Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
- Day 2
Paris
Included Activities
- Guided bus tour of Paris touching on iconic landmarks including Notre-Dame de Paris and Arc de Triomphe
- Seine River cruise viewing the Eiffel Tower and other sights from the water
Landmarks Notre-Dame de Paris Arc de Triomphe Champs-Élysées Eiffel Tower Seine River - Day 3
Paris
Optional Activities
- Visit to Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa painting
- Explore underground catacombs beneath Paris
- Tastes of Paris guided walking tour - experience Parisian everyday life in Le Marais district, visit Place des Vosges, Hôtel de Sully, Rue des Rosiers, and Jardin des Archives Nationales, with sampling of French pastries and local treats (Moderate activity level, 2.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Louvre Museum Catacombs of Paris Le Marais Place des Vosges Hôtel de Sully Rue des Rosiers Jardin des Archives Nationales - Day 4
Paris to Amsterdam
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner on board Emerald Star-Ship
- Day 5
Amsterdam
Included Activities
- Timeless Dutch countryside excursion - explore authentic villages, see working windmills, and meet locals keeping age-old traditions alive
Optional Activities
- Hidden gems of Amsterdam guided tour - explore the Jordaan area, visit a chocolate shop, tour Our Lord in the Attic (17th-century house with secret preserved Catholic church), enjoy local beer and Dutch snacks at a brewery (Moderate activity level, 2.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Alkmaar Waterland Jordaan Our Lord in the Attic - Day 6
Cologne
Included Activities
- Quest for Cologne's treasures - guided walking tour followed by a treasure hunt using a map to locate unique items specific to the city
Optional Activities
- German beer experience guided tour through Cologne's brewhouses to discover Kölsch beer culture (Moderate activity level, 2 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 7
Rüdesheim
Included Activities
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum - ride the local mini train through narrow city streets to view over 350 automatic mechanical music instruments
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Niederwalddenkmal - hike through vineyards to the 19th-century German unification monument with panoramic views of Rüdesheim and the Rhine
- Eberbach Abbey with wine tasting - tour the 1136-founded Cistercian monastery and sample Riesling wine (Easy activity level, 3.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Lorelei Rock Pfalzgrafenstein Castle Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Niederwalddenkmal Eberbach Abbey - Day 8
Miltenberg - Wertheim
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg - walk cobblestone streets, view the Gothic Merchant Hall, oldest inn in Germany (dating to 1411), Miltenberg Castle, red sandstone church and bridge
Optional Activities
- Visit to Bronnbach Abbey - tour the well-preserved Cistercian monastery in Wertheim featuring Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture
- Active walk to Mildenburg Castle - hike through forest to 12th-century castle now housing contemporary art and old masters (included as EmeraldPLUS activity)
Landmarks Miltenberg Castle Gothic Merchant Hall Bronnbach Abbey Mildenburg Castle - Day 9
Würzburg
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg and visit to the Bishop's Residence - guided tour of this World Heritage-listed Baroque structure showing its restoration from World War II damage
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg - explore Germany's best-preserved medieval town, walk medieval walls, climb Town Hall Tower for panoramic views, visit Gothic churches and museums, enjoy local sausage tasting (Moderate activity level, 6.5 hours, extra expense, operates at same time as included tour)
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg 
- Day 10
Bamberg
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg - explore the city with local guide, visit the New Residence (former prince-bishop residence housing German and Baroque paintings), stroll through the Rose Garden
Landmarks Bamberg New Residence Bamberg Rose Garden - Day 11
Nuremberg
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg - sightseeing tour of historic city including architectural wonders and effects of the war years, followed by leisure time to explore reconstructed half-timbered houses
Optional Activities
- World War II tour - explore Nazi history including Nazi Rally grounds, panoramic city drive, and Courtroom 600 where War Crimes trials were held (Easy activity level, 4 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Courtroom 600 - Day 12
Regensburg
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Regensburg - walk through World Heritage-listed Old Town with guide, explore romantic narrow alleys, visit 13th-century Town Hall, see the 12th-century Stone Bridge crossing the Danube, followed by leisure time
Optional Activities
- Bavarian band performance on board - special performance of traditional music by Bavarian band in Lederhosen (included as EmeraldPLUS activity)
- Sausage-making workshop - learn to produce Regensburg white breakfast sausages from a family butchery expert, from recipe to natural casings (Easy activity level, 2 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Stone Bridge Regensburg Town Hall - Day 13
Passau - Linz
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Passau - stroll through streets lined by Baroque buildings from 17th century, view Gothic Town Hall, Bishop's Residence, and St. Stephen's Cathedral with Europe's largest church organ
