Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
Your guide meets you at the airport before 1:30pm for the transfer to your hotel. After you've settled in, the afternoon brings an orientation tour of the city followed by a welcome reception where you'll meet the group.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zürich Marriott Hotel)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Afternoon orientation discovery
- Welcome reception
- Day 2
Zürich to Engelberg
You'll head to Lucerne for a walking tour through the city, then continue to your mountain hotel in Engelberg at the foot of Mount Titlis. A baggage transfer service takes care of moving your luggage between hotels throughout the tour, so you can travel light.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kempinski Palace Engelberg)
Included Activities
- Walking exploration of Lucerne
- Transfer to Engelberg
Landmarks Mount Titlis 
- Day 3
Engelberg
Board a cable car that takes you up to 3,020 metres on Mount Titlis. You'll visit the glacier cave descending ten metres below the glacier surface and walk across Europe's highest suspension bridge. Back in Engelberg, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the village at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kempinski Palace Engelberg)
Included Activities
- Cable car to Mount Titlis (3,020 metres)
- Glacier cave visit
- Europe's highest suspension bridge crossing
Landmarks Mount Titlis Titlis Glacier Cave - Day 4
Engelberg to Lugano
Travel by rail through the Gotthard Base Tunnel to Lugano in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. Once you arrive, you visit Tenuta Castello di Morcote wine estate to tour the terraced vineyards, olive groves, and the 15th-century castle, ending with a wine tasting.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lugano)
Included Activities
- Rail journey through Gotthard Base Tunnel
- Tenuta Castello di Morcote wine estate tour
- Wine tasting at Tenuta Castello di Morcote
Landmarks Gotthard Base Tunnel Tenuta Castello di Morcote Morcote Castle - Day 5
Lugano
You'll take a cruise on the peaceful waters of Lake Lugano this morning, then ascend Monte Bré peak for expansive views over the city. After that, the evening is yours to explore Lugano at your own pace and find dinner wherever you'd like.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lugano)
Included Activities
- Lake Lugano cruise
- Monte Brè peak ascent
Landmarks Lake Lugano Monte Brè - Day 6
Lugano to St. Moritz
Board a coach and cross into Italy heading to Tirano, then join the Bernina Express railway for the scenic journey to St. Moritz. The train route offers panoramic views throughout the ride as you climb through the Alps.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to Tirano
- Bernina Express rail journey
Landmarks Bernina Range - Day 7
St. Moritz to Zermatt
The Glacier Express takes you on an incredible rail journey through the Alps where you'll cross more than 200 bridges and countless tunnels. Traveling from the Bernina Range toward the Matterhorn, you arrive in Zermatt by evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zermatt)
Included Activities
- Glacier Express rail journey
Landmarks Matterhorn 
- Day 8
Zermatt
Ride the Gornergrat Railway for the best views of the Matterhorn towering above. You'll meet a local mountaineer who shares stories of climbing and mountain life. In the afternoon, an optional helicopter flight is available for an additional cost.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zermatt)
Included Activities
- Gornergrat Railway ride
- Meet a local mountaineer
Optional Activities
- Scenic helicopter flight from Zermatt (20-minute flight with aerial views of Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Dent Blanch, Matterhorn, Thodulpass, Breithron, and Gornergrat) - additional expense
Landmarks Matterhorn Gornergrat - Day 9
Zermatt to Wengen
Take a train from Zermatt to Spiez, then board a lake cruise along the alpine Lake Thun to Interlaken. From there, travel by train to Wengen, the idyllic Swiss resort village where you'll be based.
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Wengen)
Included Activities
- Train journey to Spiez
- Lake Thun cruise
- Train transfer to Wengen
Landmarks Lake Thun - Day 10
Wengen
You'll board a train heading to Jungfraujoch railway station, which sits at 3,454 metres above sea level and is the highest in Europe. The journey offers panoramic mountain vistas that make you feel like you're on top of the world.
