Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and get transferred to your ship. After settling into your suite, there's a welcome reception where you'll meet other travelers and try fresh local oysters paired with regional sparkling wine. Later in the evening following dinner, you're free to wander the city on your own.
- Meals
- Dinner (First dinner on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (APT Solara or APT Ostara)
Included Activities
- Welcome reception with fellow travelers and APT Cruise Director
- Fresh locally sourced oysters with regional sparkling wine
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Amsterdam
- Day 2
Amsterdam to Utrecht
The morning is yours to choose how you spend it in Amsterdam. Options include a glass-top boat canal cruise, cheese tasting, a guided bike ride through countryside, or visiting Keukenhof Gardens if it's spring. By afternoon you'll head back to the ship in Utrecht and cruise toward Germany.
Optional Activities
- Glass-top boat canal cruise through Amsterdam's World Heritage-listed canals
- Cheese tasting at a local cheese store featuring Edam and Gouda varieties
- Guided bike ride through the countryside to Durgerdam village and Street Art Museum
- Keukenhof Gardens visit in spring (select departures) - explore 70+ acres of gardens with seven million flowering bulbs including tulips
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals Keukenhof Gardens Durgerdam - Day 3
Rhine Cruise to Andernach
While cruising through Germany this morning, you can enjoy the spa or relax on the Daystar Deck. Later you'll dock in Andernach for a signature experience at Namedy Castle. Princess Heide von Hohenzollern welcomes you for a tour of the castle, a walk through the gardens, and then a cocktail party with a pianist.
Included Activities
- Signature Experience - Namedy Castle tour, gardens, and cocktail party with pianist performance
Optional Activities
- Spa treatments
- Relaxation on Daystar Deck
Landmarks Namedy Castle 
- Day 4
Rüdesheim
The ship passes castle ruins and vineyards along the Rhine, docking in Rudesheim. You'll have choices here: take a gondola over the vineyards to Niederwald Monument, check out Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, or taste Rhine Valley wines at a historic wine cellar.
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride over emerald vineyards to Niederwald Monument commemorating German unification in 1871
- Guided tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Rhine Valley wine tasting at a historic wine cellar
Landmarks Niederwald Monument Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Rhine Valley - Day 5
Main River Cruise to Miltenberg
Cruising the Main River takes you to Miltenberg, a town that survived World War II intact. Pick between a guided walking tour that shows historic buildings and squares with liqueur tasting at one of Franconia's oldest cellars, or visit a local monastery to meet a Franciscan friar and try homemade sausages, cheese, and bread.
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Miltenberg with liqueur tasting at one of Franconia's oldest wine cellars
- Local monastery visit with Franciscan friar meeting, homemade sausage/cheese/bread tasting, and free time in gardens and vineyard
Landmarks Miltenberg Old Town 
- Day 6
Würzburg Region
This day is flexible based on what interests you. Visit the Wurzburg Residence to see tapestries and ceiling frescoes, explore wine-growing and a whisky distillery in Volkacher Mainschleife, wander medieval streets in Rothenburg with its Christmas decorations, or hike up to Marienberg Fortress for views over Wurzburg.
Optional Activities
- Würzburg Residence tour - 18th-century Prince-Bishops palace with intricate tapestries, gilded stucco work, and Tiepolo ceiling frescoes
- Tastes of Franconia - guided tour of Volkacher Mainschleife wine-growing region and famous Franconian whisky distillery with maker meetings and tasting paired with fresh baked bread
- Explore Rothenburg - walled medieval town with cobblestone streets, colorful houses, and option to visit Käthe Wohlfahrt's 'Christmas Village' (largest German Christmas decoration selection in the world)
- Hike to Marienberg Fortress - Würzburg's most visible landmark with centuries of history
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg Marienberg Fortress Volkacher Mainschleife - Day 7
Bamberg to Main-Danube Canal
You'll arrive in Bamberg, a World Heritage site that wasn't destroyed during World War II. A guided tour takes you through the Old Town showing historic churches and buildings, including the town hall on the Regnitz River. After rejoining the ship, you'll cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town including historic churches and buildings
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town 
- Day 8
Nuremberg
In Nuremberg, choose between touring World War II sites like the Reich Party Rally Grounds, or exploring medieval history with 900-year-old ramparts, the Imperial Castle, and a Gothic church. By afternoon while cruising the Main-Danube Canal, you'll taste Bavarian beer, sausage, and pretzels on the Daystar Deck.
- Meals
- Snack (Bavarian beer, sausage, and pretzel tasting on Daystar Deck)
Included Activities
- Bavarian beer, sausage, and pretzel tasting on Daystar Deck
Optional Activities
- Nuremberg World War II sites tour including Reich Party Rally Grounds (Hitler's rally site 1927-1938)
- Medieval History of Nuremberg tour - 900-year-old ramparts, Imperial Castle, main market square, 14th century Gothic church
Landmarks Imperial Castle Nuremberg Market Square St. Lorenz Church 
- Day 9
Regensburg
Regensburg offers two options. Take a guided tour of the World Heritage city center with Roman history, finishing at one of the world's oldest working restaurants for sausage tasting. Or go on a guided bike ride to Walhalla Memorial, a neo-classical hall of fame overlooking the Danube River.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg's World Heritage-listed city center with tasting at historic sausage kitchen (one of world's oldest working restaurants)
- Guided bike ride to Walhalla Memorial - neo-classical hall of fame honoring German politicians, artists, sovereigns, and scientists overlooking Danube River
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Walhalla Memorial 
- Day 10
Salzburg
You'll start with a guided tour of Salzburg, then head to your signature experience. A welcome drink and lunch waits at a traditional restaurant on Gaisberg Mountain with views over Salzburg. A hunting horn blower greets you, and there's a Sound of Music show for entertainment.
