Northbound
* Indicates cruise day
* Day 1 - Welcome to Budapest
Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise starts at 4:00 PM in Budapest. A transfer is included from Budapest's Ferihegy Airport directly to ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel. Kick off Tauck's two-week Danube, Main, and Rhine River cruise with dinner aboard the riverboat. Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 2 - Discover Budapest on the Danube
Explore Budapest on both sides of the Danube River. Sites include Heroes' Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary; the Parliament building, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece; and Fishermen's Bastion. Enjoy some free time in the city, then join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain's welcome reception and dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 3 - Baroque in Bratislava
First port of call is Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour. Highlights are Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, St. Martin's Cathedral, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and a visit to the Old Town Hall. Back on board the riverboat, Slovakian performers entertain you after dinner; continue your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise to Vienna this evening. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 4 - Music and more in Imperial Vienna
Get an overview of grand old Vienna, Austria, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic city, once the center of Europe's Habsburg empire. Then take your choice of a tour of grandiose Schonbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a visit to the Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg - the former Imperial Palace and today the residence of Austria's president. Tonight, you'll receive the royal treatment with a private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 5 - Medieval Austrian abbeys and castles
Your riverboat continues along the Danube to Durnstein, whose twisting medieval lanes you'll explore on a walking tour. High above the town lie the ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where English King Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner during the Crusades; an invigorating walk up the hill to the ruins leads to beautiful vistas of the river, town and surrounding countryside. Enjoy more great views of castles and lush vineyards from the top deck or through the panoramic windows of your riverboat while cruising through the wine-growing Wachau Valley. Stop in Melk for a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this Baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar. Your evening aboard the riverboat includes a wine tasting and a performance by local entertainers. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 6 - Explore Baroque Passau and cruise the Danube
After crossing the border from Austria to Germany, dock in the Bavarian town of Passau on the Danube and Inn rivers, whose history dates back to the days of the Roman empire. A walking tour reveals the Baroque treasures of this lovely riverside town, known for its stained glass and its many churches. Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise continues to Regensburg. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 7 - Along the Danube to ancient Regensburg
It's on to the well-preserved medieval town of Regensburg, once a campsite for the Roman legions, today. Our local guide leads you on a delightful walking tour of Old Town including the Steinerne Brucke over the Danube, the oldest stone bridge in Germany; massive Dom St. Peter, the town's 14th-century Gothic cathedral; and Altes Rathaus, the 15th-century town hall that was once the seat of the Imperial Diet. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 8 - Main-Danube Canal & Nurnberg
Your Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise negotiates the Main-Danube Canal, which ultimately links the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal's history from a local expert during your transit. The idea goes back as far as Charlemagne, but wasn't realized until the canal's completion in the 1990s; pass through 16 locks as the waterway traverses the mountains. After lunch on the riverboat, arrive in historic Nurnberg; see the city's sites associated with World War II and its aftermath, followed by a walking tour of the walled medieval Old Town. Sample Nurnberg's traditional sausage at dinner aboard the riverboat tonight. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 9 - Bound for Bamberg
Awaken in Bavaria's charming town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated atop seven hills. See the town's magnificent 13th-century cathedral with four imposing towers, its lovely gardens, and its unique medieval architecture during a walking tour and time to explore as you please. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 10 - Treasures of Rothenburg and Wurzburg
Today's travels take you to medieval Rothenburg, on Germany's 'Romantic Road,' to see its Gothic cathedrals and gabled houses. In charming Wurzburg, discover the town's 18th-century Residenz and the ornate Alte Mainbrucke, a bridge over the River Main. And you'll know you're cruising through Bavaria when an oompa band plays for you aboard the riverboat this evening! Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 11 - Cruising the Main to Miltenberg
Meander along the River Main, through through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns, to the ancient town of Miltenberg; en route, enjoy an on-board glassblowing demonstration by practitioners of this time-honored craft. Enclosed by a wall with gate towers under a steep hill crowned by a castle, Miltenberg boasts many half-timbered houses and a charming Marktplatz. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 12 - From the Main to the Rhine & Rudesheim
Leave the Main behind today as your Rhine River cruise continues on to Rudesheim. A visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett - an eclectic collection of mechanical musical instruments housed in a 15th-century castle in Rudesheim - precedes tonight's entertaining dinner in a local German restaurant with an old-world ambiance. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 13 - Koblenz or castles & Koln, a.k.a. Cologne
Arrive in Koblenz, where you can choose a walking tour of its Old Town or a visit to Marksburg Castle; set high above the Rhine, it dates back to the 13th century and offers a taste of medieval life. Your Rhine River cruise continues through the scenic Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Koln (Cologne). A guided walking tour includes the lofty Kolner Dom, elaborately decorated with pinnacles and buttresses; the tallest Gothic structure in the world, it took over 600 years to complete. Have a great time celebrating a wonderful cruise at the Captain's farewell dinner aboard the riverboat tonight. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
* Day 14 - Art and more in Amsterdam
Dock in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, where you'll take a close-up look at acclaimed works by the Dutch Masters - including Rembrandt's The Night Watch and many others - at the world-renowned Rijksmuseum. Then enjoy views of medieval architecture on a sightseeing cruise along Amsterdam's 17th-century canals, and spend time exploring this fascinating city as you please. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Day 15 - Journey home
Your Danube, Main, and Rhine river cruise ends in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark in Amsterdam; a transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for departure flight check-in. Meals: Breakfast |
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