Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll check into your luxury hotel in the Opera district, right in the heart of Paris's 9th Arrondissement. The area is known for its wide boulevards, grand theatres like the Palais Garnier, and those impressive Belle Epoque department stores that line the streets. This is a great base for exploring the city.
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Champs Elysees Arc de Triomphe Seine Palais Garnier Printemps Galeries Lafayette - Day 2
Paris
Start your morning with pain au chocolat and café au lait from a local café. For your Scenic Freechoice, you can take a panoramic city tour covering the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, and Arc de Triomphe, or head to Bohemian Montmartre to find hidden wineries. This afternoon you'll have time to see Paris on your own terms, whether that's checking out museums, browsing designer boutiques or vintage shops, sampling pastries at patisseries, or grabbing lunch at a bistro. If you're in the mood for something more relaxed, a picnic in one of the city's elegant parks is always a good option.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Pain au chocolat and café au lait)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Explore Bohemian Paris - Montmartre district with hidden winery (Scenic Freechoice option)
Optional Activities
- Visit The Louvre
- Visit Musée d'Orsay
- Visit Centre Pompidou
- Shopping at flagship designer boutiques
- Hunt for treasures at vintage stores and flea markets
- Patisserie and boulangerie visits
- Fromagerie visits
- Bistro dining
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Champs Elysees Arc de Triomphe Montmartre Sacré-Cœur The Louvre Musée d'Orsay Centre Pompidou - Day 3
Paris
You have the full day to explore Paris however you like. Wander through districts like the Latin Quarter, La Défense, Place Vendôme, or Le Marais. If museums interest you, the Musée des Arts et Métiers (the world's oldest science museum) or Musée Carnavalet (charting Paris history) are worth your time. There's also a literary tour following the favorite spots of Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, and Simone de Beauvoir. Or you could try 'flânerie', the French art of wandering aimlessly through the city, stopping for coffee, wine, or browsing bookstores and galleries whenever something catches your eye.
Optional Activities
- Explore Latin Quarter
- Explore La Défense
- Explore Place Vendôme
- Explore Le Marais
- Visit Musée des Arts et Métiers
- Visit Musée Carnavalet
- Literary tour of the city
- Shopping
- Art gallery visits
- Café or wine bar visits
Landmarks/POIs Latin Quarter La Défense Place Vendôme Le Marais Musée des Arts et Métiers Musée Carnavalet - Day 4
Paris to Amsterdam
You'll travel by high-speed train to Amsterdam and board your Scenic Space-Ship in the evening. There's a welcome reception tonight where you can toast to the journey ahead and meet your fellow travelers.
Included Activities
- Welcome reception
- Day 5
Amsterdam
Amsterdam, often called the Venice of the North, is waiting for you. Pick your Scenic Freechoice: a one-hour canal cruise past The Skinny Bridge, Prince's Canal, Anne Frank's House, and The Seven Bridges; a walking tour through the maze of canals and bridges while tasting local herring; a cycling tour on complimentary e-bikes (after all, Amsterdam is the bicycle capital); or an excursion to Schermerhorn village to see 16th-century windmills and explore Alkmaar's historic buildings and canals. This afternoon you'll set sail toward Cologne, Germany.
Included Activities
- Canal cruise - one hour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Walking tour of Amsterdam with herring tasting (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Cycling tour on complimentary e-bikes (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs The Skinny Bridge Prince's Canal Anne Frank's House The Seven Bridges Gentleman's Canal Brewer's Canal Old Lord Mayor's House Schermerhorn Alkmaar - Day 6
Cologne
Start with a leisurely morning, enjoying coffee delivered to your suite by your personal butler, then head to breakfast in Crystal Dining. You'll arrive in Cologne this afternoon and take a walking tour through the historic Old Town with your local guide, checking out breweries serving Kölsch beer and visiting Cologne Cathedral. Tonight, don't miss the Scenic Enrich event: a classical concert featuring Beethoven and Mozart at La Redoute recital hall in nearby Bonn.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in Crystal Dining)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town
- Classical Concert in the Beethoven Room at La Redoute recital hall in Bonn (Scenic Enrich)
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral La Redoute - Day 7
Rhine Gorge - Rüdesheim
After breakfast, relax on the Sun Deck as you cruise through the World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a 65-kilometre stretch with roughly 40 hilltop castles and fortresses. You'll learn about Rhine legends like the Lorelei. After lunch, you'll dock in Rüdesheim, a charming town surrounded by steep vineyards with two millennia of wine history. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum with 350 18th-19th century instruments and take a cable car over the vineyards, or hike through Rüdesheim's vineyards with countryside views before riding the cable car back down.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Cruise Rhine Gorge
- Siegfried's Musikkabinett & Cable Car (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Hike & Cable Car (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Rhine Gorge Upper Middle Rhine Valley Lorelei Rüdesheim Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Neiderwald Monument - Day 8
Miltenberg
You'll continue cruising toward Miltenberg. If you're interested, spend your morning in the Salt Therapy Lounge with its natural properties. Arrive in Miltenberg, a beautifully preserved historic German town on the Main River with pastel-coloured half-timbered houses and one of Germany's oldest inns. For your Scenic Freechoice, tour Wertheim with a local winemaker, or tour Gamburg Castle to meet the Baron and Baroness for a private reception, or explore Miltenberg itself at a local farm, or visit a local Schnapps distiller for an orientation tour and tasting. After your activity, you'll sail for Würzburg.
