Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Amsterdam
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Festive Amsterdam - Amsterdam's Christmas markets featuring festive lights, cosy stalls, Dutch winter charm, handmade gifts, mulled wine, and live music
Optional Activities
- Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam - Explore the historic Jordaan area with a local guide, visit a charming chocolate shop, discover Our Lord in the Attic (17th-century house with secret Catholic church in attic), enjoy local beer and traditional Dutch snacks at a cosy brewery (Moderate activity level, 2.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Museumplein's Ice Village Funky Xmas Market in 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 through Cologne using a provided map to find unique local treasures with guides available at checkpoints for assistance
Optional Activities
- German beer experience - Guided tour through Cologne's legendary brewhouses to discover Kölsch beer culture, tasting the crisp golden beer brewed only in this region (Easy activity level, 2 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Cologne Christmas Market 
- Day 4
Rüdesheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum - Take the Winzerexpress train through Rüdesheim's narrow streets to visit the museum featuring over 350 automatic mechanical music instruments ranging from tiny music boxes to giant Concert-Piano-Orchestrions
Optional Activities
- Eberbach Abbey with wine tasting - Visit the medieval Cistercian monastery founded in 1136, featuring the largest medieval vineyard in Germany, with Riesling wine tasting experience (Easy activity level, 3.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum Eberbach Abbey Christmas Market of Nations - Day 5
Miltenberg - Wertheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A guided tour of Miltenberg - Stroll down cobblestone streets lined with colourful houses, view the Gothic Merchant Hall, see the oldest inn in Germany dating to 1411, Miltenberg Castle, and the unique red sandstone church and bridge
Optional Activities
- Bronnbach Abbey with concert and tasting - Experience the well-preserved Cistercian monastery in nearby Wertheim, featuring stunning Romanesque and Gothic architecture, peaceful cloisters, and impressive Baroque interiors, with a private concert and wine tasting (EmeraldPLUS)
Landmarks Miltenberg Castle Gothic Merchant Hall Bronnbach Abbey 
- Day 6
Würzburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A walking tour of Würzburg and visit to the Bishops Residence - Guided tour of the World Heritage-listed Würzburg Residence featuring Viennese Baroque and Italian secular architecture styles, including restoration details from post-World War II period
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Rothenburg - Explore the best-preserved medieval town in Germany with a local guide, walk the medieval walls, climb the Town Hall Tower for panoramic views, visit Gothic churches and museums, and enjoy a special tasting of local sausages in a historic restaurant (Moderate activity level, 6.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Würzburg Christmas Market Rothenburg Rothenburg Town Hall Tower - Day 7
Bamberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A guided tour of Bamberg - Explore the city with your local guide, marvel at the opulent New Residence (former prince bishops' home with old German and Baroque paintings from the Bavarian State collection), and enjoy a tranquil stroll around the Rose Garden
Landmarks Bamberg New Residence Bamberg Rose Garden Bamberg Christmas Markets - Day 8
Nuremberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A guided tour of Nuremberg - Sightseeing tour of this historic city including architectural wonders that inspired famous artists, exploration of World War II effects, and time to explore at leisure passing beautifully reconstructed half-timbered houses
Landmarks Nuremberg Christmas Market - Day 9
Regensburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A guided tour of Regensburg - Walking tour through the highlights of Regensburg including the World Heritage-listed Old Town, 13th-century Town Hall, and the 12th-century Stone Bridge crossing the Danube, with time to explore at leisure
Optional Activities
- A visit to the Christmas market in the Thurn and Taxis Palace grounds - Walk to the castle grounds with a guide to learn about its historical importance and the family who lived there for centuries, explore the Christmas market independently, and receive a voucher for complimentary glühwein (EmeraldPLUS)
- A traditional Bavarian band on board - Special performance of traditional music by a Bavarian band in authentic Lederhosen at the Horizon Bar & Lounge (EmeraldPLUS)
Landmarks Regensburg Old Town Stone Bridge Town Hall Thurn and Taxis Palace - Day 10
