Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Rome
You'll arrive in Rome and get transferred to your hotel. After settling in, there's a Welcome Dinner this evening to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner)
- Day 2
Rome
This morning you'll take a guided tour of Rome's main sights, hitting Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. In the afternoon, head to Vatican City for St Peter's Square and the Vatican Museums, where you'll see Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling. The evening is free to do your own thing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Pantheon
- Vatican City tour including St Peter's Square
- Vatican Museums tour including Sistine Chapel
Landmarks/POIs Spanish Steps Trevi Fountain Pantheon St Peter's Square Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel - Day 3
Rome to Sorrento
You'll travel south along the coast, passing cliffs over the Bay of Naples to reach Sorrento. The colorful buildings sit right on cliffs above a nice harbor. Spend your afternoon walking through the village and its narrow laneways. Later, you'll share a home-style Italian meal with a local family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Home-style Italian meal with local family)
Included Activities
- Campanian Culinary Experience - Home-style Italian meal with local family
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration of Sorrento village
Landmarks/POIs Bay of Naples - Day 4
Sorrento
Join a walking tour of Sorrento, this cliffside town on the Amalfi Coast that was a Roman retreat. You'll see the town's views and vibrant streets, then have free time to wander around at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Sorrento
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Sorrento at own pace
Landmarks/POIs Amalfi Coast - Day 5
Sorrento to San Gimignano
Start with a tour of Pompeii's ancient ruins, buried by Mt Vesuvius in AD 79, to see how Romans lived nearly 2,000 years ago. Then travel north to San Gimignano and have dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Pompeii ruins
Landmarks/POIs Pompeii Mt Vesuvius - Day 6
San Gimignano to Florence
Walk through San Gimignano's historic streets, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Tuscany with well-preserved medieval architecture and lots of restaurants. You'll have a Tuscan lunch and wine tasting at Castello Vicchiomaggio. After that, travel north to Florence for a free evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Tuscan lunch and wine tasting at Castello Vicchiomaggio), Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of San Gimignano historic streets
- Tuscan lunch and wine tasting at Castello Vicchiomaggio
Optional Activities
- Evening exploration of Florence at leisure
Landmarks/POIs San Gimignano Castello Vicchiomaggio - Day 7
Florence
Check out Florence, the Renaissance center and home to Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Try gelato at a famous local gelateria. You can join an optional tour to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and have a Tuscan dinner if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Gelato tasting at a famous local gelateria
Optional Activities
- Optional tour to Pisa to see Leaning Tower and Tuscan dinner
- Free time to explore Florence
Landmarks/POIs Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 8
Florence to Venice
You'll head to Verona, where you might stop at Juliet's balcony to relive Romeo and Juliet. From there, continue on to Venice, the city of canals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Verona
Landmarks/POIs Juliet's Balcony - Day 9
Venice
Take a guided tour of Venice where canals replace streets. Watch a Venetian glass-blowing demonstration during the tour. You'll have free time this afternoon, and there's an optional gondola ride if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Venice
- Venetian glass-blowing demonstration
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride
- Afternoon exploration at leisure
Landmarks/POIs Venice - Day 10
Venice to Zagreb
Travel through Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, then head to Zagreb in Croatia. When you arrive, you'll take a city tour to see sights like the Stone Gate and the Opera House.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Zagreb including Stone Gate and Opera House
Landmarks/POIs Stone Gate Zagreb Opera House - Day 11
Zagreb to Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest where your river ship is waiting on the Danube. There's a Welcome Reception on board where you'll meet other travelers and your Cruise Director.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Welcome Reception on board
Landmarks/POIs Danube River - Day 12
Budapest
Wake up to views of Budapest. You'll disembark for a guided tour exploring the city's history and sights. Back on the ship this evening, there's a Gala Welcome Dinner while cruising the Danube. You'll also get a guided tour of the Hungarian State Opera with a private recital and sparkling wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Gala Welcome Dinner on board while cruising Danube, includes sparkling wine at opera recital)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Budapest with local guide
- Hungarian State Opera guided tour with private opera recital
- Gala Welcome Dinner on board while cruising
Landmarks/POIs Hungarian State Opera - Day 13
Vienna
After arriving in Vienna's city center, join a walking tour to see St Stephen's Cathedral, the Graben, and Hofburg Palace. Later, explore Naschmarkt on your own. There's an optional Mozart and Strauss concert in a palace, followed by an evening drive around the Ringstrasse.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Vienna including St Stephen's Cathedral, Graben, and Hofburg Palace
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Naschmarkt at leisure
- Mozart and Strauss Concert in Vienna palace or concert venue with evening Ringstrasse drive
Landmarks/POIs St Stephen's Cathedral Graben Hofburg Palace Naschmarkt - Day 14