Included Activities
- Wertheim tour and winery (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Gamburg Castle tour with Baron and Baroness reception (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Miltenberg tour and local farm visit (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Schnapps tasting (Scenic Freechoice option)
Optional Activities
- Salt Therapy Lounge session
Landmarks/POIs Miltenberg Zum Riesen River Main Wertheim Wertheim am Main Gamburg Castle - Day 9
Würzburg
Arrive in Würzburg, a Baroque city in the heart of Franconian wine country, surrounded by undulating vineyards. The city features a World Heritage palace, a hilltop fortress, the 15th-century Old Main Bridge, and three universities including Bavaria's oldest. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: a guided city tour with coach transfer to the Baroque Würzburg Residence to explore its beautiful rooms with valuable paintings and period furniture, then free time in the city, or travel by coach along the Romantic Road to Rothenburg to see the medieval old town, Gothic and Renaissance City Hall, and the famous City Councillors' Tavern with its legendary 'Master Draught' story. This afternoon, relax on the Sun Deck sailing toward Bamberg.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour & Würzburg Residence (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Romantic Road to Rothenburg (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Residence Marienberg Fortress Old Main Bridge Rothenburg Romantic Road City Hall City Councillors' Tavern - Day 10
Bamberg
The ship docks in Bamberg after lunch. Spend your morning on board enjoying a relaxing massage at the wellness centre or attending an informative lecture about Main River culture and history. Bamberg, built on seven hills, is a UNESCO World Heritage town with intersecting rivers and canals, an Old Town with cobblestoned streets and medieval buildings, and a charming Old Town Hall on its own island. Later, enjoy a guided city tour and choose your Scenic Freechoice: stay and explore the World Heritage Old Town, or journey by coach to Coburg to visit its impressive castle and museum with carriages, weapons, and paintings.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Bamberg
- Bamberg Old Town Tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Excursion to Coburg (Scenic Freechoice option)
Optional Activities
- Wellness centre massage
Landmarks/POIs Bamberg Old Town Old Town Hall Bamberg Cathedral Old Residence New Residence Little Venice Coburg Coburg Castle - Day 11
Nuremberg
Arrive early in Nuremberg, Bavaria's second-largest city, with an Old Town protected by ancient city walls where famous Christmas markets happen each December. The 12th-century Imperial Castle dominates the skyline. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: a walking tour of the Old Town seeing the Imperial Castle, St. Egidien's Church, and market square; a tour covering the WWII era and visiting Rally Grounds and the Memorium Nurnberger Prozesse; or an active walking tour exploring cobblestone streets and medieval city walls. This afternoon, sail toward Regensburg. Relax with specialty tea or coffee in the Panorama Lounge or watch the riverbanks from your Sun Lounge.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of the Old Town (Scenic Freechoice option)
- The trials and tribulations of WWII Tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Nuremberg's Castle and City Walls walking tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Castle St. Egidien's Church Nuremberg market square Rally Grounds Memorium Nurnberger Prozesse Courtroom 600 WWII Art Bunker - Day 12
Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg after lunch. This city has a 2,000-year history and one of Germany's best-preserved medieval town centres with over 900 Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: a walking tour to see the old stone bridge, Church of St James, and Porta Praetoria; a ferry ride through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey to explore the Abbey, Cloister Church, and sample award-winning beer brewed on site since 1050; or an active walking tour to Thurn und Taxis Castle with a guided tour and free time exploring the German noble family's 12th-century castle.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Weltenburg Abbey excursion with beer tasting (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Thurn und Taxis Active Walking Tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Regensburg Old Town Stone Bridge Church of St James Porta Praetoria Danube Gorge Weltenburg Abbey Thurn und Taxis Castle - Day 13
Passau - Salzburg, Cesky Krumlov, or Passau Old Town
Disembark your Scenic Space-Ship in Passau and choose from full-day excursions. Travel to Salzburg, Austria, birthplace of Mozart and The Sound of Music, crossing into Alpine terrain on the Salzach River banks to explore the Baroque old town and Hohensalzburg fortress with city views, then enjoy lunch and free time before returning to your ship. Or travel by coach to Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, a UNESCO World Heritage medieval town featuring Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Or join a guided walking tour of Passau itself, admiring the waterfront buildings and visiting St. Stephen's Cathedral with its famous organ.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant lunch in Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov (depending on excursion chosen))
