Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll arrive in Paris with the day ahead to spend however you like. The Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées are there if you want them, or you could wander along the Seine instead. Take time to walk through neighborhoods at your own pace and get a feel for the city without any set schedule.
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris at own pace
- Visit Eiffel Tower
- Walk along the Seine
- Explore Champs-Élysées
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Champs-Élysées Seine River - Day 2
Paris
This morning you'll join a guided coach tour covering Paris's main attractions. The route hits the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, and follows the Seine. Along the way you'll see Palais Garnier Opera, the Louvre, and Les Invalides from the coach. After the tour wraps up, the afternoon is free to do whatever interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Paris including Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe
- Drive along River Seine
- View Palais Garnier Opera
- View the Louvre
- View Les Invalides
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris during free afternoon
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe Seine River Palais Garnier Louvre Les Invalides - Day 3
Paris
You get to choose how you spend this day. Montmartre has cobblestone streets, a vineyard, and centuries of artistic history if that appeals to you. Alternatively, Atelier des Lumières offers immersive digital art shows featuring Van Gogh, Klimt, and Monet. Whatever you pick for the morning, you'll have free time this afternoon to explore further.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Secrets of Montmartre walking tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Atelier des Lumières digital art exhibition
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris at own pace during free afternoon
Landmarks Montmartre Vineyard of Montmartre Atelier des Lumières - Day 4
Paris to Amsterdam
You'll board a high-speed train heading from Paris to Amsterdam, which takes several hours but moves quickly. Once you arrive and get settled on your ship, there's a welcome reception this evening where you'll meet fellow travelers and crew members.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Welcome reception on board
- Day 5
Amsterdam to Cologne
Amsterdam's canal system has over 100 kilometers of waterways with old houses and bridges throughout. You'll pick one Scenic Freechoice experience: a one-hour canal cruise, a walking tour focusing on Dutch culture and local herring tasting, or an excursion to see 16th-century windmills in Schermerhorn and Alkmaar. In the afternoon, your ship sails toward Cologne, Germany.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Canal cruise (one-hour)
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Amsterdam with local herring tasting
- Scenic Freechoice: Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar windmills
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal System Schermerhorn Alkmaar - Day 6
Cologne
You'll arrive in Cologne early this afternoon. Despite heavy World War II damage, the city has been rebuilt and restored carefully. A walking tour takes you through the Old Town to see historic buildings, squares, and the World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral. After that, you have free time to check out whatever else interests you in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town
- View Cologne Cathedral (World Heritage site)
Optional Activities
- Explore Cologne during free time
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Cologne Old Town - Day 7
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim is a small town with steep vineyards surrounding it and 2,000 years of wine-making history. From the pier, a mini train takes you to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, which has around 350 self-playing instruments from centuries past. Then you can walk through the town center looking at half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, shops selling cuckoo clocks, and wine taverns.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mini train ride to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Optional Activities
- Explore Rüdesheim town centre
- Wine tavern visits
Landmarks Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Rüdesheim - Day 8
Wertheim
You'll dock in Miltenberg around lunchtime where a local guide leads a walking tour through cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered buildings. After that, a coach takes you to Wertheim, a historic town situated where the Main and Tauber rivers meet. You get an orientation tour before heading back to your ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Miltenberg
- Orientation tour of Wertheim
Landmarks Miltenberg Wertheim - Day 9
Christmas Day
It's Christmas Day, and you'll spend it cruising through the Rhine Gorge while a gourmet Christmas feast is served on your ship. The day includes festive celebrations and special entertainment throughout, so it's a day to relax and enjoy the holiday on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Gourmet Christmas feast)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
- Gourmet Christmas feast
Landmarks Rhine Gorge - Day 10
Bamberg
After lunch you'll dock in Bamberg, a World Heritage town built on seven hills and crossed by rivers and canals. The streets are cobblestoned and the buildings are medieval and well-preserved. You can relax in your suite or enjoy river views from the Sun Deck, or choose a Scenic Freechoice: either a guided tour of the Old Town covering the island-set Town Hall and Gothic cathedral, or an excursion to Coburg to visit a castle and museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town
