Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and get picked up at the airport for transfer to your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. After settling into your cabin, wander through the cobbled streets and check out the gabled houses on your own before heading back to the ship for dinner with other guests.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer to Star-Ship
Optional Activities
- Explore cobbled streets and gabled houses at leisure
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal System 
- Day 2
Amsterdam
Pick between a glass-top canal boat tour through the UNESCO-listed canal system or a guided bike tour to Waterland. Both options let you see historic merchant residences and traditional windmills around the city. Back on the ship, you'll sail through the Dutch countryside toward the Rhine River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Glass-top canal boat cruise of Amsterdam canal system
- Guided bike tour to Waterland
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal System (UNESCO World Heritage) Waterland - Day 3
Cologne
The ship reaches Cologne, one of Germany's oldest cities with Roman roots dating back to 50 AD. A local guide walks you through the Old Town and its historic squares, finishing at Cologne Cathedral on the UNESCO World Heritage list. You'll have free time to shop and wander before returning to your ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cologne's Old Town
- Visit to Cologne Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Optional Activities
- Shopping for souvenirs
- Further exploration of Cologne
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage) Cologne Old Town 
- Day 4
Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim
Cruising through the Rhine Gorge, you'll pass hilltop castles and the famous Lorelai Rock along with Pfalzgrafenstein Castle. The ship arrives in Rüdesheim, where you can either take the Winzerexpress to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum or hike up to Niederwalddenkmal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
- Active Walk to Niederwalddenkmal
Optional Activities
- Ride Winzerexpress
Landmarks Rhine Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage) Lorelai Rock Pfalzgrafenstein Castle Niederwalddenkmal Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum 
- Day 5
Miltenberg and Wertheim
In Miltenberg, a medieval Bavarian village, a guide walks you through 15th-century half-timbered buildings and the Gothic Merchant Hall on cobblestone streets. There's an option to hike through the forest to Mildenburg Castle, which holds contemporary art. Later, you'll travel to Wertheim for an exclusive glassblowing demonstration at the Glass Art Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Exclusive visit to the Glass Art Museum in Wertheim with presentation
- Guided Active Walk to Mildenburg Castle
Landmarks Miltenberg Old Town Mildenburg Castle Glass Art Museum, Wertheim 
- Day 6
Würzburg
The ship docks in Würzburg, known as the 'Pearl of the Romantic Road' and Franconia's wine center. A guided walking tour takes you through the city and into the UNESCO World Heritage Würzburg Residence, where you'll learn about its post-WWII restoration and see its Viennese Baroque and Italian architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg
- Visit to the Bishops Residence (UNESCO World Heritage)
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense)
Landmarks Würzburg Residence (UNESCO World Heritage) Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Day 7
Bamberg
You'll arrive in Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage town featuring one of Europe's largest medieval centers with around 2,400 historic buildings. A local guide takes you through the city to see the New Residence, which once housed prince bishops and now displays old German and Baroque paintings. The Rose Garden provides a peaceful spot to end the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
- Visit to the New Residence
Optional Activities
- Sausage Making Workshop (only available on select dates)
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage) New Residence, Bamberg Rose Garden, Bamberg - Day 8
Nuremberg
A guided tour covers Nuremberg's historic architecture that inspired famous artists for centuries, including details about the city's WWII history. Afterward, you'll have time to explore at your own pace, walking past beautifully reconstructed half-timbered houses that were rebuilt after the war.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
Optional Activities
- World War II tour (extra expense)
- Explore at leisure
Landmarks Nuremberg Old Town - Day 9
Regensburg
The ship sails through the Main-Danube Canal to reach Regensburg, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities with two thousand years of history. A guide leads you through the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town's narrow alleys and to the 12th-century Stone Bridge crossing the Danube. Later, there's a traditional Bavarian band performance on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
- Visit to Stone Bridge
- Traditional Bavarian band performance on board
Optional Activities
- Explore Regensburg at leisure
- Sausage-making workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage) Stone Bridge, Regensburg Old Town Hall - Day 10
Passau
Passau comes into view, sitting where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers meet. You'll walk through 17th-century Baroque streets and see the Gothic Town Hall, Bishop's Residence, and St. Stephen's Cathedral, which houses Europe's largest church organ. Lunch happens back on the ship, followed by a peaceful afternoon cruising the Danube.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Passau
- Visit to St. Stephen's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov (extra expense)
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau Passau Old Town Salzburg Český Krumlov 
- Day 11
Melk and Dürnstein
At Melk, a guide takes you through a 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey on the UNESCO World Heritage list. You'll see opulent rooms with Italian Baroque architecture and gold leaf walls, including the monastic library with medieval manuscripts. Later, the ship cruises through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, where you can either hike to Dürnstein Castle or take a guided bike ride through vineyards along the Danube.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Cruise through Wachau Valley (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Guided bike tour along the Danube
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
Landmarks Melk Abbey (UNESCO World Heritage) Wachau Valley (UNESCO World Heritage) Dürnstein Castle 
- Day 12
Vienna
In Vienna, Austria's cultural capital and former home to Mozart and Beethoven, you'll choose between a coach and walking tour of the Ringstrasse sights like the Opera House, Burgtheater, and Parliament, or a guided bike tour. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city and its museum district at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
- Guided bike tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Landmarks Vienna Opera House Burgtheater Parliament, Vienna Schönbrunn Palace 
- Day 13
Bratislava
Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, awaits with Baroque palaces and cobblestone streets lined with boutiques and cafés. A morning tour shows you the Old City with its Renaissance Old Town Hall and Slovak National Theatre. In the afternoon, a local family invites you to their home for traditional sweets and coffee. Optional activities include hiking to Bratislava Castle or exploring post-Communist sites and the Carpathian wine route.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
Optional Activities
- Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)
- Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
Landmarks Bratislava Old Town Old Town Hall, Bratislava Slovak National Theatre Bratislava Castle 
- Day 14
Budapest
The ship arrives in Budapest, Eastern Europe's liveliest city split by the iconic Danube River. Buda and Pest connect via the symbolic Chain Bridge. You'll either take a guided coach tour or hike to Gellert Hill. Tonight brings a traditional Hungarian folklore show on board followed by your farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
- Hike to Gellert Hill
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense)
- Jewish heritage tour (extra expense)
Landmarks Chain Bridge, Budapest Gellert Hill Szentendre 
- Day 15
Budapest to Airport
After breakfast, you'll disembark the Star-Ship and head to the airport, carrying memories of your Danube journey with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport transfer from Star-Ship