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg - full day exploring Mozart's birthplace and Sound of Music setting, wandering historic downtown, shopping at Linzer Gasse, visiting Mozart's home (Easy activity level, 10 hours, extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov - explore World Heritage-listed medieval Czech town's Renaissance and Baroque architecture on cobblestone streets with local guide through Old Town (Difficult/Active activity level, 8.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Passau Salzburg Český Krumlov - Day 14
Melk - Dürnstein
Included Activities
- Tour of Melk Abbey - explore opulent rooms with Italian Baroque architecture and gold leaf walls, visit the ancient monastic library with medieval manuscripts
Optional Activities
- Guided e-bike tour along the Danube - e-bike ride from Melk to Dürnstein passing vineyards and quaint towns, 30km route with picnic and refreshing drink break (EmeraldACTIVE included activity)
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle - challenging hike to where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned after the Crusades, with panoramic river and countryside views from the peak (EmeraldACTIVE included activity)
Landmarks Melk Abbey Dürnstein Castle Wachau Valley - Day 15
Vienna
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna - explore Ringstrasse and city centre by coach and on foot or join guided e-bike tour, marvel at Renaissance Opera House arches, Baroque Burgtheater, Flemish Gothic Parliament, see Liberty Statue and Heroes' Square, Buda Castle district, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion
Optional Activities
- Guided e-bike tour of Vienna to Danube Island - explore why Vienna is world's most liveable city with personal stories from guide, visit places off the beaten track and discover authentic Vienna (included as EmeraldACTIVE activity)
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace - tour former Habsburg summer residence, World Heritage baroque palace with historic grounds and splendid furnishings (Easy activity level, 5 hours, extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert - exclusive concert at a beautiful concert hall featuring Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Schubert, including 'Blue Danube Waltz' and Radetzky March, with complimentary glass of sparkling wine (Easy activity level, 2.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Vienna Opera House Burgtheater Austrian Parliament Liberty Statue Heroes' Square Buda Castle district Matthias Church Fisherman's Bastion Schönbrunn Palace - Day 16
Bratislava
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava - sightseeing tour of enchanting Old City, pass botanical gardens of Episcopal Summer Palace, Old Town Hall with Renaissance courtyard, Slovak National Theatre with composer busts, followed by leisure time
Optional Activities
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family - visit local family home to learn about Slovak culture, history, traditions, and daily life (included as EmeraldPLUS activity)
- Guided hike to Bratislava Castle - active excursion from port passing Slovak National Theatre and riverside promenade, see Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral, climb hill to castle for panoramic views, visit St Michael's Gate and main square (included as EmeraldACTIVE activity)
- Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava - insightful tour in Skoda car learning about Communist era through personal guide stories and local refreshments from that time period (Easy activity level, 2 hours, extra expense)
- Carpathian wine route - explore Small Carpathian Wine Route towns including Vinosady vineyard and family winery in Senkvice, learn winemaking heritage and sample local wines in historic wine cellar (Moderate activity level, 4 hours 40 minutes, extra expense)
Landmarks Bratislava Old City Episcopal Summer Palace Old Town Hall Slovak National Theatre Bratislava Castle St. Martin's Cathedral St Michael's Gate - Day 17
Budapest
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest - explore World Heritage-listed centre, travel through chapters of architecture from Romanesque to Baroque and classical facades, see Liberty Statue and Heroes' Square, visit Buda Castle district, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion on walking tour
Optional Activities
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board - Hungarian folk dancing and music performance (included as EmeraldPLUS activity)
- Hike to Gellert Hill - beautiful walk up World Heritage site with stunning Danube River and city architecture views, pass Várkert Bazaar and landscaped gardens (included as EmeraldACTIVE activity)
- Excursion to Szentendre - visit picturesque village with Mediterranean atmosphere, guided walking tour of Baroque architecture, colourful houses, churches, and art galleries in pedestrian city centre and main square Fő Tér (Moderate activity level, 4 hours, extra expense)
- Jewish heritage tour - guided tour exploring significant Jewish events and culture in Budapest, see buildings from pre-World War II flourishing Jewish trade, visit 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial (extra expense)
Landmarks Chain Bridge Liberty Statue Heroes' Square Buda Castle district Matthias Church Fisherman's Bastion Gellért Hill Várkert Bazaar Szentendre Shoes on the Danube Bank 
- Day 18
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast
