Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and board your all-inclusive luxury cruise this afternoon. Get settled into your suite and then head to the welcome reception this evening to meet your fellow travelers.
Included Activities
- Welcome reception on board Scenic Space-Ship
Landmarks/POIs Budapest - Day 2
Budapest
This morning you can choose from three activities in Budapest. There's a coach tour hitting the Christmas markets in both Buda and Pest, or you could go underground to the Hospital in the Rock, a former WWII secret hospital and nuclear bunker. If you'd rather get outside, there's a guided hike through the Buda district with views of the Danube. After lunch, you'll head toward Vienna.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Budapest in Depth coach tour visiting Várkert Bazár, Margaret Bridge, Széchenyi Square, Elizabeth Square and Christmas markets
- Scenic Freechoice: Hospital in the Rock underground tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided hike of Buda district with Danube River views
Landmarks/POIs Várkert Bazár Margaret Bridge Széchenyi Square Elizabeth Square Hospital in the Rock - Day 3
Budapest to Vienna
You'll cruise the Danube toward Vienna, Austria's imperial capital. The city's known for its Baroque architecture, green spaces, coffee houses and museums. Tonight there's an exclusive private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein featuring Strauss and Mozart performed by orchestra, with Austrian Sekt and ballet dancers included.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich: Private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein with Austrian Sekt
Landmarks/POIs Palais Liechtenstein - Day 4
Vienna
Vienna's decked out with Christmas lights and decorations along the Ringstrasse. You'll choose from four activities today. Tour Schönbrunn Palace (the former Habsburg summer residence), take a guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, explore central Vienna with a local guide, or take a coach excursion to Bratislava, Slovakia to see the castle and medieval Old Town.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Schönbrunn Palace tour including ornate rooms and gardens
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided e-bike tour to Danube Island
- Scenic Freechoice: Central Vienna exploration with local guide and free time
- Scenic Freechoice: Coach excursion to Bratislava including guided tour of Bratislava Castle, Hlavné Námestie and Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Ringstrasse Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie - Day 5
Krems, Wachau Valley
You'll dock in Krems in the Wachau Valley. Choose from three activities here. Visit Göttweig Abbey from the 6th Century with its frescoes and Austria's largest Baroque staircase, try a wine tasting at a local winemaker, or e-bike from Krems to the village of Durnstein along the Danube with vineyard views.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Göttweig Abbey tour with local guide viewing frescoes and Baroque staircase
- Scenic Freechoice: Wachau Valley wine tasting at local winemaker
- Scenic Freechoice: E-biking from Krems to Durnstein along Danube with stops for views
Landmarks/POIs Krems Göttweig Abbey Wachau Valley Durnstein - Day 6
Brandstatt to Passau
You've got two full-day excursion options today. Head to Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace and the Sound of Music location, to see Hohensalzburg fortress and the Baroque old town. Or visit Cesky Krumlov in Czech Republic, a UNESCO World Heritage medieval town with Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Both include guided tours and local lunch. Later, your ship docks in Passau. You can optionally attend Christmas Mass or enjoy Christmas Eve dinner on board.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant lunch included with Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov excursion)
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Full day excursion to Salzburg including guided city tour, lunch at local restaurant and free time
- Scenic Freechoice: Full day excursion to Cesky Krumlov including guided tour with local guide, lunch at local restaurant and free time
Optional Activities
- Visit local church and attend Christmas Mass in Passau
- Christmas Eve dinner on board Scenic Space-Ship
Landmarks/POIs Salzburg Hohensalzburg Mozart's Birthplace Cesky Krumlov Vltava River - Day 7
Passau to Nuremberg
Merry Christmas! You'll celebrate the day with new friends on board as the ship cruises toward Nuremberg. Relax in the Salt Therapy Lounge with its natural anti-viral properties, or head to the Sun Deck for fresh air and views of charming villages passing by.
