Begin your journey on the iconic Danube river with a traditional Hungarian folklore performance. Over the next fourteen days, sail through the stunning Wachau Valley and the Rhine Gorge, making your way to the canal city of Amsterdam. Along the way explore stunning cities and towns like Vienna and Cologne.
Inclusions
- 14 nights on board an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship
- 41 superb meals including 14 Breakfasts (B), 13 Lunches (L), 14 Dinners (D)
- Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- The services of an Emerald CruisesCruise Director
- Excursions and guided tours
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- Complimentary Bicycles on board (when available)
- All tipping and gratuities
- Airport transfers to and from the ship
- Port taxes and charges
- Exclusive Offer – Book by May 31: Second Guest Sails FREE! (pays taxes only)
| 2024 |
Guest 1 | Guest 2 (pay taxes only) |
| Jul 11, 13, 14, 25 or 27 | from $7779 | FREE |
| Nov 3 or 5 | from $7049 | FREE |
| Taxes & Fees | $976 | $976 |
| Upgrade to Balcony: add from $2100 more | ||
Selected Dates – New Bookings Only
Final payment is due at booking.
Promotion is subject to change without notice.
Looking for other 2 for 1 River Cruises, click here
Dining Highlights:
- 41 superb meals including 14 Breakfasts (B), 13 Lunches (L), 14 Dinners (D)
- Including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
- Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board
Included Excursions
- Guided coach tour of Budapest
- Walking tour of Bratislava
- Guided tour of Vienna
- Tour of Melk Abbey
- Guided tour of Passau
- Guided tour of Regensburg
- Guided tour of Nuremberg
- Guided tour of Bamberg
- Walking tour of Würzburg and a visit to the Bishops Residence
- Guided tour of Miltenberg
- Visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
- Guided tour of Cologne’s Old Town
- Canal cruise in Amsterdam
- EmeraldPLUS:
- Traditional Hungarian folklore show on board
- Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
- Traditional Bavarian band on board
- Exclusive visit to the Glass Art Museum in Wertheim with presentation
- EmeraldACTIVE:
- Hike to Gellert Hill
- Hike to Bratislava Castle
- Guided bike tour of Vienna
- Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
- Guided bike tour along the Danube River
- Active walk to Mildenburg Castle
- Hike to Niederwalddenkmal
- Guided bike tour to Waterland
Budapest to Amsterdam (or in reverse)
Day 1 Budapest (D)
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
Day 2 Budapest (B,L,D)
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, including the Castle District, where sights of Buda Castle perched on top of a rocky outcrop overlooking the city are certain to delight. If you’re feeling active, then you may instead choose to hike to Buda Hill, following a maze of cobblestone streets to the massive Baroque masterpiece towering overhead.
EmeraldACTIVE
Hike to Buda Hill
Included Excursion
Guided coach tour of Budapest
Day 3 Bratislava (B,L,D)
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.
EmeraldPLUS
Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
Included Excursion
Walking tour of Bratislava
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Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)
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Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
Day 4 Vienna (B,L,D)
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.
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour of Vienna
Included Excursion
Guided tour of Vienna
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Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
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Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
Day 5 Dürnstein – Melk (B,L,D)
This morning, you will have the opportunity to hike to Dürnstein Castle, perhaps stopping to imagine how it would have looked when Richard the Lionheart was held captive following the Third Crusade.
Alternatively, enjoy a guided bike ride from Dürnstein to Melk, passing noteworthy vineyards and settling down for lunch on the riverbanks.
After visiting Dürnstein Castle, relax on the Sun Deck as you sail through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley and on to Melk, nestled in the heart of the Wachau wine region. Your local guide will take you on a tour of the spectacular 900-year-old Benedictine abbey, including its ancient monastic library and medieval manuscripts saved from fires by the monks in the 13th century.
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour along the Danube
Included Excursion
Tour of Melk Abbey
Day 6 Passau (B,L,D)
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)
Day 7 Regensburg (B,L,D)
After breakfast, set out on an exploration of one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany, where more than two millennia of history is yours to discover. Your local guide will lead you through the heart of Regensburg’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, once home to the seat of parliament. Delightful historic patrician houses line the streets, a visible testament to the area’s importance as a trading centre hundreds of years ago.
