DAY 1, DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Hungary.
DAY 2, ARRIVE IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or begin exploring this beautiful city.
DAY 3, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Your morning sightseeing tour includes historic Buda Castle, and also features 500-year-old Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. The balance of the day is at your leisure. (B)
DAY 4, BUDAPEST - EMBARKATION
Enjoy a free morning in Budapest or join an optional Puszta excursion. This afternoon transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship docked in the center of the city; tonight, gather onboard for a Gala Welcome Dinner. The ship sets sail after midnight for Slovakia. (B,D)
DAY 5, BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA
A guided morning tour of Bratislava reveals the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace and the Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. The afternoon is free to shop or explore on your own. Perhaps, visit the 13th-century Bratislava Castle where you'll enjoy breathtaking views overlooking three countries - Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. An eventful day is followed by an evening filled with an enchanting music performance onboard. After midnight the ship departs for Vienna. (B,L,D)
DAY 6, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Savour the baroque elegance of romantic Vienna during your guided sightseeing tour, including the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral and visit to the National Library. The afternoon is free to stroll along the Kärtnerstrasse or sample Vienna's famous pastries. Tonight, explore the vibrant capital on your own or join an optional evening Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 7, DÜRNSTEIN - MELK
Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein and marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche. Above the town, you'll spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Enjoy your lunch cruising to Melk, followed by a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries. An evening wine tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley. (B,L,D)
DAY 8, LINZ - PASSAU, GERMANY
After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to fascinating Salzburg and the Sound of Music sights, or cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Your city tour takes you on an exploration of this fairytale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)
DAY 9, REGENSBURG
At lunchtime, arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. During your guided tour, see the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall, and the Porta Pretoria - gates to a Roman fort built in 179 AD. (B,L,D)
DAY 10, NUREMBERG
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmühl Valley. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. Moor overnight in Nuremberg. (B,L,D)
DAY 11, NUREMBERG- MUNICH
Take the train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, often given the nickname "Germany's secret capital” for some free time. Your escort today will offer suggestions of to what to do while you are there and take you to lunch in the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Tonight, you will meet fellow travelers embarking from Prague (B,L,D)
DAY 12, BAMBERG
Enjoy your breakfast as you cruise along and marvel at the engineering feat of the Main-Danube canal which straddles the Franconian Alps via 16 locks. Then arrive in Bamberg and enjoy 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 13, WÜRZBURG
This morning arrive in Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. "The Pearl of the Romantic Road" is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. During your tour, see the major sights including the magnificent Residential Palace. This afternoon explore Würzburg on your own, or take an optional tour to Medieval Rothenburg. A beautiful walled city situated on the Romantic Road. (B,L,D)
DAY 14, WERTHEIM - MILTENBERG
Arrive in Wertheim after breakfast to enjoy some free time browsing the market square and the shops. Then cruise to Miltenberg for a guided walking tour along narrow, cobble-stoned streets, seeing the gabled, half-timbered houses. Tonight, the ship sails leaving Bavaria, Franconia and the Main River behind. (B,L,D)
DAY 15, MAINZ - HEIDELBERG - RÜDESHEIM - KOBLENZ
Today, choose between a city tour in Mainz or an excursion to Heidelberg. If you decide to travel by coach to Heidelberg, you will visit the red-walled Castle, see the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. Take a walking tour of old Heidelberg with free time for lunch on your own, then drive to Rüdesheim to rejoin your ship. If you choose to stay in Mainz, enjoy a walking tour of charming Mainz, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, before cruising on the Main and Rhine rivers to the wine village of Rüdesheim. Enjoy a tour of Rüdesheim by mini-train and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Late this afternoon, everyone will cruise the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine River and arrive in Koblenz after dinner. (B,L,D)
DAY 16, COCHEM - ZELL
After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit of Reichsburg Castle, situated above Cochem with spectacular views of the River Mosel. This afternoon continue past hillside vineyards to Zell, home of the famous "Zeller Schwarze Katz" wine. A surprising wine fest awaits you this evening. (B,L,D)
DAY 17, BERNKASTEL - TRIER
Arrive in Bernkastel early this morning and explore this quaint little town on your included walking tour. Strategically located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts over 500 years of documented wine history. Then cruise on to Trier, Germany's oldest city, for a guided tour of the city's rich Roman past, including the Roman Baths and the Roman Amphitheater. (B,L,D)
DAY 18, TRIER, DISEMBARK - LUXEMBOURG - PARIS, FRANCE
This morning, bid farewell to your cruise ship and head to Luxembourg for a city tour of the Grand Duchy and some free time. After lunch, continue on to Paris. (B)
DAY 19, PARIS
Enjoy Paris’ famous sights during this morning's guided tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the Louvre Museum, the commemorative l’Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Les Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the many museums, galleries and other attractions that the city has to offer. (B)
DAY 20, PARIS
Enjoy a free day to explore the most romantic city in the world. Gaze at impressionist masterpieces at the Musée D'Orsay, or visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair. Paris at night sparkles with possibilities for every taste. (B)
DAY 21, PARIS
Your European vacation comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B) |
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