- Meals
- Dinner (Christmas Day celebration dinner)
Included Activities
- Access to Salt Therapy Lounge on board
Landmarks/POIs Nuremberg - Day 8
Nuremberg
You arrive in Nuremberg this afternoon, Bavaria's second-largest city. The Old Town is surrounded by ancient city walls and dominated by the 12th-century Imperial Castle. Choose a walking tour of the Old Town or a WWII history tour visiting the Rally Grounds and where Nazi war crime trials took place. Later in the evening, you'll sail toward Bamberg.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Old Town including Imperial Castle, St. Egidien's Church and market square
- Scenic Freechoice: WWII history tour of Rally Grounds and Memorium Nurnberger Prozesse
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Castle St. Egidien's Church Rally Grounds Memorium Nurnberger Prozesse - Day 9
Bamberg
Bamberg's a World Heritage-listed town built on seven hills with cobblestoned streets and medieval buildings. You'll see the charming Old Town Hall sitting on its own island, the Gothic and Romanesque cathedral, and historic residences including a 12th-century castle on the highest hill. After a guided city tour, head back on board where you can get an optional massage at the wellness centre.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Bamberg Old Town
Optional Activities
- Soothing massage in wellness centre on board
Landmarks/POIs Bamberg Old Town Old Town Hall Bamberg Cathedral - Day 10
Würzburg
After a relaxed morning on board, you'll arrive in Würzburg, a Baroque city in Franconian wine country. You can see the World Heritage palace, the hilltop fortress, and the 15th-century Old Main Bridge. Pick from two activities: a guided city tour with local wine or Glühwein, or a coach trip along the Romantic Road to Rothenburg with stops at medieval towns, plus time to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant lunch included with Romantic Road to Rothenburg excursion)
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided city tour with coach transfer, market square visit and free time
- Scenic Freechoice: Romantic Road to Rothenburg coach excursion with guided tour of city, lunch at local restaurant and free time
Optional Activities
- Glass of traditional Glühwein
- Local Franconian wine tasting
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Würzburg Palace Main Bridge Rothenburg City Councillors' Tavern - Day 11
Wertheim to Miltenberg
You'll arrive in Wertheim on the banks of the Main and Tauber Rivers and get an orientation tour. Then you'll transfer by coach to Miltenberg for a guided walking tour through cobblestone streets lined with historic half-timbered houses. After free time to explore, you'll board your ship and sail for Rüdesheim.
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Wertheim
- Guided walking tour of Miltenberg
Landmarks/POIs Wertheim Miltenberg - Day 12
Rüdesheim to Rhine Gorge
In Rüdesheim, surrounded by steep vineyards producing wine for two thousand years, you'll see half-timbered houses and wine taverns. Take a mini train from the pier to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum with 350 self-playing instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries. Then relax on the Sun Deck cruising the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge with approximately 40 hilltop castles spanning 1,000 years of history.
Included Activities
- Mini train transfer to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Rüdesheim Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Rhine Gorge Lorelei Rock - Day 13
Cologne
You arrive in Cologne, known for its liberal lifestyle and unique beer culture. The Gothic cathedral dominates the skyline here. Take a walking tour through the historical Old Town with its breweries serving Kölsch beer, then spend free time visiting Cologne Cathedral. This evening, ring in the New Year on board with spectacular fireworks while the ship sails past the cathedral. There's a fun New Year celebration party planned.
- Meals
- Dinner (New Year's Eve celebration dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town with local guide
- New Year celebration party on board
- Viewing of fireworks over Cologne Cathedral from ship
Optional Activities
- Visit Cologne Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Old Town Cologne Cathedral - Day 14
Cruise to Amsterdam
Start the New Year relaxing as your ship cruises all day toward Amsterdam. Head to the modern gym for a workout or visit the wellness centre for a massage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Access to modern gym on board
- Access to wellness centre on board
Optional Activities
- Relaxing massage in wellness centre
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam - Day 15
Amsterdam to Paris
You'll take a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris. Check in to your centrally located hotel for a 3-night stay.
Landmarks/POIs Paris - Day 16
Paris
Start your Paris morning with a pain au chocolat and café au lait. Choose from two activities: a panoramic city tour seeing the Eiffel Tower, Champs Élysées, Arc de Triomphe and famous sites, or explore Montmartre with artists and writers, discovering a hidden winery behind Sacré-Cœur. Spend your afternoon exploring on your own, visiting art galleries like The Louvre, shopping, enjoying patisseries or having a picnic in elegant parks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Panoramic city tour including Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe
- Scenic Freechoice: Explore Bohemian Paris in Montmartre with hidden winery visit behind Sacré-Cœur
Optional Activities
- Visit The Louvre museum
- Visit Musée d'Orsay
- Visit Centre Pomidou
- Shopping at designer boutiques
- Vintage shopping and flea markets
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Champs Elysées Arc de Triomphe Montmartre Sacré-Cœur The Louvre Musée d'Orsay Centre Pomidou - Day 17
Paris
You have the full day to explore Paris at your own pace. Discover the charming Latin Quarter, modern La Défense, Place Vendôme or fashionable Le Marais. Visit the Musée des Arts et Métiers from 1794 or Musée Carnavalet charting Paris history. Plan a literary tour visiting spots where Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, Hemingway and Simone de Beauvoir wrote. Shop, visit galleries, enjoy eating and drinking, or simply flâner through the city aimlessly, stopping for coffee, wine or browsing bookstores.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Latin Quarter
- Visit La Défense
- Visit Place Vendôme
- Visit Le Marais
- Visit Musée des Arts et Métiers
- Visit Musée Carnavalet
- Literary tour of Paris
Landmarks/POIs Latin Quarter La Défense Place Vendôme Le Marais Musée des Arts et Métiers Musée Carnavalet - Day 18
Paris Departure
Say au revoir to Paris this morning. Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel or stop for coffee at the legendary Café de la Paix in Place de l'Opéra, a Paris institution since 1862. Then transfer to the airport or train station to head home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Coffee at Café de la Paix
Landmarks/POIs Café de la Paix
