Amadeus Waterways Ultimate River CruiseOverview
Savor a stunning cruise from Budapest to Trier, then spend 3 fascinating nights in Paris
21 Days - 19 nights - Fly to Budapest & return from Paris. Combine the highlights of the legendary Main and Danube with the picturesque Rhine and Moselle and experience a voyage of cultural and scenic diversity through the four countries of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. Start your European vacation with two grand old capitals, vibrant Budapest and magnificent Vienna. Journey on the Main-Danube Canal across the Continental Divide, and visit charming towns with beautiful vistas. Cruise through the lush and scenic Moselle valley, famous for its many historical castles and the steepest vineyards in the world, and be close to the heart of the people living in the medieval cities along the Rhine and Main river. Conclude your European vacation with Paris, also called the “City of Lights.” Brief Itinerary
Your Travel Value Includes
Detailed ItineraryDay 1, Thu. DEPART USABoard your overnight flight to Budapest. Day 2, Fri. ARRIVE IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or begin exploring this beautiful city. Day 3, Sat. BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Morning sightseeing includes historic Buda Castle, and also features 500-year old Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace and much more. The balance of the day is at your leisure. Day 4, Sun. BUDAPEST - EMBARK SHIP Enjoy a free morning in Budapest or join us on an optional Puszta excursion. This afternoon transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship docked in the center of the city. Tonight, gather on board for a Gala Welcome Dinner, as your ship cruises overnight to Vienna. Day 5, Mon. VIENNA, AUSTRIA Relax on board today as you cruise to Vienna, arriving late this afternoon in the "City of Music." Tonight explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. Day 6, Tue. VIENNA A guided sightseeing tour includes the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. Tonight explore the capital on your own or join an optional tour to the Imperial Schöbrunn Palace. Day 7, Wed. DÜRNSTEIN - MELK Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein for a walking tour before lunchtime. After a short cruise, arrive in Melk for a guided tour and visit the town's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. An evening wine tasting highlights your visit to the Wachau Valley. Day 8, Thu. LINZ - PASSAU, GERMANY After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to fascinating Salzburg and the Sound of Music sights, or cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Day 9, Fri. REGENSBURG Afternoon arrival in Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall, and the Porta Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Tonight, folklore entertainers will come on board for your delight. Day 10, Sat. NUREMBERG This morning enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmuhl Valley. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. Moor overnight in Nuremberg. Day 11, Sun. NUREMBERG Today travel by train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, often given the nickname "Germany's secret capital." Your Cruise Director will escort your day, offer suggestions of what to do whilst you are there and take you to lunch in the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Tonight you will meet fellow travelers embarking from Prague. Day 12, Mon. BAMBERG Enjoy your breakfast as you cruise along and marvel at the engineering feat of the Main-Danube canal which straddles the Franconian Alps via 16 locks. Then arrive in Bamberg and enjoy a walking tour of this medieval gem, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. There is free time before you continue your cruise, now on the Main River. Day 13, Tue. WURZBURG This morning arrive in Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. During your tour, see the major sights including the magnificent Residential Palace. This afternoon explore Würzburg on your own, or take an optional tour to Medieval Rothenburg. Day 14, Wed.WERTHEIM-MILTENBERG Disembark in Wertheim and enjoy free time perhaps browsing the market square and the shops. Then cruise to Miltenberg for a guided walking tour. Tonight, the ship sails leaving Bavaria, Franconia and the Main River behind. Day 15, Thu. MAINZ-HEIDELBERG-RUDESHEIM-KOBLENZ Today, again you decide, either disembark in Mainz and travel by motorcoach to Heidelberg, where you will visit the red-walled Castle, seeing the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Necker Valley and Heidelberg below. Then there is a walking tour of old Heidelberg and free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon drive to Frankfurt, where you rejoin your ship. Or, you can enjoy a leisurely walking tour of charming Mainz before taking a lunchtime cruise on the Main and Rhine rivers to the wine village of Rüdesheim. Here tour the town by mini-train and visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Late, this afternoon everyone will cruise the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine River, and arrive in Koblenz after dinner. Day 16, Fri. COCHEM-ZELL After breakfast enjoy a guided visit of Reichsburg Castle, situated above Cochem with spectacular views of the River Moselle. This afternoon continue past hilllside vineyards to Zell, home of the famous "Zeller Schwarze Katz" wine. A surprise awaits you this evening.
Day 17, Sat. BERNKASTEL-TRIER
Day 20, Tue. PARIS
Day 21, Wed. PARIS Cost of This Itinerary19 night cruise and land
The least expensive stateroom costs The most expensive suite costs |
