Willkommen in Deutschland – Welcome to Germany! This beautiful vacation takes you along the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers. Explore Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities and home to Germany’s oldest restaurant, enjoy picturesque Miltenberg with its medieval homes and explore La Petite France district in Strasbourg. Cruise the Main Danube Canal, and the most spectacular part of the Rhine Gorge. Visit the magnificent Bishop‘s Residenz in Würzburg, savor beer tasting in Nuremberg, and enjoy a local lunch in Bamberg as well as a special treat in the quintessential wine village of Rüdesheim. Large and small, well-known and lesser known towns and vilages come to life on this delightful vacation.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Passau, Germany (Embarkation). Passau is ideally located at the confluence of the Rivers Inn, Ilz, and Danube. Meet your crew at a welcome reception this evening as you set sail for Regensburg. (B,D)
Day #2 Regensburg. Regensburg is one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. Architectural highlights include the Old Town Hall and Porta Pretoria—gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. The city is the capital of Upper Palatinate, a bustling university town, and one of Bavaria’s cultural centers. It is here you will find Germany’s oldest restaurant, the 12th-century Historische Wurstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen). (B,L,D)
Day #3 Nuremberg. Although Nuremberg suffered extensive damage during WWII, much of it was restored to its original style. Marvel at this historic city with its fabulous gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. Nuremberg’s traditions include famous Lebkuchen, toy making, and metal working. After dinner we’ll introduce you to some of Germany’s FAMOUS BEERS! (B,L,D)
Day #4 Bamberg–Kitzingen. Leave your ship after breakfast this morning and head for medieval Bamberg, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your walking tour with a Certified Local Guide takes in its breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall straddling the River Regnitz, and serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. After a LOCAL LUNCH, continue on to Kitzingen, the center of the wine trade in the region known as Franconia. Join a Certified Local Guide for a visit of this city on the River Main, then rejoin your ship. (B,L,D)
Day #5 Würzburg. Known as the “Pearl of the Romantic Road,” Würzburg is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. The magnificent BISHOP’S RESIDENZ is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The afternoon is free for you to explore or shop. Or, you may wish to join an optional excursion to the walled city of Rothenburg on the “Romantic Road.” (B,L,D)
Day #6 Miltenberg. Located on the Main River, Miltenberg is a picturesque Bavarian village that thrived on income from river traffic. Its cultural wealth and affluence are reflected in the beautiful medieval and renaissance houses and the gothic splendor of the Merchant Hall. There is free time in this charming city before your ship departs. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon on board as you sail out of the River Main and head for the Rhine. (B,L,D)
Day #7 Boppard–Rhine Gorge–Rüdesheim. This morning, arrive in Boppard on the left bank of the Rhine. After breakfast, a guided walk will acquaint you with this town, which saw its beginnings as a Celtic settlement, then a Roman stronghold, and today as a spa center and a popular tourist destination. After lunch, sail southward through the most dramatic part of the river, the RHINE GORGE, before arriving in Rüdesheim, the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. SIEGFRIED’S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! Enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT, then there’s free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. (B,L,D)
Day #8 Excursion to Heidelberg. After breakfast, drive to Heidelberg, where you may choose to spend either a full day or only the morning, returning to your ship for lunch. Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university town and of Student Prince fame, a world-famous love musical. Take pictures of the ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle, built of red sandstone and towering above the city, then enjoy free time to explore. (B,L,D)
Day #9 Strasbourg, France. Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. A Certified Local Guide shows you the noteworthy sights: the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kléber, and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. A choice of optional excursions is available this afternoon: a trip into the Alsace wine region in France may strike your fancy, or on the other side of the river in Germany, the Black Forest beckons. (B,L,D)
Day #10 Basel, Switzerland (Disembarkation). Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Departure flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am. (B)