Itinerary
- Day 1
Prague
You'll arrive in Prague and check into your hotel for a three-night stay. This gives you time to settle in and get oriented to the city before things get busy with activities.
- Day 2
Prague
A guided tour takes you through Prague's historic core, starting with three castle courtyards and then into St. Vitus Cathedral. From there you'll walk the Castle Steps where views spread out across the city, then head down to Charles Bridge before finishing at the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square. You'll see architecture spanning several centuries in one day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Prague
- Visit to St. Vitus Cathedral
- Cross Charles Bridge
- View Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square
Optional Activities
- Coffee & Cake at Lobkowicz Palace (EmeraldPLUS)
Landmarks/POIs Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Charles Bridge Old Town Square Astronomical Clock Lobkowicz Palace 
- Day 3
Prague
This day is yours to plan with help from your tour director. You might wander through the Baroque quarter or spend time in Josefov, Prague's historic Jewish neighborhood. The choice of what to see depends entirely on what interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Tastes of Czechia (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Josefov - Day 4
Prague to Budapest
After breakfast, you'll transfer from your Prague hotel to Budapest where the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship is waiting. Once you board, the river cruise portion of your tour officially begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5
Budapest
Budapest sits on both sides of the Danube, and today you'll experience that split personality. Cross the Chain Bridge to see both Buda's elegant side and Pest's historic character. You can choose between a guided coach tour of the city or hiking up to Gellert Hill for great views.
- 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
In Bratislava, a local guide walks you through cobblestone streets and shows you ornate Baroque palaces, the Renaissance courtyard at Old Town Hall, and the Episcopal Summer Palace gardens. After that, free time lets you browse boutiques and attractions on your own, followed by traditional sweets and coffee with a local family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
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 Episcopal Summer Palace Bratislava Castle - Day 7
Vienna
Vienna's imperial history comes alive as you explore the Ringstrasse with its palaces and notable buildings, including the Vienna State Opera. You can take a guided walking and coach tour through the streets or opt for a cycling tour along riverbanks and parks ending at the Prater.
- 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 Vienna State Opera Ringstrasse Prater Schönbrunn Palace - Day 8
Dürnstein to Melk
The morning offers two options: hike up to Durnstein Castle and learn about its past as Richard the Lionheart's prison, or take a guided bike ride from Durnstein to Melk through vineyards. Later you'll relax on deck while sailing through the UNESCO Wachau Valley, then tour the 900-year-old Melk Abbey with its ancient monastic library.
- 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 Wachau Valley Melk Abbey - Day 9
Passau
Passau sits where three rivers meet. You'll walk through maze-like lanes and classical boutiques, then join a guided tour to see 17th-century Baroque buildings, the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress, and St. Stephen's Cathedral with Europe's largest church organ. The afternoon brings peaceful sailing through the heart of Europe.
- 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 a UNESCO-listed medieval city with your local guide. You'll see historic patrician houses lining streets from when this was a major trading center with a seat of parliament. Then the ship sails toward Nuremberg through the Main-Danube Canal, passing Kelheim along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
- Bavarian band performance on board
Optional Activities
- Sausage-making workshop (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Regensburg Old Town - Day 11
Nuremberg
A guided sightseeing tour shows you Nuremberg's architectural wonders that have inspired famous artists for generations. After the tour ends, you'll have leisure time to walk past idyllic houses that were lovingly rebuilt after World War II.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
Optional Activities
- World War II tour (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Day 12
Bamberg
Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage town with thousands of listed buildings in one of Europe's best-preserved medieval quarters. Your local guide takes you past ornamental facades and the New Residence reflecting the opulence of prince bishops. You'll relax in the Rose Garden and see medieval Altenburg Castle overlooking the town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Landmarks/POIs New Residence Altenburg Castle - Day 13
Würzburg
Wurzburg sits on the Main River as an introduction to the Romantic Road. You'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Wurzburg Residence, an example of Viennese Baroque mixed with Italian secular features. A guided walking tour includes the Gothic Marienkapelle and the Town Hall.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg and a visit to the Bishops Residence
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Residence Marienkapelle - Day 14
Miltenberg
You'll coach to Bronnbach Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in the picturesque Tauber Valley, then continue to Miltenberg where traditional Bavarian life is preserved in colorful houses on cobblestone streets. Either take a guided tour or hike to Mildenburg Castle to see its collection of artworks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Visit to Bronnbach Abbey
Optional Activities
- Guided Active Walk to Mildenburg Castle (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks/POIs Bronnbach Abbey Mildenburg Castle - Day 15
Rüdesheim
Relaxing on your ship until reaching Rudesheim, a town known for its wine heritage. You can ride the Winzerexpress to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum to see rare music boxes, or walk through vineyards. After lunch, sail through the UNESCO Rhine Gorge with castles and fortresses visible on surrounding hilltops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
Optional Activities
- Active Walk to Niederwalddenkmal (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks/POIs Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Niederwalddenkmal Rhine Gorge - Day 16
Koblenz to Cologne
The cruise goes from Koblenz to Cologne, a city with over 2,000 years of history. A walking tour takes you through the Old Town past ancient bridges that survived World War II and the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral with its iconic twin towers. You'll participate in a treasure hunt for typical Cologne items, then join your farewell dinner with the crew.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Quest for Cologne's treasures
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral Cologne Old Town - Day 17
Amsterdam
Board a glass-top canal boat to cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage canal system, seeing elegant merchant residences from Amsterdam's Golden Age trading era. Either spend free time exploring on your own or cycle through traditional Dutch villages past windmills to Waterland.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canal cruise
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour to Waterland (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canal System Waterland - Day 18
Amsterdam to Paris
After breakfast, you'll transfer from your Star-Ship to central Paris and check into your hotel for a three-night stay. This location puts you close to the main attractions and neighborhoods you'll want to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 19
Paris
A local guide walks you through Paris's wide leafy boulevards, showing you Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe. After the walking tour, you'll board a river cruise on the Seine to see the city from the water, finishing at the iconic Eiffel Tower.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Paris
- Seine River cruise
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Seine River - Day 20
Paris
The entire day is yours to explore Paris however you like. Visit museums to learn about the city's art history, sit in local cafes for genuine Parisian food, or hunt down other attractions that appeal to you. Your tour director can help with planning suggestions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Tastes of Paris (DiscoverMORE - extra expense)
- Day 21
Departure
After breakfast, you'll transfer from your hotel to the airport, taking with you memories of ancient Roman architecture and Parisian meals from your time across Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
