Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and transfer directly to your ship. Once on board, the rest of your afternoon is open. Some people head to the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum if they have time, but there's no pressure. It's a good chance to settle into your cabin and get familiar with the ship.
- Start point
- Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands (Embark)
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Rijksmuseum
- Visit Van Gogh Museum
Landmarks Rijksmuseum Van Gogh Museum - Day 2
Amsterdam to Kinderdijk
The ship sails to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you'll join a guided tour of the windmills and see how the Dutch managed water and flooding. You'll get inside one of the working windmills to check out the mechanisms and living spaces. Back on board, lunch is served, followed by a tasting of Dutch cheese and jenever (a traditional spirit) plus a talk about the Dutch Golden Age. The ship cruises through the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Kinderdijk windmills and flood management devices
- Enter and tour a working windmill including mechanisms and living quarters
- Sample handcrafted Dutch cheeses
- Sample jenever (distilled juniper liquor)
- Presentation on the Dutch Golden Age
Landmarks Kinderdijk - Day 3
Cologne
After breakfast, a guided tour takes you through Cologne starting with the Dom, Germany's largest cathedral and a UNESCO site. From there, your day is yours to explore on foot. You can wander through Roman ruins, check out different neighborhoods, or visit places like the Fragrance Museum or Chocolate Museum. Lunch and dinner are both on the ship. You'll depart at midnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided morning tour of Cologne
- Visit to the Dom (Cologne Cathedral)
Optional Activities
- Ascend to the Dom's roof for close-up cathedral architecture views and bird's-eye vistas of Cologne
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral (Dom) Fragrance Museum Chocolate Museum - Day 4
Rhine to Koblenz
The ship cruises along the Rhine, passing hilltop castles, and stops in Koblenz where you can visit Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress that was never destroyed. As you continue through this UNESCO World Heritage section of the river, watch for the Lorelei Rock marking the narrowest point. Meals are served on board both at lunch and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Marksburg Castle
Landmarks Marksburg Castle Lorelei Rock - Day 5
Main River to Miltenberg
You'll sail along the Main River through the Spessart region, which was the real-life setting for Snow White. During the sail, there's a live glassblowing demonstration to watch. After lunch, the ship stops in Miltenberg, known for its half-timbered buildings and Germany's oldest inn. A walking tour gives you a chance to explore, and then the ship sails through the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Live glassblowing demonstration
- Walking tour of Miltenberg
Landmarks Miltenberg - Day 6
Würzburg
The morning includes a tour of Würzburg's Bishops' Residenz, one of Germany's grandest baroque palaces and a UNESCO site. If you prefer, there's an optional full-day trip along Germany's Romantic Road to Rothenburg, where you'll see the turreted city walls and Gothic and baroque buildings. Either way, you'll be back on the ship for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Würzburg's Bishops' Residenz
Optional Activities
- Full-day journey along Germany's Romantic Road to Rothenburg
Landmarks Bishops' Residenz, Würzburg Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Day 7
Bamberg
After the ship sails through the morning, lunch happens on board, then you head to Bamberg with its medieval center, a UNESCO site. A walking tour shows you the 11th-century cathedral (reworked in late Romanesque style during the 13th century) and the city hall perched on a tiny island in the river. You'll have free time to explore and maybe try Bamberg's distinctive smoke-flavored beer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bamberg
- Visit to Bamberg Cathedral
Landmarks Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Old Town City Hall - Day 8
Nuremberg
Breakfast is on board before you disembark in Nuremberg. You'll visit the ruins of Zeppelin Field (Nazi parade grounds from the 1930s) and the Palace of Justice, where the Nuremberg Trials took place. There's an optional World War II tour with the Documentation Center Museum if you want deeper history, or you can explore the Old Town on your own after lunch. An optional bunker tour shows where artworks were hidden during the war. The ship departs just before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Zeppelin Field ruins
- Visit to Palace of Justice
Optional Activities
- Optional World War II tour including Documentation Center Museum
- Optional tour of underground bunkers with hidden wartime art
Landmarks Zeppelin Field Palace of Justice, Nuremberg Documentation Center Museum, Nuremberg - Day 9
Regensburg
