Day 1 Basel, Switzerland | Embark
Welcome to Switzerland! Your suite ship is ready for boarding. Flights into Zürich or Basel must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board as you sail to Breisach.
Day 2 Breisach | Excursion to Black Forest
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Discovery: Join a full-day guided tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR:
Classic: Visit to Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Learn about German wine-making in the vineyards of Baden, and enjoy a wine tasting.
You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning.
Discovery: Enjoy an onboard beer lecture hosted by your beer expert while cruising.
Day 3 Strasbourg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit the Adventure center for today’s activities with your adventure host.
Classic: Join a city tour of Strasbourg’s sights, including Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.
You may also choose to join a guided optional excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.
Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center.
Day 4 Rüdesheim | Rhine Gorge | Boppard
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Active: Enjoy a hike with your Avalon adventure host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:
Discovery: Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat, OR:
Active: Take an open-air cable car ride to the Niederwald Monument, then ride or walk back down through the vineyards; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat.
This afternoon, stretch out on the sky deck as you pass through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to Boppard.
BOPPARD
Enjoy some free time to relax, or explore the Rheinallee Promenade for delicatessen fare with a cup of German coffee or glass of Riesling wine.
Discovery: Onboard food and beer pairing dinner hosted by your beer expert.
Later, enjoy onboard entertainment while sailing to Frankfurt.
Day 5 Frankfurt | Seligenstadt
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Frankfurt to see the city’s cultural landmarks and gleaming financial headquarters combined with the cozy ambience of quaint neighborhoods, OR:
Discovery: Take a guided tour to Seligenstadt—one of Germany’s oldest towns and home to the Einhard Basilika dubbed “minor basilica” in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
Day 6 Main River Village
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join your adventure host for today’s special activities.
Classic: Join a guided walking tour of a picturesque Bavarian village.
Discovery: Enjoy an onboard beer tasting hosted by your beer expert.
Day 7 Würzburg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a guided sightseeing tour of Würzburg with its old main bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop’s Residenz with the largest known ceiling fresco.
You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. See the local sights and enjoy the fairytale atmosphere that has inspired artists.
Enjoy live entertainment on board as you set sail for Bamberg
Day 8 Bamberg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a guided walking tour of the historic home to imperial dynasties, and see its Romanesque cathedral, old town hall, and seven hills crowned with churches.
Discovery: Discover a very special family run hop garden where you will also taste a local beer.
After the tour, spend free time with a glass of German-style Rauchbier (smoked beer).
Day 9 Nuremberg | Munich
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a full-day guided tour of the highlights of fascinating Munich. See Nymphenburg Palace, a former residence of German monarchs, along with the old and new Town Halls of Marienplatz.
Day 10 Roth | Nuremberg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit the adventure center for today’s activities with your adventure host.
Classic: Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the Bavarian town of Roth with its half-timbered houses, market square, and 1535 hunting lodge Schloss Ratibor, OR:
Classic: Choose a guided tour of Nuremberg’s medieval architecture, gilded fountain, gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR:
Classic: Take a guided tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds used by the Third Reich.
Discovery: Enjoy an onboard lecture about the Main-Danube Canal linking these two rivers to make a vital connection enabling navigation between the North and Black Seas.
Day 11 Regensburg
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Join a guided city walk and see Altes Rathaus and Porta Pretoria built in 179 AD as the entrance to Castra Regina fortress.
You may choose to join a guided optional excursion to visit the Benedictine Monastery in Weltenburg.
Alternatively spend a free afternoon exploring Regensburg on foot or by bike through its charming streets.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment after dinner as you cruise toward Passau.
Day 12 Passau | Linz
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Join a guided city walk to learn more about this beautiful “City of Three Rivers.”
Alternatively, join a full-day guided optional excursion to Salzburg—the city of Mozart—or to the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.
Sail to Linz this afternoon, or join your ship after your selected full-day excursion.
LINZ, AUSTRIA
Enjoy a free afternoon to linger in Linz. Take a bicycle from the ship and cycle along the Danube, or follow one of Linz’s many nature trails for a bird’s-eye view of the city and river below.
Day 13 Melk | Wachau Valley | Vienna
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a guided tour of Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey to marvel at its frescoed ceilings, statues, incredible library, and ornate pipe organ, OR:
Active: Join your Avalon adventure host for a morning hike through Melk’s beautiful countryside.
Enjoy a coffee or a cocktail on the sky deck as you sail through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Vienna.
VIENNA
This evening, you may choose to attend an optional excursion to a Royal Waltz Concert for an unforgettable evening of music in an elegant hall.
Day 14 Vienna
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Explore the Habsburg empire this morning on a guided city tour of Vienna’s gilded landmarks. See the Imperial Palace complex—the winter residence of the Imperial Family, the iconic Vienna Opera House, and stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Join a guided optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace—summer home of the Habsburg Empire.
Enjoy free time this afternoon to take a tram to visit Vienna's Prater amusement park or one of the many museums nearby. You may also borrow a bike from the ship to explore Vienna's square or, the banks of the Danube.
Later, relax on board with live entertainment as you sail to Budapest.
Day 15 Budapest
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour, including the iconic Heroes’ Square.
This afternoon, select from a variety of guided optional excursions or spend free time soaking in one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths. Consider a scenic hike in the hills above the Danube, or enjoy Budapest's cafés, pubs, and nightlife.
Day 16 Budapest | Disembark
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
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