Vienna
The day is yours to explore. Check out the Hofburg area or walk along Kärntnerstrasse, Vienna's famous shopping strip. You can also join optional excursions to Schönbrunn Palace, the summer palace of the Habsburgs, or take a trip to Bratislava, Slovakia's capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Hofburg area
- Shopping along Kärntnerstrasse
- Schönbrunn Palace visit with tour of imperial apartments and grounds
- Day excursion to Bratislava, Slovakia to see UFO Bridge and Slovak Radio building
Landmarks/POIs Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava UFO Bridge Slovak Radio Building - Day 15
Melk
Cruise to Dürnstein, a charming town with hilltop castle ruins where King Richard the Lionheart was held in the 12th century. Spend your morning on cobbled streets and in historic taverns. There's an optional tour to sample the region's wines. Later, sail through the Wachau Valley and dock in Melk to tour its Benedictine abbey, operating since 1089.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Benedictine Abbey
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Dürnstein
- Optional wine tasting tour of the region
Landmarks/POIs Dürnstein Dürnstein Castle Wachau Valley Melk Abbey - Day 16
Melk
You have several options for the day. Join an optional tour to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic with 300+ historical buildings, visit Salzburg and Mondsee where the Wedding Church from The Sound of Music is located, take a relaxing sailing day to Passau with a culinary walk, or get a guided tour of historic Passau. Tonight there's a traditional Bavarian evening on board with local beer, snacks, folk music, song and dance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Bavarian experience with local beer, snacks, traditional folk music, song and dance)
Included Activities
- Bavarian Evening on board with local beer and snacks
Optional Activities
- Day excursion to Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
- Day excursion to Salzburg and Mondsee
- Relaxing sailing day to Passau
- Passau guided walking tour with local specialty tastings
Landmarks/POIs Český Krumlov Salzburg Mondsee Wedding Church (Mondsee) Passau - Day 17
Regensburg
Continue along the Danube to Regensburg in the Bavarian region of southern Germany. Join a guided tour of the city's historic streets, medieval buildings, and cultural sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg's historic streets, medieval buildings, and cultural sites
Landmarks/POIs Regensburg - Day 18
Nuremberg
You'll arrive in Nuremberg, the site of Hitler's infamous rallies during World War II. This afternoon, take a city tour that includes the Zeppelin Field and Palace of Justice.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Nuremberg including Zeppelin Field and Palace of Justice
Landmarks/POIs Zeppelin Field Palace of Justice - Day 19
Bamberg
Visit Bamberg, one of the few German cities spared destruction in World War II. Take a locally guided tour to learn about the historic city, seeing the Old Town Hall and Bamberg Cathedral, then have free time to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Locally guided tour of Bamberg including Old Town Hall and Bamberg Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Bamberg
Landmarks/POIs Bamberg Old Town Hall Bamberg Cathedral - Day 20
Würzburg
Arrive in Würzburg, surrounded by lush hills and vineyards, home to the baroque Würzburg Residence. Explore the palace and the Court Garden. There's also an option to visit medieval Rothenburg, a fairytale town along the Romantic Road.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Würzburg Residence and Court Garden
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to medieval Rothenburg on the Romantic Road
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Residence Rothenburg - Day 21
Miltenberg
Discover Miltenberg and its well-preserved half-timbered buildings from the 15th to 18th centuries. Join a culinary walking tour, sampling regional food at a local butcher and baker before finishing at a distillery. Return to your ship and have free time. As the sun sets, watch medieval towns light up as you cruise through the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Culinary walking tour in Miltenberg with tastings at local butcher, baker, and distillery
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Miltenberg at leisure
Landmarks/POIs Miltenberg - Day 22
Rüdesheim
In Rüdesheim, board a mini road train to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Back on the ship, you'll enjoy sailing along the Rhine Gorge with spectacular scenery.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Winzerexpress mini road train ride to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Landmarks/POIs Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Rhine Gorge - Day 23
Cologne
Learn how Cologne's famous twin-spire cathedral took over six centuries to complete as you cruise into the city. Disembark and drive to Brühl to visit the World Heritage Augustusburg Palace, the former residence of Archbishop-Elector Clemens August, with its fine Rococo architecture and landscaped grounds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Augustusburg Palace tour in Brühl including Rococo architecture and landscaped grounds
Landmarks/POIs Kölner Dom Augustusburg Palace Falkenlust Hunting Lodge - Day 24
Amsterdam
Amsterdam's canal network is quite something. You'll dock in the city's heart and board a glass-top boat to see the picturesque views. Back on land, have free time before the Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Captain's Farewell Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Glass-top boat tour of Amsterdam's canals
- Captain's Farewell Dinner on board
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Amsterdam
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam Canals - Day 25
Departure
After breakfast, disembark your river ship and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
