Along the Danube and the Rhine – Following the Romantic Road (port-to-port cruise)

VIENNA - PASSAU - RATISBONNE - KELHEIM - NUREMBERG - ERLANGEN - WURTZBOURG - MILTENBERG - FRANKFURT - MAINZ - STRASBOURG

On arrival in Vienna, you'll board our ship. We'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail.

This morning, join us for an optional excursion to Schoenbrunn Palace along with a panoramic tour of Vienna (only on pre-booking before departure). The 1,441-room rococo-style palace was the former summer residence of the Habsburg monarchy. The splendid castle has been the backdrop for many films, including a James Bond movie and the Sissi Trilogy from the 1950s. Next, the panoramic tour will take you to the tree-lined boulevard known as "The Ring," part of the vast changes to the Viennese cityscape that took place in the second half of the nineteenth century.

In the afternoon, join us for an optional excursion to Hofburg Palace (only on pre-booking before departure). The imperial Hofburg Palace is one of the largest palatial complexes in the world. Its disproportional splendor fascinates history and architecture lovers from around the world. Must-sees include the Imperial Treasury, Imperial Apartments, and the Sissi Museum. We'll return on board and begin to cruise to Passau at approximately 5:00 p.m. Our ship will cruise through the night.

We'll spend the day cruising on one of the most beautiful parts of the Danube River. When we arrive in Passau at the end of the afternoon, set off on your own or join our host/hostess for a tour of the city. Passau is also known as "The City of Three Rivers," since it sits at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers. Our tour will take you to Passau's old town, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and St. Michael’s Church. We'll return on board and continue cruising to Regensburg.

We'll spend the morning cruising. In the afternoon, join us for an optional guided tour of Regensburg. The first stop our coach will make before Regensburg will be at the Walhalla, an imposing, Greek-style hall of fame built between 1830 and 1842 by Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria honoring distinguished people in Germanic history. One hundred twenty-nine busts of Germanic artists and military figures adorn the interior. After, your guides will lead you on foot through Regensburg, where you'll discover the grand Porta Preatoria on the old city's northern wall, the town hall and its Imperial Hall, the Gothic-style cathedral, and Italian-style mansions built by rich merchants in the middle ages. The Allies spared Regensburg from intense bombardments during World War II, conserving the ancient architecture for us to enjoy today. Our ship will be waiting for us at the end of the day in Kelheim. Cruise to Nuremberg overnight. Enjoy an evening of entertainment.

Join us for an optional excursion: Guided tour of Nuremberg. Take off on a panoramic tour of the city to see monuments outside the medieval walls, including the Palace of Justice, Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Documentation Center, and the castle area. Fall under the spell of the charming, narrow streets and half-timbered houses before arriving at the Marktplatz for a tour on foot of the Schöner Brunnen and Frauenkirche exteriors led by your guide. During this excursion, you'll have a taste of Lebkuchen, a well-known, local delicacy much like gingerbread. We'll return on board the ship in Erlangen. Take advantage of a free afternoon to explore this charming Bavarian city on your own. In the mid-afternoon, we'll begin to cruise towards Schweinfurt. Our ship will cruise through the night. Cut up the rug during an evening of dancing in the lounge.

Optional excursion: Guided tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Leave by coach for the charming city of Rothenburg. Located along Germany's Romantic Road, the city has preserved its Renaissance beauty without any major changes since The Thirty Years' War and has remained one of the most authentic places in the country. Discover the 15th-century fortifications, Spital Bastion, marketplace with the town hall, and the famous Saint James Lutheran Church. We'll return on board the ship in Schweinfurt and spend the afternoon cruising to Würzburg, reaching it during the night.

Join us for an optional excursion: Guided tour of Würzburg. We'll leave by coach for the center of Würzburg. The tour will begin at the Würzburg Residence, the 18th-century palace built by the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg. Discover the 40 rooms decorated sumptuously with furniture, paintings, and tapestries from 18th-century masters. Step back in time as you climb the monumental baroque-style staircase designed by Balthasar Neumann. The impressive rococo-style Imperial Hall is topped with a dome decorated with frescoes and golden stucco. Continue your tour downtown before returning to the ship by coach. We'll return on board and continue cruising to Miltenberg. Our ship will cruise through the night.

We'll arrive in Miltenberg early in the morning. Join us for a tour of the city. Located in the heart of the beautifully preserved countryside, Miltenberg is famous for its half-timbered houses, Renaissance-style sandstone wells, and medieval castle. We'll return on board and begin cruising to Frankfurt.

Optional excursion: Panoramic tour of Frankfurt and the top of the Main Tower. This panoramic tour will take you to the heart of the financial district and the immense skyscrapers dominating the city's skyline. We'll head to the top of the Main Tower to get a great view of the city from above. Frankfurt's financial district has earned its nickname "Mainhatten." From over 656 feet up, you'll be able to take in the glorious views of the city spread out below.

Our ship will cruise to Mainz. Medieval Mainz—with its impressive imperial cathedral built with two chancels—was the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg. Join us for a tour of the city.

Tonight is our festive gala evening. Our ship will cruise to Strasbourg overnight.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning. We'll spend the morning cruising to Strasbourg, passing through the two large locks on the Rhine—Iffezheim and Gambsheim. The ship will arrive in Strasbourg at 2:00 p.m. Disembarkation.