Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
The airport transfer gets you to the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship in Budapest. After getting settled on board, you'll have the evening to relax and take in an authentic Hungarian folklore show from the comfort of the ship.
Included Activities
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
- Day 2
Budapest
A guided coach tour takes you through both Buda and Pest, with the Chain Bridge being the highlight connecting the two sides. You'll learn about the city's mix of cultures and architecture, then get free time at the Christmas Market. Back on the ship, there's a lecture about European Christmas traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
- Christmas traditions in Europe lecture on board
Optional Activities
- Browse Christmas Market in Budapest
Landmarks Chain Bridge - Day 3
Bratislava
Walking the cobblestone streets of Bratislava with a local guide, you'll see Baroque palaces, the Renaissance courtyard of Old Town Hall, and the Episcopal Summer Palace gardens. After browsing some boutiques during free time, head to a local family's home for traditional sweet treats and coffee.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
Optional Activities
- Carpathian wine route excursion (extra expense)
Landmarks Old Town Hall Episcopal Summer Palace - Day 4
Vienna
Vienna's cultural sites are covered with a combination of coach and walking tours along the Ringstrasse, passing imperial palaces and the Vienna State Opera. You'll have free time in the afternoon and evening to wander the city on your own and check out whatever catches your interest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Landmarks Vienna State Opera Ringstrasse Schönbrunn Palace - Day 5
Dürnstein - Melk
Spend the morning walking around Dürnstein at your own pace. Later, relax on the Sun Deck as the ship sails through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley heading to Melk. A local guide takes you through the 900-year-old Benedictine abbey, showing the ancient monastic library and medieval manuscripts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Hiking exploration of Dürnstein
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein - Day 6
Passau
After arriving in Passau, an afternoon tour with your local guide covers the Baroque buildings from the 17th century, the Oberhaus Fortress sitting on the hilltop, and St. Stephen's Cathedral with Europe's largest church organ. You'll sail peacefully through this area where three rivers meet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Passau
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov (extra expense)
Landmarks Oberhaus Fortress St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 7
Regensburg - Kelheim
Following breakfast, a local guide takes you through the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO site and one of Germany's best-preserved cities. The Christmas Market inside the Thurn & Taxis Palace grounds is included as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience. Then you'll head back to the ship and sail through the Main-Danube Canal toward Kelheim, with a Bavarian band performing on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg
- Visit to the Christmas market in the Thurn und Taxis Palace grounds
- Bavarian band performance on board
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Thurn & Taxis Palace - Day 8
Nuremberg
A guided sightseeing tour shows you Nuremberg's architectural wonders that have inspired famous artists. Free time after the tour lets you explore on your own and see the houses that were painstakingly rebuilt after World War II destruction.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
Landmarks Nuremberg Old Town - Day 9
Bamberg
Walking through Bamberg with your local guide, you'll see the thousands of listed buildings in the medieval town centre, ornamental facades, the New Residence with its opulent architecture, and the Rose Garden. The medieval Altenburg Castle overlooks the town from its spot on the hill.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town Altenburg Castle New Residence - Day 10
Würzburg
In Würzburg on the Main River, you'll tour the UNESCO-listed Würzburg Residence and its Viennese Baroque architecture with Italian secular features. A guided walking tour includes the Gothic Marienkapelle and Town Hall, all part of discovering the Romantic Road.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg and a visit to the Bishops Residence
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense)
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Marienkapelle - Day 11
Wertheim - Miltenberg
The day starts with Bronnbach Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in the picturesque Tauber Valley. After that, a coach takes you to Miltenberg for a guided tour through its cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses showing the area's historic wealth from river trade.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Visit to Bronnbach Abbey
Landmarks Bronnbach Abbey Miltenberg Old Town - Day 12
Rüdesheim - Koblenz
You'll relax on the ship until reaching Rüdesheim, a town known for its wine history. The Winzerexpress takes you to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum to see rare music boxes in a half-timbered building. After lunch, sail through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge and spot castles and fortresses on the hilltops surrounding you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
Landmarks Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Rhine Gorge - Day 13
Cologne
The Rhine cruise from Koblenz to Cologne shows you one of Germany's oldest cities, founded by the Romans in 50 AD. A walking tour of the Old Town with your local guide passes ancient bridges that survived World War II and the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral with its distinctive twin towers. Tonight features your farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell Reception & Dinner)
Included Activities
- Quest for Cologne's treasures
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Cologne Old Town - Day 14
Amsterdam
Board a glass top canal boat and cruise down Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal system, seeing elegant merchant's residences from the Dutch Golden Age. You'll have free time to explore this historic trading centre at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Canal cruise
Optional Activities
- Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal System - Day 15
Amsterdam
After breakfast, say goodbye to your fellow passengers and transfer from the Star-Ship to the airport, bringing home memories of the Rhine Gorge and Dutch countryside.
- Meals
- Breakfast