You'll arrive in Regensburg at midday, have lunch on board, then tour this beautifully preserved medieval city, a UNESCO site, with buildings dating back to Roman times. You'll see 13th and 14th-century patrician houses and St. Peter's Cathedral. During free time, check out the Alte Würstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen), Germany's oldest restaurant. Alternatively, head to Munich for an optional full-day tour and return to the ship for dinner before it departs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
Optional Activities
- Visit Alte Würstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen)
- Optional full-day tour of Munich
Landmarks St. Peter's Cathedral, Regensburg Alte Würstküche - Day 10
Passau
The ship arrives this morning in Passau where three rivers meet (the Inn, Ilz, and Danube). A guided walk takes you through narrow Old Town streets past traditional patrician houses, and you'll see the New Bishop's Residence and the baroque St. Stephen's Cathedral with its intricate interior. A special concert plays on the cathedral's 17,000-pipe organ, which is Europe's largest church organ. After lunch on board, you have free time to explore. There's also an optional full-day tour to Salzburg (Mozart's birthplace and Sound of Music setting) if you prefer. The ship cruises through the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Passau Old Town
- Visit New Bishop's Residence
- Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Special concert on St. Stephen's Cathedral's 17,000-pipe organ
Optional Activities
- Optional full-day tour of Salzburg
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau New Bishop's Residence, Passau - Day 11
Melk to Krems
After breakfast, you'll visit the abbey at Melk, a 900-year-old Benedictine monastery with Austria's finest Italian baroque architecture. From there, head back to the ship and cruise through the spectacular Wachau Valley this afternoon. Before dinner, explore the town of Krems and see the Steiner Tor, the last remaining city gate, or join an optional trip to a local winery for wine tasting from this famous region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit abbey at Melk
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to local winery for wine tasting
Landmarks Melk Abbey Krems - Day 12
Vienna
A tour covers Vienna's main attractions, starting with a ride along the Ringstrasse, which replaced the old city walls in the mid-19th century. You'll see baroque architecture including the famous Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Hofburg Palace. Back on the ship for lunch, the afternoon and evening are yours. You could join an optional tour to see the Lipizzaner Stallions, try a Gustav Klimt-inspired art workshop, or catch a classical concert after dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna including Ringstrasse ride
- Visit to Opera House
- Visit to St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Visit to Hofburg Palace
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to see Lipizzaner Stallions
- Optional art workshop inspired by Gustav Klimt
- Optional classical concert
Landmarks Vienna State Opera House St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna Hofburg Palace - Day 13
Vienna
The day is completely yours in Vienna. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts or the Albertina for Old Masters paintings, or ride the Riesenrad, the world's oldest Ferris wheel. Optionally, tour Schönbrunn Palace (Vienna's Versailles), take a Viennese waltz lesson with a palace visit, or just relax with coffee and Sachertorte. You'll return to the ship later, and it departs for Budapest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Museum of Fine Arts
- Visit Albertina
- Ride Riesenrad (world's oldest Ferris wheel)
- Optional tour to Schönbrunn Palace
- Optional full-day excursion with Viennese waltz lesson and Schönbrunn Palace visit
Landmarks Museum of Fine Arts, Vienna Albertina Riesenrad Schönbrunn Palace - Day 14
Budapest
Budapest is split by the Danube into the former towns of Buda and Pest. Your exploration covers both sides, starting in Pest with the National Opera House and Heroes' Square. Then you'll head to Buda, walking up Castle Hill to Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church. Lunch is on the ship, then you have free time to explore further. Optional excursions dig into the city's history, culture, and food if you want guided experiences. The ship hosts a traditional Hungarian dinner in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Hungarian dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided tour exploring Pest and Buda
- Visit to National Opera House
- Visit to Heroes' Square
- Walk along Castle Hill
- Visit to Fishermen's Bastion
- Visit to Matthias Church
Optional Activities
- Optional excursions exploring history, culture, and cuisine of Budapest
Landmarks National Opera House, Budapest Heroes' Square Fishermen's Bastion Matthias Church - Day 15
Budapest to Departure
After breakfast, you'll disembark and head to the airport for your return flight. If you want to extend things, there's a 3-night option in Prague, where you tour Old Town landmarks and Prague Castle before flying home.
- End point
- Budapest, Budapest, Hungary (Disembark)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend journey with 3 nights in Prague, Czech Republic including tour of Old Town landmarks and Prague Castle
Landmarks Prague Old Town Prague Castle