Included Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg with guided tour and lunch (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Full day excursion to Cesky Krumlov with guided tour and lunch (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Highlights of Passau walking tour with St. Stephen's Cathedral visit (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Passau Salzburg Salzach River Mozart's birthplace Hohensalzburg Cesky Krumlov Vltava River St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 14
Dürnstein
Your Scenic Space-Ship docks in the Austrian town of Dürnstein in the scenic Wachau Valley. You'll have free time to explore the charming town before sailing to Krems. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: visit Gottweig Abbey (founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 18th century) to see magnificent frescoes and Austria's largest Baroque staircase; experience a Wachau Valley wine tasting at a local winemaker's to learn about age-old wine-making traditions; or join a guided e-bike tour from Dürnstein to Krems along the Danube, passing charming villages and scenic vineyard landscapes.
Included Activities
- Göttweig Abbey (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Wachau Valley wine tasting (Scenic Freechoice option)
- E-biking from Dürnstein to Krems (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Dürnstein Wachau Valley Gottweig Abbey Danube Krems - Day 15
Vienna
Arrive early in Vienna, Austria's imperial capital known as the City of Music and home to Mozart and Beethoven. The city features magnificent Baroque buildings, green spaces, vibrant coffee-house culture, and masterpiece-filled galleries. You'll take a coach to Vienna's city centre for a guided walking tour seeing highlights like the Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Belvedere Palace. Your ship docks overnight, so you're free this afternoon to explore on your own or relax on board. Tonight, enjoy an exclusive Scenic Enrich experience: a private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein featuring Strauss and Mozart performed by a renowned orchestra with ballet dancers and vocalists.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Palais Liechtenstein with classical concert)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Vienna highlights (Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Belvedere Palace)
- Classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein with fine Austrian Sekt (Scenic Enrich)
Landmarks/POIs Vienna State Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral Belvedere Palace Palais Liechtenstein - Day 16
Vienna
Wake with Vienna on your doorstep. Austria's imperial capital is famous for The Ringstrasse and the Habsburg monarchy's legacy. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: explore Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg family, wandering its ornately designed rooms and impressive gardens; take a guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, a recreational playground where locals enjoy bathing, boating, and cycling; or take a coach excursion to Bratislava, Slovakia's capital since 1993, exploring the medieval old town, 9th-century hilltop castle, and Hauptplatz with its interesting mix of historic and socialist architecture.
Included Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Cycle to Danube Island (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Excursion to Bratislava (Scenic Freechoice option)
Landmarks/POIs Ringstrasse Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island Bratislava Bratislava Castle Hlavne Namestie Old Town Hall - Day 17
Budapest
Arrive early in Budapest, one of Europe's most diverse and vibrant cities divided by the Danube into Buda and Pest (united in 1873). The city features Gothic to Art Nouveau styles and is known for hot springs, thermal baths, and vibrant nightlife. Choose your Scenic Freechoice: 'Budapest in Depth' by coach exploring both sides and ending with a piano recital at the Institute for the Blind; 'Budapest's Past & Present' covering communist history and the 1956 Hungarian revolution; explore the 'Hospital in the Rock' WWII secret hospital underneath the Castle district; relax at Gellert Baths' natural hot springs; or take a 'Guided Hike of Buda' with Danube River views. This afternoon, explore the Central Market Hall at your own pace.
Included Activities
- Budapest in Depth tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Budapest's Past & Present tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Hospital in the Rock tour (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Thermal Baths at Gellert (Scenic Freechoice option)
- Guided hike of Buda (Scenic Freechoice option)
Optional Activities
- Central Market Hall visit
Landmarks/POIs Budapest Danube Buda Pest Margaret Bridge Varkert Bazar Szentendre Square Elizabeth Square Institute for the Blind Hospital in the Rock Castle district Gellert Baths Central Market Hall - Day 18
Tour End
Depart after breakfast, taking with you memories from your Scenic cruise through Europe's most historic and beautiful cities along the Danube and Rhine rivers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