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Wengen)
Included Activities
- Jungfraujoch railway journey (3,454 metres)
Landmarks Jungfraujoch - Day 11
Wengen to Montreux
Travel to Interlaken and board the glass-domed GoldenPass Express for the journey to Montreux. The train runs along the Aare River, passes through farmland in the Simmen Valley, and climbs to 1,279 metres. You'll have time to relax before dinner.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Suisse Majestic in a guaranteed Lake View Room or similar)
Included Activities
- GoldenPass Express scenic rail journey
- Day 12
Montreux to Geneva
Start with a brief orientation tour of Montreux, taking in its position along Lake Geneva with the Alps rising behind. Head to Geneva in the afternoon, then gather with fellow travellers this evening for a farewell dinner celebrating your journey through the Swiss Alps.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner with fellow travellers)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel President Wilson)
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Montreux
- Transfer to Geneva
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks Lake Geneva - Day 13
Geneva to Amsterdam
You'll transfer to the airport for your included flight to Amsterdam. Once you board your new-generation river ship in the heart of the city, spend the rest of the day settling into what will be your home for the next two weeks.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (APT Solara or APT Ostara)
Included Activities
- Flight to Amsterdam
- Boarding river ship
- Day 14
Amsterdam
Choose your activity today: take a glass-top boat tour through Amsterdam's World Heritage canals, attend a cheese tasting of regional varieties, join a guided countryside bike ride to Durgerdam with a Street Art Museum visit, or explore Keukenhof Gardens if traveling in spring. Later you rejoin the ship and cruise toward Germany.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Utrecht
- Cruise towards Germany
Optional Activities
- Glass-top boat canal cruise through Amsterdam
- Cheese tasting at local store (regional varieties including Edam and Gouda)
- Guided bike ride through countryside to Durgerdam with Street Art Museum visit
- Keukenhof Gardens visit (select spring departures; more than 70 acres of gardens with over seven million flowering bulbs including colourful tulips)
Landmarks Keukenhof Gardens - Day 15
Andernach
Cruise through Germany this morning while using the ship's spa or relaxing on the Daystar Deck. You'll disembark in Andernach for an exclusive visit to Namedy Castle near the Rhine, touring the royal residence, exploring the manicured gardens, and attending a cocktail party with live piano music.
Included Activities
- Morning cruise through Germany
- Namedy Castle visit
- Castle tour and gardens
- Cocktail party with pianist at Namedy Castle
Optional Activities
- Spa treatments onboard
- Daystar Deck relaxation
Landmarks Namedy Castle - Day 16
Rüdesheim
Cruise past the stunning Rhine section with crumbling ruins clinging to rocky cliffs and vineyard-covered hillsides. You dock in Rüdesheim, one of Germany's most important cultural cities. Choose between a gondola ride over vineyards to the Niederwald Monument, visiting Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, or wine tasting at a historic cellar.
Included Activities
- Rhine River cruise
- Arrival in Rüdesheim
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride over Rhine Valley vineyards to Niederwald Monument (commemorating 1871 German unification)
- Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum tour
- Historic wine cellar visit with Rhine Valley wine tasting
Landmarks Niederwald Monument Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - Day 17
Miltenberg
Relax on a scenic cruise along the Main River before arriving in Miltenberg, a town that feels like a time capsule of old-world German village life because it escaped World War II destruction. Choose between a guided walking tour with liqueur tasting in one of Franconia's oldest wine cellars, or visiting a monastery to meet a Franciscan friar and sample homemade sausages, cheese and bread.
Included Activities
- Main River cruise
- Arrival in Miltenberg
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Miltenberg with liqueur tasting at historic wine cellar
- Local monastery visit with Franciscan friar meeting and tasting of homemade sausages, cheese and bread with garden and vineyard exploration
Landmarks Miltenberg - Day 18
Würzburg
Select your activity for the day: explore Würzburg and its 18th-century palace with historic tapestries and ceiling frescoes, visit the Volkacher Mainschleife wine region for a whisky distillery and winemaker tour with tastings, wander the walled medieval town of Rothenburg, or hike to Marienberg Fortress for views over Würzburg.
Optional Activities
- Würzburg Residence visit with architectural tour and viewing of intricate tapestries, gilded stucco work and ceiling frescoes
- Volkacher Mainschleife wine-growing region tour with whisky and wine distillery visit, guided tour with winemaker/whisky maker meeting, and tastings paired with fresh-baked local bread
- Rothenburg walled town exploration with medieval wandering and optional visit to Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village
- Hike to Marienberg Fortress with views over Würzburg
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg Marienberg Fortress Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village - Day 19
Bamberg
Arrive in Bamberg, one of few German cities that wasn't destroyed in World War II and is now World Heritage-listed. Explore the Old Town with a guide discovering historic churches and buildings, including the town hall on the Regnitz River. Then rejoin your ship to cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Bamberg Old Town
- Main-Danube Canal cruise
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town - Day 20
Nuremberg
Choose your morning activity in Nuremberg between viewing World War II sites or exploring medieval history. In the afternoon, continue cruising the Main-Danube Canal while enjoying a Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on the Daystar Deck.
