The Great Rivers of Europe

DAY 1 Depart U.S.
Depart today on your flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Please refer to your individual air itinerary for exact departure and arrival times.

DAY 2 Arrive Amsterdam, the Netherlands • Embark ship
Destination: Amsterdam
Meals included: D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The ship is docked outside of the city center. It will take around 30 minutes to reach the city by bus.

Morning: Arrive in Amsterdam, where you'll be met at the airport and transferred to the pier to board your river ship.

Lunch: On your own—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations.

Afternoon: Enjoy time to relax after your flight or set off to explore on your own a city that has successfully blended its Old World traditions with a thoroughly modern vibe. Marvel at Amsterdam's famous tall and skinny rowhouses during your walk, noting tidy window boxes and hand-scrubbed stoops along the way. Before dinner, gather onboard for your first Port Talk—a nightly feature of your River Cruise, designed as an opportunity for your Program Directors to prepare you for the following day's discoveries.

Dinner: Toast to the discoveries that await—and get better acquainted with your fellow travelers, including those who took our optional Bruges, Belgium pre-trip extension—over dinner onboard.

Evening: Relax onboard and enjoy the ship's amenities. Perhaps you'll enjoy a nightcap in the lounge, or retire to your cabin.

DAY 3 Explore Amsterdam • Captain's Welcome Dinner
Destination: Amsterdam
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The ship will be docked outside of the city center and it will take around 30 minutes to reach the city by bus. On some departures, the ship may dock at Lelystad, which is about an hour bus ride from the city.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: After breakfast this morning, gather for a Welcome Briefing. During this briefing, which will last around 45 minutes, you will introduce yourself and review your itinerary in more detail (including any changes that may need to occur). Your Program Director will also discuss logistics, safety and emergency procedures, and answer questions you may have.

Today's discoveries will begin, fittingly, with a morning canal boat tour—providing you an unmatched vantage point from which you can marvel at the city's remarkable architectural achievements.

Lunch: Return to your ship for lunch onboard.

Afternoon: During lunch, we’ll set sail for Cologne. After your meal, you'll have free time onboard.

Dinner: You'll formally meet your ship crew this evening, during a Welcome Drink and introduction, followed by the Captain's Welcome Dinner onboard in the ship's dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 4 Explore Cologne, Germany
Destination: Cologne
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The ship is docked outside of the city center; it will take around 15 minutes to reach the city by bus.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: As your ship continues to make its journey into Germany this morning, you'll have a chance to relax onboard.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: After lunch, join an included tour of Cologne. A former Roman settlement called Colonia Agrippina, Cologne came under Frankish control in the fifth century. Traces of this layered history can be seen throughout the city: Among multiple visible Roman ruins is the Roman Gate, a medieval archway that stands guard near Cologne Cathedral.

Your tour concludes outside the city's magnificent Gothic cathedral, just outside the Dom. This UNESCO World Heritage Site largely escaped the World War II damage that devastated the rest of the city (and Germany)—there's evidence that Allied forces were specifically ordered to preserve the beauty of this structure. The largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, the Dom boasts incredible stained-glass windows, an ornate gold altar shrine, and the intricate detail traditional for 14th-century Gothic churches.

Before returning to the ship, you'll have some time this afternoon to explore as you please. Perhaps you'll venture into the Dom to see the splendors contained therein. Or, consider learning more about the city's ancient history with a visit to the Roman-Germanic Museum: The building was constructed on the site of a third-century Roman villa, and includes a stunning Dionysus mosaic floor.

Upon your arrival back at the ship, you'll enjoy a cocktail hour to discuss the day's discoveries with your fellow travelers before dinner.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship's dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 5 Explore Koblenz • Afternoon sailing
Destination: Koblenz
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Disembark after breakfast this morning for an included tour of Koblenz. Located where the Rhine and Mosel rivers meet, Koblenz was originally established as an outpost of the Roman Empire in 9 BC, and named Castellum apud Confluentes (Castle at the Confluence of the Rivers). Benefiting significantly from its prime location, the settlement grew from a small town into a prosperous city by the 13th century. Explore the narrow winding streets lined by half-timbered buildings, medieval churches, and the Weinstuben (wine taverns) that celebrate the region's local products. Then, set off for the Winningen wine region to visit a family-owned winery, where you'll sample a selection of local vintages—perhaps you'll try a refreshing Riesling white wine, which the area is known for.

