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European Jewels ( Category l - Rhine Deck SUITE / Category 1 - Rhine Deck / Category 2 - Danube Deck / Category 3 - Main Deck / Category 4 - Moselle Deck / Category 5 - Moselle Deck )
Day 1: Arrive Budapest
Arrive at the Budapest airport and be greeted by a cruise representative who will escort you to the ship. (Dinner)
Day 2: Budapest
Budapest is a vibrant mix of East and West, and medieval and modern. Made up of two parts—Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands—it is divided by the Danube and is an architectural dream. Your city tour features the famous Chain Bridge, the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion, and UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district. (Breakfast, Lunch, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Budapest City Tour
Onboard Highlight: Captain’s Welcome Dinner
Day 3: Cruising the Danube
Enjoy a day of leisure on the ship as we make our way to Vienna, the “City of Waltzes.” (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Onboard Highlight: Insightful Lecture
Day 4: Vienna
During your panoramic overview of Austria’s capital city, travel the stately Ringstrasse, where the
surrounding buildings give off a distinctive imperial air. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married. And then stroll pass Figaro House another former Mozart home before enjoying some free time. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Vienna City Tour
Day 5: Cruising the Wachau Valley and Melk
Depart Vienna on a scenic cruise through the lush vineyard-rich Wachau Valley on your way to Melk, site of the 900-year-old abbey situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. Your guided tour of the abbey will reveal a splendid example of Baroque art and architecture. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Melk Abbey Visit
Day 6: Passau
Passau boasts a delightful layer of Italian style on quintessential German foundations. Explore the well-preserved town and visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, and site of your organ recital. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursions: Walking Tour & St. Stephan’s Organ Concert*
*Concert not available before May 2 and after November 1 or on Sundays.
Day 7: Regensburg
An unspoiled gem, Regensburg is a friendly town with quaint cobblestone streets, medieval alleys and historic Roman remnants. On your tour, you’ll see the Cathedral of St. Peter, with magnificent stained glass windows dating from the 14th century, and the town’s famous 12th-century Stone Bridge, spanning the Danube, bringing commerce to the city. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Regensburg Walking Tour
Day 8: Nuremberg
Today’s tour takes you though Nuremberg, an archetypal German Medieval city enriched by defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. As we leave Nuremberg and head toward Bamberg, you’ll learn about the Main-Danube Canal, an engineering marvel which allows ships to sail from Amsterdam to the Black Sea. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Nuremberg City Tour
Onboard Highlight: Onboard Lectures
Day 9: Bamberg
Stroll through Bamberg Old Town with your guide, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consisting of a rare collection of more than 1000 buildings that have been extensively preserved in their original historical form. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Bamberg Walking Tour
Day 10: Würzburg
You’ll visit Germany’s most pristine example of Baroque architecture, the great Würzburg Residenz, dating from 1744. Your tour will be capped off with a winetasting of fabulous Franconian wines in the Residenz cellar. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Würzburg Residenz & Wine Tasting
Day 11: Wertheim and Miltenberg
Our morning walking tour of Wertheim introduces us to a local tradition, glass blowing, on our visit to the glass museum.During the afternoon, cruise the meandering Main River before exploring quaint Miltenberg with your local guide. See the half-timbered houses that give the town its fairytale feel, along with the Crooked House and the famous Royal Inn. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursions: Wertheim and Miltenberg Walking Tour
Onboard Highlight: Exciting Onboard Entertainment
Day 12: Miltenberg (Heidelberg)
Heidelberg is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Your guided tour of Heidelberg takes you to the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle and through Old Town. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursions: Full-day Tour of Heidelberg
Day 13: Rüdesheim and Cruising Rhine
Depart the ship and board a mini-train for the trip to Siegfried’s Museum, where one of the world’s best collections of mechanical musical instruments is housed. During the afternoon, we’ll cruise the Rhine to Cologne. (Breakfast, Lunch, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum
Onboard Highlight: Captain’s Farewell Dinner
Day 14: Cologne
Today’s walking tour takes you through the narrow streets of Old Town, passing by tiny squares and little churches as you make your way to the magnificent Cologne Cathedral—from every angle, it is a work of art. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Featured Excursion: Cologne Walking Tour with Cathedral
Day 15: Depart Amsterdam
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport in Amsterdam for your flight home.
