Grand European Tour (Amsterdam to Budapest)
Speak to a friendly River Cruise Specialist, call 1-800-342-0019
Dates & Prices
Only with AffordableTours.com, receive low prices. Call or submit a quote to receive our lowest price. These deals sell out fast and prices on all our cruise specials can only be guaranteed once deposit has been made, so hurry now!
| Start Date | End Date | Cat1 | Cat2 | Cat3 | Cat4 | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 22, 2009 | Sun, Dec 06, 2009 | $5899 | $5299 | $5099 | $4199 | Quote |
Questions? call 1-800-342-0019
Itinerary
Imagine 15 magical days along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. From Holland’s windmill-studded tulip fields to Germany’s fairy-tale castles, from the engineering marvel of the Main-Danube Canal to the picturesque vineyards of Austria’s Wachau Valley, this epic voyage presents the highlights of Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Savor a decadent Sachertorte in a Viennese café and panoramic views of imperial Budapest—and along the way, discover the legend of the Lorelei, the ancient art of glassblowing, the music of Mozart and more.
Day 1 Amsterdam Arrive in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. We meet you at the airport and transfer you to your ship.* After boarding, the afternoon is yours to explore the city on your own—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented.
Day 2 Amsterdam
This morning, get a city overview with a canal boat cruise past merchant houses and the Old Harbor, dating back to Holland’s Golden Age. Continue with a visit to the world-famous Van Gogh Museum, featuring works by the noted artist and his contemporaries. Return to your ship for lunch and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Cologne
Enjoy scenic cruising along the legendary Rhine. After lunch, tour Cologne and visit the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, sample Kölsch, Cologne’s signature beer. Enjoy free time and dinner aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Koblenz and Rüdesheim
Cruise past hilltop castles along the Rhine, stopping to visit Marksburg, the only Rhine castle never destroyed. Arrive in Rüdesheim late this afternoon. Free time, or take an optional minitrain ride to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum. The evening is free to explore Rüdesheim’s famed Drosselgasse, a pedestrian-only street lined with pubs, restaurants and wine shops. Dine aboard or stay in town to experience local nightlife. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Mainz
After breakfast, take a walking tour of Mainz and visit the Gutenberg Museum, chronicling the history of printing and featuring two of Johannes Gutenberg’s original Bibles. Enjoy free time followed by lunch aboard. Sail through the night to Wertheim. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Wertheim
During your morning walking tour, experience life in a typical small German town. Stop in a bakery and a butcher shop, and learn about Wertheim’s glassblowing tradition. Enjoy free time to explore before returning to your ship for lunch and an afternoon glassblowing demonstration. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Würzburg and Rothenburg
Tour Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, travel along Germany’s “Romantic Road” to Rothenburg. Set on a cliff above the Tauber River, Rothenberg features a turreted city wall and lovely Gothic and baroque architecture. Return to your ship for dinner and evening cruising. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Nuremberg
After lunch aboard, dock in Nuremberg. Visit the ruins of Zeppelin Field, used in the 1930s as Nazi parade grounds, and see the Palace of Justice, site of the famous Nuremberg Trials. Return to the romantic Old Town area; see Elizabeth and St. James Church. Then walk down past the Albrecht Dürer House and Main Market Square. Or, join an optional World War II history tour including the Documentation Center Museum. Enjoy free time; depart just before dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg after lunch and tour this wonderfully preserved city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover many 13th- and 14th-century patrician houses and tour St. Peter’s Cathedral. During free time, visit the Alte Wurstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen), Germany’s oldest restaurant. Cruise through dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Passau and Linz
On this morning’s walking tour, see Passau’s narrow streets and Italianate architecture, and pass the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century fortress that served for centuries as a bishop’s stronghold. Then, listen to a concert on Europe’s largest pipe organ in St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Cruise through the scenic Schlögener Schlinge toward Linz, arriving during dinner. Tonight, explore on your own. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Melk and Dürnstein
After lunch, visit the abbey at Melk, a 900-year-old Benedictine monastery featuring Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture. Rejoin your ship; cruise through dinner. You then have free time to explore Dürnstein. You can see Kuenringer Castle, or sample some local vintages from this famous wine-producing region. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Vienna
Ride along Vienna’s Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century, and visit one of the city’s spectacular baroque palaces. You will also see Vienna’s world-famous Opera House, St. Stephan’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Return to your ship for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to further explore—as always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. After dinner, enjoy an optional classical concert. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Bratislava
Arrive early and embark on a walking tour of the Slovak Republic’s charming capital to see attractions like the medieval fortifications at Michael’s Tower, baroque Trinity Church and Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. You also pass by several baroque palaces from the Habsburg Dynasty before you return to your ship for an afternoon of scenic cruising. Late tonight, arrive in Budapest. (B, L, D)
Day 14 Budapest
The Danube River divides this Hungarian capital city into “Buda” and “Pest.” Explore both parts, starting with Pest’s National Opera House and historic Heroes’ Square. In Buda, stroll Fishermen’s Hill to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Enjoy lunch aboard with the rest of the day to explore on your own. Return to your ship for a traditional Hungarian farewell dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Budapest
After breakfast, disembark and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 3 nights in Prague, Czech Republic, where you tour Old Town landmarks and Prague Castle. (B)
Questions? call 1-800-342-0019
What's Included
- 15-day cruises and river-view stateroom
- 14 guided tours
- All meals: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 14 dinners, including Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner and Captain's Farewell Dinner
- Old World Highlights: Glassblowing demostration, apple strudel workshop, folkloric entertainment
- Culture Curriculum: The European Union, Great Canals and Locks, Life and Works of Mozart, Viking in Europe, The Dutch Masters
- All port and cruise fuel surcharges
Pricing Categories for Itinerary is as follows:
| Cabin 1 | Category - A |
| Cabin 2 | Category - B |
| Cabin 3 | Category - C |
| Cabin 4 | Category - E |
Other category options are available upon request.
Questions? call 1-800-342-0019
1-800-342-0019
1-281-269-2600
Mon-Fri 8am-10pm ET
Sat-Sun 10am-6pm ET
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