Then, you'll have time here for your own discoveries. If you chose not to partake in this morning's wine adventures, then you can traverse the city via cable car using the pre-paid voucher provided by your Program Director.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Get your camera ready as you make your way to your ship's Sun Deck—or settle in for a window seat within the lounge—for an unforgettable stretch of scenic sailing. As your ship makes its way downstream, you'll be treated to a view of the Rhine River's castle corridor, a stretch of valley liberally sprinkled with turreted hilltop fortresses on both shores.

Your Program Directors will help you spot each structure—and learn about important local history—as they provide commentary from the ship's bridge. They'll also be sure to point out Lorelei, a large rock rising 440 feet above the river. Ancient Greek mythology is littered with tales of sirens who lure sailors to their deaths with sweet songs. The Germanic variation of this legend places one such golden-haired creature—Lorelei—here, and it is said she enticed sailors to destruction on the reef below the rock.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: Back onboard, you have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you'll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 6 Frankfurt • Explore Heidelberg
Destination: Heidelberg
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The Sun Deck will be closed today because of low-standing bridges on our sailing route.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Disembark in Frankfurt and board your private motorcoach for a transfer to Heidelberg, a historical and vibrant German university town that allures visitors with enchanting architecture, a rich literary heritage, and striking riverside panoramas. Here, you'll take in the view of the city from the ruins of its namesake castle, a strong example of Renaissance architecture. A palace has stood on these grounds since the 13th century, despite multiple lightning strikes, fires, and explosions over the years—most notably damage inflicted by the French in 1689, during the Nine Years' War.

Discover more of Heidelberg during a walking tour, followed by some free time to explore independently. Perhaps you'll seek out a glimpse into 17th-century student life at a Studentenkarzer—a private jail cell intended for misbehaving undergrads.

Lunch: Settle in for a meal of traditional fare in a Heidelberg Gasthaus (a small inn with a restaurant and bar) that has been part of the Old Town for centuries.

Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries. Buses will be available to shuttle you back to your ship.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 7 Explore Wertheim • Glassblowing demonstration • Home-Hosted Kaffeeklatsch
Destination: Wertheim
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The Sun Deck will be closed today because of low-standing bridges on our sailing route.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Enjoy a fitting introduction to your next port of call, Wertheim with an Exclusive Discovery Series glassblowing demonstration.

Then, step ashore for a walking tour of Wertheim—located at the meeting of the Main and Tauber rivers—and admire the imposing ruins of its castle, set on a hill overlooking the fairy-tale town below. The rest of the morning is yours to explore Wertheim on your own. Climb the stairs to the castle and follow the trail around the fortress walls, or visit its renowned Glass Museum, where exhibitions display the town's long and proud tradition of glass production.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Head to the home of a local family for a traditional Kaffeeklatsch to share coffee and cake, and experience what life is like for a typical German family during an Exclusive Discovery Series Home-Hosted Visit.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 8 Explore Wurzburg
Destination: Wurzburg
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The Sun Deck will be closed today because of low-standing bridges on our sailing route. On some departures, the ship will be docked outside of the city center. It will take around 15 minutes to reach the city by bus.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Dock in the Bavarian city of Wurzburg, a marvelous display of Baroque and Rococo architecture and a hot spot for wine enthusiasts. You'll explore the city, founded in the tenth century, during an included walking tour. Along the way, you'll find remnants of history left behind by several powerful prince-bishops—the most obvious example being the exterior of the Residenz, an ornate complex commissioned by the prince-bishop von Schönborn brothers, Johann Philipp Franz and Friedrich Carl. Napoleon proclaimed this building the "nicest parsonage in Europe"—while the structure was heavily damaged during World War II, it has been painstakingly restored to its pre-war form.

Enjoy time here on your own before returning to the ship. Perhaps you'll head to the Residenz to see its renowned grand staircase, or get a glimpse of daily life from a comfy chair at a local cafe.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 9 Gerlachshausen • Optional Rothenburg tour • Schweinfurt
Destination: Schweinfurt
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The Sun Deck will be closed today because of low-standing bridges on our sailing route.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning/Afternoon: Your ship will stop briefly in Gerlachshausen this morning. If you choose, you can spend the morning onboard enjoying a scenic cruise to Schweinfurt.

