Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and get settled into your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. After you're comfortable in your cabin, spend the evening relaxing on board while an authentic Hungarian folklore show plays. This is your chance to unwind after travel and get oriented before exploring the city.
Included Activities
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
- Day 2
Budapest
A guided coach tour takes you across Budapest to see both sides of the Danube. You'll cross the Chain Bridge, which symbolically connects Buda and Pest, and learn about the city's cultural blend and architecture throughout the day. If you'd rather be active, there's a hike option up to Gellert Hill instead of the coach tour.
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
Optional Activities
- Hike to Gellert Hill
Landmarks/POIs Chain Bridge Gellert Hill - Day 3
Bratislava
The ship travels to Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, where you'll walk through cobblestone streets with a local guide. You'll pass Baroque palaces, the Old Town Hall's Renaissance courtyard, and the Episcopal Summer Palace gardens. After free time browsing shops, you're invited to a local family's home for traditional sweets and coffee. A castle hike and alternative tours are available if you prefer.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
- Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)
- Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Old Town Hall Episcopal Summer Palace Bratislava Castle - Day 4
Vienna
You arrive in Vienna and explore this cultural capital where famous composers worked. A guided coach and walking tour covers the Ringstrasse, imperial palaces, and the Vienna State Opera. Alternatively, join a guided cycling tour along riverbanks, through parks, and past monuments. Schönbrunn Palace and an evening concert are optional activities available.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Vienna
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Vienna State Opera Ringstrasse Prater Schönbrunn Palace - Day 5
Melk
Start your morning with a hike to Dürnstein Castle and learn about its history with Richard the Lionheart, or take a guided bike ride through vineyards from Dürnstein to Melk. After exploring, you'll relax on the Sun Deck as the ship cruises the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley. Your guide leads a tour of the 900-year-old Benedictine abbey at Melk, showing you the ancient library and medieval manuscripts.
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
- Guided bike tour along the Danube
Landmarks/POIs Dürnstein Castle Melk Abbey Wachau Valley - Day 6
Passau
You arrive in Passau where three rivers meet the Danube. Walk through romantic lanes and squares with classical shops, then join your guide for a tour of 17th century Baroque buildings, the Oberhaus Fortress on a hilltop, and St. Stephen's Cathedral with Europe's largest church organ. Later the ship cruises through central Europe. Optional trips to Salzburg and Český Krumlov are available.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Passau
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Oberhaus Fortress St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 7
Regensburg
After breakfast, explore one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities in the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town. Your local guide walks you through historic streets lined with patrician houses that once made this a major trading center. You'll return to the ship and cruise the Main-Danube Canal toward Nuremberg, passing Kelheim. A Bavarian band performs on board this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
- Bavarian band performance on board
Optional Activities
- Sausage-making workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Regensburg Old Town - Day 8
Nuremberg
During a guided sightseeing tour, you'll see Nuremberg's historic architecture that inspired famous artists. After the tour, free time lets you wander through houses that were carefully reconstructed after World War II damage. A World War II focused tour is an optional activity if you're interested.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
Optional Activities
- World War II tour (extra expense)
- Day 9
Bamberg
Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage town, waits this morning with thousands of protected buildings in its medieval center. Your guide leads you through one of Europe's best-preserved old quarters, showing hundreds of ornamental facades. You'll pass the New Residence displaying the prince bishops' wealth, relax in the Rose Garden, and see medieval Altenburg Castle overlooking everything.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Landmarks/POIs Altenburg Castle Rose Garden New Residence - Day 10
Würzburg
Würzburg sits on the Main River and serves as a gateway to Bavaria's Romantic Road. You'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Würzburg Residence with its Viennese Baroque style and Italian influences, learning how architects mixed different styles. A guided walking tour covers the Gothic Marienkapelle and Town Hall. An optional excursion to Rothenburg is available.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg and a visit to the Bishops Residence
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Residence Marienkapelle - Day 11
Miltenberg
You'll discover Bronnbach Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in the Tauber Valley, then travel by coach to Miltenberg village. A guided tour takes you down intricate cobblestone streets with colorful houses, explaining how river trade benefited the area historically. Alternatively, take an active walk to Mildenburg Castle, which has an interesting art collection inside.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Visit to Bronnbach Abbey
Optional Activities
- Guided Active Walk to Mildenburg Castle
Landmarks/POIs Bronnbach Abbey Mildenburg Castle - Day 12
Rüdesheim
This morning you relax on the ship until reaching Rüdesheim, a town known for its wine history. The Winzerexpress takes you to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum to see rare music boxes in a beautiful half-timbered building. Or choose an active vineyard walk to understand why this region is famous for wine. After lunch, you'll sail through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, spotting castles on the hillsides.
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
Optional Activities
- Active Walk to Niederwalddenkmal
Landmarks/POIs Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Niederwalddenkmal - Day 13
Cologne
The ship sails from Koblenz to Cologne, one of Germany's oldest cities founded by Romans in 50 AD. You'll walk through the Old Town with your guide, seeing ancient ruins, medieval structures, and bridges that survived World War II. The UNESCO World Heritage Cologne Cathedral with its twin towers is a major highlight. A walking tour helps you find typical Cologne treasures. Your farewell dinner is this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Quest for Cologne's treasures
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral - Day 14
Amsterdam
A glass-top canal boat takes you through Amsterdam's UNESCO World Heritage canal system. You'll pass elegant merchant residences from when Amsterdam was a major Golden Age trading center, then have free time to explore at leisure. A guided bike tour to Waterland is an option, showing Dutch villages and traditional windmills. Private hidden gems tours of Amsterdam are also available.
Included Activities
- Canal cruise
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour to Waterland
- Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)
- Day 15
Paris
After breakfast, you transfer from the ship to Paris for a three-night stay in central accommodation. The city offers something for everyone, from romantic atmosphere to celebrated food. You'll have time to settle in and start exploring this famous destination.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 16
Paris
A local guide shows you Paris's wide, tree-lined boulevards, pointing out Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe during your walking tour. Afterward, you'll board a Seine river cruise to see the city from the water, ending at the Eiffel Tower for views of the iconic structure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Paris and a Seine River cruise
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower 
- Day 17
Paris
Today Paris is yours to explore independently. You might visit a museum to see the city's art collections, or spend time in local cafes learning about Parisian food culture. Your tour director is available if you need help planning your day or want suggestions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Tastes of Paris (extra expense)
- Day 18
Paris to Airport
After breakfast, you transfer from your hotel to the airport, bringing memories of Roman architecture and Parisian food back home with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
