Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. (D)

Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour begins with going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. If you prefer venturing off the beaten path or are returning to the city for a repeat visit, join our “Hidden Budapest” tour to discover some fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler. Whether heading to an underground church or exploring Roman ruins, this excursion is sure to surprise and delight you. If you prefer an active excursion, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. Later in the day, celebrate the joy of music when visiting the Opera House, followed by a reception and small performance. You will then visit the Liszt House and museum, previously home to one of Hungary’s greatest composers and virtuoso pianists. Immerse yourself into the history of music as you will see a collection of pianos, portraits and personal objects of an influential pianist of the 19th century. (B,L,D)

Take in the breathtaking scenery along the Danube River from your balcony or while up on the Sun Deck and even catch a glimpse of the gleaming Bratislava Castle on your way into the city. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Plus, enjoy a surprise musical performance as part of this included excursion. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city or enjoy a guided bike tour, pausing to take photos with some of the celebrated statues in Old Town. (B,L,D)

Revel in a morning scenic cruise before your ship arrives in Linz, where you’ll have several choices of excursions. For those who love The Sound of Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. You may also choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city’s picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe’s largest castle complexes. Following these full-day excursions, you may also choose to take a brief walking tour in Linz. Alternatively, join a walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a morning cruise through Austria’s beautiful Wachau Valley before sailing into Melk. Explore the city known for its magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries. Within these walls you will find frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger, as well as a famed collection of musical manuscripts. You will also enjoy the incredible acoustics of the abbey during a beautiful live choral performance. Later in the day, if you prefer a more active adventure, hike up to the Melk Abbey and then visit this magnificent Baroque monastery or join a guided bike tour to Melk. (B,L,D)

Sail from Melk to the grand capital of Vienna on a morning scenic cruise. Once there, the “City of Waltzes” offers a wealth of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center and visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or discover Vienna by bike. Alternatively, visit a traditional café to experience a true Vienna specialty with its very own national holiday and a unique history to match: the rich chocolate sachertorte – and savor this treat with a piping hot Viennese coffee. In the evening, join us for a very special live classical performance at a renowned local concert hall. (B,L,D)

Visit the UNESCO-designated Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, on your included tour. Built in the 18th century as an imperial summer residence, this magnificent 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria. Alternatively, pedal along the scenic Danube River and through charming neighborhoods to the nearby town of Klosterneuberg and its majestic 12th-century Augustinian monastery overlooking the Danube River. During the afternoon, explore the city of music while following in the footsteps of world-renowned composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, from their past residences to museums to grand monuments. Or enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. (B,L,D)

Bid farewell to Vienna and prepare for your flight home. (B)

Arrive in Krakow and transfer to your hotel.

Get acquainted with your surroundings and take a deeper dive into the fascinating history of Krakow with a comprehensive city tour. Visit the Wawel Royal Castle – the world’s very first designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and Poland’s largest castle, located in the center of its Old Town. The Wawel Hill it stands upon features a limestone cave renowned for its connection to the legendary Wawel Dragon of Polish folklore, which you will learn more about during your tour. You will also venture into Krakow’s historic Jewish Quarter and see the factory of Oskar Schindler, who was credited with saving 1,200 Jewish lives during World War II, and who was famously honored in the award-winning film Schindler’s List. You will also be treated to a live performance of the Polish anthem by a trumpeter on the highest tower of Saint Mary’s Church, otherwise known as St. Mary’s Trumpet Call, a tradition since the 19th century. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure to explore more of the city. (B)

Prepare yourself for an emotional day as together, we explore a darker period in Poland’s history with a visit to Auschwitz, the largest and most tragically infamous of Europe’s labor and death camps. The main gate, barbed wire fences, buildings and barracks look much the same today as they did during the Holocaust, when 1.1 million lives were taken within the camp. It was liberated from January 17-21, 1945, saving 58,000 from further horrors. Though not for the feint of heart, this once-in-a-lifetime excursion will honor the memory of those who perished and promises to be one you won’t soon forget. (B)