- Meals
- Lunch (Gaisberg Mountain lunch at traditional rustic restaurant with views overlooking Salzburg)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salzburg
- Signature Experience - Gaisberg Mountain lunch at traditional rustic restaurant with welcome drink and Sound of Music show performance
Landmarks Gaisberg Mountain 
- Day 11
Melk to Dürnstein
First you'll tour Melk Abbey, one of the world's most famous monastic sites. Then pick how to reach Durnstein: either cruise leisurely through the Wachau Valley or take a guided bike ride along the Danube. Once there, you'll see the castle ruins where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner in 1192.
Included Activities
- Visit to Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Cruise through Wachau Valley to Dürnstein with leisure roaming of cobblestone lanes
- Guided bike ride from Melk to Dürnstein along Danube River through Wachau Valley
Landmarks Melk Abbey Dürnstein Castle Ruins Wachau Valley - Day 12
Vienna
Arriving in Vienna, you'll take a city tour covering landmarks along the Ringstrasse and St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon is yours to explore freely. This evening brings your signature experience at Vienna's City Palace with a cocktail party and private classical concert featuring a full orchestra playing Mozart and Strauss, plus an operatic recital.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner before attending Signature Experience)
Included Activities
- Vienna city tour including Ringstrasse and St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Signature Experience - Cocktail party and private classical concert at Vienna's City Palace with full orchestra performing Mozart and Strauss, plus operatic recital
Optional Activities
- Afternoon leisure exploration of Vienna
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Ringstrasse 
- Day 13
Vienna to Hungary
Vienna offers three options for the day. Tour the lavishly decorated rooms and gardens of Schonbrunn Palace, take a day trip to Bratislava to see 18th-century rococo buildings and communist-era sites, or join a culinary tour through Vienna's narrow streets with traditional cafes, Viennese sausage, and pastry shops. You'll sail for Hungary in the afternoon.
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace visit - lavishly furnished rooms and beautiful gardens
- Bratislava, Slovakia day trip - 18th-century rococo and communist-era architecture including UFO bridge, Slovak Radio building, and Hotel Kyjev
- Vienna culinary tour - traditional cafe, classic Viennese sausage, and famous patisserie
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava UFO Bridge - Day 14
Budapest
In Budapest, choose between a city tour of Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica, a culinary tour through the Great Market Hall, or a funicular ride to Castle Hill for river views followed by Fisherman's Bastion. The afternoon is open for more exploration. That evening you'll join other travelers for a farewell with Hungarian folk music, local brandy, and artisan meats and cheeses.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner with Hungarian folk music performance, local brandy, artisan meats, and cheeses)
Included Activities
- Farewell Hungarian folk music performance with local brandy, artisan meats, and cheeses
Optional Activities
- Budapest city tour - Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica
- Great Market Hall culinary tour - indoor market with sausages, meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables
- Fisherman's Bastion - funicular ride to Castle Hill with sweeping river views and walk to historical monument
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Great Market Hall Fisherman's Bastion 
- Day 15
Budapest
Tour the Hungarian State Opera House, one of the world's finest neo-Renaissance buildings, and enjoy a private opera recital with two or three arias. Then your signature experience takes you to Etyek wine region with wine and lunch at Rokusfaly Estate overlooking vineyards, cheese tasting with a demonstration at Hegadus Cheese Workshop, and a visit to Sonkamester to learn traditional ham-making.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Rokusfaly Estate in Etyek with wine tasting and views of surrounding vineyards)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Matild Palace)
Included Activities
- Hungarian State Opera House tour with private opera recital of two or three ariettas
- Signature Experience - Etyek culinary tour with wine tasting and lunch at Rokusfaly Estate, cheese tasting and guided tour at Hegadus Cheese Workshop with cheesemaking demonstration and Cheese Cave visit (nine metres below ground), and Sonkamester ham-making methods and tasting
Landmarks Hungarian State Opera House Etyek Wine Region - Day 16
Budapest
You'll visit Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church, then have lunch with views of the Danube and Hungarian Parliament Building. Later, take an informative tour of Hospital in the Rock, a museum dedicated to the former secret emergency hospital and nuclear bunker.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with views of Danube River and Hungarian Parliament Building)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Matild Palace)
Included Activities
- Fisherman's Bastion visit
- Matthias Church visit
- Lunch with Danube River and Hungarian Parliament Building views
- Hospital in the Rock museum tour - former secret emergency hospital and nuclear bunker
Landmarks Fisherman's Bastion Matthias Church Hospital in the Rock Hungarian Parliament Building - Day 17
Budapest to Airport
This morning your tour concludes. You'll transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
