Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and connect with your group before heading to the 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. Dinner happens on board, and then you're free to walk around the city on your own if you want to explore before turning in.
- Meals
- Dinner (First dinner on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (APT Solara or APT Ostara)
Included Activities
- Welcome reception with oysters and regional sparkling wine
- First dinner on board
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam at your own pace after dinner
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal Ring 
- Day 2
Amsterdam to Utrecht to Germany
This morning you can pick from several activities in Amsterdam. Options include a glass-top boat ride through the UNESCO canals, a cheese tasting with Edam and Gouda, a guided bike tour to Durgerdam and the Street Art Museum, or (depending on when you're traveling) the Keukenhof Gardens with millions of flowering bulbs. You'll head back to the ship in Utrecht by afternoon, and then cruise toward Germany.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Glass-Top Boat Canal Cruise through Amsterdam's canals
- Freedom of Choice - Cheese Tasting at a local cheese store
- Freedom of Choice - Guided Bike Ride through countryside to Durgerdam and Street Art Museum
- Freedom of Choice - Keukenhof Gardens in Spring (select departures only)
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal Ring Keukenhof Gardens Durgerdam Street Art Museum - Day 3
Cruising Germany to Andernach
Spend the morning on the water cruising through Germany. You can use the ship's spa or relax on the Daystar Deck. In Andernach, you'll disembark for an exclusive experience at Namedy Castle where Princess Heide von Hohenzollern hosts you. You'll tour the castle and its manicured gardens, then attend a cocktail party with piano music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruising through Germany
- Signature Experience - Namedy Castle visit with Princess Heide von Hohenzollern, gardens tour, and cocktail party with piano music
Optional Activities
- Spa treatments on board
- Relax on Daystar Deck
Landmarks Namedy Castle Rhine River - Day 4
Rhine Valley to Rüdesheim
The ship cruises through the Rhine River, passing crumbling ruins on rocky cliffs and hillsides covered with vineyards. You'll dock in Rüdesheim and choose your activity: a gondola ride over the vineyards to the Niederwald Monument, a tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, or a wine tasting at a historic Rhine Valley cellar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruising the scenic Rhine Valley
- Freedom of Choice - Gondola Ride over Rhine Valley vineyards to Niederwald Monument
- Freedom of Choice - Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum tour
- Freedom of Choice - Historic Wine Cellar tasting of Rhine Valley wines
Landmarks Rhine River Niederwald Monument Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum 
- Day 5
Main River to Miltenberg
After a scenic cruise along the Main River, you'll arrive in Miltenberg, a town that survived World War II. Choose between a guided walking tour of the preserved buildings and squares with a liqueur tasting at an old Franconia wine cellar, or visit a local monastery to meet a Franciscan friar, sample homemade sausages, cheese and bread, and walk through the monastery gardens and vineyard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruising along the Main River
- Freedom of Choice - Guided Walking Tour of Miltenberg and Liqueur Tasting at historic wine cellar
- Freedom of Choice - Local Monastery Visit with Franciscan friar, homemade foods, gardens and vineyard exploration
Landmarks Main River Miltenberg - Day 6
Miltenberg to Würzburg Region
You have several options today. Tour the Würzburg Residence, an 18th-century palace with intricate tapestries and ceiling frescoes. Explore the Volkacher Mainschleife wine region and meet whisky and winemakers for tastings. Wander through Rothenburg's medieval streets and colorful houses, with an optional stop at the world's largest German Christmas decoration store. Or hike to Marienberg Fortress for city views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Visit Würzburg Residence with tour of historic architecture and artwork
- Freedom of Choice - Tastes of Franconia at Volkacher Mainschleife with guided whisky tour, tasting, and bread pairing
- Freedom of Choice - Explore Rothenburg medieval walled town with free time
- Freedom of Choice - Hike to Marienberg Fortress overlooking Würzburg
Optional Activities
- Visit Käthe Wohlfahrt's 'Christmas Village' in Rothenburg
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Volkacher Mainschleife Rothenburg Marienberg Fortress - Day 7
Würzburg to Bamberg
You'll reach UNESCO-listed Bamberg, another city that wasn't destroyed in World War II. A guide walks you through the atmospheric Old Town, showing you historic churches and the town hall on the Regnitz River. Back on the ship, you'll cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town with historic churches and buildings
- Cruising onto the Main-Danube Canal
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town Regnitz River 
- Day 8
Bamberg to Nuremberg via Main-Danube Canal
In Nuremberg this morning, pick between a tour of World War II sites including the Reich Party Rally Grounds, or explore the medieval side with 900-year-old ramparts, the Imperial Castle, main market square and the 14th-century Gothic church. By afternoon, cruise the Main-Danube Canal while enjoying a Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on the Daystar Deck.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Discover Nuremberg's World War II Sites tour
- Freedom of Choice - Medieval History of Nuremberg Tour
- Bavarian beer, sausage and pretzel tasting on Daystar Deck
Landmarks Reich Party Rally Grounds Imperial Castle Main Market Square 
- Day 9
Nuremberg to Regensburg
Discover Regensburg through your chosen activity. Take a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage city center, which has Roman roots and was Bavaria's first capital, ending with a tasting at Regensburg's historic sausage kitchen, thought to be one of the oldest working restaurants in the world. Or take a guided bike ride to the Walhalla Memorial overlooking the Danube River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Guided tour of Regensburg's World Heritage-listed city centre with historic sausage kitchen tasting
