Itinerary
- Day 1
Lyon
You'll arrive in Lyon and head to your river ship where you'll check out the social spaces and settle into your suite. Later, there's a welcome cocktail reception so you can meet other travelers and the crew.
- Day 2
Lyon
This morning starts with a guided walk through Lyon to see the culinary heritage and Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvieres on the hill. You'll then wander through Vieux Lyon before heading to Paul Bocuse's Les Halles de Lyon for a gourmet tasting of local specialties. After returning to the ship, you'll sail to Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or for dinner with classic French cuisine.
- Meals
- Lunch (Tasting at Paul Bocuse's Les Halles de Lyon featuring local sausage, cheese, and wine), Dinner (French Gastronomic Dinner at Paul Bocuse's Abbaye de Collonges - authentic French meal featuring innovative cuisine with fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared by world-class chefs)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon
- Visit Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
- Explore Vieux Lyon (Old Town)
- Tasting at Paul Bocuse's Les Halles de Lyon
- French Gastronomic Dinner at Paul Bocuse's Abbaye de Collonges
Landmarks/POIs Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière Vieux Lyon - Day 3
Tain L'Hermitage to Avignon
The ship arrives at Tain L'Hermitage where you can optionally visit the Cité du Chocolat chocolate museum. After that, you'll cruise toward Avignon. This evening features lively entertainment onboard.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Cité du Chocolat - explore interactive exhibits and taste chocolate samples at the Valrhona Discovery Centre
Landmarks/POIs Cité du Chocolat - Day 4
Avignon to Arles
A guided tour takes you through Avignon to see the Palace of the Popes, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a long history tied to the Catholic Church. You'll learn about the medieval architecture and significance before getting back on the ship and heading toward Arles.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon
- Visit Palace of the Popes (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes - Day 5
Arles
You'll have a leisurely day in Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage site with significant Roman ruins and cultural attractions. If interested, there's an optional trip to the Camargue region to see the marshes, wildlife, and traditional farming.
Optional Activities
- Full-day excursion to the Camargue - explore coastal marshes, ponds and seashores with diverse flora and fauna, visit a traditional manade (farm) where herders train horses and raise cattle
Landmarks/POIs Camargue - Day 6
Viviers to La Voulte-sur-Rhône
An expert guide leads you through Viviers to see the House of Knights with its Renaissance facade, Saint Michel Tower, and the Great Seminary. You'll get panoramic views from the overlook, then relax on the ship as it cruises toward La Voulte-sur-Rhone. There's an optional coach tour of the Gorges de l'Ardèche, followed by a Gala Dinner onboard.
- Meals
- Dinner (Gala Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Guided expert tour of Viviers
- Visit House of Knights (House of Knights)
- Visit Saint Michel Tower
- Visit Great Seminary
- Viewpoint overlooking Viviers
- Gala Dinner on board
Optional Activities
- Panoramic coach tour to Gorges de l'Ardèche - 30 km canyon carved by the Ardèche River with views of deep valleys, cliffs, limestone formations, and Pont d'Arc (natural stone arch 100 feet above river)
Landmarks/POIs Gorges de l'Ardèche Pont d'Arc - Day 7
Rhône River to Amsterdam
Start with breakfast, then leave the Rhône River cruise behind and head to the airport for your flight to Amsterdam. When you arrive, you'll board the MS Van Gogh river ship and get settled in. There's a Welcome Reception in the evening where you'll meet the other travelers and your Cruise Director.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Welcome Reception on MS Van Gogh
- Meet Cruise Director and fellow travelers
Landmarks/POIs Amsterdam - Day 8
Amsterdam to Utrecht
You'll board a glass-top boat and glide through Amsterdam's waterways with a local guide, then have free time to explore the city. Later, you'll drive to Utrecht to rejoin the ship for a special Gala Welcome Dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Gala Welcome Dinner)
Included Activities
- Glass-top boat tour through Amsterdam waterways with local guide
- Gala Welcome Dinner
- Day 9
Utrecht to Cologne
The ship arrives in Cologne where you'll learn about the famous Kölner Dom cathedral. You'll then drive to Brühl to visit the World Heritage Augustusburg Palace, walking through its rococo architecture and landscaped parks. Back in Cologne, you'll have time to explore the city center on your own.
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Augustusburg Palace in Brühl - explore former residence of Archbishop-Elector Clemens August with landscaped parks, gardens, and Falkenlust hunting lodge
Landmarks/POIs Kölner Dom Augustusburg Palace - Day 10
Cologne to Rüdesheim
You'll cruise through the Rhine Gorge, which many consider the most beautiful part of the Rhine. The ship stops in Rüdesheim where a mini road train takes you through town to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, which has one of Germany's finest collections of automated instruments.
Included Activities
- Winzerexpress mini road train ride through Rüdesheim
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Landmarks/POIs Rhine Gorge Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - Day 11
Rüdesheim to Miltenberg
Miltenberg is your stop today, a well-preserved town with half-timbered buildings from the 15th to 18th centuries. You'll do a culinary walking tour to see local life, sampling regional food at a local butcher and baker before finishing with a tasting at a distillery.
