Itinerary
- Day 1
Brussels
Brussels
- Day 2
Brussels
Brussels- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Brussels
Optional Activities
- Tastes of Belgium walking tour (extra expense) - 1.5 hours, Easy activity level
Landmarks Grand Place Manneken Pis Royal Palace St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral - Day 3
Brussels
Brussels- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Belgium's Comic Heritage tour (extra expense) - 4 hours, Easy activity level - includes Comic Art Museum tour and master caricature workshop with Belgian caricature artist Jan Op de Beeck
Landmarks Comic Art Museum Parc du Cinquantenaire - Day 4
Brussels to Amsterdam
Brussels to Amsterdam- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 5
Amsterdam
Amsterdam- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Timeless Dutch countryside excursion - walk through charming villages, see working windmills, and meet locals keeping age-old traditions alive
Optional Activities
- Hidden gems of Amsterdam tour (extra expense) - 2.5 hours, Moderate activity level - includes Jordaan area, chocolate shop visit, Our Lord in the Attic 17th-century house with secret Catholic church, local brewery with beer and traditional Dutch snacks
Landmarks Alkmaar Waterland Our Lord in the Attic - Day 6
Cologne
Cologne- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Quest for Cologne's treasures - guided walking tour with treasure hunt using a map to find locations of unique Cologne treasures
Optional Activities
- German beer experience (extra expense) - 2 hours, Moderate activity level - guided tour through Cologne's legendary brewhouses featuring Kölsch, the crisp golden beer brewed only in this region
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 7
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum - ride local mini train through narrow city streets to museum housing over 350 automatic mechanical music instruments
Optional Activities
- Active Walk to Niederwalddenkmal (EmeraldACTIVE) - hike through vineyards to 19th-century monument celebrating German unification with panoramic views over Rüdesheim's old town and Rhine River
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Lorelai Rock Pfalzgrafenstein Castle Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Niederwalddenkmal - Day 8
Miltenberg - Wertheim
Miltenberg - Wertheim- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg - walking cobblestone streets with colorful houses, viewing Gothic Merchant Hall, oldest inn in Germany (dating to 1411), Miltenberg Castle, and red sandstone church and bridge
Optional Activities
- Visit to Bronnbach Abbey (EmeraldPLUS) - explore well-preserved Cistercian monastery in nearby Wertheim featuring stunning Romanesque and Gothic architecture, peaceful cloisters, and impressive Baroque interiors
- Active Walk to Mildenburg Castle (EmeraldACTIVE) - forest hike to 12th-century castle with contemporary art and old masters collection, panoramic views
Landmarks Miltenberg Gothic Merchant Hall Miltenberg Castle Bronnbach Abbey Mildenburg Castle - Day 9
Würzburg
Würzburg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg and visit to the Bishop's Residence - guided tour of World Heritage-listed Würzburg Residence featuring Viennese Baroque and Italian secular styles, restored to former glory after WWII damage
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense) - 6.5 hours, Moderate activity level - explores best-preserved medieval town in Germany, walk medieval walls, climb Town Hall Tower for panoramic views, visit Gothic churches, museums, art exhibitions, and historic restaurants with local sausage tasting. Note: operates at same time as included tour
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg - Day 10
Bamberg
Bamberg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg - explore city with local guide, marvel at opulence of New Residence (former home of prince bishops, now housing old German and Baroque paintings from Bavarian State collection), peaceful stroll around Rose Garden
Landmarks Bamberg New Residence Rose Garden - Day 11
Nuremberg
Nuremberg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg - sightseeing tour of historic city including architectural wonders that inspired famous artists, examination of WWII war effects, leisurely exploration of beautifully reconstructed half-timbered houses
Optional Activities
- World War II tour (extra expense) - 4 hours, Easy activity level - insights into WWII events and Nazi regime, including Nazi Rally grounds, panoramic city drive, and Courtroom 600 where War Crimes trials were held
Landmarks Courtroom 600 Nazi Rally grounds - Day 12
Regensburg
Regensburg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg - walking exploration of highlights including romantic narrow alleys of World Heritage Old Town, 13th-century Town Hall, 12th-century Stone Bridge (medieval structure crossing Danube), leisurely exploration
- Bavarian band performance on board (EmeraldPLUS) - special performance from Bavarian band in Horizon Bar & Lounge playing traditional music in authentic Lederhosen
Optional Activities
- Sausage-making workshop (extra expense) - 2 hours, Easy activity level - learn to produce fresh white breakfast sausages (beloved Regensburg tradition) with expert from family butchery DEUTSCH, including recipe, weighing, cutting, and filling meat in natural casings
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Stone Bridge Town Hall - Day 13
Passau - Linz
Passau - Linz- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Passau - walking tour through streets lined by Baroque buildings from 17th century, viewing Gothic Town Hall, Bishop's Residence, and St. Stephen's Cathedral (Baroque architecture, largest church organ in Europe)
- Waltz dance show on board (evening)