- Freedom of Choice - Guided Bike Ride to Walhalla Memorial
Landmarks Regensburg City Centre Walhalla Memorial Danube River 
- Day 10
Regensburg to Salzburg
A guide takes you through Salzburg, then heads to Gaisberg Mountain for the signature experience. A hunting horn blower welcomes you into a rustic restaurant with city views. You'll have a welcome drink and lunch while looking out over the scenery, then hear a performance of music from The Sound of Music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Gaisberg Mountain restaurant overlooking Salzburg), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salzburg
- Signature Experience - Gaisberg Mountain Lunch and Sound of Music Show with welcome by hunting horn blower
Landmarks Salzburg Gaisberg Mountain 
- Day 11
Salzburg to Melk to Dürnstein
You'll visit Melk Abbey, one of the world's most famous monastic sites. Then choose your way to Dürnstein: a peaceful cruise through the Wachau Valley or a guided bike ride along the Danube River through the beautiful scenery. You can roam Dürnstein's cobblestone lanes at your own pace and optionally see the castle ruins where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner in 1192.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Melk Abbey
- Freedom of Choice - Cruise Through the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein
- Freedom of Choice - Guided Bike Ride from Melk to Dürnstein
Optional Activities
- View ruins of castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein Danube River - Day 12
Dürnstein to Vienna
You'll 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 brings a signature experience at Vienna's City Palace, home of the princely Liechtenstein family. After dinner, you'll attend an exclusive cocktail party and private recital with a full orchestra performing Mozart and Strauss, plus an operatic performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Vienna including Ringstrasse landmarks and St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Afternoon leisure time to explore Vienna
- Signature Experience - Cocktail Party and Private Performance at Vienna's City Palace with full orchestra and operatic recital
Landmarks Ringstrasse St. Stephen's Cathedral Vienna City Palace 
- Day 13
Vienna to Budapest
Before sailing to Hungary, choose your activity. Explore Schönbrunn Palace's lavishly furnished rooms and gardens. Travel to Bratislava, Slovakia to see the city's mix of 18th-century rococo and communist-era architecture, including the UFO bridge and Slovak Radio building. Or take a culinary tour of Vienna trying traditional cafes, classic Viennese sausages and pastries from a famous patisserie.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Freedom of Choice - Schönbrunn Palace Visit with tour of lavish rooms and gardens
- Freedom of Choice - Visit Bratislava in Slovakia with architectural landmarks tour
- Freedom of Choice - Vienna Culinary Tour with traditional cafe, sausage tasting, and patisserie visit
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava UFO Bridge Slovak Radio Building - Day 14
Budapest
Pick your morning activity in Budapest. Join a city tour seeing Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica, or explore the Great Market Hall on a culinary tour discovering sausages, meats, cheeses and produce. You could also ride the funicular up to Castle Hill for river views, then walk to Fisherman's Bastion. The afternoon is free to explore further. Tonight you'll join a farewell celebration with Hungarian folk music, local brandy and artisan meats and cheeses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner with Hungarian folk music performance, local brandy, artisan meats and cheeses)
Included Activities
- Freedom of Choice - City Tour of Budapest with Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica
- Freedom of Choice - Culinary Tour of Great Market Hall
- Freedom of Choice - Funicular ride to Castle Hill and walk to Fisherman's Bastion
- Farewell celebration with Hungarian folk music performance, local brandy, and artisan meats and cheeses
Optional Activities
- Afternoon leisure time to further explore Budapest
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Great Market Hall Castle Hill Fisherman's Bastion 
- Day 15
Budapest
You'll tour the Hungarian State Opera House, one of the world's finest neo-Renaissance buildings, then hear a private opera recital with two or three arias. After that, head to the village of Etyek in the wine region for a culinary journey. You'll have wine tasting and lunch at Rokusfaly Estate with vineyard views, cheese tasting and a tour at the Hegedy Cheese Workshop including a cheesemaking demonstration and the underground 'Cheese Cave' ripening cellars, then visit the ham master to learn about traditional ham-making and taste local specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Rokusfaly Estate in Etyek wine region), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Matild Palace)
Included Activities
- Visit Hungarian State Opera House with tour and private opera recital
- Signature Experience - Etyek Culinary Tour with wine tasting and lunch at Rokusfaly Estate
- Cheese tasting and guided tour at Hegedűs Cheese Workshop with cheesemaking demonstration and 'Cheese Cave' tour
- Visit to Sonkamester for traditional ham-making education and tasting
Landmarks Hungarian State Opera House Etyek Etyek-Buda Wine Region Rokusfaly Estate Hegedűs Cheese Workshop - Day 16
Budapest
You'll visit Fisherman's Bastion and the Matthias Church, then have lunch with views of the Danube River and the Hungarian Parliament Building. Later, take an insightful tour of the Hospital in the Rock, a museum housed in a former secret emergency hospital and nuclear bunker.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with views of Danube River and Hungarian Parliament Building), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Matild Palace)
Included Activities
- Visit to Fisherman's Bastion
- Visit to Matthias Church
- Lunch with views of Danube River and Hungarian Parliament Building
- Tour of Hospital in the Rock museum
Landmarks Fisherman's Bastion Matthias Church Danube River Hungarian Parliament Building Hospital in the Rock - Day 17
Budapest to Airport
Your tour ends this morning. You'll transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
