AMAWATERWAYS
15 Days | Magnificent Europe Christmas
and New Year's Cruise
Northbound

BUDAPEST TO AMSTERDAM

Day 1 | Budapest, Hungary. Arrive in Budapest where you will be met at the airport and transferred to the beautiful, Corinthia Hotel in the heart of the city. Explore on your own or rest for a while. This evening you'll enjoy fabulous dinner at the world renowned Rezkakas restaurant including their magical gypsy music. (D)

Day 2 | Budapest. Embark. A bit of time to enjoy a brisk walk to one of the Holiday Markets before heading out on your exciting Budapest morning tour. Return to your Hotel Corinthia in time to get ready to depart for the AmaSonata. Leave for the short ride to the ship at approximately 2pm and board your riverboat. This evening meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. The ship cruises overnight. (D)

Day 3 | Bratislava, Slovakia. Relax on board as you cruise towards Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the city’s major sights, including the Old Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and the Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. You will also have time to visit Bratislava’s Christmas Markets. The ship cruises to Vienna overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Vienna, Austria. Start your day with a panoramic tour of Vienna’s top sights, including the Opera House, the Ringstrasse and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, followed by a walking tour of the historic city center. Afterwards, take some time to enjoy the festivities at Vienna’ exceptional Christmas Market located at the city’s Town Hall. In the afternoon, you can join an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, which features over 60 Christmas Market stalls and a festive atmosphere all of its own. Or, if you prefer, stroll along the Kärntnerstrasse, sample Vienna’s famous pastries or visit a museum. Tonight, you may return to the Christmas Market for more shopping or join an optional excursion to a Mozart & Strauss concert. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Durnstein. Melk. We will reach the stunningly beautiful Wachau Valley early this morning. Stop in Dürnstein, a charming town with a magnificent blue Stiftskirche (abbey church), where you will take a walking tour down cobblestone streets past centuries-old town houses and wine taverns. High above the town, look for the ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionheart was once imprisoned. After lunch, the ship will cruise to Melk for a guided tour of the town’s Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's largest and most revered monasteries. You will see the abbey’s library and its collection of medieval manuscripts, as well as colorful frescos and significant religious relics. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Passau, Germany. After breakfast, you will have a choice of two different excursions. The first choice is an optional 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 Mozart’s birthplace. The tour also includes a visit to the Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg Cathedral, Mozart’s Square, the city’s Christmas markets and much more. The alternative is to remain on the ship as it cruises through scenic Upper Austria to Passau, a 2,000-year-old city noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture. A late afternoon walking tour of Passau will take you along the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, where you will see the old city fortifications and St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to the largest pipe organ in the world. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Regensburg. Early this afternoon, arrive in 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 a Roman fort built in 179 AD. You will also have. Your tour ends with a visit to the Old Kornmarkt Christmas Market, with its festive stalls adorned with fir branches. Afterwards, visit the “royal” markets at the Thurn and Taxis Palace, a traditional handicrafts Christmas Market, where you can watch craftsmen at work; an opportunity to explore one final Christmas Market before Christmas arrives at last. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Nuremberg. We arrive in Nuremberg this afternoon. On your guided tour of this historic city, you’ll see fabulous Gothic churches, elegant homes, the 900-year-old ramparts and walls that surround the city, the Imperial Castle, and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal was held after World War II. Tonight, we’ll have a festive onboard Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Nuremberg. Today, you will travel by train from Nuremberg to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities. Your guide will offer suggestions on what to see during your free time in town and will take you to lunch in a local restaurant. Back on board the ship tonight, you will meet newly arrived travelers embarking from Prague. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Nuremberg. Bamberg. Enjoy breakfast as we cruise through the engineering marvel known as the Main-Danube Canal, which traverses the Alps via 16 locks. Arrive in Bamberg and enjoy a walking tour of this medieval gem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have free time to sample some of Bamberg’s famous smoked beer before you return to the ship. The ship departs this evening and cruises overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 11 | Kitzingen. Wurzburg. After arriving in Kitzingen, your walking tour includes the city’s famous medieval Leaning Tower, the Old Main Bridge, Kitzingen Church and the Renaissance-style Town Hall. Later, the Wine Queen and Town Council will escort you to Germany’s oldest wine cellar to taste several wines and learn about wine production in the region. In the afternoon, you will have a choice of three different excursions: a guided tour of Würzburg that will show you all of the city’s major sights; Residenz Palace and gardens, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s best examples of Baroque architecture; or an optional tour of medieval Rothenburg, a beautiful walled city situated on the Romantic Road. Your walking tour includes entry to the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Museum, which is solely devoted to this beloved holiday. Rejoin the ship in Würzburg and cruise overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 12 | Wertheim. We arrive in Wertheim this morning, a town that has retained much of its distinct character and charm. You will have some free time to explore the town on your own before a motor coach transfers you to Freudenberg to rejoin the ship. We depart early this afternoon and cruise overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 13 | Rudesheim. Koblenz. Early this morning, you will cruise through the Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the river, where you’ll see the ruins of mist-shrouded fortresses and fairy tale castles. Look for the Lorelei Rock at the narrowest part of the river, where legend says sweet songs of local beauties once lured enchanted sailors to their doom. In Rüdesheim, you will board a miniature train that will take you to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum to see its incredible collection. During your free time, explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants. Arrive in Koblenz in the evening and enjoy a walking tour through this charming town lead by your Cruise Manager. (B,L,D)

Day 14 | Koblenz. Cologne. We cruise from Koblenz to Cologne today, arriving this afternoon. After lunch on board, enjoy a walking tour through the old part of the city and visit Cologne’s spectacular Gothic cathedral. We depart late tonight for Amsterdam. (B,L,D)

Day 15 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Enjoy a leisurely cruise this morning to Amsterdam, arriving after lunch. You’ll have a guided canal cruise, a city tour of all the top sights, a photo stop at an iconic Dutch windmill and free time to explore this vibrant and colorful city. (B,L,D)

Day 16 | Amsterdam. Today you will have some free time to shop for last minute gifts and souvenirs or simply relax onboard. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam with your fellow travelers onboard this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 17 | Amsterdam. Enjoy the first day of the New Year in Amsterdam and explore the city at your own leisure. (B,L,D)

Day 18 | Amsterdam. Disembark. Bid farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homebound flight. (B)

NOTE: Most Christmas Markets begin opening as early as Nov. 25 and remain open until late December. Check with each country’s tourist office for more information.

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.

NORTHBOUND ITINERARY 15 DAYS | BUDAPEST TO AMSTERDAM