Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll arrive in Paris and settle into your hotel in the Opera district. Spend the rest of the day wandering the chic streets at your own pace, getting a feel for the city's rhythm and character.
Optional Activities
- Explore the Champs Elysees boutiques
- Walk along the Seine riverbank
- Visit the Arc de Triomphe area
- Stroll historic streets of Paris
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Champs Elysees Arc de Triomphe Seine River Palais Garnier Printemps Department Store Galeries Lafayette - Day 2
Paris
Start with pastries and coffee, then you have options. Either take a panoramic city tour or head to Bohemian Montmartre to explore on your own. This afternoon, you can visit museums and galleries, browse designer boutiques, or grab a picnic in one of Paris's parks.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Pain au chocolat and café au lait)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour (Freechoice option) - featuring Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe
- Explore Bohemian Paris (Freechoice option) - Montmartre district with hidden winery behind Sacre-Coeur
Optional Activities
- Visit The Louvre museum
- Visit Musée d'Orsay
- Visit Centre Pompidou
- Shopping at designer flagship boutiques
- Hunt for treasures at vintage stores and flea markets
- Patisseries, boulangeries and fromageries visits
- Bistro dining
Landmarks Montmartre Sacre-Coeur The Louvre Musée d'Orsay Centre Pompidou - Day 3
Paris
This day is all yours. Walk through the Latin Quarter, Le Marais, or La Défense. Check out world-class museums, follow literary trails, go shopping, or just wander the streets and enjoy the café culture at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Visit Musée des Arts et Métiers (world's oldest science museum, founded 1794)
- Visit Musée Carnavalet (history of Paris from Gauls to 20th century)
- Literary tour following Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Simone de Beauvoir's favorite spots
- Explore Latin Quarter district
- Explore La Défense district
- Explore Place Vendôme
- Explore Le Marais district
- Gallery and museum visits
- Shopping
- Dining and drinking experiences
- Flânerie - wandering aimlessly through city
Landmarks Musée des Arts et Métiers Musée Carnavalet Latin Quarter La Défense Place Vendôme Le Marais - Day 4
Paris to Amsterdam
Travel by high-speed train to Amsterdam and board your Scenic cruise ship. By evening, you'll raise a glass at the welcome reception as your adventure begins.
Included Activities
- Welcome reception on board
- Day 5
Amsterdam
Explore Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canals and historic canal houses. Choose a scenic canal cruise, a guided walking tour with local herring tasting, or an excursion to windmills and the cheese market. After, the ship sets sail for Cologne.
Included Activities
- Canal cruise (Freechoice option) - one-hour cruise on Gentleman's Canal and Prince's Canal featuring The Skinny Bridge, The Seven Bridges, Anne Frank's House, Brewer's Canal and historic merchant residences
- Walking tour of Amsterdam (Freechoice option) - exploring canals, bridges, Dutch culture with local herring tasting
- Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar (Freechoice option) - authentic 16th century windmills, Dutch countryside views, Alkmaar town with historic buildings and picturesque canals
Landmarks Gentleman's Canal The Skinny Bridge Prince's Canal Anne Frank's House Brewer's Canal Old Lord Mayor's House Seven Bridges Schermerhorn Alkmaar - Day 6
Cologne
You'll arrive in Cologne after a relaxed morning sailing. Walk through the medieval Old Town, visit the Gothic cathedral, and browse the festive Christmas markets with their wooden stalls and treats. The ship departs just before dinner.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of historical Old Town
- Visit to Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
- Access to Christmas markets
Optional Activities
- Visit breweries serving Kölsch beer
- Explore largest Christmas tree in the Rhineland
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) Old Town of Cologne - Day 7
Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim
Cruise through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO site with about 40 hilltop castles dotting the landscape. After lunch, head to Rüdesheim where you can visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum by mini train or explore the half-timbered streets and Christmas markets.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
- Mini train transfer from pier to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum (350 musical instruments from 18th and 19th century)
Optional Activities
- Wine tavern and beer garden visits
- Shopping for traditional Christmas ornaments and cuckoo clocks
- Explore Christmas markets
Landmarks Rhine Gorge (Upper Middle Rhine Valley) Lorelei Rock Rüdesheim Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - Day 8
Miltenberg
In Miltenberg, you'll choose your experience: tour Wertheim and a local winery, visit Gamburg Castle to meet the Baron and Baroness, experience daily farm life, or tour a schnapps distillery. Later, board in Wertheim and sail overnight to Würzburg with onboard entertainment.
