Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and get transferred to your ship where you're settling into your suite. There's a welcome reception to meet other travelers, and you'll have fresh local oysters with regional sparkling wine for dinner. After that, the evening is open for you to wander around the city on your own if you want to.
- 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
- Explore Amsterdam city at your own pace
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals 
- Day 2
Amsterdam
This is your choice day in Amsterdam. You can take a glass-top boat through the World Heritage canals, do a cheese tasting at a local shop, join a guided bike ride out to Durgerdam and the Street Art Museum, or visit Keukenhof Gardens if you're traveling in spring. By late afternoon you'll head to Utrecht and rejoin the ship for a cruise toward Germany.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Glass-Top Boat Canal Cruise through Amsterdam's World Heritage canals
- Cheese Tasting at local cheese store featuring regional varieties such as Edam and Gouda
- Guided Bike Ride through the countryside to Durgerdam and Street Art Museum
- Keukenhof Gardens in Spring - explore 70+ acres with over seven million flowering bulbs including tulips (select spring departures only)
Landmarks Keukenhof Gardens Durgerdam Street Art Museum - Day 3
Andernach, Germany
This morning brings a cruise through Germany. You'll have access to spa treatments and the Daystar Deck while relaxing on board. In Andernach, you're getting a Signature Experience at Namedy Castle where Princess Heide von Hohenzollern welcomes you personally. You'll tour the castle and gardens, then finish with a cocktail party that has piano music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Germany
- Signature Experience - Namedy Castle tour with castle and manicured gardens
- Cocktail party at Namedy Castle with pianist
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment on board
- Relax on the Daystar Deck
Landmarks Namedy Castle - Day 4
Rüdesheim, Germany
The ship floats past the Rhine's most beautiful section with ancient ruins, rocky cliffs, and vineyards along the banks. You'll dock in Rüdesheim where you can choose between a gondola ride over the Rhine Valley to the Niederwald Monument, a tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, or a wine cellar tasting of Rhine Valley wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Gondola Ride over emerald vineyards of Rhine Valley to Niederwald Monument commemorating German unification in 1871
- Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - tour of collection of automated musical instruments from various historical periods
- Historic Wine Cellar Visit with tasting of Rhine Valley wines
Landmarks Niederwald Monument Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum 
- Day 5
Miltenberg, Germany
After a relaxing cruise on the Main River, you'll arrive at Miltenberg, a town that avoided World War II damage and feels like it's frozen in time. Choose between a guided walk through preserved buildings and historic squares followed by liqueur tasting in an old Franconia wine cellar, or visit a local monastery to meet a Franciscan friar and try homemade sausages, cheese, and bread.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Miltenberg with exploration of preserved buildings and historic squares, followed by liqueur tasting at one of Franconia's oldest wine cellars
- Local Monastery Visit with meeting Franciscan friar, sampling homemade sausages, cheese and bread, and free time to wander through gardens and vineyard
Landmarks Miltenberg Old Town 
- Day 6
Würzburg, Germany
You're picking your own itinerary today. Visit the Würzburg Residence (an 18th-century palace with ornate tapestries and frescoes), explore Franconia's wine and whisky regions with distillery tastings, wander Rothenburg's medieval walled streets with cobblestones and colorful houses, or hike to Marienberg Fortress overlooking Würzburg. You'll return to the ship by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Würzburg Residence Visit - 18th-century palace with intricate tapestries, gilded stucco work, and ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo
- Tastes of Franconia - Guided tour of Volkacher Mainschleife wine-growing region and famous Franconian whisky distillery, meeting with whisky and winemaker, tasting paired with freshly baked bread from local bakery
- Explore Rothenburg - Medieval walled town with narrow cobblestone streets, colorful houses, and optional visit to Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village with largest selection of German Christmas decorations in the world
- Hike to Marienberg Fortress - Würzburg's most visible landmark, an imposing castle overlooking the city with history dating back many centuries
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg ob der Tauber Marienberg Fortress Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village - Day 7
Bamberg, Germany
You're arriving in Bamberg, a World Heritage city that survived World War II destruction. With a guide, you'll explore the Old Town and see historic churches, buildings, and the town hall sitting on the Regnitz River. After, you'll get back to the ship for a cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town including historic churches and buildings
- Cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town Regnitz River 
- Day 8
Nuremberg, Germany
Nuremberg gives you choices this morning. Explore World War II sites like the Reich Party Rally Grounds, or go for medieval history with 900-year-old ramparts, the Imperial Castle, and the main market square with its 14th-century church. This afternoon you'll cruise the Main-Danube Canal while having a Bavarian beer, sausage, and pretzel tasting on the Daystar Deck.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on the Daystar Deck
Optional Activities
- Discover Nuremberg's World War II Sites - Journey through Reich Party Rally Grounds, site of Hitler's annual rallies held from 1927 to 1938
