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Day 1,
Sat. DEPART USA.
Board your overnight flight to Budapest.
Day 2,
Sun. ARRIVE IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.
Time to start exploring Hungary's fascinating capital. Your
luxurious river cruise ship is docked near the city center.
Tonight gather on board for a Welcome Dinner with Gypsy violins.
(D)
Day 3,
Mon. BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA.
During the night, the ship slips away from Budapest and cruises to
Slovakia. A guided morning tour of Bratislava reveals the city’s
major sights. From 13th-century Bratislava Castle, you’ll enjoy
breathtaking views overlooking three countries – Slovakia, Austria
and Hungary. Free afternoon to shop or explore on your own. An
eventful day is followed by an enchanting music performance on
board. (B,L,D)
Day 4,
Tue. VIENNA, AUSTRIA.
Arrive after breakfast for a wonderful day in captivating Vienna.
A guided sightseeing tour includes lavish Hofburg Palace, the
Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Free
afternoon to stroll along Kärntnerstrasse or sample Vienna’s
famous pastries. Tonight why not come along for an optional Mozart
and Strauss concert? (B,L,D)
Day 5,
Wed. DÜRNSTEIN / MELK.
Early this morning reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein and
marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche.
Above town you’ll spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the
Lionheart, the King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. At
lunchtime, continue on a short cruise to Melk. A guided tour takes
you to the town’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey. An evening wine
tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley. (B,L,D)
Day 6,
Thu. LINZ / PASSAU, GERMANY.
After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to
fascinating Salzburg and its Sound of Music sights, or cruise
through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany, where the rivers Inn
and Ilz join the Danube. At dinner time, depart for Regensburg. (B,L,D)
Day 7,
Fri. REGENSBURG / DANUBE GORGE.
Morning arrival in Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved
medieval cities. A tour will show you the city’s architectural
highlights, including the Old Town Hall, and the Porta Pretoria –
gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Later embark on a
boat trip through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey. (B,L,D)
Day 8,
Sat. CONTINENTAL DIVIDE / NUREMBERG.
This morning enter the Main-Danube Canal and cruise through the
Altmuhl Valley. The Main-Danube Canal straddles the Franconian
Alps via 16 locks. After lunch, a short drive brings you to
Nuremberg. Enjoy a guided tour of this historic city with its
fabulous Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. Moor
overnight in Nuremberg. (B,L,D)
Day 9,
Sun. ROTHENBURG EXCURSION.
Take a full day excursion along the Romantic Road to medieval
Rothenburg. Enjoy a traditional German lunch in a local restaurant
before returning to Nuremberg. (B,L,D)
Day 10,
Mon. BAMBERG.
A leisurely morning on board, then arrive in Bamberg. Take a
walking tour of this medieval gem, which was declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1993. There is free time before you
continue your cruise, now on the Main River. (B,L,D)
Day 11,
Tue. WÜRZBURG.
This morning, you might like to attend an interesting lecture on
board or simply relax and watch the scenery glide by. Arrive in
Würzburg, where a tour shows you the main sights, including the
Residential Palace. This evening enjoy a medieval music
performance on board. (B,L,D)
Day 12,
Wed. WERTHEIM / MILTENBERG.
Disembark in Wertheim and browse in the market square and the
shops. A short coach ride takes you to Miltenberg. Enjoy a walking
tour of this old Franconian town, with its narrow cobblestone
streets. (B,L,D)
Day 13,
Thu. RÜDESHEIM / KOBLENZ.
After breakfast, arrive in the unique wine village of Rüdesheim.
Tour the town and visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument
Museum. This afternoon, cruise along the most famous part of the
Rhine River, passing the infamous Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Koblenz
before dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 14,
Fri. COCHEM / ZELL.
After breakfast, visit Reichsburg Castle, situated above Cochem
with spectacular views of the Moselle River. This afternoon,
continue past hilllside vineyards to Zell, home of the famous
"Zeller Schwarze Katz" wine. (B,L,D)
Day 15,
Sat. BERNKASTEL / LUXEMBOURG.
Arrive in Bernkastel and explore this quaint town on a walking
tour. Located in the middle of the Moselle wine-producing region,
Bernkastel boasts over 500 years of documented wine history. Later
continue to Luxembourg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B,L,D)
Day 16,
Sun. LUXEMBOURG / ANTWERP, BELGIUM.
Bid farewell to your cruise ship and head for Antwerp, with its
splendid architecture. (B)
Day 17,
Mon. BRUSSELS EXCURSION.
Travel to Brussels. A guided sightseeing tour features the Rue
Royale with the monument of Congress, the Parliament buildings,
the Royal Palace and the main cathedral of Brussels, Saint
Michael. Continue on foot to admire the Grand’Place with its
baroque guild houses, the Gothic Town Hall and the most famous
inhabitant of the city, Mannekin Pis. After some free time, return
to Anwerp (B)
Day 18,
Tue. BRUGES EXCURSION.
Most of today is dedicated to Bruges, one of Western Europe’s most
perfectly preserved medieval cities. See the Church of our Lady,
the market with its Belfry, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the
City Hall and Groeninge Museum, with its superb selection of early
Flemish paintings by Jan Van Eyck and Hieronymus Bosch. Late
afternoon return to Antwerp (B)
Day 19,
Wed. ANTWERP / DEPART BRUSSELS.
Morning transfer to Brussels airport in time for homebound flights
leaving no earlier than 10 a.m. Extra nights are available if you
wish to extend your stay in Europe. (B)
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