Included Activities
- Wertheim tour and winery (Freechoice option) - orientation tour and winemaker meeting
- Gamburg Castle tour (Freechoice option) - guided castle tour with private reception and sparkling wine with the Baron and Baroness
- Miltenberg tour and local farm visit (Freechoice option) - farm family meeting, animals viewing, sampling local delicacies, orientation tour of Miltenberg
- Schnapps tasting (Freechoice option) - orientation tour of Miltenberg, fruit brandy distiller visit and tasting
Landmarks Miltenberg Wertheim Gamburg Castle - Day 9
Würzburg
You arrive in Würzburg, a Baroque city surrounded by vineyards. Choose between a guided city tour including the baroque Residence and Christmas markets with mulled wine, or take the scenic Romantic Road to Rothenburg's medieval Old Town.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour & Würzburg Residence (Freechoice option) - coach transfer to Residence, guided palace tour with rooms featuring paintings, tapestries and period furniture, stroll to historic market square, access to Christmas markets with 100+ wooden stalls
- Romantic Road to Rothenburg (Freechoice option) - coach journey through Romantic Road and medieval towns, guided tour of Rothenburg's medieval old town, Gothic and Renaissance City Hall and City Councillors' Tavern, access to Christmas markets
Optional Activities
- Glass of Glühwein or local Franconian wine
- Local Franconian wine tasting
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Würzburg historic market square Rothenburg Rothenburg Gothic and Renaissance City Hall City Councillors' Tavern - Day 10
Bamberg
Arrive in Bamberg, a UNESCO town built on seven hills with cobblestoned streets. A guided tour takes you through the island Town Hall, Gothic cathedral, and Old and New Residences. Spend the afternoon exploring one of Europe's largest medieval and Baroque city centres.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Bamberg
- Walking tour of Old Town
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town Hall Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Old Residence Bamberg New Residence Bamberg 12th century castle Bamberg Little Venice - Day 11
Nuremberg
You'll reach Nuremberg, where you can choose between a walking tour of the Imperial Castle and churches, or a WWII history tour covering the Rally Grounds and the trials memorial. Either way, you'll learn about the city's complex history from Roman times through recent decades.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of the Old Town (Freechoice option) - coach drive past city walls and courthouse to Augustinerstrasse, guided walking tour featuring Imperial Castle, St. Egidien's Church and market square
- The trials and tribulations of WWII Tour (Freechoice option) - expert local guide, Rally Grounds visit, Memorium Nürnberger Prozesse
Landmarks Imperial Castle (Nuremberg) Nuremberg Old Town St. Egidien's Church Nuremberg market square Nuremberg Rally Grounds Memorium Nürnberger Prozesse - Day 12
Regensburg
After lunch, arrive in Regensburg. Take a guided walk through one of Germany's best-preserved medieval centers with over 900 UNESCO-listed buildings. You'll see the old stone bridge, Church of St James, and learn about regional traditions during the festive season.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg
- Visit to old stone bridge
- Visit to Church of St James
- Visit to Porta Praetoria
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Stone Bridge (Regensburg) Church of St James Porta Praetoria Bavarian Forest - Day 13
Salzburg, Cesky Krumlov, or Passau
You have three full-day options. Travel to Salzburg for Mozart's birthplace and Christmas markets, visit the medieval Czech town of Cesky Krumlov, or stay nearby to explore Passau's colorful buildings and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Lunch and guided tours come with all choices.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant (all three Freechoice options))
Included Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg (Freechoice option) - coach journey from Brandstatt, guided city tour, lunch at local restaurant, Christmas markets access, return to Passau
- Full day excursion to Cesky Krumlov (Freechoice option) - coach journey from Brandstatt, guided walking tour of historic centre, lunch at local restaurant, Christmas markets access
- Highlights of Passau walking tour (Freechoice option) - local guide walking tour, visit to St. Stephens Cathedral
Landmarks Salzburg Mozart's Birthplace Hohensalzburg Salzach River Salzburg Christmas markets Cesky Krumlov Vltava River Cesky Krumlov Old Town Passau St. Stephens Cathedral - Day 14
Krems
Dock early in Dürnstein in the Wachau Valley. Explore at your own pace before sailing to Krems. Your options include visiting Göttweig Abbey, e-biking through vineyards, or wine tasting. This afternoon, a local producer boards to share apricot dumplings and schnapps.
