Itinerary
- Day 1
Prague
You'll arrive in Prague and check into your hotel for a three-night stay. The city's architecture spans centuries, so there's plenty to take in from your first moments here. Get settled, grab a meal, and start getting oriented with the layout of the old town if you have energy after traveling.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Prague
After breakfast, join a guided walking tour covering Prague's main sights. You'll pass through three castle courtyards and step inside St. Vitus Cathedral. From there, walk down the Castle steps for views across the city. The walk takes you over the iconic Charles Bridge, and you'll finish at the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square where crowds gather to watch it chime.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Prague
- Visit to St. Vitus Cathedral
- Walk across Charles Bridge
- Visit to Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock
Optional Activities
- Coffee & Cake at Lobkowicz Palace (EmeraldPLUS)
Landmarks/POIs St. Vitus Cathedral Charles Bridge Old Town Square Astronomical Clock Lobkowicz Palace 
- Day 3
Prague
This morning and afternoon are yours to spend however you like. Your tour director is available if you want help planning. Some people wander through the Baroque quarter with its ornate facades, while others head to Josefov to explore the city's Jewish heritage. It's a good day to move at your own pace and find cafes or shops that catch your eye.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Tastes of Czechia (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Day 4
Prague to Budapest
Staff collects you from your hotel early and drives you to Budapest. Once you arrive, you'll board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship and get settled into your cabin. There's time to explore the ship, meet other passengers, and prepare for your river cruise adventure down the Danube.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Welcome Reception & Dinner)
- Day 5
Budapest
Budapest sits on both sides of the Danube, and you can explore how different the two areas feel. Choose between a guided coach tour that covers the highlights and explains the city's cultural blend and architecture, or stay active with a hike to Gellert Hill. You'll also cross the Chain Bridge to see both Buda's elegant landmarks and Pest's historical side.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
Optional Activities
- Hike to Gellert Hill (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks/POIs Chain Bridge Gellert Hill - Day 6
Bratislava
A local guide leads you through Bratislava's cobblestone streets, showing you Baroque palaces and the Old Town Hall's Renaissance courtyard. You'll see the Episcopal Summer Palace gardens and have free time to browse boutiques. Later this afternoon, you're invited to a local family's home for traditional treats and coffee. If you want more activity, optional hikes to Bratislava Castle or Skoda tours about post-Communist history are available.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
- Visit to Old Town Hall
- Visit to Episcopal Summer Palace gardens
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Carpathian wine route (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Old Town Hall Bratislava Castle Episcopal Summer Palace - Day 7
Vienna
Vienna offers culture and musical heritage. By coach and on foot, you'll pass imperial palaces and important buildings along the Ringstrasse, including the Vienna State Opera. Alternatively, take a guided cycling tour past riverbanks, monuments, parks, and by the Prater. After your tour ends, you have leisure time to explore the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Vienna (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Ringstrasse Vienna State Opera Prater Schönbrunn Palace - Day 8
Melk
Morning options include hiking to Dürnstein Castle to learn about its history, or joining a guided bike ride from Dürnstein to Melk through vineyards and scenic landscapes. Later, relax on the Sun Deck as you cruise through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley. At Melk, a local guide shows you through the 900-year-old Benedictine abbey, its monastic library, and medieval manuscripts monks preserved in the 13th century.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Guided bike tour along the Danube (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks/POIs Dürnstein Castle Melk Abbey Wachau Valley - Day 9
Passau
Passau sits where three rivers meet the Danube. Maze-like streets open into squares and promenades with shops. Your local guide leads an afternoon tour through Baroque buildings from the 17th century, pointing out the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress and St. Stephen's Cathedral, which houses Europe's largest church organ. Later you'll return to the ship for a peaceful cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Passau
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Oberhaus Fortress St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 10
Regensburg
After breakfast, explore one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities with over two thousand years of history. Your local guide takes you through the UNESCO-listed Old Town where parliament once met. Historic patrician houses line streets, showing the area's past importance as a trading center. Later, sail through the scenic Main-Danube Canal toward Nuremberg, passing Kelheim along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
Optional Activities
- Bavarian band performance on board (EmeraldPLUS)
Landmarks/POIs Regensburg Old Town - Day 11
Nuremberg
Join a guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg's historic architecture that inspired famous artists for generations. Afterward, you have leisure time to walk around at your own pace. Many houses here were carefully rebuilt following WWII destruction, and they look charming alongside the older structures that survived.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
Optional Activities
- World War II tour (DiscoverMORE - extra expense, Art Bunker replaces Room 600 when not available)
- Day 12
Bamberg
Bamberg is a UNESCO-listed town with thousands of protected buildings in its medieval center, one of Europe's best-preserved old quarters. With your local guide, you'll admire hundreds of ornamental facades throughout town and visit the New Residence showing the luxury prince bishops enjoyed. Relax in the Rose Garden and see medieval Altenburg Castle overlooking everything.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Landmarks/POIs New Residence Altenburg Castle - Day 13
Würzburg
Würzburg sits alongside the Main River and marks the start of the Romantic Road, linking stunning medieval locations across Bavaria. The surrounding hills are covered in vineyards and this area produces some of Germany's most wine. You'll tour the UNESCO-listed Würzburg Residence with its Baroque and Italian features. Later, a guided walk shows you the Gothic Marienkapelle and Town Hall.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg
- Visit to Würzburg Residence (Bishops Residence)
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Residence Marienkapelle - Day 14
Miltenberg
This morning, as part of your EmeraldPLUS offering, you'll watch an exclusive glassblowing presentation at the Glass Art Museum. Then travel to Miltenberg, a village that captures traditional Bavarian life perfectly. Your local guide leads you down cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses. The area thrived from river trade centuries ago, and that prosperity still shows today. Alternatively, hike to Mildenburg Castle and see the artworks inside this former fortress.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exclusive visit to the Glass Art Museum in Wertheim with glassblowing presentation
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Mildenburg Castle (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks/POIs Glass Art Museum Mildenburg Castle - Day 15
Rüdesheim
Relax on your ship this morning until reaching Rüdesheim, a town known for its wine history. Ride the Winzerexpress to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum and see rare music boxes in a half-timbered building. Or take an active walk through vineyards to understand what makes this region popular. After lunch, cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, watching from the Sun Deck for castles and fortresses on the surrounding hills.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
Optional Activities
- Hike to Niederwalddenkmal (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks/POIs Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Niederwalddenkmal - Day 16
Cologne
This morning cruise from Koblenz to Cologne, where 2,000 years of history await. The Romans founded it in 50 AD, and you'll find ancient ruins and medieval structures throughout. Your local guide leads a walking tour through the Old Town, passing ancient bridges that survived WWII, including the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral with its iconic twin towers. This evening, the crew hosts your farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Cologne's Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral - Day 17
Amsterdam
Board a glass-top canal boat for a cruise through Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal system. You'll pass elegant merchant's residences reflecting prosperity from the Dutch Golden Age when Amsterdam was an important trading center. Afterward, explore at leisure or cycle from your ship to Waterland, passing quintessentially Dutch villages and traditional windmills along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canal cruise
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour to Waterland (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Day 18
Departure
After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to your fellow passengers and disembark your Star-Ship for transfer to the airport. You'll take memories of the Rhine Gorge and Dutch countryside with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
