Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and get picked up from the airport for a transfer to your hotel. This evening there's a welcome reception to get everyone together and kick off the trip.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Matild Palace)
- Day 2
Budapest
Start with a private tour of the Hungarian State Opera House, including a recital inside. After that, head out to the Etyek wine region where you'll taste wines and have lunch at Rokusfaly Estate with vineyard views. Then stop at Hegedűs Cheese Workshop to tour the underground cheese cave and try some selections, before finishing at Sonkamester to see how they make traditional ham.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Rokusfaly Estate in Etyek-Buda wine region with vineyard views)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Matild Palace)
Included Activities
- Tour of Hungarian State Opera House with private opera recital
- Wine tasting and lunch at Rokusfaly Estate in Etyek-Buda wine region
- Cheese tasting and guided tour of Hegedűs Cheese Workshop including Cheese Cave
- Visit to Sonkamester for traditional ham-making demonstration and tasting
Landmarks Hungarian State Opera House - Day 3
Budapest to Danube River
This morning you'll check out Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church. Lunch comes with views of the Danube River and the Parliament building. In the afternoon, walk onto your river ship, get settled in your cabin, and take some time to explore the vessel that'll be your home for the next 15 days.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with views of the Danube River and Parliament building)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (APT Solara or APT Ostara)
Included Activities
- Visit to Fisherman's Bastion
- Visit to Matthias Church
- Lunch with Danube River and Parliament building views
Landmarks Fisherman's Bastion Matthias Church Parliament building - Day 4
Budapest to Vienna
Pick one morning activity: take a city tour of historic monuments, wander through the Great Market Hall to find local flavors, or ride the funicular up Castle Hill for the views. This afternoon the ship departs for Vienna.
Included Activities
- City tour of Budapest including Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica (Freedom of Choice)
- Tour of Great Market Hall with market exploration (Freedom of Choice)
- Funicular ride to Castle Hill and walk to Fisherman's Bastion (Freedom of Choice)
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Great Market Hall Castle Hill 
- Day 5
Vienna
Have a relaxing morning as the ship cruises toward Vienna. Along the way you'll see iconic landmarks along the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen's Cathedral comes into view as you arrive.
Included Activities
- Sightseeing along Ringstrasse
- View of St. Stephen's Cathedral
Landmarks Ringstrasse St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 6
Vienna
Choose your morning: tour the lavish Schönbrunn Palace and its grounds, take a day trip to Bratislava to see the mix of rococo and communist architecture, or join a guided food tour of Vienna's culinary spots. This evening there's an exclusive cocktail party and private classical concert at Vienna's City Palace.
Included Activities
- Tour of Schönbrunn Palace with grounds exploration (Freedom of Choice)
- Visit to Bratislava, Slovakia including UFO bridge, Slovak Radio building and Hotel Kyjev (Freedom of Choice)
- Vienna culinary tour including traditional cafe, Viennese sausage and patisserie sampling (Freedom of Choice)
- Cocktail party and private orchestra performance at Vienna's City Palace with Mozart and Strauss classical masterpieces and operatic performance
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace UFO Bridge Vienna's City Palace - Day 7
Dürnstein to Melk
Walk around the small town of Dürnstein, then pick an activity: cruise through the Wachau Valley to see vineyards and historic castles, or go on a guided bike ride along the Danube. Later you'll visit Melk Abbey, which is impressive and worth the time.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Dürnstein
- Cruise through Wachau Valley to Melk (Freedom of Choice)
- Guided bike ride from Dürnstein to Melk along Danube River (Freedom of Choice)
- Visit to Melk Abbey
Landmarks Dürnstein Wachau Valley Melk Abbey 
- Day 8
Salzburg
Take a guided tour through Salzburg's streets, then head up Gaisberg Mountain where a hunting horn blower greets you. You'll have a welcome drink while taking in panoramic views, then sit down for a traditional lunch. The day wraps up with a performance featuring music from The Sound of Music.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at rustic traditional restaurant on Gaisberg mountain overlooking Salzburg)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salzburg
- Jagdhornbläser welcome at Gaisberg mountain restaurant
- Welcome drink at Gaisberg mountain
- Lunch at rustic restaurant on Gaisberg mountain
- Performance featuring music from The Sound of Music
Landmarks Gaisberg Mountain 
- Day 9
Regensburg
Plan your own day from the options: explore Regensburg's medieval center on a guided tour and eat at one of the world's oldest working restaurants for a tasting, or take a guided bike ride to the Walhalla Memorial with its neo-classical hall of fame.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg's World Heritage-listed city centre with tasting at historic sausage kitchen (Freedom of Choice)
- Guided bike ride to Walhalla Memorial (Freedom of Choice)
Landmarks Regensburg World Heritage City Centre Walhalla Memorial 
- Day 10
Main-Danube Canal to Nuremberg
Cruise the Main-Danube Canal while sampling Bavarian beer, sausage, and pretzels on deck. When you arrive in Nuremberg, choose between a tour of World War II historical sites or exploring the medieval heart of the city with its historic architecture.
