Arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and be greeted by a Uniworld representative. Then, be transferred to the ship.

Enjoy a delightful tour of Cologne’s Old Town, where three medieval gates remain standing, as does the old city hall with its stunning Renaissance facade. Wander through the historic center and take in its charming atmosphere and narrow alleyways flanked by old houses. No matter how you choose to explore Old Town, you can also have ample free time to explore the city independently.

Featured Excursion:  Cologne Walking Tour

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you in the evening.

Experience the most spectacular scenery on the Rhine this morning as you cruise past the famous Middle Rhine Valley. Later, experience Germany’s fabled Rheingau in one of two ways today. Take in spectacular views of the region from the Rüdesheim mini-train, or venture within an atmospheric medieval monastery and taste the Rieslings made on site. Like many cities along the Rhine, Rüdesheim has a lengthy history dating back to Roman times. These days, the town is best known for its narrow avenue of shops and wine bars called the Drosselgasse and its impressive Niederwald Monument.

Choose between The Rüdesheim Mini-Train or Abbey Eberbach Medieval Monastery Tour with Riesling Tasting.

Vibrant Frankfurt, often called the “Mainhattan” of Europe, boasts world-class museums, soaring skyscrapers, cozy wine taverns, and lovely parks. Choose a brief tour that gives you an overview of this major European financial and trade center. Alternatively, visit romantic Heidelberg and its Renaissance castle.

Choose between Heidelberg Castle Visit or Heidelberg School Visit or Frankfurt Walking Tour with Local Treats.

After today, you may never eat a pretzel again without thinking of the town of Wertheim. Meet one of Germany’s best pretzel makers and the owner of a historic wine estate. If you’re more in the mood for a scenic bike ride, you are welcome to do that instead.

Choose between Wertheim Walk with Local Treats or Let's Go: Wertheim Bicycle Tour.

Your ship will dock in the charming Franconian town of Würzburg, where you can visit the extraordinary Würzburg Residence, one of Europe's most opulent baroque palaces.

Choose between Würzburg Residence Visit with Court Gardens or Würzburg Wine Cellar.

Step into a fairytale version of the Middle Ages in Rothenburg and visit a medieval castle described as a miniature Versailles. Spend a relaxing day onboard as your ship wends along the Main River between Würzburg and Bamberg. It’s something of a truism to say that this route takes you from wine to beer, and you can see the transition as you sail past the vineyard-covered slopes around Würzburg toward Bavaria’s famous beer-brewing center, Bamberg. Along the way, you pass delightful little villages and romantic castle ruins, drift under lovely old bridges, and have plenty of time to observe the fascinating variety of vessels plying the river, from heavily loaded barges to jaunty little pleasure craft.

Featured Excursion: Fairytale Rothenburg

Your floating boutique hotel takes you to Bamberg today, a well-preserved town that offers a fascinating glimpse of medieval times. Explore the city on foot or opt to head deeper into the Franconian countryside to experience an authentic slice of rural life—including a tractor ride. Like Rome, the city is built on seven hills—but in Bamberg, a church tops each one.

Choose between the Bamberg Walking Tour or Franconian Village Day.

Spend the rest of the day on the peaceful Main River, cruising past quiet Franconian hamlets and picturesque countryside. It’s the perfect time to indulge in the many comforts of your luxury ship while watching some of Europe’s loveliest scenery glide by.

Head up to the top deck or find a seat with a good view—you won’t want to miss seeing the ship navigate its way through a marvel of modern engineering, the Main-Danube Canal. A formidable set of locks, 16 in all, lifts your ship to the crest of the European “continental divide.” Arrive in the archetypal medieval German city of Nuremberg. Nuremberg is justifiably famous for its gingerbread and pocket watches, and it was also the site of some key moments in 20th-century history. You can choose between two memorable ways of exploring this exceptional city. You can join a tour of a secret Nazi art bunker hidden underground, or you can accompany a local expert to the city’s most important WWII sites, including the enormous Nazi Party Rally Grounds—the actual site of the Nazi Party rallies.

Choose between the Nuremberg City Tour with WWII Rally Grounds and Documentation Center Visits or the Nuremberg City Walk & Art Bunker Visit.

Bavaria’s first capital, Regensburg, owes its impressive historical lineage and rich architectural heritage to 600 years as a Free Imperial City, recognized by UNESCO in 2006. Today, you discover how the beautifully preserved medieval city coexists with a vibrant modern urban center.

Choose between the Regensburg Walking Tour or the “From Hops Field to Beer Stein” Farm Visit.

Located at the confluence of three rivers—the Danube, Inn, and Ilz— Passau is well known for its ornate baroque cathedral. Today, the city is unusually well preserved, having been spared the brunt of Allied bombing during WWII, as you can see on your walking tour.

Choose between the Passau Walking Tour or Let's Go: Bicycle Ride along the Inn River.

