Legendary Danube

Arrive in Prague and transfer to your hotel. The day is free to start exploring this beautiful city.

Your morning sightseeing tour reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. Observe Rudolfinum, the National Museum, Wenceslas Square, and the Hundertwasser Dancing House. Next, visit the 1,000 year-old Prague Castle and St. Vitus before walking over the romantic Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square. Find the capital’s famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, and the statue of Jan Husek. The rest of the day is at your leisure, perhaps to enjoy yourself in one of the city’s many charming cafés. 

Spend a day at your leisure, perhaps to stroll through a museum or gallery, wander along the banks of the Vltava River, relax at an outdoor café, or shop for local handicrafts.

Depart from Prague after breakfast via motor coach and enjoy a stop in Pilzen, a city perhaps best known for producing pilsner beer, a pale gold-hued Bavarian-style lager. After a walking tour of local highlights, like the Brewery Museum and Republic Square, enjoy a scenic drive through the pastoral countryside to Nuremberg and embark your ship. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers at a Welcome Dinner.

You have two excursion options today. Take a tour of the city’s medieval highlights, including Nuremberg Castle, the 900-year-old ramparts surrounding the city, Town Hall, Notre Dame, and the house of artist Albrecht Dürer, or join a WWII tour and see the Coliseum, Nazi Parade Ground, and Justice Palace. Later, the ship cruises the Main-Danube Canal to Regensburg. 

This morning’s scenic cruising brings you into the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal en route to Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. A guided walking tour shows you the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria, gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 A.D. As an alternate option partake in a Bavarian specialties tasting, or for an active option join the Walhalla bike tour. 

After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau, where the Inn and Ilz rivers flow into the Danube. Have a choice of a walking tour of Passau’s Old Town, past the old city fortifications, Rathaus, Domplatz and Residenzplatz squares, as well as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or more active guests may join either a guided bike tour along the Danube from Passau to Erlau or a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress overlooking Passau. Return to the ship this afternoon for a scenic cruise to Linz, Austria’s third largest city and a major river port.

Early this morning, cruise to Melk. You have a choice between a guided tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries, or a guided bike tour along the Danube. Return to the ship for lunch before cruising on through the scenic Wachau Valley. Arrive in Vienna after dinner and explore the magnificent Austrian capital on your own. 

This morning, have a chance to savor the Baroque elegance of romantic Vienna through your choice of one of three different excursions. The first option is a panoramic tour of Vienna that guides you past the majestic Opera House, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg Emperors, Parliament, Town Hall, and Vienna University. Afterwards, visit Vienna’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben, and the world famous Spanish Riding School. The second option is a walking tour of Vienna’s hidden treasures that takes you to secret places and sites like Ankeruhr, a whimsical Art Nouveau clock. Your third option is a guided bike tour along the Danube and through the Donaupark. This afternoon, you can join a guided bike ride to Klosterneuburg Monastery, or explore at your leisure. Be sure to sample some Viennese coffee and pastries. 

Your morning excursion includes sightseeing in the cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the river. Observe the famed Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church, and spectacular views of the Danube. After dinner, the ship sails a special Illuminations Cruise past the city’s glittering riverfront. 

Bid farewell to Budapest as you prepare for your homeward flight.