Included Activities
- Culinary walking tour of Miltenberg
- Tasting at local butcher
- Tasting at local baker
- Tasting at local distillery
Landmarks/POIs Miltenberg - Day 12
Miltenberg to Würzburg
You'll travel by coach through rolling hills to Würzburg and visit the magnificent baroque Würzburg Residence with its ornate interior, plus the Court Garden. If interested, there's an optional trip to Rothenburg, a walled medieval town on the Romantic Road.
Included Activities
- Visit Würzburg Residence (baroque palace)
- Stroll through Court Garden
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg - medieval walled town on the Romantic Road in Franconia
Landmarks/POIs Würzburg Residence Rothenburg - Day 13
Würzburg to Bamberg
After cruising the final stretch of the Main River, you'll arrive in Bamberg. A guided tour covers the Old Town Hall and Bamberg Cathedral, then you're free to explore. Later in the evening, the ship reaches the Main-Danube Canal.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
- Visit Old Town Hall
- Visit Bamberg Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Old Town Hall Bamberg Cathedral - Day 14
Bamberg to Nuremberg
Nuremberg is your destination today, a city with a complex history. You'll walk its cobblestone streets discovering boutiques and artisan shops. This evening, the ship cruises through the Main-Danube Canal and crosses Europe's Continental Divide via 16 stair-step locks.
Landmarks/POIs Nuremberg - Day 15
Nuremberg to Regensburg
After traveling overnight, you'll arrive in Regensburg docked in the heart of town. A guided walk shows you the main sights, and there's an optional visit to Kuchlbauer's World of Beer in Abensberg to see the unique Kuchlbauer Tower. This evening brings an authentic Bavarian experience with local beer, snacks, and traditional folk music and dancing.
- Meals
- Dinner (Bavarian Evening on board - local beer, snacks, and traditional folk music, song and dance)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Regensburg
- Bavarian Evening on board - local beer, snacks, and traditional folk music, song and dance
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Kuchlbauer's World of Beer brewery in Abensberg with visit to Kuchlbauer Tower designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (available on Amsterdam to Budapest cruises only)
Landmarks/POIs Kuchlbauer Tower - Day 16
Regensburg to Passau
After breakfast in Passau, where the Ilz and Inn rivers meet the Danube, you'll choose from several options. Visit medieval Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic with over 300 historical buildings, travel to Salzburg to see the Mondsee Wedding Church and Mozart's hometown, or take a culinary walking tour of Passau. You can also stay on the ship for a relaxing day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Day excursion to Český Krumlov in Czech Republic - medieval city with over 300 historical buildings
- Trip to Salzburg - visit Mondsee and the famous Wedding Church from 'The Sound of Music', guided tour of Salzburg including free time to explore
- Guided culinary walking tour of Passau - explore historic sites of the Altstadt on cobblestone lanes and sample local sweet and savory specialties
Landmarks/POIs Český Krumlov Salzburg Mondsee - Day 17
Passau to Dürnstein
You'll dock in Melk for a guided tour of the Benedictine Melk Abbey sitting atop a rocky outcrop with commanding Danube views and dating back to 1089. The ship then cruises through the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, where you'll see hilltop castle ruins. You'll have the afternoon free to explore cobbled streets and taverns, with an optional wine tasting of local Grüner Veltliner or Riesling.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting at Dürnstein Abbey - taste local Grüner Veltliner or Riesling and brandy from the region
Landmarks/POIs Melk Abbey Dürnstein Wachau Valley - Day 18
Dürnstein to Vienna
In Vienna, a walking tour covers St Stephen's Cathedral, the Graben, Hofburg Palace, and the Albertina. After that, you can visit the Naschmarkt if you wish. This evening, there's an optional Mozart and Strauss Concert at one of Vienna's palaces or venues, followed by a drive around the Ringstrasse.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of St Stephen's Cathedral
- Walking tour of the Graben
- Walking tour of Hofburg Palace
- Walking tour of the Albertina
Optional Activities
- Visit Naschmarkt
- Mozart and Strauss Concert in Vienna's palace or concert venue with evening drive around the Ringstrasse
Landmarks/POIs St Stephen's Cathedral Hofburg Palace Albertina Naschmarkt - Day 19
Vienna
You'll have the day to explore Vienna at your own pace, visiting the Hofburg area and Imperial Treasury if interested. There's also an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace with its furnished rooms and gardens, or a trip to Bratislava. Later, the ship heads toward Hungary. Tonight features the Captain's Farewell Dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Included Activities
- Captain's Farewell Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Hofburg area and Imperial Treasury
- Excursion to Schönbrunn Palace - explore lavishly furnished rooms and beautiful gardens
- Bratislava City Tour - travel to Slovakia's capital and explore the charming Old Town on a guided tour
Landmarks/POIs Schönbrunn Palace Bratislava - Day 20
Budapest
You'll watch the ship drift into Budapest. After breakfast, a local guide leads you through the Hungarian capital. There's an optional visit to the Hospital in the Rock Bunker Museum, a World War II hospital in caves beneath Buda Castle, and a guided tour of the Hungarian State Opera with a private recital and sparkling wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Budapest
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Hospital in the Rock Bunker Museum - World War II hospital in caves beneath Buda Castle built in 1941
- Hungarian State Opera visit - guided tour with private opera recital and glass of sparkling wine
Landmarks/POIs Hungarian State Opera Hospital in the Rock Bunker Museum - Day 21
Budapest
After breakfast, you'll disembark from the ship and transfer to the airport for your onward flight, ending your river cruise adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