- Medieval History of Nuremberg Tour - 900-year-old ramparts, Imperial Castle, main market square, and 14th-century Gothic church
Landmarks Reich Party Rally Grounds Nuremberg Imperial Castle Nuremberg Market Square - Day 9
Regensburg, Germany
In Regensburg, you can join a guided tour of the World Heritage city center learning about its Roman history and time as Bavaria's first capital, then finish at Regensburg's historic sausage kitchen. Or take a guided bike ride to the Walhalla Memorial, a neo-classical building above the Danube with a hall of fame honoring notable German historical figures.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Regensburg's World Heritage-Listed City Centre - Guided tour of atmospheric city center with Roman history as Bavaria's first capital, finishing with tasting at Regensburg's historic sausage kitchen, one of the oldest working restaurants in the world
- Guided Bike Ride to the Walhalla Memorial - Neo-classical building above Danube River with hall of fame honoring notable politicians, artists, sovereigns and scientists from Germany's past
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Walhalla Memorial - Day 10
Salzburg, Austria
You'll take a guided tour of Salzburg first, then head up to Gaisberg Mountain for your Signature Experience. A hunting horn blower welcomes you into a rustic traditional restaurant with views over Salzburg. You'll have a welcome drink, lunch, and a performance featuring music from The Sound of Music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at rustic traditional restaurant on Gaisberg mountain with welcome drink), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salzburg
- Signature Experience - Gaisberg Mountain Lunch with welcome from Jagdhornbläser (hunting horn blower)
- Signature Experience - Welcome drink with mountain scenery views
- Signature Experience - Lunch at rustic traditional restaurant on Gaisberg mountain
- Signature Experience - The Sound of Music show performance
Landmarks Salzburg Gaisberg Mountain 
- Day 11
Melk to Dürnstein, Austria
You're seeing Melk Abbey, one of the world's most famous monastic sites. Then you choose how to reach Dürnstein - either cruise through the Wachau Valley or take a guided bike ride along the Danube. In Dürnstein, you can see the castle ruins where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192, and you'll have time to walk around the cobblestone lanes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Melk Abbey - one of world's most famous monastic sites
Optional Activities
- Cruise Through the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein with leisurely roaming of cobblestone lanes
- Guided Bike Ride from Melk to Dürnstein along the Danube River enjoying Wachau Valley scenery
- View ruins of Dürnstein castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192
Landmarks Melk Abbey Dürnstein Castle Ruins Wachau Valley 
- Day 12
Vienna, Austria
After arriving in Vienna, you'll take a city tour hitting landmarks along the Ringstrasse and St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon is yours to explore freely. Tonight brings your Signature Experience at Vienna's City Palace with an exclusive cocktail party and private recital featuring a full orchestra performing Mozart and Strauss, plus an operatic recital.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Vienna including Ringstrasse landmarks and St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Signature Experience - Cocktail Party at Vienna's City Palace (Liechtenstein's princely family residence)
- Signature Experience - Private recital by full orchestra performing Mozart and Strauss masterpieces
- Signature Experience - Operatic recital performance
Optional Activities
- Afternoon at leisure to explore Vienna
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Ringstrasse 
- Day 13
Vienna to Budapest, Hungary
Pick your morning activity in Vienna. Tour the Schönbrunn Palace with its lavish furnishings and gardens, take a trip to Bratislava to see 18th-century rococo and communist-era architecture including the UFO bridge, or do a culinary tour sampling traditional sausages and famous patisseries through Vienna's narrow streets. By afternoon the ship sets sail for Hungary.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace Visit - wandering lavishly furnished rooms and beautiful gardens
- Visit Bratislava in Slovakia - exploration of 18th-century rococo design and communist-era architecture including UFO bridge, Slovak Radio building, and Hotel Kyjev
- Vienna Culinary Tour - immersion in Viennese cuisine with visits to traditional cafe, classic Viennese sausage tasting, and sweet treats from famous patisseries
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava UFO Bridge - Day 14
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest offers you options - a city tour covering Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica, a culinary tour through the Great Market Hall, or a funicular ride up Castle Hill with river views and a walk to Fisherman's Bastion. The afternoon is open for more exploring. This evening there's a farewell celebration with Hungarian folk music, local brandy, and artisan meats and cheeses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell celebration with Hungarian folk music performance)
Included Activities
- Farewell celebration with Hungarian folk music performance, local brandy, artisan meats and cheeses
Optional Activities
- City Tour of Budapest - historic monuments including Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica
- Culinary Tour - Great Market Hall exploration with variety of sausages, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables
- Fisherman's Bastion Experience - funicular ride to Castle Hill with sweeping river views, walk to beautiful historical monument
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Great Market Hall Fisherman's Bastion 
- Day 15
Budapest to Airport
Your trip ends today. After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to the ship and get transferred to the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast on board
