Day 1Prague
Welcome to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.* After check-in, enjoy free time to explore this beautiful city—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented.
Day 2Prague
This morning, tour this “City of a Hundred Spires.” A guided walk takes you through Old Town to the famed Charles Bridge. Then, travel to Hradcany for a guided tour inside Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure; see the Town Hall’s intricate 15th-century Astronomical Clock, or discover the the city’s vibrant Jewish heritage in the Josefov Quarter. (B)
Day 3Nuremberg
This morning, stop in Pilsen for some free time on the way to Nuremberg. On a city tour of Nuremberg, see the former Nazi parade grounds, the Palace of Justice and the Old Town area before embarking your ship. Your evening is free as we set sail. (B, D)
Day 4Bamberg
After cruising through the Main-Danube Canal, arrive in Bamberg, founded in 902. Bamberg’s Old Town area is so beautifully preserved that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a walking tour and then take time to sample the town’s famous locally brewed smoky beer, Rauchbier. Depart this afternoon and dine aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 5Würzburg
Disembark in Karlstadt, a Franconian wine town, and tour the Bishops’ Residenz, a beautiful baroque palace with many paintings and frescoes. After lunch in a local restaurant, enjoy some free time in Würzburg—or you may choose to participate in an optional excursion to the charming medieval town of Rothenburg and rejoin your ship in Würzburg. Back on board, dine and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 6Heidelberg
After breakfast, embark on a full-day excursion to Heidelberg, an ancient city that is home to Germany’s oldest university. Tour the imposing red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle originally built in the 12th century but twice destroyed by lightning. Then, enjoy a guided walk through Heidelberg’s Old Town and marketplace. Lunch is in a local restaurant; dine aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 7Rüdesheim
Cruise through the morning, arriving in Rüdesheim. The afternoon’s tour features the Niederwald Monument, high above the Rhine River. You have time at leisure to enjoy the restaurants, bars and shops that line Rüdesheim’s Drosselgasse—as always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Dine and cruise into the evening. (B, L, D)
Day 8Cochem
After morning cruising and lunch aboard, arrive in the quaint Moselle town of Cochem. Take a walking tour of the city and visit imposing Reichsburg Castle. Dine aboard; since your ship remains docked overnight, you can take an evening stroll if you like. (B, L, D)
Day 9Bernkastel & Trier
This morning, tour Bernkastel. Walk along this village’s cobbled streets to the Vinothek, Wine Library of St. Nicholas Hospital, and sample some of the 160 different wines from the Moselle and Saar Rivers’ wine-producing region. Return aboard and sail through lunch to Trier, Germany’s oldest city, set on the banks of the Moselle River. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, Trier Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady. Dine aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 10Trier, Luxembourg & Paris
Disembark in Trier this morning. Travel to Luxembourg where you visit the American Cemetery and pay homage to the many soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. See the city of Luxembourg on a guided city tour and get lunch before continuing to Paris. Arrive in Paris, the romantic capital of France, and check in to your hotel, Le Méridien Montparnasse, for a 2-night stay. Your evening is free to explore and dine on your own. (B)
Day 11Paris
Today’s tour begins with a drive along the Champs Elysées, past the Arc de Triomphe to the world-famous Louvre. The remainder of the day is free to see more of Paris—visit a museum, explore Montmartre or take a moonlit cruise along the Seine River. (B)
Day 12Paris
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.* (B)