Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
Included Activities
- Airport transfer to Emerald Star-Ship
Landmarks Amsterdam Airport 
- Day 2
Amsterdam
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Festive Amsterdam Christmas markets
Optional Activities
- Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam - Jordaan area with local guide, visit to Our Lord in the Attic (17th-century house with secret Catholic church), local brewery visit with beer and Dutch snacks (Moderate activity level, 2.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Museumplein Ice Village Funky Xmas Market Westergas Jordaan Our Lord in the Attic - Day 3
Cologne
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Quest for Cologne's treasures - self-paced treasure hunt with guided assistance at checkpoints
Optional Activities
- German beer experience - guided tour through Cologne's legendary brewhouses, including Kölsch beer tasting (Easy activity level, 2 hours, extra expense)
- Christmas traditions in Europe lecture on board
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Rhine River 
- Day 4
Rüdesheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum via Winzerexpress train
Optional Activities
- Eberbach Abbey with wine tasting - Founded 1136, medieval monastery in Rheingau Region with largest medieval vineyard in country, includes Riesling wine tasting (Easy activity level, 3.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Eberbach Abbey - Day 5
Miltenberg - Wertheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Miltenberg - cobblestone streets, Gothic Merchant Hall, oldest inn in Germany (dating to 1411), Miltenberg Castle, red sandstone church and bridge
Optional Activities
- Bronnbach Abbey with concert and tasting - Cistercian monastery in nearby Wertheim with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture, cloisters, private concert and wine tasting
Landmarks Miltenberg Castle Miltenberg Gothic Merchant Hall Miltenberg red sandstone church and bridge Bronnbach Abbey 
- Day 6
Würzburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Würzburg
- Visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Würzburg Residence with guided tour
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg - best-preserved medieval town in Germany decorated for Christmas, walk medieval walls, climb Town Hall Tower for panoramic views, visit Gothic churches, museums, art exhibitions and historic restaurants with local sausage tasting (Moderate activity level, 6.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Day 7
Bamberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg - New Residence (former prince bishops' home with German and Baroque paintings from Bavarian State collection), Rose Garden stroll
Landmarks Bamberg New Residence Bamberg Rose Garden - Day 8
Nuremberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg - sightseeing tour including architectural wonders, war history effects, half-timbered houses
Landmarks Nuremberg Castle Nuremberg City Centre - Day 9
Regensburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Regensburg - UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, 13th-century Town Hall, 12th-century Stone Bridge
- Visit to Christmas market in Thurn and Taxis Palace grounds with glühwein voucher
Optional Activities
- Traditional Bavarian band performance on board - Horizon Bar & Lounge concert with traditional music and authentic Lederhosen
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Stone Bridge Town Hall Thurn and Taxis Palace - Day 10
Passau - Linz
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Passau - Baroque buildings (17th century), Gothic Town Hall, Bishop's Residence, St. Stephen's Cathedral with largest church organ in Europe
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg - birthplace of Mozart, setting of The Sound of Music, surrounded by breathtaking Alps, includes historic downtown district, Linzer Gasse shopping street, Mozart's home visit (Easy activity level, 10 hours, extra expense)
- Excursion to Český Krumlov - UNESCO World Heritage medieval town in South Bohemia with Renaissance and Baroque architecture, cobblestone streets, old townhouses, historic buildings, guided tour through Old Town (Difficult/Active activity level, 8.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral Passau Castle Salzburg Český Krumlov Old Town - Day 11
Melk - Dürnstein
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Melk Abbey - opulent rooms with Italian Baroque architecture, ornate gold leaf walls, ancient monastic library with medieval manuscripts
Landmarks Melk Abbey Dürnstein - Day 12
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna - Ringstrasse and city centre by coach and on foot (or guided bike tour option), Renaissance-style Opera House arches, Baroque Burgtheater, Flemish Gothic Parliament
Optional Activities
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace - former summer residence of Habsburg Empire, UNESCO World Heritage site, local expert tour with stories of former residents (Easy activity level, 5 hours, extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert - Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Schubert music at one of Vienna's beautiful concert halls, includes complimentary sparkling wine on arrival (Easy activity level, 2.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Vienna State Opera House Burgtheater Parliament of Austria Schönbrunn Palace - Day 13
Bratislava
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bratislava - Old City sightseeing, botanical gardens of Episcopal Summer Palace, Old Town Hall with Renaissance courtyard, Slovak National Theatre
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a local Slovakian family
Optional Activities
- Explore viticultural towns of Small Carpathian Wine Route - vineyards of Vinosady, family-run winery in Senkvice, heritage of winemaking, local wine tasting in historic wine cellar (Moderate activity level, 4 hours 40 minutes, extra expense)
Landmarks Bratislava Old Town Hall Slovak National Theatre Episcopal Summer Palace Bratislava Castle - Day 14
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Hungarian dinner with Hungarian folklore show)
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Budapest - World Heritage-listed centre, Romanesque to Baroque to classical architecture, Liberty Statue, Heroes' Square, Buda Castle district, Matthias Church, Fisherman's Bastion walking tour
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board - traditional Hungarian dinner and Hungarian folk dancing and music performance
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Szentendre - picturesque village with Mediterranean atmosphere inspiring artists, walking tour through pedestrian city centre, Baroque architecture, churches, colourful houses, narrow cobbled streets, Fo Tér main square with art galleries, museums and shops (Moderate activity level, 4 hours, extra expense)
- Jewish heritage tour - guided tour of significant Jewish events shaping Budapest's culture, buildings from flourishing pre-WWII Jewish trade, 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial in Pest (Moderate activity level, 4 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Chain Bridge Buda Castle Matthias Church Fisherman's Bastion Heroes' Square Liberty Statue Shoes on the Danube Bank Szentendre - Day 15
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport transfer from Emerald Star-Ship
Landmarks Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
