The Ultimate River Cruise - Cruise Only

Arrive Budapest and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship docked in the center of the city. Tonight, gather on board for a Gala Welcome Dinner. Around midnight, the ship slips away from Budapest and continues to Slovakia. (B,D)

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 on board. After midnight the ship departs for Vienna. (B,L,D)

During a guided sightseeing tour you will see the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral and visit the National Library. This afternoon, explore the capital on your own or join an optional tour to the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. Tonight, explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)

Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein for a walking tour before lunchtime. After a short cruise, arrive in Melk for a guided tour and visit the town's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. An evening wine tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley. (B,L,D)

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. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)

At lunchtime, arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall, and the Porta Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Tonight, folklore entertainers will come on board for your delight. (B,L,D)

This morning enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmuhl Valley. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. Moor overnight in Nuremberg. (B,L,D)

Today travel by train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, often given the nickname "Germany's secret capital." Your escort today will offer suggestions of to what to do whilst 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)

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)

This morning, arrive in Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. During your tour, see the major sights including the magnificent Residenz Palace. This afternoon explore Würzburg on your own, or take an optional tour along the Romantic Road to medieval Rothenburg. (B,L,D)

Disembark in Wertheim for a glass-blowing performance and free time perhaps browsing the market square and the shops. Then cruise to Miltenberg for a guided walking tour. Tonight, the ship is leaving Bavaria, Franconia and the Main River behind. (B,L,D)

Today, disembark in Mainz and you can choose to travel by coach to Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled Castle, seeing the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. Then there is a walking tour of old Heidelberg and free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, drive to Rüdesheim to rejoin your ship. If you don't opt for Heidelberg, you can enjoy a leisurely 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. Here, tour the town 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)

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)

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 onto Trier, Germany's oldest city, for a guided tour which will introduce you to the city's rich ancient Roman past. (B,L,D)

This morning, bid farewell to your cruise ship and transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)