Rhine, Main & Danube River Cruise

Welcome to Amsterdam, a fascinating 700-year-old city of picturesque canals, world class museums, theatres and cafs. You will be met and transferred from the airport to your Emerald Waterways luxury river cruise ship. After boarding, enjoy some time at your leisure to explore Amsterdam. This evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner on board.

Meals Included: Dinner

This morning you can decide to either enjoy a glass top canal boat tour through Amsterdams canal or a guided bike tour. Return to the ship for your first day sailing through the Dutch countryside passing windmills and sailing through locks towards the Rhine River. Tonight, the Captain will be delighted to host a gala dinner.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Bike Tour

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Founded by the Romans, and one of Germanys oldest cities, Cologne is famous for its magnificent WorldHeritage listed Gothic Cathedral. Join your guide and explore the city including the Old Town. During your free time shop for handicrafts or visit a local market before returning to your ship.

DiscoverMORE: Tour to Drachenburg (extra expense)
OR
DiscoverMORE: Football Stadium Tour (extra expense)

*** Please note, you can only choose either the Drachenburg Castle or the Football Stadium Tour as both DiscoverMORE options run at the same time.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Todays cruising will be a highlight of your trip, as we cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge. Keep your camera at the ready as around every bend there are stunning vistas of castles perched above steep vinecovered slopes. We will also pass the infamous Lorelei Rock where sailors are said to have been lured onto treacherous rocks by enchanted temptresses. We also pass the impressive Pfalzgrafenstein Castle which was formerly a toll gate perched on an island in the middle of the river. In the afternoon we arrive in Rdesheim, one of Germanys most popular towns. You will either have a choice of visiting the Siegfrieds Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or if you feel active take a guided hike through vineyards. Continue exploring, and perhaps taste the famous Rdesheimer Coffee, made with Germanys most famous brandy Asbach Uralt.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike through vineyards

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to Miltenberg, a picturesque village on the Main River, which creates an imitable feeling of Bavarian life in medieval times due to the Old Town being lined with well-preserved half-timbered buildings. The gothic Merchant Hall is an impressive symbol of past affluence created by trade from river traffic. After your included tour of Miltenberg and free time, you will be transferred by coach to the stunning medieval glass-blowing town of Wertheim to enjoy free time until the ship arrives.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike around Miltenberg area

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Known as the Pearl of the Romantic Road, Wrzburg is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. After breakfast, visit the Bishops Residenz, one of Germanys largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your tour highlights the palaces unique staircase, elaborate 18th century frescoes and the amazing 3dimensional stuccowork.

DiscoverMORE: Tour to Rothenburg (extra expense)

*** Please note, you can only choose either included visit to Bishops Residenz or the DiscoverMORE option, as both tours run at the same time.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Relax on board this morning as we cruise to Bamberg. Feel the magic of the past as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage city with your guide. Boasting one of Europes largest intact medieval town centres, Bamberg is bursting with character and charm. At the town centre is the largest preserved old quarter in Europe. Around 2,400 listed buildings and the centuriesold garden quarter form a special cultural heritage. Admire hundreds of building faades richly decorated in fascinating detail with spectacular ornamentation.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will have a sightseeing coach tour of the historic city of Nuremberg. Your coach tour would pass by some of the historical parts of Nuremberg, such as the 900-year-old ramparts, the Nazi party rally grounds, where rallies were held from 1933 until 1938 among other sights.

DiscoverMORE: WW2 Tour (extra expense)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning takes you through the final stretch of the fascinating MainDanube Canal to Kelheim. Continue cruising along the Danube River to Regensburg, one of Germanys best preserved medieval cities. On our guided walking tour, you will have the chance to see one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube and see the citys architectural highlights including the Old Town Hall.
EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Bavarian Band on board

DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Kuchlbauer Brewery (extra expense)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cobblestone streets and graceful arcades welcome you in the beautiful city of Passau. On this mornings walking tour, stroll through the old towns narrow alleys and see the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress from the town below. Visit St. Stephens Cathedral, a wonderful example of Baroque architecture and home to Europes largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes. Return for lunch and an afternoon cruising along the Danube River.