- Meals
- Snack (Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on Daystar Deck)
Included Activities
- Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on Daystar Deck
- Guided tour of Nuremberg World War II sites including Reich Party Rally Grounds (Freedom of Choice)
- Guided tour of Nuremberg's medieval history including 900-year-old ramparts, Imperial Castle and main market square (Freedom of Choice)
Landmarks Main-Danube Canal Reich Party Rally Grounds Imperial Castle 
- Day 11
Bamberg
Pull into Bamberg, a World Heritage town that largely avoided damage during World War II. Either join a guided walk through the Old Town to see historic churches and the town hall on the Regnitz River, or stay on the ship and relax.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Bamberg Old Town including historic churches and buildings
Optional Activities
- Relaxation on board the ship
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town 
- Day 12
Würzburg
You have several options: tour the Würzburg Residence to see its intricate tapestries and ceiling frescoes, explore the walled medieval town of Rothenburg with cobblestone streets and colorful houses including Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village, hike up to Marienberg Fortress for city views, or head to Volkacher Mainschleife wine region for whisky and wine tasting.
Included Activities
- Tour of Würzburg Residence including 18th-century palace rooms and immaculate grounds (Freedom of Choice)
- Exploration of walled town of Rothenburg with medieval streets and houses (Freedom of Choice)
- Hike to Marienberg Fortress overlooking Würzburg (Freedom of Choice)
- Guided tour of Volkacher Mainschleife wine region with whisky distillery visit, tasting and fresh bread pairing (Freedom of Choice)
Optional Activities
- Visit to Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village in Rothenburg
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg Marienberg Fortress Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village - Day 13
Miltenberg
Get off in Miltenberg, a preserved German village that survived World War II intact. Either take a guided walking tour of the buildings followed by local liqueur tasting, or travel to a local monastery to meet a Franciscan friar and sample their homemade sausages, cheese, and bread.
- Meals
- Snack (Homemade sausages, cheese and bread tasting at local monastery)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Miltenberg with visit to Franconia's oldest wine cellar for local liqueur tasting (Freedom of Choice)
- Visit to local monastery with Franciscan friar meeting and sampling of homemade sausages, cheese and bread (Freedom of Choice)
Optional Activities
- Free time to wander through monastery gardens and vineyard
Landmarks Miltenberg - Day 14
Rüdesheim
At Rüdesheim, choose your morning: ride a gondola over vineyards to the Niederwald Monument that commemorates Germany's 1871 unification, check out Siegfried's collection of automated musical instruments, or taste Rhine Valley wines at a historic wine cellar. This afternoon you'll cruise past the beautiful Rhine stretch with ruins and vineyards on the banks.
Included Activities
- Gondola ride over Rhine Valley vineyards to Niederwald Monument (Freedom of Choice)
- Tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum (Freedom of Choice)
- Rhine Valley wine tasting at historic wine cellar (Freedom of Choice)
Landmarks Niederwald Monument Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Rhine Valley 
- Day 15
Namedy Castle to Netherlands
Have an exclusive morning visit to Namedy Castle, a 14th-century residence where Princess Heide von Hohenzollern welcomes you personally. Walk through the castle rooms, find hidden spaces, and explore the manicured grounds. Then settle in for morning tea with classical piano music. This afternoon the ship continues toward the Netherlands.
- Meals
- Lunch (Morning tea at Namedy Castle)
Included Activities
- Visit to Namedy Castle with tour of rooms and grounds
- Morning tea with classical pianist performance at Namedy Castle
Landmarks Namedy Castle - Day 16
Amsterdam
Arrive in Amsterdam and pick a morning activity: cruise the World Heritage canals on a glass-top boat, stop at a local cheese store to taste Edam and Gouda, take a guided bike ride through the countryside to Durgerdam and the Street Art Museum, or on certain spring departures visit Keukenhof Gardens with over seven million flowering bulbs. This evening you'll have fresh oysters with regional sparkling wine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Fresh locally sourced oysters with regional sparkling wine)
Included Activities
- Glass-top boat canal cruise through World Heritage-listed canals (Freedom of Choice)
- Cheese tasting at local store featuring Edam and Gouda (Freedom of Choice)
- Guided bike ride to Durgerdam village and Street Art Museum (Freedom of Choice)
- Keukenhof Gardens visit with over 70 acres and seven million flowering bulbs on select spring departures (Freedom of Choice)
- Fresh oysters with regional sparkling wine
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals Durgerdam Street Art Museum Keukenhof Gardens 
- Day 17
Amsterdam
Your trip ends today. After breakfast, say goodbye to the ship and get transferred to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
