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Day 1,
Sat. DEPART USA.
Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam, Holland.
Day 2,
Sun. ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND.
Arrive in charming Amsterdam. Your luxurious river cruise ship is
moored near the city center. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at
the Welcome Cocktail Reception. Following dinner, relax in the
lounge, stroll along the deck or walk back into town to take in
Amsterdam’s nightlife. (D)
Day 3,
Mon. AMSTERDAM.
Fitness enthusiasts can opt for an early morning stroll into the
city, exercise on the large Sun Deck or work out in the ship’s
gym. After breakfast, admire the architecture of the city on a
guided canal boat tour. Sail in the glass-top boat past beautiful
17th century homes, charming churches and 16th century merchant
houses. Free time before departing Amsterdam around lunch. Enjoy
an afternoon information briefing as you cruise towards Germany.
Tonight you’ll be a guest at the Captain’s Gala Welcome Dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 4,
Tue. COLOGNE, GERMANY / KOBLENZ.
Arrive in Cologne for a morning walking tour through the old part
of the city. At lunchtime, continue to 2,000-year old Koblenz,
located at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle Rivers.
Perhaps take an after dinner walk through this charming town, set
in one of Germany’s most important wine regions. (B,L,D)
Day 5,
Wed. RÜDESHEIM.
Today, sail through the Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of
the river. See the legendary Lorelei Rock, where sweet songs of
local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Arrive in
Rüdesheim, the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. Here,
a mini-train picks you up and takes you to fascinating Siegfried’s
Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum for a tour. During dinner,
bid farewell to the Rhine and enter the Main River. Tonight’s Crew
Show will conclude a great day of cruising. (B,L,D)
Day 6,
Thu. MILTENBERG / WERTHEIM.
Arrive in Miltenberg and disembark for a morning walking tour of
this delightful old Franconian town, revealing narrow cobblestone
streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. Shop for souvenirs
before traveling to charming Wertheim, where you can browse
leisurely in the market square before re-boarding the ship. Relax
while you cruise through the sunny valleys of the meandering Main.
(B,L,D)
Day 7,
Fri. WÜRZBURG.
After a morning filled with beautiful Main River scenery, you’ll
be romanced by Würzburg. Surrounded by sloping hills covered with
vineyards, the city is the capital of Lower Franconia, a center of
wine and trade. During your tour, see the major sights including
the magnificent Residential Palace. Your afternoon cruise takes
you past charming Volkach and through the Franconian wine region.
After dinner, join your fellow travelers in the lounge to listen
to a medieval music performance. Cruise overnight to Bamberg. (B,L,D)
Day 8,
Sat. BAMBERG.
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal at enchanting Bamberg,
which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Disembark
for a guided tour of this medieval gem, with its uniquely intact
townscape. Marvel at the Old Town Hall, which straddles the river,
and the city’s serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th
century mansions. From here, travel through the picturesque
countryside to rejoin your ship. Continue along the Main-Danube
Canal to ancient Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. (B,L,D)
Day 9,
Sun. NUREMBERG / CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its
fabulous Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. See the
storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the
Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes
Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunchtime, continue to transit the
Main-Danube Canal as you arrive at the highest point of your
cruise – 1,332 feet above sea level – before descending through
stair-step locks. (B,L,D)
Day 10,
Mon. DANUBE GORGE / REGENSBURG.
This morning takes you through the final stretch of the
Main-Danube Canal. Arrive in Kelheim and embark on an exciting
boat trip through the lovely Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey.
Return to your ship in magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany’s
best preserved medieval cities. A guided 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. (B,L,D)
Day 11,
Tue. PASSAU / LINZ, AUSTRIA.
Early this morning the ship takes you through scenic valleys and
past charming riverside towns. After breakfast, arrive in
picturesque Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube.
During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy-tale city founded
more than 2,000 years ago. Or, take an optional full day tour to
Salzburg and its most popular Sound of Music sights including the
Wedding Church, exquisite Mirabell Gardens, the Great Salzburg
Festival Hall and much more. For those staying on board, enjoy a
scenic cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz. After
dinner, take a walk through this delightful town, Austria’s third
largest
city and a major river port. (B,L,D)
Day 12,
Wed. MELK / DÜRNSTEIN.
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley
this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent
Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries.
From here, continue on a short cruise to Dürnstein. Marvel at the
blue Baroque Stiftskirche. Above town you’ll spot the ruins of the
castle where Richard the Lionheart, the King of England, was
imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through cobblestone streets
reveals quaint 16th century town houses and taverns. Continue
through the lovely Wachau Valley, dotted with castles and little
riverside towns. Tonight, dress up for the Captain’s Dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 13,
Thu. VIENNA.
A wonderful day to savor the baroque elegance of Vienna. A guided
sightseeing tour includes Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House,
Ringstrasse and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Enjoy a free afternoon to
stroll along the main shopping street, Kärntnerstrasse, or sample
some of Vienna’s famous pastries. Tonight explore the vibrant
Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart
and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)
Day 14,
Fri. BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA.
A morning tour of Bratislava reveals the city’s major sights,
including the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and Gothic St.
Martin’s Cathedral. From 13th century Bratislava Castle, you will
enjoy breathtaking views overlooking three countries – Slovakia,
Austria and Hungary. Free
afternoon to shop or explore on your own followed by an evening
music performance on board. (B,L,D)
Day 15,
Sat. BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.
Morning sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, where you have
a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over
both banks of the River. Your tour also features 500-year old
Matthias Church, St. Stephen’s Basilica, distinctive Fisherman’s
Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. Your afternoon
is free. Tonight enjoy a Gala Farewell Dinner with Gypsy
violinists. (B,L,D)
Day 16,
Sun. DEPART BUDAPEST.
Your cruise comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for
your onward flight. Extra nights are available if you wish to
extend your stay in Europe. (B)
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