Itinerary
- Day 1
Zurich to Basel
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception)
Landmarks Basel Minster - Day 2
Basel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Basel with market visit - explore Old Town, Basel Minster, boutiques and galleries, then visit famous Basel Christmas markets with handcrafted gifts and mulled wine
- Läckerli baking workshop - learn to craft traditional spiced honey cookies from a local baker under guidance
Landmarks Basel Minster Barfüsserplatz Christmas Market Münsterplatz Christmas Market - Day 3
Strasbourg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Strasbourg including cathedral and Petit France district with free time at Christmas markets
- Alsace Christmas beer brewery visit with tasting of the regional Bière de Noël tradition
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral Petit France Place Kléber - Day 4
Mannheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Heidelberg with free time to explore Old Town, Christmas market, and ice skating rink
- Historical tour of Heidelberg including Heidelberg Castle, courtyard, balcony viewpoint, and the world's largest wine barrel (Heidelberg Tun)
- Private classical concert at Bruchsal Palace with welcome drink and performance by accomplished musicians
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Bruchsal Palace - Day 5
Rüdesheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mini-train ride from pier to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum with over 350 musical instruments from 18th-19th centuries
Landmarks Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - Day 6
Rüdesheim to Cologne
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
- Walking tour of Cologne including Cologne Cathedral and Christmas markets
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Lorelei statue Cologne Cathedral - Day 7
Düsseldorf
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Düsseldorf with local guide
Optional Activities
- Explore Düsseldorf's Christmas markets during free time
Landmarks Konigsallee - Day 8
Amsterdam
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 9
Amsterdam
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Canal cruise - one-hour tour on historical waterways
- Walking tour of Amsterdam including canals, bridges, history, modern lifestyle, Dutch culture, and herring tasting
- Excursion to Schermerhorn and Alkmaar to explore World Heritage-listed windmills dating to 16th century and nearby villages
Landmarks Schermerhorn Alkmaar - Day 10
Cologne
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town including historic buildings and Cologne Cathedral
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 11
Cologne to Rüdesheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
- Mini-train ride to Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum
- Guided visit to Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum with mechanical musical instruments
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Lorelei statue Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum - Day 12
Miltenberg to Wertheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Miltenberg through cobblestone streets with historic half-timbered houses
- Orientation tour of Wertheim
Landmarks Miltenberg Wertheim - Day 13
Cruising Day
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Gourmet Christmas feast)
Included Activities
- Gourmet Christmas feast
- Special Christmas celebrations on board
Landmarks Rhine Gorge - Day 14
Bamberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg World Heritage-listed Old Town including cathedral, Old and New Residences, 'Little Venice', and castle
Landmarks Bamberg Old Town Bamberg Cathedral - Day 15
Nuremberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of the Old Town including Imperial Castle, St. Egidien's Church, and market square
- World War II tour highlighting main events during the Nazi regime and important historical sites
- Nuremberg's Castle and City Walls active walking tour exploring cobblestone streets and medieval fortifications
Landmarks Nuremberg Imperial Castle St. Egidien's Church - Day 16
Regensburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Regensburg walking tour including old stone bridge, Church of St. James, and Porta Praetoria with customs and traditions of the region
- Bavarian beer tasting at traditional breweries sampling Helles lager, Dunkel, and Weissbier
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Old Stone Bridge Church of St. James Porta Praetoria - Day 17
Passau - Schlögen
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Passau Old Town including St. Stephens Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg with guided tour and lunch at local restaurant
- Full day excursion to Český Krumlov with guided tour of World Heritage-listed town and lunch at local restaurant
- Highlights of Passau tour including St. Stephens Cathedral, Veste Oberhaus fortress, and Old Town streets with museums and galleries
Landmarks St. Stephens Cathedral Veste Oberhaus fortress 
- Day 18
Melk to Durnstein
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Wachau Valley
- Tasting of local Wachau Valley delicacies including schnapps, jams, chutney, and chocolate
Optional Activities
- Melk Abbey guided tour including Abbey Church with ceiling frescoes and library with medieval manuscripts
- Wachau valley wine tasting with local vigneron sampling Grüner Veltliner and Riesling with panoramic Danube and terraced vineyard views
- UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience from Melk to Dünstein along the Danube through vineyards and charming villages
Landmarks Melk Abbey Wachau Valley Dünstein 
- Day 19
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Schönbrunn Palace tour including former summer residence of Habsburg family and impressive gardens
- Excursion to Bratislava including Bratislava Castle, Hlavné Námestie main square, and Old Town Hall
- Guided tour of Vienna including coach ride along Ringstrasse and walking tour of historic downtown
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Ringstrasse Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie - Day 20
Vienna to Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exclusive private classical concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace
Landmarks Gödöllő Royal Palace 
- Day 21
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Budapest in Depth tour visiting Buda and Pest with Varkert Bazaar, Margaret Bridge, Széchenyi Square, and Elizabeth Square
- Hospital in the Rock experience exploring WWII secret hospital and nuclear bunker tunnels
- Guided hike of Buda up to World Heritage-listed Buda Hill including Varkert Bazaar, landscaped gardens, and views over Danube and city
Landmarks Buda Hill Margaret Bridge Hospital in the Rock Varkert Bazaar - Day 22
Budapest