Later, return to your Star-Ship to sail through the picturesque surrounds of the Main-Danube Canal, passing Kelheim as you make your way to Nuremberg.
EmeraldPLUS
Bavarian band performance on board
Included Excursion
Guided tour of Regensburg
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Sausage-making workshop (extra expense)
Day 8 Nuremberg (B,L,D)
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)
Day 9 Bamberg (B,L,D)
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
Day 10 Würzburg (B,L,D)
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)
Day 11 Wertheim – Miltenberg (B,L,D)
This morning, as part of your EmeraldPLUS offering, you will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive glassblowing presentation at the Glass Art Museum. Then, travel by coach to the picturesque village of Miltenberg, a place that perfectly encapsulates traditional Bavarian life.
Enjoy a guided tour of the village, as your local guide leads you down an intricate network of cobblestone streets, each adorned with colourful houses. Centuries ago, this area benefited from trade that was brought by river traffic, and this past affluence can still be seen today.
Alternatively, embark on an active walk to Mildenburg Castle, where a wonderful collection of artworks can be found inside of the castle that was once little more than a set of ruins.
EmeraldPLUS
Exclusive visit to the Glass Art Museum in Wertheim with presentation
EmeraldACTIVE
Active walk to Mildenburg Castle
Included Excursion
Guided tour of Miltenberg
Day 12 Rüdesheim – Koblenz (B,L,D)
Relax on your Star-Ship this morning until we reach Rüdesheim, a town with a rich history of viticulture. When you arrive, ride the Winzerexpress to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum to see spectacular rare music boxes that have stood the test of time, showcased in a postcard-worthy building with a half-timbered façade.
Alternatively, enjoy an active walk through vineyards to see what makes this wine region so popular.
After lunch, sail through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge, perhaps standing on the Sun Deck and watching for the castles and fortresses that pepper the surrounding hilltops.
EmeraldACTIVE
Hike to Niederwalddenkmal
Included Excursion
Visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
Day 13 Cologne (B,L,D)
Cruise along the Rhine from Koblenz to Cologne this morning, where an illustrious 2,000-year-long history awaits. One of the oldest cities in the country, the Romans founded Cologne in 50 AD and you’ll find a number of ancient ruins, monuments and medieval structures as reminders.
Enjoy a walking tour of the city today, as your local guide takes you through the Old Town, passing ancient bridges that survived the air raids of WWII, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral and its filigree twin towers, an iconic part of the city’s skyline.
This evening, your crew will be delighted to welcome you to your farewell dinner.
Included Excursion
Guided walking tour of Cologne’s Old Town
Day 14 Amsterdam (B,L,D)
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.
EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour to Waterland
Included Excursion
Canal cruise
Day 15 Amsterdam (B)
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.
Flexible Booking Plan
| River Cruising | Yacht Cruising |
| $125 | $200 |
- Should you choose to defer or cancel your booking, the total monies paid to us (less third-party fees) will be applied as a Future Travel Credit which is valid for 24 months for you to use on an alternate tour/cruise.
- If you do not re-book within 24 months, your FTC it will be forfeited.
- Non-refundable. Non commissionable.
- Excludes Russia cruising.
- Not available to guests using COVID Future Travel Credits
Platinum Protection Plan
The Platinum Protection Plan (“PPP”) is available for new river and ocean cruising bookings for travel after 1 January 2022 for Scenic and Emerald Cruises (“Eligible Booking”). By adding this plan, you are covered if you unable to travel due to health reasons, or your travel plans are impacted by COVID-19, up to 31 days prior to departure with a 100% refund (less airline cancellation fees and PPP cost), or a 70% refund between 15 and 30 days prior to departure (less PPP cost). The PPP must be purchased together with the Eligible Booking at time such booking is made and may not be added at a later date. The PPP is provided at a cost of $395 per person per river cruise, $495 per person per cruise on Emerald Cruises yacht cruising and $595 per person per cruise on Scenic Eclipse voyages (“PPP Fee”).
Visa Requirements
Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders may require an ETIAS visa waiver from late 2023 when traveling to the E.U.
United Kingdom passport holders do not require visas (excluding tours that feature Russia and Turkey, where guests are required to obtain a Visa).
Visa regulations are subject to change at short notice, Scenic recommends that you contact the relevant Consulates for the latest information regarding visa requirements.
