European Rivers

Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel. Later, gather with fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Tour the Rijksmuseum this morning before heading to the pier to embark the AMADEUS Riva. After lunch on board, take a canal boat cruise along the tree-lined canals and waterways of Amsterdam, admiring some of the city's 1,500 bridges, dozens of islands, and charming Dutch homes and the architectural gems. Return to our ship for dinner this evening.

Choose from one of two tours this morning before traveling by road to Utrecht to reunite with the Amadeus Riva:

• Travel to “Waterland” for a guided bike ride in this scenic marshy wetland, passing through historic villages and stopping for coffee and pastries in lovely Broek.

• Join a walking tour of one of the most beautiful canals in Amsterdam, the Herengracht, stopping in the Museum of the Canals to learn about the district’s fascinating history. 

Sail through the afternoon and night on our way to Cologne, Germany.

Embark on a walking tour of this medieval city with its colorful patrician houses and narrow, cobbled lanes. Visit the Cologne Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic structures in the world and one of the few structures in Cologne that survived the war. Return to the ship for lunch on board.

Spend the morning on deck as we sail through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a stunning and historic 40-mile stretch of the Rhine.  We pass the legendary Loreley Rock, home of the melancholy siren whose song enchanted passing sailors. Arrive in Rüdesheim and disembark for lunch at a local winery. This afternoon, continue sailing down the Rhine.

As we cruise to Miltenberg this morning, gather on the sun deck for the age-old German tradition of drinking a beer before midday along with pretzels, sausages, and mustards. Then, after a light lunch on board, disembark in Miltenberg for a walking tour of one of Germany’s most romantic marketplaces with its 16th-century fountain and unusual half-timbered houses. See the oldest inn in Germany and visit St. Kilian’s winery, where we sample liqueur in its vaulted 15th-century cellar.  Continue by road to Wertheim to reunite with our ship. Enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening aboard as we cruise along the Main River, taking in the rolling hills, dense forests, and picture-postcard villages that adorn its banks.

Disembark in Würzburg and join either a walking tour or scenic drive:

• After a visit to the famous Würzburg Residence, one of the finest Baroque palaces in Europe, take a walking tour of the historic city center to see the Old Town Hall, St. Kilian’s Cathedral, and the Neumünslerkirche, where St. Kilian’s crypt is found. Return to the ship for lunch onboard.

• Take a scenic drive through spectacular medieval walled villages to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a picturesque town of half-timbered houses and cobblestone lanes. Dine independently in town before returning to Würzburg in the early afternoon.

Continue our lecture program onboard this afternoon as the ship departs for Bamberg.

This morning, we have two choices for our time in Bamberg:

• Embark on a walking tour to see the famous statue of Neptune, wander under the grand rococo archway of the Upper Bridge, and take in views of the red-roofed fishermen’s houses and baroque mansions that populate this fairy tale town. 

• Take a culinary tour of Bamberg, visiting a bakery, butcher, deli, and candy store to learn about and taste local Franconian specialties.  Taste the famous licorice and sample the local Bavarian beer.

Return to the ship for lunch and our afternoon cruise through the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.

Upon arrival in Nuremberg, disembark and join one of three tours:

• Transfer to Nuremberg’s renowned hilltop castle for the start of a walking tour that takes us to the center of town and the Main Market Square to marvel at the Schöner Brunnen, a stunning 14th-century fountain. We also see Our Lady's Church and St. Lorenz Church before returning to the ship.

• Drive past the courthouse where the WWII trials were held on our way to Zeppelin Field, site of the infamous Nuremburg rallies. Then, venture to the Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rallying Grounds for a visit to the museum’s Fascination and Terror exhibit. 

• Ride through idyllic countryside villages to the town of Moggast. Here, visit a Franconian farm and meet with its owners to learn about rural traditions and practices on the farm. 

Enjoy the morning relaxing on deck and taking in the passing scenery. After an early lunch, disembark in wonderfully preserved Regensburg. See the Porta Praetoria, an ancient Roman gateway that dates from 179 CE; the Old Stone Bridge, a wonder of medieval engineering; the Old Town Hall, where German Emperors presided over early parliaments; and St. Peter’s Cathedral with its beautiful 14th-century-stained glass windows.  Then, visit the St. Emmeram Castle, a former monastery that now serves as the residence of the Thurn and Taxis family. Return to the ship for dinner.