Check out of your hotel and begin your transfer to Budapest. En route, you will stop in Banská Bystrica, an historic and picturesque Slovakian city with architecture that dates to the medieval period. Enjoy time for a nice lunch, then continue to Budapest, where you will board your luxurious river cruise ship. (B,D)

Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Your city tour begins with going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. If you prefer venturing off the beaten path or are returning to the city for a repeat visit, join our “Hidden Budapest” tour to discover some fascinating sites lesser-known to the average traveler. Whether heading to an underground church or exploring Roman ruins, this excursion is sure to surprise and delight you. If you prefer an active excursion, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. Later in the day, celebrate the joy of music when visiting the Opera House, followed by a reception and small performance. You will then visit the Liszt House and museum, previously home to one of Hungary’s greatest composers and virtuoso pianists. Immerse yourself into the history of music as you will see a collection of pianos, portraits and personal objects of an influential pianist of the 19th century. (B,L,D)

Take in the breathtaking scenery along the Danube River from your balcony or while up on the Sun Deck and even catch a glimpse of the gleaming Bratislava Castle on your way into the city. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Plus, enjoy a surprise musical performance as part of this included excursion. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike up to Bratislava Castle, offering magnificent views of the city or enjoy a guided bike tour, pausing to take photos with some of the celebrated statues in Old Town. (B,L,D)

Revel in a morning scenic cruise before your ship arrives in Linz, where you’ll have several choices of excursions. For those who love The Sound of Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. You may also choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city’s picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe’s largest castle complexes. Following these full-day excursions, you may also choose to take a brief walking tour in Linz. Alternatively, join a walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a morning cruise through Austria’s beautiful Wachau Valley before sailing into Melk. Explore the city known for its magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries. Within these walls you will find frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger, as well as a famed collection of musical manuscripts. You will also enjoy the incredible acoustics of the abbey during a beautiful live choral performance. Later in the day, if you prefer a more active adventure, hike up to the Melk Abbey and then visit this magnificent Baroque monastery or join a guided bike tour to Melk. (B,L,D)

Sail from Melk to the grand capital of Vienna on a morning scenic cruise. Once there, the “City of Waltzes” offers a wealth of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center and visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or discover Vienna by bike. Alternatively, visit a traditional café to experience a true Vienna specialty with its very own national holiday and a unique history to match: the rich chocolate sachertorte – and savor this treat with a piping hot Viennese coffee. In the evening, join us for a very special live classical performance at a renowned local concert hall. (B,L,D)

Visit the UNESCO-designated Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, on your included tour. Built in the 18th century as an imperial summer residence, this magnificent 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria. Alternatively, pedal along the scenic Danube River and through charming neighborhoods to the nearby town of Klosterneuberg and its majestic 12th-century Augustinian monastery overlooking the Danube River. During the afternoon, explore the city of music while following in the footsteps of world-renowned composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, from their past residences to museums to grand monuments. Or enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. (B,L,D)

Bid farewell to Vienna as you depart the ship and drive to Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, where you will enjoy lunch. After your stop in Brno, continue on to Prague and check into your hotel. (B)

Experience the wonders of Prague and its historic city center that is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site on your city tour or you can hike to the grand castle. See Rudolfinum and the Hundertwasser Dancing House. Visit the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle and St. Vitus before walking over the romantic Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square, where you will find the capital’s famous Astronomical Clock. (B)

Beer has a long and illustrious history in the Czech Republic with the first brewery known to have existed in 993. Pilsner Urquell was created in 1842, being the first pilsner ever made, whilst Budweiser came into being in the city of Budweis. Beer is a core part of the country’s national identity, so much so the Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world. The country is home to more than 100 breweries with a combination of big names and micro establishments offering a huge range of styles, so join a Czech beer tasting and discover for yourself what makes the Czech’s beer some of the very best in the world. (B)

Bid farewell to Prague and prepare for your flight home. (B)