Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship. This evening, meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Cocktail Reception followed by dinner.

This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica, the famous Heroes’ Square and more. Your afternoon is free to explore on your own.

Wake up this morning in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. You have your choice of two tours today. The first option is a walking tour of the city’s top sights, including the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral. As an alternative, choose the “Communist History” tour that includes landmarks such as the Radio Building, Liberty Square and the Soviet War Memorial. Later, you will have some free time before the ship cruises to Vienna, the music capital of the world. After dinner, experience a traditional “Viennese Wine and Music” evening in a rustic wine tavern outside the city, where you can enjoy a glass of newly pressed, locally grown wine and Austrian music and hospitality.

Savor the sights of romantic Vienna during your guided tour, which will include the Opera House, the Ringstrasse and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. An optional tour of Schonbrunn Palace and Mozart & Strauss concert in one of the city’s great formal concert houses is also available.

Arrive in Weissenkirchen this morning, from where you will depart for a walking tour along Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets. Admire the magnificent blue tower of the local Stiftskirche (abbey church) and castle ruins high on a hill where Richard the Lionheart was once held for ransom. Return to the ship and continue onwards cruising through the gorgeous scenery of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon, visit the spectacular Benedictine Abbey in Melk, one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see jewel-encrusted crosses containing religious relics, frescoes and richly embroidered vestments, as well as the abbey’s priceless collection of medieval manuscripts. Tonight the ship arrives in Grein, where you may enjoy some free time to explore this charming town.

This morning the ship arrives in Linz, the second largest city in Austria. You will have the choice of three different excursions: the scenic “Salzkammergut” region (Austrian Lake District), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will explore the historic town of Gmunden; the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov, a wonderfully preserved medieval town in the hills just over the Austrian-Czech border; or Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, where you will take a walking tour of the historic center, famous as the setting for the “Sound of Music.” Enjoy free time on your own before returning to the ship. The ship sails overnight.

Early this morning, cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Your city tour takes you around this charming city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Highlights include St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to the largest pipe organ in the world. As an alternative, explore the city on a guided bike tour (capacity controlled). This afternoon, the ship cruises to the medieval town of Vilshofen, where you’ll enjoy a mini “Oktoberfest” with local food, beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing.

This morning, disembark your ship in Vilshofen and depart for Munich. Stop in Regensburg for a walking tour of one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. You will have some free time afterwards to explore Regensburg’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before continuing your transfer to Munich. Enjoy the scenic countryside en route to your hotel in Munich, Germany’s third-largest city. With a history that dates back to the middle ages, Munich is an important industrial, educational and cultural center, renowned for its breweries, beer gardens and boisterous Oktoberfest celebrations.

This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Munich followed by a walking tour of the Old Town. Begin at the town center where you can see the famous Glockenspiel at Munich’s New Town Hall and the Frauenkirche, the “Cathedral of Our Lady.” The afternoon is free for you to explore Munich on your own.

Today, you will visit the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle, inspiration for Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty Castle.” The palace was built in the 19th century by “Mad” King Ludwig II of Bavaria as an homage to composer Richard Wagner. After a tour of the castle, arrive in Fussen, where you will have free time for lunch on your own before returning to Munich.

Bid farewell to Munich and transfer to the airport for your homeward flight.