Splendours of Europe & Prague

Welcome to Amsterdam, a fascinating 700-year-old city of picturesque canals, world class museums, theatres and cafés. You will be met and transferred from the airport to your Emerald Waterways luxury river cruise ship. After boarding, enjoy some time at your leisure to explore Amsterdam. This evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner on board.

This morning you can decide to either enjoy a glass top canal boat tour through Amsterdam’s canal or a guided bike tour. Return to the ship for your first day sailing through the Dutch countryside passing windmills and sailing through locks towards the Rhine River. Tonight, the Captain will be delighted to host a gala dinner.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Bike Tour

Founded by the Romans, and one of Germany’s oldest cities, Cologne is famous for its magnificent World–Heritage listed Gothic Cathedral. Join your guide and explore the city including the Old Town. During your free time shop for handicrafts or visit a local market before returning to your ship.

DiscoverMORE: Tour to Drachenburg (extra expense)

Today’s cruising will be a highlight of your trip, as we cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge. Keep your camera at the ready as around every bend there are stunning vistas of castles perched above steep vine–covered slopes. We will also pass the infamous Lorelei Rock where sailors are said to have been lured onto treacherous rocks by enchanted temptresses. We also pass the impressive Pfalzgrafenstein Castle which was formerly a toll gate perched on an island in the middle of the river. In the afternoon we arrive in Rüdesheim, one of Germany’s most popular towns. You will either have a choice of visiting the Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or if you feel active take a guided hike through vineyards. Continue exploring, and perhaps taste the famous “Rüdesheimer Coffee”, made with Germany’s most famous brandy Asbach Uralt.
EmeraldACTIVE:  Guided hike through vineyards

Welcome to Miltenberg, a picturesque village on the Main River, which creates an imitable feeling of Bavarian life in medieval times due to the Old Town being lined with well-preserved half-timbered buildings. The gothic Merchant Hall is an impressive symbol of past affluence created by trade from river traffic. After your included tour of Miltenberg and free time, you will be transferred by coach to the stunning medieval glass-blowing town of Wertheim to enjoy free time until the ship arrives.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike around Miltenberg area

Known as the “Pearl of the Romantic Road”, Würzburg is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. After breakfast, visit the Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your tour highlights the palace’s unique staircase, elaborate 18th century frescoes and the amazing 3–dimensional stuccowork.

DiscoverMORE: Tour to Rothenburg (extra expense)

*** Please note, you can only choose either included visit to Bishop’s Residenz or the DiscoverMORE option, as both tours run at the same time.

Relax on board this morning as we cruise to Bamberg. Feel the magic of the past as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage city with your guide. Boasting one of Europe’s largest intact medieval town centres, Bamberg is bursting with character and charm. At the town centre is the largest preserved old quarter in Europe. Around 2,400 listed buildings and the centuries–old garden quarter form a special cultural heritage. Admire hundreds of building façades richly decorated in fascinating detail with spectacular ornamentation.

Today you will have a sightseeing coach tour of the historic city of Nuremberg. Your coach tour would pass by some of the historical parts of Nuremberg, such as the 900-year-old ramparts, the Nazi party rally grounds, where rallies were held from 1933 until 1938 among other sights.

DiscoverMORE: WW2 Tour (extra expense)

This morning takes you through the final stretch of the fascinating Main–Danube Canal to Kelheim. Continue cruising along the Danube River to Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. On our guided walking tour, you will have the chance to see one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube and see the city’s architectural highlights including the Old Town Hall.
EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Bavarian Band on board

DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Kuchlbauer Brewery (extra expense)

Cobblestone streets and graceful arcades welcome you in the beautiful city of Passau. On this morning’s walking tour, stroll through the old town’s narrow alleys and see the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress from the town below. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a wonderful example of Baroque architecture and home to Europe’s largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes. Return for lunch and an afternoon cruising along the Danube River.

DiscoverMORE: Tour to Salzburg (extra expense)

*** Please note, you can only choose either included tour of Passau or the DiscoverMORE option, as both tours run at the same time.

Situated within Austria’s wine–growing region, Melk is home to an imposing 900–year old Benedictine Abbey which features Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture, with its ornate gold leaf walls, 640ft Imperial Corridor and fresco ceilings. Later the ship sails through the spectacular Wachau Valley and on to Dürnstein, one of the most enchanting villages of the Wachau wine region. This is the site of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned after returning from the crusades in the 12th century.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided biking tour along the Danube River from Melk to Dürnstein
OR
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided hike to Dürnstein Castle

Welcome to Vienna, the capital of classical music. Today, you have a choice of either exploring Austria’s capital beginning with a drive along the magnificent Ringstrasse, where we will see the sights of the Vienna’s world-famous attractions such as the Opera House, Burgtheater, Town Hall, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Imperial Palace. If you feel active, join the guided bike tour instead of the drive around and guided walk.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike Tour

DiscoverMORE: Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
AND / or
DiscoverMORE: Exclusive Viennese concert with music from Mozart and Strauss (extra expense)

Set on the crossroads of ancient trade routes in the heart of Europe, Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, embodies various cultures – primarily Celtic, Roman and Slavic. Enjoy a sightseeing tour including the enchanting Old City with its Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and the Gothic Cathedral of St Martin. Alternatively, join an active hike to Bratislava Castle.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
EmeraldPLUS: Home hosted coffee and cake with Slovakians

Budapest is Eastern Europe’s liveliest and most cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a guided tour of the city sights including the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest or an exciting hike on the Buda Hill. This evening, enjoy a traditional Hungarian farewell dinner, then a Hungarian folk dancing and music performance on board.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided active walk to Buda Hill
EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Hungarian Folklore Show & Budapest Evening Cruise

DiscoverMORE: Jewish Heritage Tour (extra expense)

After breakfast, be transferred by coach from Budapest to Prague. Situated on the banks of the River Vltava in central Bohemia, this beautiful city is rich in history and is home to some of the world’s most pristine collections of architecture. Included is a three-night stay in Prague.

This morning we explore the sights of the Old Town Square on a guided walking tour. We see Mozart´s Theatre, Little Square and Astronomical Clock. We continue our tour and walk across the Charles Bridge spanning the River Vltava and full of portrait artists and small vendors, to board our coach to drive to the 1,000–year–old Prague Castle area. With our local guide we walk through Hradcany Square, for the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard. See the magnificent Loreta Monastery, and arrive at Hradcany Castle.
EmeraldPLUS: Local Dinner with Entertainment

Your Tour Director is on hand to help plan your day’s exploring. The baroque quarter of Mala Strana is a must see, as is Josefov, the Jewish quarter. You will no doubt return to the lively atmosphere around the Charles Bridge for another look.

DiscoverMORE: Tastes of Czechia  (extra expense)

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.