Romantic Danube: Nuremberg to Budapest

Welcome to Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second-largest city. After boarding, you have free time to stretch your legs and explore the city a bit on your own.

Your morning tour of Nuremberg includes a drive to the ruins of Zeppelin Field, the Nazi parade grounds of the 1930s, and Congress Hall. Also drive by the Palace of Justice, the venerable vestige of the Nuremberg Trials. Then, visit medieval Nuremberg Castle. Your tour comes to a close with a walk from the imperial palace grounds, past the Albrecht Dürer House and on to the Main Market Square of Old Town, enclosed within ancient city walls.

Alternatively, you can join an optional World War II tour. Visit Zeppelin Field on foot, see Congress Hall and spend time at the illuminating Documentation Center Museum. After, visit Courtroom 600 at the Palace of Justice (unless court is in session) before heading into the historic area surrounded by the city’s medieval walls to explore Nuremberg’s Old Town.

After lunch on board your ship, enjoy a leisurely afternoon sailing the Main–Danube Canal. An engineering marvel, the canal stretches 106 miles from Bamberg on the Main River to Kelheim on the Danube, enabling river travel from the North Sea to the Black Sea. Dinner is served on board while we cruise through the night.

The Nuremberg Through History excursion is included. Optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Nuremberg & World War II.

This morning, meet your local guide for a walking tour through the scenic town of Regensburg, considered one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities. See one of the largest groupings of 13th- and 14th-century church spires, towers and patrician houses north of the Alps. You also encounter the 12th-century Old Stone Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral and a number of idyllic courtyards. Alternately, you may instead choose to join an optional excursion to Kelheim, located at the southernmost point of the Main–Danube Canal. Travel by road to Kelheim, then cast off on a ferryboat ride to marvel at the 400-foot chalk cliffs and dramatic scenery of the Danube Narrows. Also visit the renowned Weltenburg Abbey*, famous for its dark ale, brewed here by monks since 1050. Upon your return in the afternoon, get the opportunity to enjoy the same included walking tour of Regensburg that was offered this morning. Or, you may choose instead to sample some of the excellent local beer on an optional excursion to explore the brauhaus culture and Bavarian microbrews. Rejoin your ship for dinner. Depart late this evening.

The following excursion is included for this day: Regensburg Walking Tour. Optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Munich Highlights, Weltenburg Abbey & the Danube Narrows, Microbreweries of Bavaria.

* Weltenburg Abbey tour is available from May – October only.

Arrive this morning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. The guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. See the New Bishop’s Residence and see the impressive baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Enjoy lunch on board your ship, and return to the city for further exploration on your own before departing. Alternately, you may instead journey into the countryside on an optional excursion to a local farm where get the opportunity to join a festive Bavarian party, experiencing traditional German music and food and tasting locally brewed beer. Or, choose a full-day optional excursion to explore glorious Salzburg; visit the Italianate Old Town, see settings from the film The Sound of Music and enjoy lunch at Austria’s oldest restaurant. Cruise through the night.

The following excursion is included for this day: Passau Walking Tour & Organ Concert. Optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Salzburg Highlights, Bavarian Beerfest, Hike the Passau Hills, Fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle by Plane, Flightseeing over Passau, Bavaria by E-Bike.

This morning, cruise leisurely through the captivating Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spotting attractive riverside towns and castle ruins along the way. After lunch, disembark in Krems and visit Göttweig, a working Benedictine abbey that owns many of the vineyards along the Danube. The splendid ceiling fresco in the imperial stairwell is one of the largest in the world. Visit the church, a masterpiece of baroque architecture. Rejoin your ship and continue cruising through the splendid Wachau Valley. Arrive in Vienna after dinner and enjoy a relaxing evening. Or, you may choose one of this evening’s optional excursions: experience a classical concert in the “City of Waltzes,” or head to the famed Grinzing district to join locals in a high-spirited Heurigen celebration of the year’s wine vintage. 

The following optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Gottweig Abbey, Wachau Valley by Bicycle.

Today, tour the Austrian capital of Vienna. Ride along the Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century. See some of the city’s baroque architecture, including the world-famous Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Return to the ship for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to further explore. As always, the Program Director can help you plan your free time. Or, you may choose to join an optional excursion. Perhaps visit Schönbrunn Palace, erected in 1778 and admired as the “Versailles of Vienna,” or go behind the scenes at the Spanish Riding School to see its famed Lipizzaner stallions. This evening, you might enjoy an optional classical concert or celebrate the bottling of this year’s wine vintage among the locals at a high-spirited optional Heurigen dinner. 

The following excursion is included for this day: Panoramic Vienna. Optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Jewels of Vienna's Ring, Schonbrunn Palace, Historic Framer's Market Visit with Viking Chef.

The morning begins with a panoramic tour of the Pest side of the city. Journey along Andrássy Avenue and see the 19th- and 20th-century mansions, National Opera House, Parliament Building and Chain Bridge. Stop in Heroes’ Square to learn more about Hungarian history, then cross the Danube to Buda’s Castle District. Visit Matthias Church and enjoy brilliant views of the Danube and the beautiful Hungarian Parliament building from Fishermen’s Bastion. Rejoin your ship in Visegrád for lunch as we cruise along the scenic Danube River. Enjoy a midafternoon Viennese coffee workshop, complete with apple strudel.

The following excursion is included for this day: Panoramic Budapest. Optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Hungarian Horseman, Dohany Street Synagogue & Jewish Budapest, Budapest Therma Bath, Grand Market: Taste of Hungary &Pancake Kitchen, Budapest Castle Hill City Hike, Budapest by Bike, Hungarian Icons.

After breakfast, disembark in beautiful Budapest.