Combine the highlights of the legendary Main and Danube with the picturesque Rhine and Mosel and experience a voyage of cultural and scenic diversity through the six countries of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Start your European vacation with two grand old capitals, vibrant Budapest and magnificent Vienna. Journey on the Main-Danube Canal across the Continental Divide, and visit charming towns with beautiful vistas. Cruise through the lush and scenic Mosel valley, famous for its many historical castles and the steepest vineyards in the world, and be close to the heart of the people living in the medieval cities along the Rhine and Main river. Conclude your European vacation in Paris, the City of Lights.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or begin exploring this beautiful city.
Day 2: Exploring Budapest
Morning sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, and also features 500 year-old Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. The balance of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day 3: Free Morning Budapest / Embark
Enjoy a free morning in Budapest or join us on an optional Puszta excursion. This afternoon 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)
Day 4: Bratislava, Slovakia / Vienna, Austria
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)
Day 5: Vienna
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)
Day 6: Dürnstein / Melk
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)
Day 7: Linz / Passau, Germany
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)
Day 8: Regensburg
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)
Day 9: Nuremberg
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)
Day 10: Munich
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)
Day 11: Bamberg
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)
Day 12: Würzburg
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)
Day 13: Wertheim / Miltenberg
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)
Day 14: Mainz / Rüdesheim
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. (B,L,D)
Day 15: Cochem / Zell
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)
Day 16: Bernkastel / Trier
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)
Day 17: Trier / Disembark / Luxembourg / Paris, France
This morning, bid farewell to your cruise ship and head to Luxembourg for a city tour of the Grand Duchy and some free time. After lunch, continue on to Paris, France, where you arrive this afternoon. (B)
Day 18: Exploring Paris
Enjoy Paris famous sights during this morning's guided tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, see the unique Louvre Museum, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own. (B)
Day 19: Free day Paris
A full free day to explore the amazing City of Light. Various optional tours will be offered. (B)
Day 20: Return Home
Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. (B)
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Category E
Piano Deck, 170 square feet, cozy sitting area, fixed window and private bath.
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Category D
Piano Deck, 170 square feet, cozy sitting area, fixed window and private bathroom.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.