Magnificent Europe - Cruise Only

Begin your Magnificent Europe cruise by boarding the ship in Amsterdam.

Experience some of Amsterdam's 165 iconic waterways during your scenic canal cruise. Later in the day, prepare to set sail and depart the city.

Cologne is home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral. Join a guided tour through the Old Town and to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, the Old Market and the Heumarkt. Plus, taste the city’s famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne. Active adventurists will instead want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine. 

Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river, before reaching Rüdesheim. There you may drink up the stunning views of the vineyards during a gondola ride. Alternatively, let Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet charm you, or savor the Rüdesheimer Coffee that the town is famous for. 

Enjoy Wertheim, considered to have one of Germany’s most beautiful city centers. While here, join a walking tour, hike to the ruins of Wertheim Castle or delight in a scenic bicycle ride along the Main River Valley.

Enjoy a city tour of Würzburg, bursting with Baroque splendor. Or visit Würzburg’s Baroque Residenz Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features an opulent interior, including a grand fresco by Tiepolo. Or stretch your legs while hiking to Würzburg Castle. Alternately, go on a full-day excursion to Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved walled town located on the Romantic Road. 

Explore enchanting Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in one of three ways. Join a guided walking tour of this medieval gem to see its cathedral, Old Town Hall and elegant old mansions. Or taste your way through the city sampling smoked beer, pralines, and Hornla, a pastry. And for a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour. 

Depart the ship for a guided tour of Kaiserburg, Nuremberg’s Imperial castle and one of the most important palaces of the Old Holy Roman Empire. While wandering through this historical fortress towering high above the city center, pass by an exhibition of military artifacts, from weapons to suits of armor, as well as architectural models that show the castle through the ages. Following your Kaiseburg tour, head to the former home of Albrecht Dürer, arguably Germany’s most famous artist and Nuremberg’s most famous resident. It is within these walls where he lived and worked for nearly 20 years in the early 16th century, and be able to view some of his and other artists’ works during your tour.

You have three choices of excursions while in Nuremberg. Enjoy a guided tour through this well-preserved medieval city, showcasing the Imperial Castle, famous town wall and the legendary fountain of the Market Square. Or turn back the pages of a darker history with a guided tour of the city’s most important WWII sites, including the coliseum. Visit the Nuremberg Trials Memoriam and Courtroom 600, if the courtroom is not in session. Alternatively, partake in a traditional Franconian specialties tasting of famous Nuremburger bratwurst, rotbier (red beer) and lebkuchen (gingerbread). Later in the day, cruise through the man-made marvel, the Main-Danube Canal. 

Explore one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, Regensburg, on a guided walking tour showcasing the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria. As an alternate option, sample some of Bavaria’s specialties—beer, sausage and pretzels. And for a more active adventure, bike to Walhalla where you can see the neoclassical white marble temple.

For those who love The Sound of Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. Alternatively, you can discover Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guests looking for a more active morning can choose between a guided bike tour to Wertheim, or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus Fortress.

Cruise to Melk where you can visit its magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s largest and most revered Baroque monasteries. For a more active adventure, you can join a hike to Melk Abbey or pedal along the Danube River on a guided bike tour. 

The heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna, remains as renowned today as it has throughout history. The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site awash with Baroque treasures. Your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude in Vienna’s historic city center and then visit the majestic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which has stood watch over Vienna for 700 years and is one of the most important and beloved landmarks in Austria. Or, if you prefer to go on a more active adventure, then join a guided bike tour through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time exploring this iconic city even more. 

Today you have the opportunity to visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. Start on the Buda side, following your guide through the city’s Castle District where you can marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest’s Castle Hill. In the afternoon, explore the treasures of Pest, admiring the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes’ Square and the moving “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial. 

Bid adieu to Budapest and prepare for your flight home.