DAY 1, DEC 18, DEPART USA.
Board your overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary.

DAY 2, DEC 19, ARRIVE IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship. This evening meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Cocktail Reception followed by dinner. (D)

DAY 3, DEC 20, BUDAPEST.
This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the Royal Palace, St. Stephen's Basilica and the Great Market Hall. An optional Baths & Liberty Monument excursion will take
you to a panoramic view point above Budapest, followed by a visit to the area’s famous Thermal Baths. Or, explore the Christmas markets where you will find almost 100 craft stands offering special gifts and folk art and craft decorations. (B,L,D)

DAY 4, DEC 21, BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA.
Relax onboard this morning as you cruise towards Bratislava, capital of the Slovak Republic. An afternoon walking tour reveals the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace and Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. Later there is time to explore on your own. After dinner you can enjoy an enchanting music performance on board, (B,L,D)

DAY 5, DEC 22, VIENNA, AUSTRIA.
Enjoy a guided city tour followed by free time in the city center, then a walking tour from St. Stephen’s Cathedral to the Naschmarkt. This large outdoor market area features numerous stands/stalls selling a large variety of foods and other products. Enjoy an optional excursion to the Schonbrunn and the Carriage Museum. Or simply use your free afternoon to stroll along the main shopping street, Kärntnerstrasse, sample some of Vienna's famous pastries or visit the famed Christmas market. Tonight, explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or join an optional evening Mozart and Strauss
concert. A shuttle bus will operate from the ship to the city center during the day and evening. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, DEC 23, DÜRNSTEIN – MELK.
Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein and marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche. Above town you'll spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Enjoy a
wine tasting with a local vintner. After lunch, the ship will cruise to Melk, where you will have a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, DEC 24, LINZ – PASSAU, GERMANY.
After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to fascinating Salzburg and the “Sound of Music” sights, or cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany. In Passau, the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Your city tour takes you on an exploration of this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, DEC 25, REGENSBURG.
After lunch, 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. Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. This evening you will enjoy a festive dinner on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 9, DEC 26, NUREMBERG.
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmühl Valley. The Main-Danube Canal traverses the Franconian Alps via 16 locks, truly a fascinating feat of modern engineering. In the afternoon, decide between a guided tour of the Medieval history of Nuremberg and see the storybook 900-year-old ramparts
that surround this historic city and the Imperial Castle, or join the tour centered on the modern role the city played in the 20thcentury and see the Zeppelin field and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal was held in 1946. (B,L,D)

DAY 10, DEC 27, BAMBERG.
This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the enchanting town of Bamberg, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Marvel at the breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall that straddles the river, and the city's serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. You will have free time after the walking tour to explore this charming town on
your own. (B,L,D)

DAY 11, DEC 28, WÜRZBURG.
This morning, arrive in Randersacher, where you will board a motor coach for an excursion to Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. "The Pearl of the Romantic Road" is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. During your tour, see the major sights including a visit to the magnificent Residenz Palace. This afternoon explore Würzburg on your own, or take an
optional tour to Medieval Rothenburg. A beautiful walled city situated on the Romantic Road. The tour includes entrance to the Christmas Museum. A shuttle bus will operate from the ship to the Residenz for those guests not going to Rothenburg. (B,L,D)

DAY 12, DEC 29, WERTHEIM - MILTENBERG.
Cruise to Wertheim for some free time to explore the town on your own. A motor coach will transfer you to Freudenberg to rejoin the ship. Cruise during lunch on your way to Miltenberg. In Miltenberg, a guided walking tour will take you through narrow, cobble-stoned streets lined with gabled, half-timbered houses. Tonight, the ship sails leaving Bavaria, Franconia and
the Main River behind. (B,L,D)

DAY 13, DEC 30, RHINE CASTLES – RÜDESHEIM – KOBLENZ.
This morning, you will cruise through the Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful stretch of the river, passing castle after castle, don't miss the legendary Lorelei Rock, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. This afternoon, arrive in Rüdesheim and take a min train to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants during your free time before the ships sails late this afternoon for Koblenz. Arrive in Koblenz after dinner and enjoy a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. (B,L,D)

