Day 1: Depart home gateway city to Paris
Day 2: Paris
Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport where you'll be transferred to the hotel.
Day 3: Paris
We begin our city tour with a drive up the grand boulevard Champs Élysèes, passing the Arc de Triomphe. We'll stop for a photo opportunity at the Eiffel Tower before continuing to Place Vendôme, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter. We'll then go to Les Invalides, the Louvre courtyard, and Luxembourg Gardens, where we will see a slice of daily Parisian life as well as view Bartholdi's model for the Statue of Liberty. (BB)
Featured Excursion: Paris city tour
Day 4: Paris, transfer to Trier (embark)
Travel by motorcoach from Paris, France to Trier, Germany where you'll board the ship. Your afternoon tour of Germany's oldest city, also called the second Rome, showcases the impressive Roman gate Porta Nigra, and Emperor Constantine's throne room, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (BB, D)
Featured Excursion: Trier city tour
Day 5: Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach
Discover Bernkastel's 500-plus years of winemaking history with its historic vineyards and delightful market squares. After a scenic cruise past the Moselle region's vine-filled slopes and picturesque villages, discover the romantic twin town of Traben-Trarbach, where treasures of Art Nouveau architecture pay tribute to the wealthy 19th-century wine merchants. Afterward, savor delectable Riesling wines from local vineyards. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Bernkastel walking tour, Traben-Trarbach walking tour and wine experience
Day 6: Koblenz, cruising the romantic Rhine, Rüdesheim
Amble through Koblenz's picturesque streets while your local expert explains the town's history and importance in the region. Later in the day, cruise along the UNESCO World Heritage-designated romantic Rhine with its more than 40 castles and famous Lorelei Rock. Enjoy leisure time in Ru-desheim, a celebrated wine town, during the evening. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour
Day 7: Frankfurt
Your tour of dynamic Frankfurt takes you through the financial hub withits imposing skyline and past Old Town, Goethe University, and theBotanical Gardens. Then you'll explore the historic area around Römer Square on foot, passing St. Paul's Church and many picturesque gabled houses. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Frankfurt city tour
Day 8: Miltenberg
Visit historic Miltenberg, a charming Medieval village with fairytale half-timbered houses, a Crooked House, and Royal Inn, which has been serving meals since the 17th century. Take in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery along the meandering Main River as you relax onboard in the afternoon. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour
Day 9: Würzburg (Rothenburg)
Travel along parts of the “Romantic Road” to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the best-preserved Medieval town in Germany. The old city walls still stand, protecting the charming core of Gothic churches andand gabled houses from intruders. Climb the Town Hall Tower for great views over the city and the Tauber valley. (BB, D)
Featured Excursion: Full-day tour of Rothenburg
Day 10: Bamberg
Stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg with your guide. See the unique town hall, the Imperial Cathedral, and the fishermen's village known as Little Venice. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Bamberg walking tour
Day 11: Nuremberg
Day 12: Nuremberg, cruising the Main-Danube Canal
After cruising parts of the impressive Main-Danube Canal, visit Nuremberg, an archetypal German Medieval city encircled by mighty defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Birthplace of Albrecht Du-rer and famous for its pocket watches, the city also held the astounding War Crimes Trials after WWII. Discover the sights of Nuremberg during your panoramic tour before exploring its walled Old Town on foot. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Nuremberg city tour
Day 13: Regensburg
Regensburg, one of the finest Medieval towns in Europe, captures 2,000years of living history with outstanding manmade monuments like the12th-century Stone Bridge and the towering Gothic cathedral. Yourwalking tour takes you past the architectural treasures of Old Town aswell as the Cathedral of St. Peter with its magnificent 14th-centurystained glass windows. Genuine Bavarian hospitality adds to the vibrantmix of art and culture in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Regensburg walking tour
Day 14: Deggendorf, (Theresienthal), Passau
After taking a scenic drive through the Nature Reserve of the Bavarian Forest, marvel at the amazing glass collection exhibited in the Theresienthal Glass Museum. Experience the art of glass-making firsthand during a visit to a nearby glass workshop, and follow the glass from the oven to the cooling station while learning about the extraordinary history of Theresienthal. Cap the day off with a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride through the Bavarian Forest. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Bavarian forest horse-drawn carriage ride, and visit to a glass museum and workshop in Theresienthal
Day 15: Passau
Passau boasts a delightful layer of Italian-style on quintessential German foundations. Explore the well-preserved town on your guided walking tour. Visit St. Stephan's Cathedral, home to Europe's largest pipe organ, where you'll hear a magnificent organ recital. (BB, L, D) Note: Concert not available before 5/2, after 10/31, or on Sundays.
Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour and St. Stephan's organ concert
Day 16: Melk, cruising the scenic Wachau Valley
Cruise the scenic, vineyard-rich Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape representing one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe. Then tour Melk's 900-year-old Benedictine abbey, a masterpiece of Baroque art and architecture situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. The views from the terrace are spectacular, but the splendid frescos, marble, and gilded plasterwork of its interior will be the true highlight of your visit. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Melk Abbey
Day 17: Vienna
There can be no exploration of the Danube without a visit to Vienna, which is a city both steeped in history and on the cusp of current trends. Your panoramic city tour takes you along the stately Ringstrasse showcasing imperial Habsburg grandeur, past the Rathaus (City Hall), Parliament, the Hofburg (Imperial Palace), and the State Opera, among other sights. (BB, L, D) Note: On Mondays, the Mozart House will be visited instead of the library.
Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour
Day 18: Vienna
Leaving the motorcoach, you'll start a walking tour through the Hofburggrounds, culminating at magnificent St. Stephen's Cathedral. Visit theBaroque State Hall of the Austrian National Library, said to be themost beautiful library room in the world. (BB, L, D) Note: On Mondays, the Mozart House will be visited instead of the library.
Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour
Day 19: Vienna
Featured Excursion: Schoonbrunn Palace
Day 20: Bratislava
Admire Bratislava's eclectic architecture of Gothic, Baroque, and Art Deco styles on your walking tour. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Bratislava walking tour
Day 21: Budapest
Your panoramic tour of Budapest gives you a sweeping view of all its famous sights. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Budapest city tour
Day 22: Budapest, cruising the Danube
Enjoy the morning at leisure in Budapest before cruising the Danube. (BB, L, D)
Day 23: Vukovar (Osijek)
Tour Osijek and experience Croatian life while meeting students during a school visit and enjoying a home-hosted lunch. (BB, L, D) Note: School visit not available during school holidays.
Featured Excursion: Tour of Osijek, home-hosted lunch, and school visit
Day 24: Belgrade
You'll be taken on a panoramic drive through Belgrade, which features the Belgrade Fortress in Kalemegdan Park, St. Sava Cathedral, and a visit to Tito's Memorial. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Belgrade city tour
Day 25: Kostolac (Viminacium)
Resident archeologists bring the historic grandeur of the excavations at Viminacium alive. The former Roman city boasted villas, thermal baths, a mausoleum, and even an amphitheater. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Viminacium archeological site
Day 26: Cruising the scenic Iron Gates, Vidin
Relax onboard as you cruise the spectacular Iron Gates, an 80-mile sequence of gorges that the mighty Danube cut through the Carpathian Mountains and one of the most dramatic natural displays of beauty in Europe. (BB, L, D)
Day 27: Vidin (Belogradchik)
Visit the legendary Medieval Baba Vida Fortress and Belogradchik, a fairytale world of weathered red sandstone in fantastic formations and one of the natural wonders of Bulgaria. (BB, L, D)
Featured Excursion: Baba Vida Fortress and Belogradchik rock formations
Day 28: Rousse
Enjoy leisure time exploring Rousse, Bulgaria's fourth-largest city. Walk along the lively pedestrian zone, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)
Day 29: Rousse (Varna and a Black Sea cruise)
Visit Varna's Archeological Museum, home to the oldest gold treasure in the world. Savor Bulgarian cuisine, and enjoy an exclusive cruise on the Black Sea. (BB, L, D) Note: Black Sea cruise may not be possible in adverse weather conditions.
Featured Excursion: Full-day Varna and a Black Sea cruise
Day 30: Giurgiu (disembark), transfer to Bucharest
After disembarking the ship, enjoy a Bucharest city tour. (BB, L)
Featured Excursion: Bucharest city tour
Day 31: Bucharest
Enjoy a full day at leisure. (BB)
Day 32: Bucharest, transfer to the airport
Transfer to the Bucharest Otopeni Airport, or extend your stay in Istanbul.
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