Flights Included: Splendours of Europe & Paris

Arrive in Budapest, one of Eastern Europe’s most cosmopolitan capitals, and settle into your Emerald Star-Ship, where your captain and crew will be waiting to greet you. This evening, relax on board as you enjoy an authentic Hungarian folklore show.

EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Hungarian folklore show, a folk dancing and music performance on board.

Budapest wakes to a city divided by the iconic Danube River, with Buda and Pest on either side, connected by the Chain Bridge, one of the city’s most symbolic structures.

Included Excursion: A guided coach tour of the city this morning explores the World Heritage-listed centre, travelling through the chapters of architecture from Romanesque to Baroque and classical facades, taking in the Liberty Statue, Heroes’ Square and the Buda Castle district, before a walking tour showcases Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion.

EmeraldACTIVE: A hike up to the World Heritage-listed site of Gellért Hill takes in stunning views of the Danube and the city’s architecture, passing landmarks such as Várkert Bazaar and beautifully landscaped gardens along the way.

Bordering Austria and Hungary, the Slovakian capital sits at the crossroads of ancient trade routes in the heart of Europe. Baroque palaces, boutiques and cafes adorn medieval cobblestone streets, while the complex history of Communism is visible in the city’s Brutalist landmarks and military monuments.

Included Excursion: A walking tour through the heart of the city passes the botanical gardens of the Episcopal Summer Palace, the Old Town Hall with its Renaissance courtyard and the Slovak National Theatre, its facade adorned with busts of famous composers, followed by free time to explore at leisure.

EmeraldPLUS: A home-hosted coffee and cake with a local Slovakian family gives an insight into their culture, history and daily traditions.

EmeraldACTIVE: A guided hike passes the Slovak National Theatre and the riverside promenade before climbing to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views, taking in the Gothic St Martin’s Cathedral, St Michael’s Gate and the main square along the way.

Austria’s capital is recognised for its remarkable cultural legacy. As the former residence of Mozart and Beethoven, the city’s imperial palaces represent centuries of history, while the museum district houses the work of some of the world’s most prolific artists.

Included Excursion: A guided tour explores the Ringstrasse and Vienna’s city centre by coach and on foot, taking in the Renaissance-style arches of the Opera House, the Baroque Burgtheater and the Flemish Gothic Parliament, before free time to explore at leisure.

EmeraldACTIVE: A guided e-bike tour to Danube Island introduces a different side of the city, visiting places most travellers never see.

Dürnstein is one of the most enchanting villages in the Wachau Valley, Austria’s premier wine-growing region. The ship cruises through the World Heritage-listed valley to Melk, a charming and compact port filled with flower-lined laneways, colourful buildings and sprawling green spaces, home to a 900-year-old Benedictine abbey.

Included Excursion: A tour of Melk Abbey passes through a series of opulent rooms adorned with Italian Baroque architecture and ornate gold leaf walls, including the ancient monastic library renowned for its extensive collection of medieval manuscripts.

EmeraldACTIVE: A hike to Dürnstein Castle follows the trail where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned after returning from the Crusades, rewarding the climb with spectacular panoramas of the river and surrounding countryside.

Set at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, Passau is shaped by the surrounding waterways, its maze-like lanes opening into large squares and promenades lined with classical boutiques.

Included Excursion: A walking tour passes Baroque buildings dating back to the 17th century, the Gothic Town Hall, the Bishop’s Residence and St Stephen’s Cathedral, home to the largest church organ in Europe.

Passau, a German city on the Austrian border, lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Known as the Three Rivers City, it’s overlooked by the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century hilltop fortress housing a city museum and observation tower. The old town below is known for its baroque architecture, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral, featuring distinctive onion-domed towers and an organ with 17,974 pipes.

The second-largest city in Bavaria carries a complex history, from its position of power in the Middle Ages to the artistic flourishes of the Renaissance.

Included Excursion: A sightseeing tour covers the architectural wonders that have inspired famous artists for centuries and the effects of the war years, followed by free time to explore the half-timbered houses reconstructed after wartime destruction.

Kelheim is a town and municipality in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district Kelheim and is situated at the confluence of the rivers Altmühl and Danube. Kelheim has a population of around 15,750.

Nuremberg is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 inhabitants make it the 14th-largest city in Germany.

Bamberg is a town in northern Bavaria, Germany, laid out over 7 hills where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. Its old town preserves structures from the 11th to 19th centuries including the muraled Altes Rathaus (town hall), which occupies an island in the Regnitz reached by arched bridges. The Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral, begun in the 11th century, features 4 towers and numerous stone carvings.

Würzburg is a city in Germany’s Bavaria region. It’s known for lavish baroque and rococo architecture, particularly the 18th-century Residenz palace, with ornate rooms, a huge fresco by Venetian artist Tiepolo and an elaborate staircase. Home to numerous wine bars, cellars and wineries, Würzburg is the center of the Franconian wine country, with its distinctive bocksbeutel (bottles with flattened round shapes).

Wertheim is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of around 23,400. It is located on the confluence of the rivers Tauber and Main. Wertheim is best known for its landmark castle and medieval town centre.

Miltenberg is a town in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named district and has a population of over 9,000.

Rüdesheim am Rhein is a town in the Rhine Valley, Germany. It’s known for winemaking, especially of Riesling wines. In the center, Drosselgasse is a lane lined with shops, taverns and restaurants. Nearby, Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet is a museum of automated musical instruments. Medieval Brömserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum, exhibiting wine paraphernalia from ancient times to the present.

Koblenz, spelled Coblenz before 1926, is a German city on the banks of the Rhine and of the Moselle, a multi-nation tributary. Koblenz was established as a Roman military post by Drusus around 8 B.C. Its name originates from the Latin cōnfluentēs, meaning ” confluence”

The Rhine carries the ship to Cologne this morning. Founded by the Romans in 50 AD, Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany and the largest on the Rhine, its ancient architecture ranging from Roman ruins to medieval structures and the cathedral’s striking twin towers, meticulously rebuilt after wartime destruction.

Included Excursion: A walking tour is followed by a treasure hunt for some of Cologne’s most typical local finds, guided by a map of locations unique to the city.

Beyond Amsterdam’s storied canals, a gentler rhythm unfolds in the Dutch countryside, where emerald-green pastures, mirror-like waterways and centuries-old windmills create a picturesque scene, from the cheese-making town of Alkmaar to the stilted villages and narrow canals of Waterland.

Included Excursion: A countryside excursion wanders through charming villages, past working windmills, offering a glimpse into the traditions that locals continue to keep alive.

A second day in Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most distinctive capitals, its 17th-century canal ring, narrow gabled houses and world-class museums all within easy reach.

Included Excursion: A glass-top canal boat cruise passes elegant merchant’s residences that reflect the prosperity of the Dutch Golden Age, followed by free time to explore at leisure.

EmeraldACTIVE: A guided bike tour to Waterland passes quintessentially Dutch villages and traditional windmills.

Disembark this afternoon and transfer to your Paris hotel to begin the second half of your journey.

Arrive in the City of Light and settle into your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay.

Included Excursion: A guided bus tour introduces the city’s landmarks, followed by a Seine River cruise that reveals Paris from the water, passing beneath its historic bridges and past the illuminated facades of Notre-Dame and the Musée d’Orsay.

A full day to explore Paris at your own pace, whether that means the galleries of the Louvre, the boutiques of Le Marais, or an afternoon at the top of the Eiffel Tower with the whole city spread out below.

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow travellers and depart for the airport, taking memories of the Rhine Gorge, the Wachau Valley and the streets of Paris with you.