DiscoverMORE: Tour to Salzburg (extra expense)

*** Please note, you can only choose either included tour of Passau or the DiscoverMORE option, as both tours run at the same time.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Situated within Austrias winegrowing region, Melk is home to an imposing 900year old Benedictine Abbey which features Austrias finest Italian baroque architecture, with its ornate gold leaf walls, 640ft Imperial Corridor and fresco ceilings. Later the ship sails through the spectacular Wachau Valley and on to Drnstein, one of the most enchanting villages of the Wachau wine region. This is the site of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned after returning from the crusades in the 12th century.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided biking tour along the Danube River from Melk to Drnstein
OR
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided hike to Drnstein Castle

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to Vienna, the capital of classical music. Today, you have a choice of either exploring Austrias capital beginning with a drive along the magnificent Ringstrasse, where we will see the sights of the Viennas world-famous attractions such as the Opera House, Burgtheater, Town Hall, St. Stephens Cathedral and the Hofburg Imperial Palace. If you feel active, join the guided bike tour instead of the drive around and guided walk.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike Tour

DiscoverMORE: Visit to Schnbrunn Palace (extra expense)
AND / or
DiscoverMORE: Exclusive Viennese concert with music from Mozart and Strauss (extra expense)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Set on the crossroads of ancient trade routes in the heart of Europe, Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, embodies various cultures primarily Celtic, Roman and Slavic. Enjoy a sightseeing tour including the enchanting Old City with its Town Hall, Mirbach Palace and the Gothic Cathedral of St Martin. Alternatively, join an active hike to Bratislava Castle.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
EmeraldPLUS: Home hosted coffee and cake with Slovakians

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Budapest is Eastern Europes liveliest and most cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a guided tour of the city sights including the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest or an exciting hike on the Buda Hill. This evening, enjoy a traditional Hungarian farewell dinner, then a Hungarian folk dancing and music performance on board.
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided active walk to Buda Hill
EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Hungarian Folklore Show & Budapest Evening Cruise

DiscoverMORE: Jewish Heritage Tour (extra expense)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you have a free day to continue exploring Budapest.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early this morning we sail out of Budapest towards Kalocsa, one of the oldest towns in Hungary, famous for the production of paprika. This afternoon, visit a local Puszta Horse Farm and enjoy a performance showcasing the exceptional riding skills of Magyar horseman. Tonight, the Captain will be delighted to host a gala dinner.
EmeraldPLUS: Visit to Puszta Horse Farm

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise into the border region of Croatia today, an area that was heavily damaged during the Croatian War of Independence at the end of the communist era. Compare stories back at the ship and enjoy an evening of sailing further down the Danube into Serbia, where remnants of former conflicts can be regularly seen along the river banks.
EmeraldPLUS: Home Hosted Lunch with a Croatian Family
EmeraldPLUS: Meet students from the local village

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Serbia’s vibrant capital awaits today, your city tour includes a visit to Tito’s Memorial, the impressive Fortress Kalemegdan and St Sava Church which is the world’s largest orthodox cathedral.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Biking Tour
EmeraldPLUS: Serbian Folklore Evening Show

DiscoverMORE: National Opera Theatre Tour (extra expense)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will embark on an incredible journey to the first and biggest architectural archaeological excavation in Eastern Europe, the Viminacium Archaeological Excavation Site and Museum. This site was one of the most important Roman cities and military camps in the period from 1st to 4th centuries. Its exceptional strategic importance was reflected both in the defence of the northern border of the Roman Empire and in turn of communications and commercial transactions. Return to the ship and sail through the narrow gorge between the European Alps and Carpathian Mountains, known as the Iron Gates.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in Vidin, the most western town in Bulgaria. Your day will begin with an included tour visiting a local vineyard with wine tasting. Later, visit the medieval Baba Vida Fortress. Alternatively, embark on an EmeraldACTIVE hike to Belogradchik rock fortress.
EmeraldACTIVE: Hike to Belogradchik

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today your ship will cruise to Rousse and visit the impressive cliff top town of Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the Bulgarian empire known once as the ‘city of the Tsars’. Visit the historic town of Arbanasi perched on a high plateau overlooking the Yantra River and lined with traditional houses. The town is known for its 17th and 18th century churches and many examples of Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Tonight, join your Captain for a farewell reception and dinner.
EmeraldACTIVE: Hike to Ivanovo Church
EmeraldPLUS: Choir Concert in Arbanasi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, disembark your Emerald Waterways luxury river cruise and journey by road to Romania’s capital, Bucharest. The city’s wide avenues have a distinctly French feel; in fact, the city is often referred to as the Paris of the East. Included is a one-night stay in Bucharest.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Your tour concludes after breakfast when you are transferred to the airport for your onward or home bound flight.

Please note: Pre release itinerary subject to change

Meals Included: Breakfast