- Scenic Freechoice: Excursion to Coburg (castle and museum)
Optional Activities
- Relax in suite
- Enjoy Sun Deck views
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town Bamberg Cathedral Town Hall of Bamberg Coburg Castle - Day 11
Nuremberg
You'll arrive in Nuremberg this morning, Bavaria's second-largest city with a 12th-century Imperial Castle overlooking the Old Town. Pick your Scenic Freechoice from three options: a walking tour seeing the castle, St. Egidien's Church, and market square; a World War II focused tour; or a gingerbread cooking class learning to bake traditional Lebkuchen from a local chef.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Walking tour of Nuremberg Old Town
- Scenic Freechoice: World War II tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Gingerbread (Lebkuchen) cooking class
Landmarks Nuremberg Imperial Castle St. Egidien's Church Nuremberg Market Square 
- Day 12
Regensburg
After lunch you'll arrive in Regensburg, a Bavarian city where three rivers meet. Choose your Scenic Freechoice between two experiences: a walking tour with a local guide covering the old stone bridge, Church of St James, and Porta Praetoria while learning about regional traditions, or a Bavarian beer tasting at traditional breweries where you'll learn about brewing methods and sample different beers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Regensburg walking tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Bavarian beer tasting at traditional breweries
Landmarks Old Stone Bridge of Regensburg Church of St James Porta Praetoria - Day 13
Passau
You'll dock in Passau, which sits where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers meet, each with distinct colors. This medieval trading city has a Baroque Old Town with tight laneways, tunnels, and an 'Artist's Mile' with studios and galleries. Your Scenic Freechoice offers either a full day trip to Salzburg exploring Mozart heritage, a full day trip to the fairy-tale town of Český Krumlov, or a walking tour of Passau visiting St Stephens Cathedral and colorful waterfront buildings. Lunch is included on the full day excursions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Full day excursion to Salzburg with guided tour and lunch
- Scenic Freechoice: Full day excursion to Český Krumlov with guided tour and lunch
- Scenic Freechoice: Highlights of Passau walking tour including St Stephens Cathedral
Landmarks Passau St Stephens Cathedral Salzburg Český Krumlov - Day 14
Melk
This morning you'll cruise through the Wachau Valley with a choice of activities. You can take a guided tour through Melk Abbey, one of the world's most important monastic sites, or join a bicycle tour along the Danube from Melk to Dürnstein, passing scenic villages and vineyards along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided tour of Melk Abbey
- Scenic Freechoice: Bicycle tour from Melk to Dürnstein along the Danube
Landmarks Wachau Valley Melk Abbey Dürnstein - Day 15
Vienna
You've reached Vienna, the City of Music where Beethoven, Mozart, and Strauss lived. This imperial capital has the famous Ringstrasse boulevard and Habsburg history throughout. Your Scenic Freechoice lets you tour Schönbrunn Palace with its gardens, explore Central Vienna with expert local guides, or travel to Bratislava, Slovakia to see the castle, main square, and Old Town architecture. This evening there's a New Year's Eve celebration with fireworks either on shore or on your ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Tour of Schönbrunn Palace with gardens
- Scenic Freechoice: Central Vienna guided tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Excursion to Bratislava
Optional Activities
- Celebrate New Year's Eve on shore
- Celebrate New Year's Eve on board
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Ringstrasse Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie Bratislava Old Town Hall - Day 16
Budapest
Happy New Year! You'll relax on board this morning with coffee in your suite as the ship cruises toward Budapest with scenery passing by. Budapest is divided by the Danube into Buda and Pest, which united in 1873 and form an architectural treasure with everything from Gothic to Art Nouveau styles. The city is famous for hot springs and thermal baths. This evening you'll attend an exclusive classical concert inside Gödöllő Royal Palace, the world's second-largest Baroque palace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich: Classical concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace
Optional Activities
- Relax on board with suite service during cruise
Landmarks Gödöllő Royal Palace Budapest Danube - Day 17
Budapest
You'll explore Budapest, one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful cities. Pick your Scenic Freechoice from four options: tour both Buda and Pest districts separated by the Danube visiting historic squares, explore the Hospital in the Rock, a secret WWII hospital and nuclear bunker with underground labyrinths, take a culinary market walk through Grand Central Market sampling Hungarian specialties, or join a guided hike through Buda district with gardens and river views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Budapest in Depth tour (Buda and Pest)
- Scenic Freechoice: Hospital in the Rock tour
- Scenic Freechoice: Hungarian Culinary Market Walk
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided hike of Buda
Landmarks Várkert Bazaar Margaret Bridge Széchenyi Square Elizabeth Square Hospital in the Rock Grand Central Market Buda - Day 18
Departure
It's time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers and Scenic crew. You're heading home with memories from your journey along the rivers through Europe during the holiday season.
