Celebrate the beauty and history of the Danube, Europe’s second largest river, as you cruise from Nuremberg through the Main-Danube Canal across the Continental Divide. Continue to centuries-old towns and marvel at the beautiful river side vistas unfolding around you. Enter Austria and cruise through the lush Wachau wine region. Then, conclude your European river cruise vacation with two grand capitals, magnificent Vienna and historic Budapest.

Available Cruise Departure Dates:

2012: May 30, Jun 13, Jun 28, Jul 26, Aug 1, Aug 23, Sep 12, Sep 20, Oct 4, Oct 10, Nov 1, Nov 4, Nov 7, Nov 15, Nov 21

2013: Jun 12, Jul 2, Jul 24, Aug 13, Aug 27, Sep 12, Oct 7, Oct 21, Nov 4

*Please note cruise itinerary and activities may be subject to slight modifications based on seasonality.

Capital of Bavaria and beer capital of Europe, Munich boasts as rich a wealth of art and architecture as any of Germany's great cities. Where Berlin and Frankfurt have entered into the spirit of modernity, Munich has retained the air of a traditional German city, and has grown in fame as keeper of Germany's folk customs and identity, full of architectural treasures from the Baroque and Renaissance period. Oktoberfest is the main festival in the city and it is mobbed with lederhosen clad Germans and foreigners, and the celebration of carnivalesque magnitude belies the world view of Germans as a staid and serious folk. Dancing, processions and fabulous masques turn the entire city into a playground as people celebrate uproariously. If the revels don't sound like your thing then stay away and visit the city another time, when you can appreciate the Bavarian architecture of the Frauenkirche, Marienplatz and the old town, the baroque magnificence of the Schloss Nymphenburg and the modern expanse of the Olympia Park, an icon of post-war Germany.

Meet your driver for a private airport transfer in Munich.

NH Deutscher Kaiser (4*) hotel is located very central in the heart of Munich. The main railway station (0,2km), the underground, rapid trains and trams on the doorstep, the city centre is 500m and the motorway is 3km. The room facilities include a safety deposit box, smoke detectors, work desk, minibar, iron and ironing board, and air-conditioning.

Overnight at NH Deutscher Kaiser (4*).

Enjoy a city tour with private vehicle and guide. Start your tour with the Old town. Visit Olympiaturm and enjoy the landscape. The view of Munich, its surroundings and, if the weather is good, the Alps from the Salzkammergut to the Allgaeu Alps is just as unique as the Olympic tower itself. On April 5, 2005 the Olympic tower has even grown by 1.75 meters. A Russian specialist helicopter under Swiss flag has been used to lift off the antenna’s top end and put up a new antenna piece by piece, which from now on will provide six million TV viewers in Munich and the south of Bavaria with digital TV broadcasting. The new height of the Olympic tower is now 291.28 meters. Up here on one of the highest towers in Europe you can get away from the bustle of the city. Take a deep breath, forget everything and then relax. From the viewing platforms of the tower at a height of 190 metres, the shiny silver tent roof silhouette of the Olympic park is a brilliant example of exceptional architecture. 

Continue your tour with BMW Museum and its distinctive architecture in the shape of a futuristic silver bowl, which is among the most attractive museums in Munich. Entrance fees are included in the tour cost.

Overnight at NH Deutscher Kaiser (4*).

Cruise the waters of the Danube River, known to history as one of the long-standing frontiers of the Roman Empire. The river flows through or acts as part of the borders of ten countries, passing through four European capitals before emptying into the Black Sea. Aboard your luxurious cruise ship, you'll be able to relax in comfort as you traverse the river between interesting ports-of-call.

Take a train station transfer in Munich with a private vehicle and driver.

Relax and enjoy the approximately 2hr train ride from Munich to Nuremberg.

Meet your driver for a private port transfer.

Tonight, meet your fellow passengers at the Welcome Dinner. The ship will moor overnight in Nuremberg.

The MS AmaDolce, AmaLegro, and AmaLyra have all set a new standard in European river cruising and offer a number of features, which no other European river cruise ships can match. Each vessel carries 148 passengers in unequaled luxury, comfort and style and is staffed by a highly-trained professional crew, with an ongoing emphasis on personal service.

Overnight at MS AmaDolce / AmaLegro / AmaLyra.

Enjoy scenic cruising through the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmuhl Valley. Later on, you have a choice of two different excursions in Nuremberg. On one tour, you will explore the medieval history of Nuremberg, and see the 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and Old Town Hall. The other tour will focus on Nuremberg during World War II as the center of the Third Reich. Visit the infamous Zeppelin field used to hold rallies and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946 (when available).

Overnight at MS AmaDolce / AmaLegro / AmaLyra.

This morning’s scenic cruising takes you through the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal to arrive in magnificent 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 Praetoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort which was built in 179 AD.

Your next tour is a bike ride to Walhalla, where you will visit the Walhalla Temple, effectively serving as a hall of fame which honors distinguished Germans throughout history.

Optional:
Should you decide to partake, you may join an excursion to beautiful Weltenburg Abbey, the oldest monastery in Bavaria, and see the scenic Danube Gorge (seasonal).

To book this tour, please contact your sales specialist.

Overnight at MS AmaDolce / AmaLegro / AmaLyra.

A walking tour of Passau will take you along the cobblestone streets of Old Town where you will see the city fortifications and St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to the largest cathedral organ in the world. Located where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube, this 2,000-year-old city is noted for its Gothic and Italian baroque architecture.

Optional:
Should you decide to partake, you may join an excursion to Salzburg, where you will take a walking tour of the historic center, famous as the setting for the “Sound of Music” and as the birthplace of Mozart. The tour includes a visit to the Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg Cathedral, Mozart’s Square, and much more.

To book this tour, please contact your sales specialist.

Overnight at MS AmaDolce / AmaLegro / AmaLyra.

In Melk, a guided tour will take you to the city’s magnificent 11th century Benedictine abbey, Melk Abbey, one of Europe’s largest Baroque monasteries. You'll find this majestic structure perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube and beautiful Wachau valley.

Optional:
If you are so inclined, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an optional Mozart and Strauss concert in the “Music Capital of the World.”

To participate in this activity, please contact your sales specialist.

Overnight at MS AmaDolce / AmaLegro / AmaLyra.

During today's city tour of Vienna, you will see the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse with it's grand architectural surrounds, and the historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world, this tour will help you discover part of what makes Vienna so special.

Optional:
Should you decide to partake, you may join a tour to Schönbrunn Palace, a former imperial 1,400-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna. The Palace and Gardens have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and remains one of the primary tourist attractions in Vienna.

To book this tour, please contact your sales specialist.

Overnight at MS AmaDolce / AmaLegro / AmaLyra.

Embark on a sightseeing tour which takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica, the famous Heroes’ Square and much more.

Optional:
Should you decide to partake, you may join an excursion taking you back to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. This tour will offer facts and insight into what started out as a student demonstration, but then quickly spread across the country causing an uprising against the Communist regime.

To book this tour, please contact your sales specialist.

Overnight at MS AmaDolce / AmaLegro / AmaLyra.

Budapest was originally two cities on each side of one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube River – Buda, the older, more graceful part, with cobbled streets and medieval buildings, and Pest, the commercial center. In Buda, Gellért Hill gives a wonderful view of the city, river and mountains. On the hill is the Citadella fort, the Royal Palace which houses the National Gallery, the rampart of Halászbástya (Fisherman’s Bastion), so called because it was the duty of the city’s fishermen to protect the northern side of the Palace during the Middle Ages, and the great Mátyás Templom (church) with its multicolored tiled roof. On the Pest side are the Parliament; the Hungarian National Museum, containing remarkable treasures ranging from the oldest skull found in Europe to Franz Liszt’s gold baton; the Belvárosi Templom, Hungary’s oldest church, dating from the 12th century, the Museum of Fine Arts housing European paintings and the Ethnographic Museum. Margaret Island, connected to both Buda and Pest by bridges, is a park with a sports stadium, swimming pool, spas, a rose garden and fountains. Budapest has about 100 hot springs.

After breakfast this morning you'll disembark from your cruise ship in Budapest.

Enjoy your private hydrofoil pier transfer today.

Enjoy a visit to Matthias Church and The Fishermen’s Bastion. Located in the Buda’s Castle District, Matthias Church was originally built in 1015. Officially, named the Church of Our Lady, it is popularly named after the Hungarian king, Matthias Corvinus. Next is the Fishermen’s Bastion, built behind the Matthias Church between 1895 and 1902 with impressive towers, colonnades and embrasures. It is a great opportunity to admire and photograph the magnificent view over the city and the Danube. The tour takes a half a day tour (approx. 4 hours). Entrance fees to Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion are included in the tour price.

Buda Castle Hotel (4*) can be found at the heart of the castle district, one of Budapest's more elegant quarters on the Buda side of the city. The local area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the historical streets, which were once the commercial and governmental centre of the city, provide a fascinating view of the city’s glorious past. Holy Trinity Square, Mathias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion are all a few steps from the hotel. The 25 rooms of the Hotel Buda Castle are all generously sized and elegantly furnished in a modern style. All enjoy such contemporary amenities as WiFi internet access, a laptop-size safe, a large flat-screen television and individually controlled air-conditioning. Rooms face onto either the quiet surrounding streets or the beautiful and tranquil interior courtyard. Breakfast is served in the Orangerie lounge, and the hotel also has a café and snack bar open daily until midnight.

Overnight at Buda Castle (4*).

Visit the former summer-residence of Queen Elisabeth (Sissi) and Francis Joseph in Godollo, one of the largest baroque palaces in the world. You will have a glimpse of the times under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Take a break to enjoy coffee and cake at the Palace Cafe.

Overnight at Buda Castle (4*).

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).