Or you can disembark and join our optional full-day excursion to Rothenburg, where you'll step back into medieval times. This lovely old town, nestled on the Tauber River, is home to undamaged 14th-century city walls and beautifully preserved fortifications. As you explore, you'll see stately towers, imposing burghers' houses, and the town's whimsical mechanical clock tower. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own before you travel to meet up with the ship in Schweinfurt.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room for those travelers who do not choose the optional tour. If you did choose the optional tour, lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

Rothenburg - $125/person

On this tour of Rothenburg, you'll visit this lovely old town that sits on the Tauber River and boasts undamaged 14th-century city walls and beautifully preserved fortifications. Set off on a walking tour to see stately towers and imposing burghers’ houses. After an included lunch, the afternoon is yours to make your own discoveries before transferring to meet your ship.

DAY 10 Explore Bamberg • Rhine-Main-Danube Canal transit & discussion
Destination: Bamberg
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: During the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal transit, it will be necessary for the Captain to close the Sun Deck because of low-standing bridges. The ship is docked outside of the city center; it will take around 15 minutes to reach the city by bus.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Set out on a morning walking tour of Bamberg, which was founded in AD 902, began to prosper in the twelfth century, and was the center of southern Germany's Enlightenment in the late 18th century. The great German philosopher Hegel lived here, and Bamberg was the second city (after Mainz) to introduce book-printing. The city has grown famous in beer-enthusiast circles as the home to Rauchbier, a beer known for its smoky notes and malty finish.

With more than 2,000 buildings listed as historical monuments, Bamberg's old city center is Europe's largest existing group of historic structures. This area not only earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status, but it was also designated as a "World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Mankind" site in 1993. Your tour will immerse you in this vibrant display of historical locations and culture.

Then, before heading back to the ship for lunch, you'll take part in one of Germany's most popular traditions—visiting a local Biergarten (beer garden) to sample local brews.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Begin cruising to Nuremberg this afternoon—a journey that will take you through the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: After dinner, you'll enjoy an Exclusive Discovery Series discussion on the history and construction of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.

DAY 11 Explore Nuremberg • Conversation about Germany & Ukraine
Destination: Nuremberg
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Activity Note: The Sun Deck will be closed today because of low-standing bridges on our sailing route. Please also note that Courtroom 600 is still a working courtroom, and therefore is not always open to visitors. The ship is docked outside of the city center; it will take around 30 minutes to reach the city by bus.

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: This morning's included tour introduces you to Nuremberg—a city with a long and storied history, but also forever linked to Hitler's rise to power. Bavaria's second-largest city, Nuremberg was once the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire—and you can see traces of its exalted past with the imposing medieval castle that looks over the city from above. It grew to serve as the heart of the German Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Nazi Party chose Nuremberg as the site of massive conventions between 1927 and 1938 because of its connection to the Holy Roman Empire. Your tour will take you to Zeppelin Field, where these rallies were held for up to 100,000 spectators, on grounds designed by Hitler's chief architect, Albert Speer. (Speer later went down in history as "the Nazi who said sorry" during the Nuremberg Trials.) While rally footage and photographs show this space as home to large, loud, boisterous activity, Zeppelin Field is quiet for visitors today—vast and almost overwhelming in its expansive magnitude. Our explorations will also include a visit to the infamous Courtroom 600 from the Nuremberg Trials.

Lunch: While Nuremberg is so closely associated with numerous events of the past, it is today a lively and vibrant city with a contemporary vibe, and you'll get a sense of daily life here during lunch in a local restaurant, where you'll sample regional specialties among those who call this city home.

Afternoon: The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax onboard or to take advantage of a shuttle bus into town. If you'd like to continue to trace World War II history, you can explore Nuremberg's Old Town, full of medieval charm, including the Church of Our Lady—complete with a 16th-century mechanical clock depicting the Holy Roman Emperor.