Named for its white church, Weissenkirchen may very well be the prettiest village in the Wachau Valley. A local expert will show you around and introduce you to regional delicacies, including a wine tasting. Prefer to go for baroque? Visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey and its extraordinarily opulent library. Later, you can stretch your legs with a vineyard hike.

Featured Excursion:  Let’s Go: Vineyard Hike and Nights Out: Private House of Strauss Visit & Concert

Choose between Weissenkirchen Village Walk with Wine Tasting or Melk Abbey with Library Visit.
 

Vienna is a cultural treasure trove revered for its art, music (and sinfully rich pastries). Embark on a tour of the city's imperial highlights and a visit to Hofburg Palace or an interactive multimedia experience featuring the work of Mozart.

Choose between Imperial City Highlights with Hofburg Palace Visit or Mythos Mozart & Imperial City Highlights.

A special Captain's Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared this evening.

Called the “Queen of the Danube,” in part because of the way the city hugs the banks of the river, Budapest is an enchanting city that vibrantly mixes East and West, medieval and modern. Made up of two parts— Buda (the hills) and Pest (the flatlands)—and divided by the Danube, Hungary’s capital presents an array of architectural styles that reveal its long and varied history. You have two enticing ways to experience the city—a panoramic guided tour aboard a motorcoach with a visit to the Parliament, or discover the Budapest that locals love on a special walking tour of the city’s most important landmarks.

Choose between Budapest Panoramic Highlights with Parliament Visit or Budapest Walk with Local Treats.
 

Other passengers are heading home today, but you are halfway through your marvelous holiday. Enjoy a day of leisure exploring beautiful and historic Budapest.

Featured Excursion:  Unicum Distillery Visit

Buda and Pest each have distinctive characters and allure on opposite sides of the Danube. Explore this dynamic and multifaceted city with your choice of excursions—you can see it from a local’s perspective on a walking tour or cover more ground with a panoramic tour. Vibrant Budapest, Hungary’s capital, offers an enchanting combination of East and West.

Choose between the Budapest Communist Tour or Budapest Panoramic Highlights with Synagogue Visit.

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you in the evening.

Welcome to Croatia! This ancient country, which has remarkably recovered from a brutal civil war, is noted for its beautiful countryside, thriving folk traditions, and simple, delicious local rustic food.

Choose between the Vučedol Culture Museum and Lunch at a Family Restaurant or the Osijek Walking Tour and a Home-Hosted Lunch with an Eltz Manor Visit.

Belgrade, the modern-day capital of Serbia, is one of Europe’s oldest cities, dating back some 7,000 years. Signs of its tumultuous history are visible everywhere, juxtaposed with the city’s vibrant modern-day present.

Featured Excursion: Nights Out Serbian History with Private Concert

Choose between the Belgrade City Tour with Visit to the Royal Grounds of Karadjordjevic Dynasty Palace or the Let's Go: "I Bike Belgrade" Tour.

Head ashore to explore a Paleolithic site and an extraordinarily well-preserved medieval fortress. All along the way, history lines the banks of the river. Keep an eye out for Trajan's Plaque, which the ancient Romans erected to commemorate the road they anchored in the cliffs above the water, and Golubac Castle, built in the 14th century and attacked successively by the Serbs, Magyars, and Turks.

Choose between Lepenski Vir Archaeological Park and Golubac Castle or Let's Go: Kovilovo Viewpoint Hike.

Unwind onboard as you cruise the breathtaking Iron Gates, an 83-mile-long (134-kilometer-long) stretch of scenic gorges cut through the Carpathian and Balkan mountains over eons by the Danube River. These gorges, a natural border between Serbia and Romania, are among Europe's most dramatic and beautiful sights. This was one of the river's swiftest and most dangerous stretches before two dams were built: Iron Gate I and Iron Gate II. Construction on the dams began in 1964 and took 20 years to complete; they have dramatically altered the area's landscape, raising the water level by 114 feet (35 meters) and drowning several islands and villages.

Vidin is a port town on the Danube that once played an important role in medieval Bulgarian politics, as the great fortress Baba Vida attests. It’s your base for an unusual excursion today—visiting the fascinating Belogradchik rock formations. Or you can indulge in a tasting at a local winery.

Choose between Belogradchik Red Rock Valley or Dos Alamos Wine Estate Visit and Tasting.

Bulgaria’s foremost Danube port, Ruse, is sometimes called “Little Vienna” for its elegant 19th-century mansions and public buildings.

Choose between Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with Authentic Bulgarian Lunch or Ruse Walking Tour with Ivanovo and Basarbovo Monasteries.

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you in the evening.

This morning, disembark the ship in Giurgiu and drive through the countryside to Bucharest, where you can enjoy a panoramic city tour and visit People’s Palace. Tonight, relax in the comfort of a luxury hotel in the heart of the city, Romania’s capital and cultural and economic center.

Featured Excursion: Bucharest Communist Tour with People's Palace

Get to know the bustling heart of Romania's capital city with a full day to explore Bucharest on your own.

Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer to Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport for your flight home.