Europe’s Magnificent Waterways: Cruising the Rhine, Main, and Danube River

Arrive in Amsterdam and board the ship, then gather this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. (D)

Spend the morningdiscovering the sites of Amsterdam on your choice of excursion.

• Private Canal Cruise: Set out to discover Amsterdam’s famous canals on a private cruise. Now a World Heritage site, the city’s concentric canal system was built in the 16th and 17th centuries to create a new, expanded port city.
• Rijksmuseum:* Tour the world-renowned Rijksmuseum, home to Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and other masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age on a specially guided tour.

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Delve into the enchanting Old Town of Cologne on the guided tour of your choice:

• Cologne Highlights: See the historic sites of the enchanting Old Town, including the World Heritage-listed Dom cathedral, and enjoy a tasting of the city’s signature Kölsch beer.
• Cologne’s Roman History:* Set out on a walking tour of the town’s many Roman sites and see ancient artifacts at the Belgian House.
• Guided Bike Ride: Enjoy a guided bike ride along the Rhine.

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Take in stunning vistas of hilltop castles and timeless half-timbered villages as you sail through the Rhine Gorge, a World Heritage site. This afternoon, stop in the winemaking town of Rüdesheim, where you may choose from the following activities:

• Gondola Ride: Soar high above the vineyards on a gondola ride to the Niederwald monument, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Rheingau from an aerial perspective.
• Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet: Encounter a remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments.
• Rüdesheimer Kaffe: Savor one of the town’s delights, a festive cocktail made with brandy, coffee, and whipped cream.

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The ship leaves the Rhine in Mainz and continues east along the Main River toward the town of Wertheim. Today’s choices:

• Wertheim Walking Tour:* Take a walking tour of Wertheim's charming historic center and step into a glass-blowing workshop to watch a demonstration.
• Guided Hike: Hike up to the evocative ruins of Wertheim Castle, originally built during the 12th century.
• Guided Bike Ride: Take a guided bike ride along the Rhine.

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Cruise to the lively university town of Würzburg, and spend the day pursuing your interests on one of the following excursions:

• Romantic Road & Rothenburg: Embark on a full day excursion along the Romantic Road to the beautifully preserved walled town of Rothenburg.
• Würzburg’s Old Town & Wine Tasting:* Explore Würzburg's historic center, which was carefully restored after being largely destroyed during World War II. Stop for a wine tasting on your walking tour.
• Residenz Palace: Visit the baroque Residenz Palace, long the seat of the dukes of Bavaria and now a World Heritage site.
• Guided Hike: Hike up to Marienberg Fortress with a guide and take in a panoramic view of Würzburg.

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Set out on an excursion to the World Heritage site of Bamberg and choose between two guided tours:

• Bamberg Highlights: Explore this medieval gem on foot to see its diverse architecture, from the cathedral to its elegant mansions.
• Tastes of Bamberg: Taste your way through town, sampling smoked beer, pralines, and hörnla pastries.
• Active Walking Tour & Lock 100:* For a more active adventure, see Bamberg’s highlights at a faster pace, and walk along the historic Ludwig Canal to Lock 100, still in use today.

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In Nuremberg, Arrive in Nuremberg and discover this hub of the German Renaissance on your choice of excursions.

• Nuremberg Walking Tour: Take a guided walk through the medieval city, seeing its castle and ramparts as well as the famous fountain on Market Square.
• Imperial Castle and Dürer House: Begin the day with a guided tour of the imperial castle of Kaiserburg, one of the most important palaces of the Holy Roman Empire. Then tour the home and workshop where Albrecht Dürer lived and worked in the early 16th century, and see the works of Dürer and others displayed within.
• Guided Bike Tour: Those seeking a more active outing can join a guided bike tour along the Main Danube canal visiting one of the original locks from the Ludwig canal.

The ship remains docked in Nuremberg overnight. (B,L,D)

The following morning, get further acquainted with Nuremberg's history and culture on one of two tours:

• World War II sites:* Visit the city’s World War II sites, including the abandoned coliseum that was intended as a Nazi rallying ground, and the adjacent Documentation Center. You'll also visit Courtroom 600 within the courthouse where the Nuremberg Trials took place.

• Tasting Tour: Sample Franconian specialties such as Nuremberger bratwurst, rotbier, and lebkuchen (gingerbread).

Later in the day, cruise the Main-Danube Canal, an engineering marvel thought up by Emperor Charlemagne that connects the North Sea to the Black Sea. (B,L,D)

Explore Regensburg, a World Heritage site that was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire.

• Regensburg Walking Tour: Discover the Roman-era Porta Praetoria and the Old Town Hall along with other significant sites.
• St Emmeram Palace and Walhalla:*  Begin in Old Town with a tour of St Emmeram's Palace, previously a formerly a Benedictine monastery dating to the 8th century, it now serves as the primary residence of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis, then travel outside of town to see the impressive monument of Walhalla, built in the style of a Greek temple and honoring cultural, scientific, and artistic contributions of renowned Germans.
• Tasting Tour: Try a range of Bavarian specialties on a food tour.

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Arrive in Passau, poised where the Danube meets the Inn and Ilz Rivers, and choose among the following options:

• Salzburg:* Tour Salzburg’s World Heritage-listed Old Town, from the home where Mozart was born to the gardens of Mirabell Palace.
• Passau: Enjoy a walking tour with an opportunity to taste handmade pretzels and chocolates.
• Guided Hike: Head out with a guide on a hike to the Veste Oberhaus fortress overlooking Passau.

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Enter the Wachau Valley, a World Heritage-listed stretch of the Danube, and join the excursion of your choice:

• Melk Abbey:* A marvel of baroque architecture, the Benedictine Melk Abbey is perched on a bluff above the Danube. Tour the abbey and grounds, and meet a librarian for a special opportunity to view medieval manuscripts and learn how they are meticulously restored.  
• Guided Hike: Instead of reaching the abbey by road, opt to hike up to it with a guide, enjoying views of the Danube. 

This afternoon, continue your scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley. (B,L,D)

Glide into Austria’s capital and set off on your choice of morning excursion.

• Vienna Highlights and Kunsthistorisches Museum:* Marvel at the majestic Opera House and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which has stood watch over the city center for 700 years. Then, follow a guide through Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, where a breathtaking fine art collection–including works by Vermeer, Velazquez, Raphael, and Dürer–are housed within an opulent neoclassical building.
• Guided Bike: Ride a bike through Vienna’s elegant parks and neighborhoods on a guided bike tour.

Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore Vienna as you wish.   

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Sail into Budapest, and set out to discover Buda’s Castle District, taking in sweeping city views from the turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion and admiring the architecture of Matthias Church. Explore the grand monuments of Pest this afternoon. (B,L,D)

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)