Later, return to the ship for an Exclusive Discovery Series discussion about Germany's role in the war between Ukraine and Russia. While Germany has formally joined the EU in supporting Ukraine's defense, some of its allies have accused the nation of delivering insufficient aid to Ukraine as Germany seeks to avoid unnecessary conflict with Russia. You'll hear about the controversy surrounding Germany's intervention policy, delving into the arguments for and against increasing its role in the war, with an opportunity to ask questions of your own.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 12 Conversation about German education • Explore Regensburg
Destination: Regensburg
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: As you sail toward Regensburg, head to the lounge to engage in an Exclusive Discovery Series conversation about the education system in Germany with a local expert.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Upon arrival at our destination, step ashore for a walking tour of Regensburg, one of Germany's largest and best preserved medieval cities. Experience its Old Town Hall and the famous Stone Bridge (Germany's oldest bridge), constructed during the twelfth century. You'll also see soaring St. Peter's Cathedral, Bavaria’s most impressive Gothic wonder and home to a famous boys’ choir. Admire the winding medieval streets and the relics of Regensburg's Roman past at the ruins of Castra Regina fort—the Porta Praetoria—containing a stone inscribed in AD 179, when Marcus Aurelius was emperor. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for a small red plaque affixed to a home on the Watmarkt: Oskar Schindler lived here for a time after the end of World War II.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 13 Explore Passau
Destination: Passau
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Explore Passau, situated at the confluence of the Danube, Ilz, and Inn rivers, during this morning's walking tour. Called the Dreifluessestadt (City on Three Rivers), this elegant town has served as a German cultural and intellectual hub for centuries. Explore this kaleidoscopic assortment of pastel-colored buildings, cobblestone streets, and ornate sculptures during your tour.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Enjoy the afternoon to pursue your own interests in Passau, such as the town's lavish, 17th-century St. Stephen's Cathedral, known as the Dom. This structure is home to 17,774 pipes and 234 resounding stops, making it one of the world's largest pipe organs. While the cathedral underwent a 17th-century reconstruction in the grand Baroque style, its original Gothic plan is still evident. One of its most striking features is a gorgeous octagonal dome hovering over the intersection of the nave (where the congregation sits) and the transept running perpendicular.

Later this afternoon, return to your ship and say auf Wiedersehen to Germany as we begin cruising to Austria—the last of three countries on your itinerary.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

DAY 14 Explore Melk, Austria • Vienna • Optional Musical Vienna tour
Destination: Vienna
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Awake to find yourself in Melk, where you can glimpse the formidable Melk Abbey from the ship, as it rises up from the surrounding countryside along the Danube. Disembark after breakfast for a guided tour of the magnificently ornate Baroque abbey. Strategically situated on a steep cliffside perch, Melk Abbey's earliest incarnation was as a Roman border post. Later, it served as a tenth-century Babenberg fortress. The abbey then became a Benedictine monastery in 1089 and earned a distinguished reputation for medieval scholarship.

Its library includes more than 70,000 books and 2,000 manuscripts, chiefly from the ninth through the 15th centuries. Ravaged by fires in 1297 and 1683, the stately Baroque edifice that stands today, with its twin towers and 208-foot-high dome, dates from its reconstruction in 1736. In addition to those thousands of volumes, the Abbey library houses a remarkable collection of cherubs, and 365 windows—one for every day of the year. The interior of the abbey's church is a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and gold, with an intricately carved pulpit and shimmering ceiling frescoes, which you'll observe up close during your tour.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Continue on to Vienna, cruising through the captivating landscape of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site—past terraced vineyards and lush flowering fields.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: When you arrive in Austria's capital this evening, you'll have the night to relax or start exploring on your own. You may also choose to join our optional Musical Vienna excursion to one of the city's famed concert halls. Celebrate this city's incredible classical music heritage, and hear an enchanting performance of works by Austrian masters such as Mozart and Strauss.

Musical Vienna - $100/person

Vienna without music wouldn’t be Vienna. So, subject to availability of tickets, you may want to enjoy an unforgettable optional evening in one of Vienna’s famed concert halls. You’ll hear enchanting performances of some of the most wonderful melodies of classical Austrian music.

DAY 15 Explore Vienna • Captain's Farewell Dinner
Destination: Vienna
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: M/S River Aria or M/S River Adagio

Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: Today, discover Vienna, Austria's legendary capital and a city renowned for its elegance and culture. Your exploration begins with a tour along (and within) the Ringstrasse, one of Emperor Franz Joseph's many achievements. In 1857, the emperor ordered the demolition of Vienna's ancient city walls, which were impeding the city's growth. In their place was constructed an elegant 2.5-mile long boulevard, encircling the Inner Stadt (Old Town).

The Ringstrasse showcases Neo-classical buildings that bring together a variety of architectural styles in an exuberant celebration of all that seemed possible during the Industrial Revolution. Your tour will also give you an opportunity to witness the well-known Imperial Palace, home to many generations of the Habsburg family, and the renowned Spanish Riding School.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: The remainder of the day is yours in Vienna to spend as you please—ask your Program Director for recommendations. You may want to experience Vienna's coffeehouse culture at one of the city's many cafés.

Dinner: Reminisce with your fellow travelers during the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner in the ship's dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy one last nightcap at the bar.

DAY 16 Vienna • Return to U.S.
Meals included: B
Breakfast: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Morning: After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or, continue your discoveries in Vienna, Austria or Prague, Czech Republic, with a post-trip extension.