Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and head straight to your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. After meeting the captain and crew, you can settle in and relax on board. This evening features an authentic Hungarian folklore show, so you'll get a taste of local culture right away.
Included Activities
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
Landmarks Budapest 
- Day 2
Budapest
Budapest offers two main options for exploring the city. You can take a guided coach tour that covers the highlights between Buda and Pest, including the famous Chain Bridge and the city's architecture and history. If you prefer something more active, you'll hike to Gellert Hill instead, where you get views looking out over the whole city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
Optional Activities
- Hike to Gellert Hill
Landmarks Chain Bridge Gellert Hill - Day 3
Bratislava
In Bratislava, a local guide will walk you through cobblestone streets to see Baroque palaces and Renaissance architecture. You'll visit the Old Town Hall and Episcopal Summer Palace, then have time to browse boutiques on your own. Later, you'll have coffee and traditional sweets with a local family. If you're up for more, you can hike to Bratislava Castle, take a Skoda tour of post-Communist areas, or join a Carpathian wine route excursion instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
- Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)
- Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
Landmarks Old Town Hall Episcopal Summer Palace Bratislava Castle 
- Day 4
Vienna
Vienna's imperial heritage is on the agenda. You'll explore palaces and historic buildings along the Ringstrasse and see the Vienna State Opera. Choose between a guided coach and walking tour or a cycling tour that follows riverbanks, monuments, and parks past the Prater. Optional activities include visiting Schönbrunn Palace or catching a Viennese evening concert if you want something extra.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Vienna
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Landmarks Vienna State Opera Ringstrasse Prater Schönbrunn Palace 
- Day 5
Dürnstein to Melk
You have two activity choices in the Danube Valley. Hike to Dürnstein Castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned, or bike from Dürnstein to Melk through vineyards and scenic countryside. Later, you'll sail through the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley, and then take a guided tour of Melk Abbey, a 900-year-old monastery with an ancient library and medieval manuscripts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
- Guided bike tour along the Danube
Landmarks Dürnstein Castle Wachau Valley Melk Abbey 
- Day 6
Passau
Passau sits where three rivers meet, and you'll tour this city with a local guide. You'll see Baroque buildings from the 17th century, the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress, and St. Stephen's Cathedral, which has Europe's largest church organ. Optional day trips go to Salzburg or Český Krumlov if you want to venture further. The afternoon brings cruising through central Europe.
- 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 to Nuremberg
After breakfast, you'll walk through Regensburg's UNESCO-listed Old Town with a local guide who'll point out the medieval patrician houses and the centuries of trading history built into the streets. Once you're done exploring, head back to the ship and settle in for the sail through the Main-Danube Canal toward Nuremberg. You'll pass through Kelheim along the way, so there's plenty of scenic landscape to take in from the deck during the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg Old Town
- Bavarian band performance on board
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Main-Danube Canal Kelheim - Day 8
Nuremberg
A guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg shows you architectural wonders that have inspired famous artists over the centuries. After the tour, you'll have free time to wander through the charming reconstructed medieval houses. There's an optional World War II tour available if you want to dig deeper into the city's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
Optional Activities
- World War II tour (extra expense)
Landmarks Nuremberg - Day 9
Bamberg
Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage town with thousands of listed buildings in its well-preserved medieval center. Your local guide will lead you past ornate facades, the opulent New Residence of the prince bishops, the Rose Garden, and medieval Altenburg Castle sitting above the town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town New Residence Altenburg Castle 
- Day 10
Würzburg
Würzburg sits on the Main River and serves as the gateway to the Romantic Road. It's one of Germany's major wine-producing areas. You'll tour the UNESCO World Heritage Würzburg Residence to see Viennese Baroque architecture and Italian secular features, then take a guided walking tour past the Gothic Marienkapelle and Town Hall. An optional excursion to Rothenburg is also available.
- 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 Würzburg Town Hall 
- Day 11
Miltenberg
You'll visit Bronnbach Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in the picturesque Tauber Valley. A coach takes you to the charming village of Miltenberg for a guided tour down cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses that recall the area's prosperity from river trade. Alternatively, take an active walk to Mildenburg Castle to see its art collection.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Visit to Bronnbach Abbey
Optional Activities
- Guided Active Walk to Mildenburg Castle
Landmarks Bronnbach Abbey Miltenberg Mildenburg Castle - Day 12
Rüdesheim
Relax on your Star-Ship as you reach Rüdesheim, a town known for its wine-making history. Ride the Winzerexpress to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum to see rare historic music boxes in a charming half-timbered building, or take an active walk through vineyards instead. After lunch, you'll sail through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, spotting hilltop castles and fortresses along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
Optional Activities
- Active Walk to Niederwalddenkmal
Landmarks Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Niederwalddenkmal Rhine Gorge 
- Day 13
Cologne
You'll cruise from Koblenz to Cologne, one of Germany's oldest cities founded by Romans in 50 AD. A walking tour with a local guide takes you through the Old Town past ancient bridges that survived World War II and the UNESCO World Heritage Cologne Cathedral with its twin towers. You'll join a treasure hunt for typical Cologne items, then gather for a farewell dinner with the crew this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Quest for Cologne's treasures
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Cologne Old Town 
- Day 14
Amsterdam
Board a glass-top canal boat to cruise Amsterdam's UNESCO canal system, passing elegant merchant residences from the Dutch Golden Age when Amsterdam was a major trading hub. You'll have free time to explore on your own, or cycle from your Star-Ship to Waterland to see quintessentially Dutch villages and traditional windmills. A private hidden gems tour is available as an option.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canal cruise
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour to Waterland
- Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal System Waterland 
- Day 15
Departure
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to your fellow guests and head to the airport for your transfer, carrying memories of the Rhine Gorge and the Dutch countryside with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