- Meals
- Snack (Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on Daystar Deck)
Included Activities
- Main-Danube Canal cruise
- Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on Daystar Deck
Optional Activities
- Nuremberg World War II sites tour (Reich Party Rally Grounds and Hitler's rally sites from 1927-1938)
- Medieval history of Nuremberg tour (medieval architecture, 900-year-old ramparts, Imperial Castle and 14th century Gothic church)
Landmarks Reich Party Rally Grounds Imperial Castle - Day 21
Regensburg
Choose between exploring Regensburg's World Heritage city centre on a guided tour ending with a tasting at the historic sausage kitchen (one of the world's oldest working restaurants), or taking a guided bike ride to Walhalla Memorial, a neo-classical hall of fame for notable German figures positioned above the Danube River.
Optional Activities
- Regensburg World Heritage-listed city centre guided tour with tasting at historic sausage kitchen
- Guided bike ride to Walhalla Memorial (neo-classical building with hall of fame honouring notable German politicians, artists, sovereigns and scientists)
Landmarks Walhalla Memorial - Day 22
Salzburg
Take a guided tour of Salzburg before a Signature Experience begins. A hunting horn blower welcomes you to a rustic mountain restaurant on Gaisberg Mountain overlooking the city. You'll enjoy a welcome drink, lunch, and a show featuring music from 'The Sound of Music'.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at rustic traditional restaurant on Gaisberg Mountain with welcome drink overlooking Salzburg)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salzburg
- Gaisberg Mountain lunch and 'Sound of Music' show
Landmarks Gaisberg Mountain - Day 23
Melk to Dürnstein
Visit Melk Abbey, one of the world's most famous monastic sites. Choose to cruise through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Dürnstein with time to wander cobblestone lanes, or take a guided bike ride along the Danube from Melk to Dürnstein. There you'll see the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192.
Included Activities
- Melk Abbey visit
Optional Activities
- Wachau Valley cruise to Dürnstein
- Guided bike ride along Danube River from Melk to Dürnstein
Landmarks Melk Abbey Dürnstein Castle Ruins Wachau Valley 
- Day 24
Vienna
Arrive in Vienna and take a city tour along the Ringstrasse and past St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. This evening, attend an exclusive cocktail party and private recital at Vienna's City Palace with a full orchestra performing classical masterpieces by Mozart and Strauss, plus an operatic recital.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner followed by cocktail party and private classical recital at Vienna's City Palace)
Included Activities
- Vienna city tour
- Ringstrasse landmarks tour
- St. Stephen's Cathedral visit
- Cocktail party and private classical performance at Vienna's City Palace
Landmarks Ringstrasse St. Stephen's Cathedral Vienna's City Palace 
- Day 25
Vienna to Hungary
Choose from visiting Schönbrunn Palace with its lavishly furnished rooms and beautiful gardens, journeying to Bratislava Slovakia to explore rococo and communist era architecture, or taking a Vienna culinary tour through narrow streets with traditional cafe visits and Viennese sausage and patisserie tastings. Later you set sail for Hungary.
Included Activities
- Departure towards Hungary
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace visit (lavishly furnished rooms and beautiful gardens)
- Bratislava Slovakia tour (18th-century rococo and communist era architecture including UFO bridge, Slovak Radio building and Hotel Kyjev)
- Vienna culinary tour (narrow streets, traditional cafe, classic Viennese sausage and patisserie tastings)
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava - Day 26
Budapest
Select your morning activity: city tour viewing Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica, culinary tour of Great Market Hall with sausages, meats and cheeses, or a funicular ride to Castle Hill and Fisherman's Bastion. The afternoon is free to explore. Tonight you'll enjoy a performance of Hungarian folk music with local brandy and artisan meats and cheeses.
- Meals
- Dinner (Hungarian folk music performance with local brandy and artisan meats and cheeses)
Included Activities
- Hungarian folk music performance with brandy and artisan meats and cheeses
Optional Activities
- Budapest city tour (Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica)
- Great Market Hall culinary tour (sausages, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables)
- Funicular ride to Castle Hill and Fisherman's Bastion walk
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Fisherman's Bastion Great Market Hall 
- Day 27
Departure
Your European adventure ends today. After breakfast, you'll say goodbye and be transferred to the airport for your departure home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
