Step aboard for this exclusive Botanica World Discoveries' 15 day cruise. Glide from Amsterdam through five countries, picturesque European landscapes and medieval villages to Budapest, with opportunities for gourmet and golf.
Day 1. Arrive Amsterdam, Embark Ship
On arrival in Amsterdam today, be transferred to the MS AmaVerde, moored close to the city centre. This evening enjoy a Welcome Reception before the first of many delicious dinners on board.
Day 2. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today, choose from our Freedom of Choice Touring options. Visit the Keukenhof gardens, arguably the best-known garden in The Netherlands. Created over 70 acres as a show garden for the Dutch bulb industry, Keukenhof boasts huge displays of brilliantly coloured tulips. Alternatively, you may like to travel to Villa Augustus in Dordrecht to see its wonderful vegetable potager and enjoy morning tea in the Orangery. Back on board, enjoy the Captain’s Gala Welcome Dinner.
Day 3. Cologne, Freedom of Choice Touring, Koblenz
This morning you’ll disembark in Cologne, the fourth largest city in Germany. Here, visit the private garden of renowned botanical author Kristen Lammerting, or perhaps take a guided tour through the city’s old town. After your chosen activity, your ship will continue cruising towards 2,000 year-old Koblenz.
Day 4. Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice Touring
Following breakfast this morning, golfers will head for the remarkable Frankfurter Golf Club for a round of golf. Those remaining on board will cruise through the Rhine Gorge on what is known as the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine. Then, on arrival in Rüdesheim, perhaps ride the Winzerexpress mini-train to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Alternatively, travel to Darmstadt and Prinz-Georgs Garden, as well as the University of Darmstadt Botanical Gardens, laid out in 1874 with amazing conifers and well-labelled and unusual plants. Or perhaps discover why German Riesling is so renowned with a visit to a local winery for a tasting. This afternoon, with all guests back on board, your ship will cruise onto the Main River.
Day 5. Freudenberg, Wertheim, Freedom of Choice Touring
On arrival in Freudenberg this morning, disembark and travel to Wertheim, located where the Main and Tauber rivers meet. This town is noted for its delicious regional wine, its spectacular castle and the ancient town centre. Here, you might choose to embark on a guided bicycle tour or perhaps set out on a walking tour. Afterwards, take a tour of medieval Wertheim Castle and enjoy a glass of Sekt, a German sparkling wine.
Day 6. Würzburg, Freedom of Choice Touring, Kitzingen
Today golfers will enjoy a round at the Würzburg Golf Course. Non-golfers may like to visit medieval Rothenburg, or perhaps join a Botanical Guide for a tour that includes the Residential Palace and Hofgarten Palace garden, where restoration has brought back the splendour of this rococo masterpiece. Later, all guests will re-board the ship for lunch and cruise to Kitzingen. Tonight, enjoy an exclusive wine tasting event, hosted by a ‘Wine Queen’ and members of the Aulic Council at Germany’s oldest wine cellar.
Day 7. Bamberg, Freedom of Choice Touring
This morning enjoy a tour of Bamberg then visit a Bamberg Beer Haus and enjoy a local brew compliments of Botanica. Alternatively, join a botanical excursion to a Sanspareil garden, a literary and cultural garden with a mixture of woodland, grotto and ruin, once the greatest rococo garden in Germany. Back on board, the ship enters the Main-Danube Canal.
Day 8. Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Touring, Continental Divide
In Nuremberg today, perhaps take a medieval city tour, which includes a stop at the St Johns Cemetery, featuring colourful flowers, shrubs and small trees. Alternatively, join a World War II tour or see the sights on a Segway tour. Later, you’ll cross Europe’s Continental Divide.
Day 9. Regensburg, Freedom of Choice Touring
Arrive in Regensburg today, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. Here, you may like to set off to explore a secret Moat Garden hidden by the river. Alternatively, tour the city’s architectural highlights, visit the Audi Museum or Factory, or embark on a bicycle tour to the hillside temple of Walhalla. Tonight, enjoy a music performance on board.
Day 10. Passau, Freedom of Choice Touring, Linz
This morning arrive in Passau, where golfers will disembark and travel to the Beckenbauer Golf Course for a round of golf. Non-golfers might choose to take a day tour to Salzburg, including a visit to the rococo-style Mirabelle Gardens, with their meticulous standards of floriculture, hornbeam hedges, rose gardens and bright borders of bedding plants. Alternatively, tour Passau then enjoy an apple strudel cooking demonstration while cruising to Linz, or join an excursion to Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
Day 11. Melk, Freedom of Choice Touring, Dürnstein
Cruise through the Strudengau region to the Wachau Valley this morning. Arrive in Melk and tour the 13th century Benedictine Abbey, visiting its beautiful rose garden. When it’s time to depart, perhaps borrow one of the bicycles stored on board and take a ride along the banks of the Danube to Dürnstein. Otherwise, cruise to Dürnstein and take a walking tour through the medieval streets. Tonight, sample Wachau Valley wines during a wine tasting.
Day 12. Vienna, Freedom of Choice Touring and Dining
Disembark in Vienna this morning and enjoy a walking tour of the historic city or visit the Alpine Garden, featuring an amazing collection of labelled alpine plants. Golfers may like to play at Fontana Golf Course, which hosts the Austrian Open, while non-golfers will enjoy an afternoon at leisure. This evening, choose from three tantalising dining options. Perhaps stay on board and enjoy a classic dinner followed by a Mozart and Strauss concert at Hofburg Palace; or enjoy a traditional dinner at a Heuriger wine inn.
Day 13. Vienna, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today enjoy your chosen Freedom of Choice Touring activity, perhaps visit Schönbrunn Palace, the summer palace of the Hapsburgs. After touring the inside of the residence, enjoy time to explore the World Heritage-listed imperial gardens, which date back to 1690. Of particular interest is the Privy Garden, surrounded by fretwork arcades of Virginia creeper. Alternatively travel to Bratislava in Slovakia for a tour and a visit to the beautiful Bratislava Botanical Gardens, with its sequence of rock gardens and endemic Slovak flora.
Day 14. Budapest
Still on the Danube, arrive in Budapest, the Hungarian capital. Following lunch, join a tour that includes 500 year-old Matthias Church, St Stephen’s Basilica, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace and historic Buda Castle, where you have views of Buda and Pest over both banks of the river. Later, visit the Hungarian State Opera House, recognised as one of the most splendid examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture in the world. Venture inside for a guided tour, a glass of champagne and a private opera recital. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner, before your ship sets sail on a twilight cruise, allowing you to take in the glittering lights.
Day 15. Disembark Ship, Depart Budapest
After breakfast disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