DAY 14, DEC 31, KOBLENZ – COLOGNE.
This morning cruise from Koblenz to Cologne, arriving in the afternoon. After lunch on board enjoy a walking tour of Cologne and visit the spectacular 13th-century Medieval Gothic cathedral, its twin spires amongst Europe’s tallest. This evening, Ring in the New Year, as we celebrate together onboard ship. (B,L,D)

DAY 15, JAN 1, COLOGNE – AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND.
Enjoy your last morning leisurely cruising to Amsterdam. Arrive in Amsterdam after lunch for a guided canal cruise and city tour, including a photo stop at the Rembrandt Windmill. Enjoy free time in Amsterdam before gathering on board for a Gala Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 16, JAN 2, AMSTERDAM – USA.

DAY 1, DEC 18, DEPART USA.
Board your overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary.

DAY 2, DEC 19, ARRIVE IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.
Arrive in Budapest and transfer to your luxurious river cruise ship. This evening meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Cocktail Reception followed by dinner. (D)

DAY 3, DEC 20, BUDAPEST.
This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the Royal Palace, St. Stephen's Basilica and the Great Market Hall. An optional Baths & Liberty Monument excursion will take
you to a panoramic view point above Budapest, followed by a visit to the area’s famous Thermal Baths. Or, explore the Christmas markets where you will find almost 100 craft stands offering special gifts and folk art and craft decorations. (B,L,D)

DAY 4, DEC 21, BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA.
Relax onboard this morning as you cruise towards Bratislava, capital of the Slovak Republic. An afternoon walking tour reveals the city's major sights, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach Palace and Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. Later there is time to explore on your own. After dinner you can enjoy an enchanting music performance on board, (B,L,D)

DAY 5, DEC 22, VIENNA, AUSTRIA.
Enjoy a guided city tour followed by free time in the city center, then a walking tour from St. Stephen’s Cathedral to the Naschmarkt. This large outdoor market area features numerous stands/stalls selling a large variety of foods and other products. Enjoy an optional excursion to the Schonbrunn and the Carriage Museum. Or simply use your free afternoon to stroll along the main shopping street, Kärntnerstrasse, sample some of Vienna's famous pastries or visit the famed Christmas market. Tonight, explore the vibrant Austrian capital on your own, or join an optional evening Mozart and Strauss
concert. A shuttle bus will operate from the ship to the city center during the day and evening. The ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, DEC 23, DÜRNSTEIN – MELK.
Early this morning, reach the Wachau Valley. Stop in Dürnstein and marvel at the magnificent blue façade of the baroque Stiftskirche. Above town you'll spot the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Enjoy a
wine tasting with a local vintner. After lunch, the ship will cruise to Melk, where you will have a guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest baroque monasteries. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, DEC 24, LINZ – PASSAU, GERMANY.
After breakfast, take an optional full-day excursion to fascinating Salzburg and the “Sound of Music” sights, or cruise through Upper Austria to Passau in Germany. In Passau, the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Your city tour takes you on an exploration of this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, DEC 25, REGENSBURG.
After lunch, 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. Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. This evening you will enjoy a festive dinner on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 9, DEC 26, NUREMBERG.
This morning, enter the Main-Danube Canal and relax during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmühl Valley. The Main-Danube Canal traverses the Franconian Alps via 16 locks, truly a fascinating feat of modern engineering. After breakfast transfer to Prague. On the way, you will visit Nuremberg where you will see storybook 900 year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. Enjoy lunch on your own before continuing on to Prague. (B)

DAY 10, DEC 27, PRAGUE.
This morning’s sightseeing reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities. Visit the 1,000-year-old Hradcany Castle courtyard, the St. Vitus, and then cross the Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square. The balance of the day is free to wander through the Christmas markets with their tempting assortment of handicrafts, toys, wood carvings, and ornaments. Mix with the locals at Wenceslas Square, or enjoy yourself in one of the charming cafés or restaurants. (B)

DAY 11, DEC 28, DEPART PRAGUE.
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)