Itinerary
- Day 1
Prague
Included Activities
- Welcome drink with tour director and fellow guests
- Day 2
Prague
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Prague including three castle courtyards, St. Vitus Cathedral, Castle Steps, Charles Bridge, Old Town, and Astronomical Clock
- Coffee & Cake at Lobkowicz Palace
Landmarks St. Vitus Cathedral Charles Bridge Old Town Square Astronomical Clock Lobkowicz Palace 
- Day 3
Prague
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Tastes of Czechia - wine tasting tour including Czech wines (red, white, rosé) paired with traditional charcuterie and cheeses, welcome drink of Czech sparkling wine, activity level: Easy, duration: 2.5 hours
Landmarks Baroque Quarter - Day 4
Prague to Passau
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boarding and welcome to Emerald Star-Ship
- Day 5
Passau
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bavarian beer experience - learn about German brewing traditions, regional beer history, and local folklore with a regional beer tasting
Optional Activities
- Hike to Veste Oberhaus - guided hike around Passau with sights of Mariahilf pilgrimage site and St. Severin ancient church, ending at 13th-century Veste Oberhaus fortress offering spectacular views
- Bavarian Countryside Experience - visit to a working farm with tasting of fresh produce and gourmet specialties including cheese, cold meats, bread and beer, activity level: Moderate, duration: 3 hours
Landmarks St. Stephens Cathedral Veste Oberhaus Mariahilf St. Severin - Day 6
Linz - Český Krumlov
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Český Krumlov including 15th-century St. Vitus' Church and Gothic façades
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Mauthausen Concentration Camp - guided tour of Nazi Germany's largest concentration camp including history of WWII, camp remnants, barracks, and stone quarry, activity level: Moderate, duration: 3.5 hours
Landmarks Český Krumlov Castle St. Vitus' Church - Day 7
Melk - Spitz
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic on the riverbanks), Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey including opulent rooms with Italian Baroque architecture, gold leaf walls, and ancient monastic library
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour along the Danube - from Melk to Spitz covering 30km through vineyards and quaint towns with picnic on riverbanks and refreshing drink break, e-bikes provided
- Guided hike in Spitz - active hike through the wine village surrounded by steeply terraced vineyards of the Wachau Valley
- Vineyard Stories of Wachau - wine tasting tour at family-run vineyard in Spitz sampling Grüner Veltliner and riesling with views of Danube and surrounding vineyards, activity level: Easy, duration: 3 hours
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley - Day 8
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna including Ringstrasse, Vienna's city centre, Opera House, Burgtheater, Parliament, with coach and walking components or guided bike tour option
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Vienna to Danube Island - tour highlighting Vienna's livability with personal stories and authentic local experiences off the beaten path
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace - guided tour of the former summer residence of the Habsburg Empire and World Heritage site with local expert sharing fascinating tales of former residents, activity level: Easy, duration: 5 hours
- Exclusive Viennese evening concert - evening concert at one of Vienna's beautiful concert halls featuring classical music including 'Blue Danube Waltz' and Radetzky March with complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival, activity level: Easy, duration: 2.5 hours
Landmarks Ringstrasse Vienna State Opera Burgtheater Parliament Schönbrunn Palace Danube Island - Day 9
Vienna to Bratislava
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava including Old City or hike to Bratislava Castle, botanical gardens of Episcopal Summer Palace, Old Town Hall with Renaissance courtyard, Slovak National Theatre
- Local Slovakian entertainment on board - saloon orchestra Afrodite performance in Horizon Lounge featuring five women playing classical arrangements of pop music, evergreens, musicals and movie melodies in traditional Slovakian dress
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle - active excursion from port passing Slovak National Theatre, riverside promenade, Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral, climbing to castle for panoramic views, St Michael's Gate, and main square
- Skoda tour of Post-Communist Bratislava - driving tour in a Skoda car with personal stories about Communist era life and local authentic refreshments, panoramic sightseeing of Communist past sites, activity level: Easy, duration: 2 hours
- Carpathian Wine route - exploration of viticultural towns of Small Carpathian Wine Route including Vinosady vineyards and family-run winery in Senkvice with winemaking heritage learning and wine tasting in historic wine cellar, activity level: Moderate, duration: 4 hours 40 minutes
Landmarks Bratislava Castle Old Town Hall Slovak National Theatre St. Martin's Cathedral St Michael's Gate Episcopal Summer Palace - Day 10
Štúrovo - Budapest
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Esztergom Basilica and descend into historic wine cellars for wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Jewish Heritage tour - local guide introduces significant Jewish events in Budapest's history, including 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial (extra expense)
Landmarks Esztergom Basilica Mária Valéria Bridge Danube River 
- Day 11
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Hungarian dinner and folklore show on board)
Included Activities
- Budapest tour with Grand Market visit - coach tour through World Heritage-listed city centre with guide teaching about Hungarian culinary scene, ending at neo-Gothic Grand Market for independent exploration
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board - Hungarian dinner and folklore show
Optional Activities
- Hike to Gellért Hill - walk up to World Heritage-listed site with views of Danube River and city architecture, passing Varkert Bazaar and landscaped gardens
- Sisi and the Charm of Gödöllő with cake tasting - visit baroque palace, former favourite retreat of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi, with Hungarian cake tasting (extra expense, Easy activity level, 4 hours duration)
- Jewish heritage tour - local guide introduces significant Jewish events shaping Budapest's culture, including 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial (extra expense, Moderate activity level, 4 hours duration)
Landmarks Chain Bridge Danube River Grand Market Gellért Hill Varkert Bazaar Shoes on the Danube Memorial Gödöllő Palace - Day 12
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursion to Szentendre with walking tour of pedestrian city centre
- Admire Baroque architecture, churches, and colourful houses in Szentendre
- Explore Main square (Fo Tér) and surrounding alleyways with art galleries, museums and shops
Optional Activities
- Etyek uncorked - wine region tour with vineyard stroll and tasting of six local wines with traditional pogacsa bread (3.5 hours, Easy activity level, extra expense)
- Budapest by night - moonlit Danube tour with illuminated bridges, castle area, and downtown nightlife (1.5 hours, Easy activity level, extra expense)
Landmarks Szentendre Fo Tér Etyek wine region Danube River Buda Castle - Day 13
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Disembark Emerald Star-Ship
