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 (Esztergom) to Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Esztergom Basilica and Wine tasting - visit the largest church in Hungary known for its vast dome and panoramic Danube views, then descend into historic wine cellars for tasting of traditionally produced wines
Landmarks Esztergom Basilica Mária Valéria Bridge 
- 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, finishing at neo-Gothic Grand Market with exploration time
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board - Hungarian dinner and folklore show
Optional Activities
- Hike to Gellért Hill - beautiful hike up World Heritage-listed site with stunning views of Danube River and city architecture, passing Várkert Bazaar and landscaped gardens
- Sisi and the Charm of Gödöllő with cake tasting - visit to Gödöllő baroque palace, former favorite retreat of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi, ending with Hungarian cake tasting, activity level: Easy, duration: 4 hours
- Jewish heritage tour - guided tour of significant Jewish historical events and sites including buildings from flourishing pre-WWII Jewish trade, 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial, activity level: Moderate, duration: 4 hours
Landmarks Chain Bridge Grand Market Gellért Hill Várkert Bazaar Gödöllő Palace Shoes on the Danube Bank - Day 12
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursion to Szentendre - walking tour through pedestrian city centre to admire Baroque architecture, churches, colorful houses, and narrow cobbled streets with exploration of Fo Tér main square and surrounding art galleries, museums and shops
Optional Activities
- Retro tour of post-Communist Budapest - panoramic sightseeing tour in original Communist-style vehicle showing important sites from Communist past including House of Terror on Andrássy street, Hero Square, Podmaniczky Street with WWII bullet holes, St. Stephen's Basilica, and Retro Museum, activity level: Easy, duration: 2.5 hours
- Etyek uncorked - wine region tour just outside Budapest visiting picturesque vineyards and historic cellar with tasting of six local wines and traditional pogacsa bread, activity level: Easy, duration: 3.5 hours
- Budapest by night - moonlit tour along Danube crossing illuminated bridges with views of dazzling city lights and majestic castle area on Buda hills, then downtown area for legendary nightlife, activity level: Easy, duration: 1.5 hours
Landmarks Szentendre Fo Tér House of Terror Hero Square St. Stephen's Basilica Etyek - Day 13
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Disembark Emerald Star-Ship