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense) - 10 hours, Easy activity level - full day exploring Mozart's birthplace and Sound of Music setting, historic downtown district, Linzer Gasse shopping street, Mozart's home
- Excursion to Český Krumlov (extra expense) - 8.5 hours, Difficult/Active activity level - World Heritage-listed medieval Czech town in South Bohemia, guided walk through cobblestone streets of fairytale-like Old Town, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, historic buildings
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Salzburg Český Krumlov 
- Day 14
Melk - Dürnstein
Melk - Dürnstein- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey - guided exploration through opulent rooms adorned with finest Italian Baroque architecture and ornate gold leaf walls, including ancient monastic library renowned for extensive collection of medieval manuscripts
Optional Activities
- Guided e-bike tour along the Danube (EmeraldACTIVE) - active guided e-bike ride from Melk to Dürnstein, 30km (18.64 miles) route through picturesque surroundings passing famous vineyards and quaint towns, includes picnic on riverbanks and refreshing drink break
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle (EmeraldACTIVE) - challenging trail to castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned after returning from Crusades, spectacular panoramic views of river and countryside from peak
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dürnstein Castle - Day 15
Vienna
Vienna- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna - explore famous sights of Ringstrasse and Vienna's city centre by coach and on foot, marvel at Renaissance-style Opera House arches, Baroque Burgtheater and Flemish Gothic Parliament, leisurely city exploration
- Guided e-bike tour of Vienna (EmeraldACTIVE) - guided e-bike tour to Danube Island with personal stories from guide about Vienna being world's most liveable city, visit places other travelers won't see, experience authentic Vienna
Optional Activities
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense) - 5 hours, Easy activity level - former summer residence of Habsburg Empire, recognized World Heritage site for historic importance, unique grounds, and splendid furnishings, followed by local expert with fascinating tales of former residents
- Viennese evening concert (extra expense) - 2.5 hours, Easy activity level - exclusive evening concert at one of Vienna's most beautiful concert halls featuring Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Schubert repertoire including 'Blue Danube Waltz' and Radetzky March, complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival
Landmarks Ringstrasse Vienna State Opera House Burgtheater Parliament Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island 
- Day 16
Bratislava
Bratislava- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava - sightseeing tour including enchanting Old City with local guide through heart of city, past botanical gardens of Episcopal Summer Palace, Old Town Hall with Renaissance courtyard, Slovak National Theatre with composer busts, leisurely city exploration
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family (EmeraldPLUS) - invited into local Slovakian family home to learn about their culture over coffee and cake, insights into history, culture and traditions, glimpse into daily life
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle (EmeraldACTIVE) - active excursion from port past Slovak National Theatre and riverside promenade, view Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral, climb hill to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views, see St Michael's Gate, walk through main square
- Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense) - 2 hours, Easy activity level - insightful tour in Skoda car learning about Communist era through personal stories from guide, authentic local refreshments from that time, off-the-beaten-track tour of turbulent 20th century
- Carpathian wine route (extra expense) - 4 hours 40 minutes, Moderate activity level - explore viticultural towns of Small Carpathian Wine Route including Vinosady vineyards and family-run winery in Senkvice, learn about proud winemaking heritage, sample local wines in historic wine cellar
Landmarks Bratislava Old Town Episcopal Summer Palace Old Town Hall Slovak National Theatre St. Martin's Cathedral Bratislava Castle St Michael's Gate 
- Day 17
Budapest
Budapest- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest - explore World Heritage-listed centre with local guide travelling through architecture from Romanesque to Baroque and classical façades, see Liberty Statue, Heroes' Square, Buda Castle district, walking tour of Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board (EmeraldPLUS) - Hungarian folk dancing and music performance on board
- Hike to Gellert Hill (EmeraldACTIVE) - beautiful hike to World Heritage-listed Gellért Hill with stunning Danube River and city architecture views, pass Várkert Bazaar and beautifully landscaped gardens
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Szentendre (extra expense) - 4 hours, Moderate activity level - picturesque village with Mediterranean atmosphere inspiring artists, walking tour through pedestrian city centre to admire Baroque architecture, churches, colorful houses, narrow cobbled streets, Fő Tér main square lined with art galleries, museums and shops
- Jewish heritage tour (extra expense) - learn about significant Jewish events shaping Budapest's culture, see buildings with important roles in flourishing pre-WWII Jewish trade, in Pest view 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial striking reminder of Jewish communities during wartime
Landmarks Chain Bridge Buda Castle Matthias Church Fisherman's Bastion Liberty Statue Heroes' Square Gellért Hill Várkert Bazaar Szentendre Shoes on the Danube - Day 18
Budapest
Budapest- Meals
- Breakfast
