Splendours of Europe – Budapest to Amsterdam

Welcome to Budapest, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Eastern Europe. Here, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the comfortable surrounds of your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly 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

Please book your flight to arrive into Budapest prior to 05:00 PM.

Budapest is a place of striking contrasts, with Buda on one side housing a generous scattering of the city’s elegant landmarks, and Pest on the other encapsulating its fascinating past. Separated by the mighty Danube, you can explore them both by crossing the Chain Bridge, one of the most symbolic structures in the capital.

Today, you will have the opportunity to discover the city’s history during a guided tour, covering some of the highlights of Budapest and learn more about its stunning landscape and architecture. The history of the Hungarian capital shows a unique blend of cultures, cuisine, and vibrant lifestyle. There is so much to take in while you pass through the bustling city, which is an attractive destination for visitors from all over the world. If you are feeling active, then you may instead choose to hike to Gellert Hill.

Included Excursion
Guided coach tour of Budapest

EmeraldACTIVE
Hike to Gellert Hill

Bordering Austria and Hungary, the Slovakian capital is yours to discover today. Wander down cobblestone streets and witness the sheer majesty of ornate Baroque palaces as you explore with a local guide, passing the Renaissance courtyard of the Old Town Hall and the picturesque gardens of the Episcopal Summer Palace. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore at leisure, perhaps perusing some of the quaint boutiques that line the streets.

This afternoon, you will be welcomed into the home of a local family to learn about their culture over traditional sweet treats and coffee.

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Bratislava

EmeraldPLUS
Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Bratislava Castle

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Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)

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Carpathian wine route (extra expense)

A wave of culture paves the way for life in the Austrian capital, where some of history’s most prestigious composers once walked the streets and found their inspiration. Today, by coach and on foot, you will have the opportunity to pass the iconic imperial palaces and noteworthy buildings adorning the Ringstrasse, including the Vienna State Opera.

Alternatively, embark on a guided cycling tour past idyllic riverbanks, monuments and lush parks before passing by Prater.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Vienna

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour of Vienna

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Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)

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Viennese evening concert (extra expense

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. Alternatively, a guided e-bike ride covers the 30-kilometre route from Dürnstein to Melk along the Danube, passing famous vineyards and quaint towns with a riverside picnic stop along the way.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sat on the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, Passau is a postcard-worthy destination that has been shaped by the surrounding waterways. Maze-like romantic lanes weave through the city, opening up into large squares and magical promenades adorned with classical boutiques.

This afternoon, join your local guide for a tour of Passau and discover a peppering of delightful Baroque buildings, some of which date back to the 17th century. Stop to admire the silhouette of the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress and witness St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home of the largest church organ in Europe.
Later, return for an afternoon spent peacefully cruising through the heart of Europe.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Passau

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Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense)

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Excursion to Ceský Krumlov (extra expense)

Cruising the Main-Danube Canal delivers the ship to Regensburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities with two millennia of history behind it, its streets given a relaxed, youthful energy by a large university population.

Included Excursion: A walking tour through the World Heritage-listed Old Town passes the 13th-century Town Hall and the 12th-century Stone Bridge, a medieval crossing of the Danube, with free time afterward to explore at leisure.

EmeraldPLUS: A Bavarian band performs traditional music in Lederhosen at the Horizon Bar and Lounge.

The ship returns for lunch on board and an afternoon cruising the Danube, passing the historic town of Kelheim at the confluence of the Altmühl and Danube rivers, en route to Nuremberg.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

EmeraldPLUS
Bavarian band performance on board

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Sausage-making workshop (extra expense)

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.

Today, the historic city of Nuremberg is yours to explore during an included sightseeing tour, touching on the architectural wonders that have acted as an inspiration for famous artists from around the world for generations.

After your guided tour, enjoy time to explore the city at leisure, passing idyllic houses that were lovingly reconstructed following the destruction of the war years.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Nuremberg

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World War II tour (extra expense)

This morning, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Bamberg awaits. Thousands of listed buildings can be found in the medieval town centre, an area bursting with character, charm and one of the best-preserved old quarters in Europe.

Admire hundreds of ornamental façades as you explore the town with your local guide, passing the New Residence, a building that truly captures the opulence that was enjoyed by the prince bishops. Relax in the Rose Garden before witnessing the opulence of medieval Altenburg Castle overlooking the town.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Bamberg

Set alongside the Main River, Würzburg offers a perfect introduction to the Romantic Road, one of Bavaria’s most popular tourism routes that links stunning medieval locations throughout the country. Your own charming journey of discovery will touch on the sloping vineyard-laden hills of one of the biggest wine-producing areas in Germany.

Today, you will have the opportunity to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Würzburg Residence, perhaps stopping to admire the Viennese Baroque architecture and secular features from Italy. Your local guide will teach you about how the architects behind the Würzburg Residence drew inspiration from a spectrum of different popular styles. After the tour, enjoy a guided walking tour of Würzburg, including the Gothic Marienkapelle and Town Hall.

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Würzburg and a visit to the Bishops Residence

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Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense)

A brief stop in Wertheim precedes arrival in Miltenberg, a picturesque village on the Main River with an authentic medieval Bavarian atmosphere, its 15th-century half-timbered buildings a legacy of centuries as a major trade hub, now settled into a relaxed and hidden-charm ambience.

Included Excursion: A guided tour through cobblestone streets lined with colourful houses passes the Gothic Merchant Hall, the oldest inn in Germany dating to at least 1411, Miltenberg Castle and the town’s distinctive red sandstone church and bridge.

EmeraldPLUS: A visit to Bronnbach Abbey in nearby Wertheim, a well-preserved Cistercian monastery known for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture, peaceful cloisters and Baroque interiors.

EmeraldACTIVE: An active walk through the forest leads to the 12th-century Mildenburg Castle, once lost to time and now home to a collection of contemporary art and old masters.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rüdesheim’s vibrant wine-growing heritage sits at the heart of the Rhine Valley, surrounded by terraced vineyards and half-timbered buildings. The afternoon becomes a highlight of the voyage as the ship meanders through the World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge, passing hilltop castles and fortresses that have stood for over 1,000 years, the infamous Lorelei Rock and the imposing Pfalzgrafenstein Castle.

Included Excursion: A local mini train carries guests through the narrow city streets to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, home to more than 350 automatic mechanical music instruments ranging from tiny music boxes to the giant Concert-Piano-Orchestrion.

EmeraldACTIVE: An active hike through vineyards leads to the Niederwalddenkmal, a 19th-century monument celebrating German unification, with panoramic views over Rüdesheim’s old town and the Rhine from the top.

The ship continues past Koblenz, where the Rhine meets the Moselle at a confluence first established as a Roman military post around 8 BC.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Rhine carries the ship from Koblenz 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.

DiscoverMORE (extra expense): A guided tour through the city’s legendary brewhouses explores Cologne’s spirited beer culture, including a taste of Kölsch, the crisp golden beer brewed only in this region.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, board a glass-top canal boat for a cruise down the UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system that weaves across Amsterdam, passing elegant merchant’s residences that reflect the prosperity of the Dutch Golden Age, a time when Amsterdam was an important trading centre. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore at leisure.

Alternatively, explore on two wheels, cycling from the comfortable surrounds of your Star-Ship to Waterland, passing a number of quintessentially Dutch villages and traditional windmills along the way.

Included Excursion
Canal cruise

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour to Waterland

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Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow guests and depart your Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of the postcard-worthy Rhine Gorge and idyllic Dutch countryside with you.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

Please note: Preview itinerary subject to change.