanding Vienna's cultural importance throughout history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Landmarks Vienna State Opera Ringstrasse Schönbrunn Palace 
- Day 5
Melk
You can hike through Dürnstein at your own pace, exploring the town as you like. After that, head back to relax on the Sun Deck while the ship cruises through the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley. Later you'll visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey to see its ancient monastic library and medieval manuscripts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Hike in Dürnstein
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein - Day 6
Passau
Passau sits at the confluence of three rivers, and a local guide leads you through its maze-like romantic lanes filled with Baroque buildings. You'll see the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress and visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, which houses Europe's largest church organ. It's the kind of town that feels like stepping into a postcard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Passau
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov (extra expense)
Landmarks Oberhaus Fortress St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 7
Regensburg
Regensburg is one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities with over 2,000 years of history. Your guide takes you through the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, pointing out historic patrician houses that show how important this was as a trading center. You'll visit the Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace grounds, then return to the ship for a Bavarian band performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
- Visit to the Christmas market in the Thurn und Taxis Palace grounds
- Bavarian band performance on board
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Thurn & Taxis Palace - Day 8
Nuremberg
A guided sightseeing tour shows you Nuremberg's architectural wonders that have inspired artists for generations. After the tour wraps up, you have free time to explore the beautifully reconstructed historic houses and wander around the city at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
Landmarks Nuremberg 
- Day 9
Bamberg
Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage town with thousands of listed buildings in its medieval center. Walking with your local guide, you'll pass ornamental facades, the New Residence, and the Rose Garden. The opulent medieval Altenburg Castle overlooks everything from its hilltop position.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Landmarks Altenburg Castle New Residence Rose Garden - Day 10
Würzburg
You arrive in Würzburg on the Main River, the gateway to Bavaria's Romantic Road. A guided walking tour includes the UNESCO World Heritage Würzburg Residence with its Baroque architecture and Italian secular features. You'll also see the Gothic Marienkapelle and Town Hall during the tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg and a visit to the Bishops Residence
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense)
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Marienkapelle Würzburg Town Hall - Day 11
Miltenberg
An exclusive glassblowing presentation at the Glass Art Museum in Wertheim shows you traditional craftsmanship. By coach you then head to Miltenberg, a picturesque village where your guide walks you through cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses. You'll learn how river trade centuries ago brought prosperity to this traditional Bavarian village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Exclusive visit to the Glass Art Museum in Wertheim with presentation
Landmarks Glass Art Museum Miltenberg - Day 12
Rüdesheim
You'll relax on deck as the ship approaches Rüdesheim, a town famous for viticulture. The Winzerexpress takes you up to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum to see rare music boxes in a charming half-timbered building. After lunch, the ship cruises through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, and you can watch for castles and fortresses perched on the hilltops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
Landmarks Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Rhine Gorge - Day 13
Cologne
This morning the ship cruises from Koblenz to Cologne, a city with 2,000 years of history. A local guide leads a walking tour through the Old Town, showing you ancient ruins, monuments, and medieval structures including the UNESCO World Heritage Cologne Cathedral with its iconic twin towers. The day concludes with a farewell dinner on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Cologne's Old Town
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Cologne Old Town 
- Day 14
Amsterdam
You'll board a glass top canal boat for a cruise through Amsterdam's UNESCO World Heritage canal system. The boat lets you see elegant merchant residences from the Dutch Golden Age when Amsterdam was an important trading center. Afterwards, you have free time to explore the city at your leisure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canal cruise
Optional Activities
- Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals - Day 15
Amsterdam to Airport
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to your fellow guests and depart from the Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport. You're leaving with memories of the Rhine Gorge, the idyllic Dutch countryside, and everything you've seen along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