Cruise Ship operating this itinerary:
River Princess
Please Note
The order of sightseeing and itinerary is subject to change.
Cologne
Founded by Romans, Cologne is one of Germany’s oldest cities. Cologne’s Gothic Cathedral is certainly one of its top attractions. It took over 600 years to build and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Toast the town with Cologne’s own beer style, called Kölsch. Wander through the Old Town,
a warren of streets, squares, underground passages, and home to innumerable pubs and cafés.
Rüdesheim
This lovely town has been a magnet for romantics ever since the early 19th century. The historical monuments, romantic winding alleyways and the rolling hillside vineyards are a treat. Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet houses one of the world’s largest collections of self-playing, mechanical musical instruments.
Frankfurt (Heidelberg)
Situated on the banks of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is one of Germany’s most beautiful cities. The city is most famous for its university, romantic castle and its picturesque Old Town with its winding alleys steeped in history. Towering over the town is Heidelberger Schloss. Originally a well-fortified Gothic castle, it is now mostly in ruins; however, it is still worth a visit.
Miltenberg
A quaint Bavarian village, Miltenberg began as a Roman fort on the Main. The Gothic grandeur of its Merchant Hall and lovely Medieval and Renaissance houses reflect its affluence and cultural wealth. Enticing outdoor cafés, half-timbered houses, and a 400-year-old fountain are among the memorable sights you’ll see in Market Square.
Wertheim
Situated at the confluence of the Main and Tauber Rivers, Wertheim is a charming Medieval town filled with history. Discover the historical Pointed Tower that has guarded the junction of the Main and Tauber Rivers for 800 years, and the Town Hall built in 1540. Known as a successful merchants’ town during the Middle Ages, today Wertheim is famous for its Franconian wines and glassblowing traditions.
Würzburg
Surrounded by Franconian vineyards, Würzburg was heavily damaged during World War II, but it has since been completely restored. A highlight, and Germany’s most pristine example of Baroque architecture, is the great Würzburg Residenz, built in 1744 by the Prince-Bishops. Its sweeping staircase and amazing ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo survived wartime bombs. Other landmarks include the Medieval, statue-lined Main Bridge and the Marienberg fortress.
Bamberg
This city boasts Renaissance palaces, Baroque houses and a breathtaking cathedral. Browse the Old Town Hall, decorated with lavish frescoes on its facade. Or ramble through the city’s serpentine streets asthey wind past charming gabled houses and 18th-century mansions.
Main-Danube Canal
The Main-Danube Canal was completed in 1992. Today, this engineering wonder winds 106 miles through rural Bavaria. It includes 16 locks that rise to a height of 1,330 feet, making it the highest point of any commercial waterway in Europe.
Regensburg
One of Germany’s unspoiled gems, the most striking view of the city is from its Medieval bridge. Wander through the city’s winding cobblestone streets to the historic market square. Many stop for refreshments atthe “Wurstküche”– serving sausages and beer for over 800 years!
Passau
The beautiful city of Passau is enchanting. Located at the confluence of three rivers – the Danube, Inn and Ilz – the city is most famous for its ornate Baroque cathedral. Wander its quaint cobblestone streets, tour the cathedral and visit the charming local taverns, or see the world’s largest church pipe organ in magnificent St. Stephan’s Cathedral and enjoy an organ concert.
Melk
Melk is world-renowned for its magnificent 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey. This beautiful complex is one of the supreme examples of Baroque art and architecture in Europe. The views from its terrace are spectacular, but the splendid frescoes, marble and gilded plasterwork of its interior will be the true highlight of your visit.
Vienna
Vienna’s compact historic city center is an exciting array of famous cafés and grand palaces, culminating at the magnificent Gothic Cathedral. The wide, circular boulevard, the stately Ringstrasse still defines the heart of the city. Explore its many Imperial buildings and monuments, and enjoy shopping along the fashionable Kärtnerstrasse.
Budapest
A vibrant mix of East and West, Medieval and modern, Budapest is one of the most engaging and fashionable cities in Europe – earning it the title “Paris of the East.” Behold bustling downtown Pest with its spectacular Houses of Parliament, Hero’s Square and the magnificent, neoclassical St. Stephan’s Basilica. On the Buda side, explore Castle Hill, towering above the Danube and enjoy the view from Fisherman’s Bastion.
Cruise Ships operating this itinerary:
River Princess, River Empress, River Countess & River Duchess
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