Spend the morning cruising the Danube and enjoy lunch onboard as we pull into Passau. Disembark and take a walk through the old city to see Town Hall, the Old and New Residences of the prince-bishops, and the former Niedernburg Abbey with the Holy Cross Church.  Stop to visit the 15th-century St. Stephen's Cathedral, which houses one of the world's largest organs with its nearly 18,000 pipes. Reboard our ship and sail on the Danube River for Melk, Austria. 

Arrive in Melk early this morning. Here, we visit Austria’s most beautiful Benedictine abbey—a baroque building that dates from 1736. Enjoy a beautiful view of the Danube River from its terrace, and wander the opulent frescoes, paintings, gilded woodwork, and marble altar in the lavish Abbey Church. Reboard the ship and enjoy lunch as we depart Melk, sailing through the Wachau Valley. Settled in prehistoric times, this important 25-mile stretch of the Danube River is home to many historic towns, villages, monasteries, castles, and ruins. Upon arrival in Dürnstein, disembark and choose from two options:

• Go ashore and explore this town where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner in the 12th century on his way back to England from the Crusades. See the old walls that surround the town, the narrow cobblestone streets, and step inside the baroque Melk Abbey.

• Join a 12-mile bicycle ride from Dürnstein to Krems and back, traveling on small side streets and along the river past vineyards and small towns. Stop in Krems for cake and coffee before returning to the ship.

Enjoy an evening off-ship with Leopold Böhmer for a tasting of some of Weingut Böhmer’s award-winning wines. Afterwards, indulge in “Brettljause,” a charcuterie board that is a specialty of the region. Continue to Vienna by road to reunite with the Amadeus Riva.

Discover the history of Vienna, one of the world’s most elegant and timeless cities, during one of three choices this morning:

• Take a driving tour of the city to see its most important historical sights, including City Hall, the Burgtheater, the Houses of Parliament, the Opera House, and the University of Vienna, founded in 1365. Travel past monuments to Johann Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, drive around the Ringstrasse, and visit the imperial apartments of Hofburg Palace.

• Depart the city for a guided walk through the forested hills on the outskirts of town where locals escape from the city. Enjoy views over the city and the Danube, stopping along the way at a hiking hut for refreshments.

• Join a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, the sumptuous summer residence of the Habsburgs, to marvel at the opulent state apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, and the stunning gardens. 

Lunch is served onboard, and the rest of the day is free for independent exploration of Vienna. Enjoy a special waltz performance and lesson onboard this evening.

Arrive in the picturesque medieval town of Bratislava, where we have three choices of excursions:

• Take a leisurely tour of Bratislava. Stand before St. Martin’s Cathedral, which served as the coronation venue during the Habsburg Dynasty. See the Old Opera House, St. Michael’s Gate, and Primate’s Palace. Stop to taste the city’s famous pastry at a stunning café painted with scenes from the city’s royal past. 

• Delve into the city’s storied musical history during a tour of the Old Town. Visit the Philharmonic Orchestra Building and see the venues that held significance to Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Liszt, and others. Conclude our visit with a special violin performance at Zichy Palace. 

• Explore the surrounding countryside with its quaint towns, rolling hills and vineyards, and old castles. Visit a winery for a tour and tasting of local Slovakian wines.

Gather this evening for a special farewell reception on board the ship.

Disembark in Budapest after breakfast and join one of three tours:

• Travel through both the Buda and Pest sections of the city. See Heroes Square, the Opera House and the Gothic-style Parliament Building. Continue to the old Castle District, with its 700-year-old Matthias Church and the turreted Fisherman's Bastion.

• Take a guided tour of Great Market Hall, stopping at a coffee house for a strudel-making demonstration. Enjoy a piece of strudel with coffee or tea and then sample Palinka, the local schnapps.

• Embark on a walking tour in the old Jewish Quarter and visit the great Synagogue, also known as Dohány Street Synagogue. Afterward, Then see the “Shoes Memorial” on the River Bank. This is the memorial place from where the Nazi Hungarians shot the Jews into the Danube River in winter of 1944–45.

The afternoon is at leisure to explore Budapest on our own. After dinner onboard, the ship sails through Budapest, allowing us to marvel at Parliament, Buda Castle, and Chain Bridge—each brilliantly illuminated in the night sky.

Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for return flights home.