- Meals
- Dinner (Regional delicacies including apricot dumplings and local schnapps)
Included Activities
- Göttweig Abbey (Freechoice option) - guided tour of renovated abbey founded 6th century, viewing of magnificent frescoes and largest Baroque Staircase in Austria
- E-biking from Durnstein to Krems (Freechoice option) - bicycle tour along the Danube with stops for scenic views
- Wachau Valley Wine tasting (Freechoice option) - visit to local winemaker, learning about wine tradition, wine sampling
- On-board regional food and beverage experience - sampling apricot dumplings and local schnapps from regional producer
Landmarks Dürnstein Wachau Valley Göttweig Abbey Danube River Krems - Day 15
Vienna
You'll arrive early in Vienna. A guided coach tour and walking tour show you the Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Belvedere Palace. The ship stays overnight, so you have free time to wander Baroque architecture and coffee houses. Later, attend an exclusive private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coach tour to Vienna city centre
- Walking tour of Vienna highlights - Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Belvedere Palace
- Scenic Enrich: Classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein - private classical concert with Austrian Sekt, ballet dancers and vocalists, performed in Vienna's largest secular baroque hall
Optional Activities
- Explore Vienna independently
- Relax on board the Scenic Space-Ship
Landmarks Vienna Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Belvedere Palace Palais Liechtenstein - Day 16
Vienna
Spend a full day in Vienna during the festive season. See the Ringstrasse lit with Christmas lights and decorations. Choose between visiting Schönbrunn Palace, e-biking to Danube Island, or exploring hidden gems with local guides.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace (Freechoice option) - guided tour of former Habsburg summer residence with ornate rooms and impressive gardens
- Cycle to Danube Island (Freechoice option) - guided e-bike tour to Danube Island recreational area
- Hidden Gems of Vienna (Freechoice option) - expert local guide tour of city centre history, elegance and diverse architecture with extended free time
Landmarks Ringstrasse Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island - Day 17
Budapest
Arrive in Budapest, split by the Danube into Buda and Pest. Choose from a coach tour of both districts, visiting the WWII Hospital in the Rock complex, relaxing in the Neo-Baroque Széchenyi Thermal Baths, or hiking through Buda for river and city views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Budapest in Depth (Freechoice option) - coach tour of both Buda and Pest districts, visit to Varkert Bazaar, Margaret Bridge crossing, viewing Széchenyi square and Elizabeth square
- Hospital in the Rock (Freechoice option) - underground tour of secret WWII hospital complex later converted to nuclear bunker, furnished with wax figures
- Thermal Baths (Freechoice option) - access to Széchenyi Thermal Baths with 18 geothermal pools (15 indoor, 3 outdoor) with mineral-rich thermal waters
- Guided hike of Buda (Freechoice option) - guided hiking tour of Buda district with views of Danube and city, visit to Varket Bazar and landscaped gardens
Landmarks Budapest Buda Pest Danube River Varkert Bazaar Margaret Bridge Széchenyi square Elizabeth square Hospital in the Rock Széchenyi Thermal Baths - Day 18
Departure
After breakfast, you'll depart, carrying memories from your Danube cruise back home with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
