Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
Kick off your trip in Budapest this afternoon by boarding your luxury river ship. After getting settled into your suite with those panoramic river views, you'll attend a welcome reception this evening to meet fellow travelers and get oriented.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception)
Landmarks/POIs Danube River 
- Day 2
Budapest
Morning Freechoice gives you options: take a guided city tour hitting both Buda and Pest, head underground to Hospital in the Rock, or do a scenic hike through the Buda district. Later, spend your afternoon wandering the Christmas markets or hopping on the special tram around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Budapest in depth coach tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Hospital in the Rock guided tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided hike of Buda district
Optional Activities
- Visit Christmas markets
- Ride special festive tram
Landmarks/POIs Várkert Bazár Margaret Bridge Széchényi Square Elizabeth Square Hospital in the Rock - Day 3
Budapest to Vienna
The ship cruises toward Vienna this morning through some nice countryside scenery, and you'll arrive in Austria's capital by afternoon. Free time lets you explore on your own, then this evening you'll head to an exclusive private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein with Austrian Sekt and orchestra performances.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Private classical concert with Austrian Sekt and music of Strauss and Mozart)
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich: Private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein
Optional Activities
- Wander Vienna city independently
Landmarks/POIs Palais Liechtenstein - Day 4
Vienna
Vienna stays docked so you've got the whole day to explore. Pick a morning Freechoice activity focusing on museums and palaces, or take a day trip to nearby Bratislava. Shuttles run to the Christmas markets in the afternoon if you'd rather head there and grab lunch nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Kunsthistorisches Museum visit
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided coach and walking tour of Vienna
- Scenic Freechoice: Schönbrunn Palace tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Excursion to Bratislava
Optional Activities
- Visit Christmas markets
Landmarks/POIs Kunsthistorisches Museum Ringstrasse Urania Stadtpark Strauss Monument State Opera Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie - Day 5
Dürnstein
You'll dock in Krems in the Wachau Valley and choose your morning adventure: tour Göttweig Abbey, learn about the region's wine traditions, or take an e-bike ride to the charming village of Dürnstein. The ship moves to Dürnstein by afternoon, giving you time to explore this World Heritage town and its Christmas market.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Göttweig Abbey guided tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Wachau Valley wine tasting
- Scenic Freechoice: E-biking from Krems to Dürnstein
Optional Activities
- Explore Dürnstein independently
Landmarks/POIs Göttweig Abbey Wachau Valley Danube River Dürnstein Castle - Day 6
Passau
After a brief stop in Brandstatt, you'll arrive in Passau where three rivers meet. This charming town has nice Italianate buildings and festive markets. Morning Freechoice splits between a full-day excursion to Salzburg or Český Krumlov, or staying local to see St Stephens Cathedral and Passau's medieval Christmas markets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant lunch included in full-day excursions), Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Full day excursion to Salzburg
- Scenic Freechoice: Full day excursion to Český Krumlov
- Scenic Freechoice: Highlights of Passau walking tour
Landmarks/POIs St Stephens Cathedral Mozart's Birthplace Hohensalzburg Fortress Český Krumlov - Day 7
Regensburg
Rolling into Regensburg just before lunch, you'll find this 2,000-year-old city packed with over 900 World Heritage buildings crammed into preserved medieval streets. Check out the Christmas markets scattered throughout, then pick your afternoon: either a walking tour of the old town or a guided visit to Thurn und Taxis Castle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Regensburg
- Scenic Freechoice: Thurn und Taxis Castle guided tour
Optional Activities
- Explore Regensburg Christmas markets independently
Landmarks/POIs Old Stone Bridge Church of St James Porta Praetoria Thurn und Taxis Castle Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz - Day 8
Nuremberg
Early afternoon gets you to Nuremberg, home to one of the world's oldest Christmas markets. The medieval Old Town sits behind ancient city walls with a 12th-century Imperial Castle standing over it all. Freechoice options include a walking tour of the Old Town, a World War II history tour, or trying your hand at a gingerbread cooking class.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of the Old Town
- Scenic Freechoice: World War II tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Gingerbread cooking class
Optional Activities
- Explore Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market independently
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Castle St. Egidien's Church Christkindlesmarkt 
- Day 9
Bamberg