Passau - Linz
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A guided tour of Passau - Walking tour through streets lined with Baroque buildings from the 17th century, viewing the Gothic Town Hall, Bishop's Residence, and St. Stephen's Cathedral featuring Baroque architecture and Europe's largest church organ
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Salzburg - Full day exploration of Mozart's birthplace with visits to the historic downtown district, Linzer Gasse shopping street, and Mozart's home, surrounded by breathtaking Alpine scenery (Easy activity level, 10 hours, extra expense)
- Excursion to Ceský Krumlov - Visit the UNESCO World Heritage medieval town in Czech South Bohemia with expert local guide through cobblestone streets of the fairytale-like Old Town, past old townhouses, hideaway bars, and centuries-old buildings (Difficult/Active activity level, 8.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Passau St. Stephen's Cathedral Salzburg Ceský Krumlov - Day 11
Melk - Dürnstein
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A tour of Melk Abbey - Guided exploration through opulent rooms adorned with finest Italian Baroque architecture and ornate gold leaf walls, including the ancient monastic library renowned for its extensive medieval manuscript collection
Landmarks Melk Abbey Melk - Day 12
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A guided tour of Vienna - Explore famous sights of the Ringstrasse and Vienna's city centre by coach and on foot (or guided bike tour option), marvel at Renaissance-style arches of the Opera House, Baroque Burgtheater, Flemish Gothic Parliament, with leisure time to explore and sample hot chocolate and baked goods at Christmas markets
Optional Activities
- Visit to Schönbrunn Palace - Tour the former summer residence of the Habsburg Empire and World Heritage site, featuring historic Baroque architecture, unique grounds, and splendid furnishings, with local expert guide sharing tales of former residents (Easy activity level, 5 hours, extra expense)
- Viennese evening concert - Exclusive evening concert at one of Vienna's beautiful concert halls featuring Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Schubert repertoire including 'Blue Danube Waltz' and 'Radetzky March', with complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival (Easy activity level, 2.5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Vienna State Opera House Burgtheater Parliament Schönbrunn Palace - Day 13
Bratislava
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- A walking tour of Bratislava - Sightseeing tour of the enchanting Old City including the botanical gardens of the Episcopal Summer Palace, Old Town Hall with Renaissance courtyard, and Slovak National Theatre with composer busts on the facade, followed by free time to explore at leisure
Optional Activities
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a local Slovakian family - Be invited into a local family home to learn about their culture, history, traditions, and daily life over coffee and cake (EmeraldPLUS)
- Small Carpathian Wine Route excursion - Explore viticultural towns including Vinosady vineyards and a family-run winery in Senkvice, learn about the proud heritage of winemaking, and sample local wines in a 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 Small Carpathian Wine Route - Day 14
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Hungarian dinner with Hungarian folk dancing and music performance on board)
Included Activities
- A guided coach tour of Budapest - Guided tour exploring the World Heritage-listed city centre with architecture from Romanesque to Baroque and classical styles, viewing Liberty Statue, Heroes' Square, and Buda Castle district, followed by walking tour showcasing Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, with time to explore the Christmas market
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Szentendre - Visit the picturesque village with Mediterranean atmosphere that inspired many artists, walking tour through pedestrian city centre admiring Baroque architecture, colourful houses, churches, and narrow cobbled streets, with art galleries, museums and shops lining the main square Fo Tér and surrounding alleyways (Moderate activity level, 4 hours, extra expense)
- Jewish heritage tour - Thoughtful guided tour introducing significant Jewish events that shaped Budapest's culture, viewing buildings important to pre-World War II Jewish trade, and seeing the 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial in Pest (Moderate activity level, 4 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Buda Castle Chain Bridge Matthias Church Fisherman's Bastion Liberty Statue Heroes' Square Szentendre Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial - Day 15
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast
