AMAWATERWAYS
16 Days | Magnificent Europe
Eastbound

AMSTERDAM TO BUDAPEST

Day 1 | Depart USA/Canada. Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam, Holland.

Day 2 | Amsterdam, Holland. Arrive in charming Amsterdam and embark your luxurious river cruise ship. Meet your fellow travelers tonight at the Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. (D)

Day 3 | Amsterdam. After breakfast, admire beautiful 18th-century homes, charming churches and 17th-century merchant houses on a guided canal boat tour. Then enjoy a panoramic city tour of Amsterdam, including a photo stop at a Windmill, followed by free time. (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Dusseldorf. Cologne, Germany. Arrive in Düsseldorf this morning and take a motor coach to Venlo, where you will have the unique opportunity to visit the Floriade World Horticultural Expo. Bringing together more than 100 exhibitors from dozens of countries, the Floriade Expo grounds will feature five themed zones connected by wooded areas. Each of the zones contains its own horticultural exhibits, cultural attractions, activities, restaurant, music, dance and theatrical performances. Late this afternoon, travel to Cologne, where your ship is now docked. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the old part of the city and a visit to the fabled 13th-century gothic cathedral. As an alternative to a walking tour, take a guided bike tour (capacity controlled). Late tonight, the ship departs for Rüdesheim. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Rudesheim. Today, sail through the magnificent Rhine Gorge, passing castle after castle and the famous Lorelei Rock. After lunch, arrive in Rüdesheim and take a mini train to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns, and restaurants during your free time. Late this afternoon, the ship departs for Miltenberg. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Miltenberg. Wertheim. Arrive in Miltenberg for a walking tour of this delightful old Franconian town with its narrow cobblestone streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. During lunch, the ship will cruise to Freudenberg. A motor coach tour will take you to Wertheim, where you will see the historic city center followed by free time to explore the town on your own. A guided bicycle tour of Wertheim is also available (capacity controlled). (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Wurzburg. Kitzingen. During your guided tour, visit the magnificent Residenz Palace and see the major sights. This afternoon, take an optional tour along the Romantic Road to medieval Rothenburg, and visit its World Famous Christmas Museum. Or enjoy a scenic bike ride from Würzburg to Kitzingen (capacity controlled). After dinner on board enjoy an evening walk and wine tasting in Kitzingen, at Germany’s oldest wine cellar. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Bamberg. Arrive this afternoon in enchanting Bamberg, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Disembark for a guided walking tour of this medieval gem and marvel at the breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall that straddles the river, and the city’s serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th century mansions. You will also sample some of Bamberg’s famous smoked beer before continuing your cruise this evening to ancient Nuremberg, capital of Franconia. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Nuremberg. Cross the Continental Divide. Today, decide to either tour the medieval history of Nuremberg to see the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround this historic city and the Imperial Castle, or join the “modern tour” of the city’s role in the 20th-century, which includes the Zeppelin field and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunchtime, return to the ship and cruise the Main-Danube-Canal to the highest point of your cruise - 1,332 feet above sea level, where you cross Europe’s Continental Divide, then start descending through stair-step locks. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Regensburg. A guided morning tour will show you the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria - gates to a Roman fort built in 179 AD. In the alternative, visit the Audi Factory in Ingolstadt, where a member of the Audi team will take you on a guided tour of the Audi Car Museum or Factory Floor (subject to availability). In the evening, enjoy a music performance on board. (B,L,D)

Day 11 | Passau. After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau for a walking tour. Explore this 2,000-year-old city at the confluence of three rivers (the Danube, Inn, and Ilz), which is noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture. Walk the cobblestone streets of the Old Town where you will see the city fortifications and St. Stephan’s Cathedral, which is home to the largest cathedral organ in the world. Or join the optional excursion to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” Those staying on board can enjoy a scenic journey to Linz, Austria. (B,L,D)

Day 12 | Melk, Austria. Durnstein. Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries. After lunch, enjoy a scenic cruise through the lovely Wachau Valley, dotted with castles, to Dürnstein. Marvel at the magnifi cent blue facade of the Baroque Stiftskirche and high above town. You will also enjoy a wine tasting, where you will sample several different wines, presented along with bread, knowledgeable hosts, and plenty of laughter. A guided bicycle tour from Melk to Dürnstein is also available (capacity controlled). (B,L,D)

Day 13 | Vienna. Savor the baroque elegance of romantic Vienna during your guided sightseeing tour, including the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, and the awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The afternoon is free to sightsee on your own. In the alternative, join an optional tour to the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. Tonight, explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or join an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 14 | Vienna. Bratislava, Slovakia. Enjoy a morning of scenic cruising to Bratislava followed by your choice of a “Communist Tour” in which you will discover architectural landmarks and experience the history of the city. In the alternative, enjoy a walking tour of Bratislava, which reveals the city’s major sights, including the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. The rest of the afternoon is free to shop or explore on your own. Tonight there is an evening music performance on board. (B,L,D)

Day 15 | Budapest, Hungary. This morning, your sightseeing tour 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 and St. Stephen’s Basilica. This afternoon, an optional excursion is available, which will take you back to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner before the ship sails a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the illuminated river front of Budapest. (B,L,D)

Day 16 | Disembark. Depart Budapest. Your cruise comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your homeward flight. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

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EASTBOUND ITINERARY 16 DAYS | AMSTERDAM TO BUDAPEST Click HERE to view 16-day WESTBOUND itinerary.