Bamberg appears early and it's something special: a World Heritage town built on seven hills with cobblestone streets and medieval buildings everywhere. You'll see the island-set Town Hall, the Gothic cathedral, and both the old and new Residences. A guided tour takes you through the festive Christmas markets spread across the town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Landmarks/POIs Bamberg Town Hall Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Residence - Day 10
Würzburg
Arriving in Würzburg, you're in wine country surrounded by baroque and rococo architecture along the Main River. Pick between a guided city tour that includes the World Heritage palace, or take the famed Romantic Road to medieval Rothenburg with its 500-year-old Christmas market still running strong.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided city tour and Würzburg Residence
- Scenic Freechoice: Romantic Road to Rothenburg
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Residence Old Main Bridge Rothenburg City Hall City Councillors' Tavern - Day 11
Miltenberg
This morning stays relaxed on board before you dock in Wertheim where Christmas markets fill the town center. A guided tour comes first, then you'll coach over to Miltenberg, one of Germany's best-preserved towns with pastel half-timbered houses and the country's oldest inn to explore before heading back to the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Wertheim
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
Optional Activities
- Book spa massage
- Relax in Salt Therapy Lounge
Landmarks/POIs Wertheim Christmas Market Zum Riesen - Day 12
Rüdesheim
After lunch you'll disembark in Rüdesheim nestled among steep vineyards. A mini train takes you from the pier to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum where around 350 self-playing instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries are on display. After that, time to wander the festive Christmas market before returning.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mini train ride to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Optional Activities
- Explore Rüdesheim Christmas market independently
- Visit wine taverns and beer gardens
Landmarks/POIs Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - Day 13
Cologne
Cruising through the Rhine Gorge this morning means passing about 40 hilltop castles and fortresses spread across 65 kilometers of scenery. You'll reach Cologne early afternoon and do a walking tour of the restored Old Town, checking out the World Heritage Cologne Cathedral surrounded by magnificent Christmas markets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town
- Visit to Cologne Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Explore Christmas markets independently
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral Rhine Gorge - Day 14
Amsterdam
Arriving in Amsterdam this afternoon, you'll explore a maze of narrow streets and canals lined with 17th-century buildings. Often called the Venice of the North, the UNESCO-listed canal system has Christmas decorations throughout. Freechoice gives you a one-hour canal cruise, city walking tour with herring tasting, or an excursion to windmills and Alkmaar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Canal cruise
- Scenic Freechoice: City walking tour with herring tasting
- Scenic Freechoice: Excursion to Schermerhorn and Alkmaar
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam canals and bridges independently
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canal System Schermerhorn Windmills Alkmaar - Day 15
Amsterdam to Paris
The high-speed train takes you from Amsterdam to Paris for a three-night hotel stay. You'll check in and settle into your luxurious accommodations in the City of Light, ready to explore starting tomorrow morning.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- High-speed train transfer to Paris
- Day 16
Paris
A guided coach tour covers Paris's major districts and iconic sights. You'll pass the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe, then see the Palais Garnier Opera, the Louvre, and Les Invalides. After the tour wraps up early afternoon, free time lets you explore whatever corners of the city call to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Paris
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris independently
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe River Seine Palais Garnier Opera Louvre Les Invalides - Day 17
Paris
Freechoice kicks in today: wander through artistic Montmartre's cobblestone streets with its vineyard and quiet green spaces, or check out Atelier des Lumières for 360-degree projections showing masterpieces by Van Gogh, Klimt, and Monet. The afternoon opens up for your own exploring around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Secrets of Montmartre
- Scenic Freechoice: Atelier des Lumières
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris independently
Landmarks/POIs Montmartre Montmartre Vineyard Atelier des Lumières - Day 18
Paris
Your journey ends this morning. If continuing on, the Eurostar train takes you back to Amsterdam to start the river portion of your trip. Otherwise, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight home with memories of the past weeks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
Optional Activities
- Eurostar transfer to Amsterdam to start river cruise
