On APT’s inimitable 15 Day Magnificent Europe cruise. Glide from Amsterdam through five countries to Budapest, cruising down the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, stopping to take in the iconic attractions and charming secrets of Europe’s heartland.
Day 1. Arrive Amsterdam
Be met at the airport and transferred to your river ship. Tonight enjoy a Welcome Reception with your APT Cruise Director and fellow guests.
Day 2. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today select your activity from our options in the incredible capital city of The Netherlands. Perhaps take a canal cruise and admire the city’s architecture as you cruise in a glass-top boat past 17th century homes, charming churches and 16th century merchant houses. Alternatively, visit the Van Gogh Museum, which contains the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh paintings. Or, take a guided Wetland Safari canoe tour through extraordinary landscapes. After your chosen activity, stop at Rembrandt’s Windmill for a photo opportunity. Rejoin your ship in Utrecht and cruise along the Rhine River. Tonight, enjoy the Captain’s Gala Welcome Dinner on board.
Day 3. Düsseldorf, Freedom of Choice Touring, Cologne
Arrive in Düsseldorf today and choose your touring activity. Perhaps travel to Venlo and explore the spectacular displays on show at the 2012 Floriade Horticultural World Expo, with time to admire the impressive landscaped gardens and floral exhibitions. Alternatively, you may like to take a trip to the historic city of Maastricht, where you can explore the grand ancient architecture and boutique shops. After your chosen activity, continue to Cologne, which you’ll discover with a guided walking tour. This historic and cultural city is packed with attractions such as museums and galleries, and features stunning examples of architecture, including twelve Romanesque churches. Your tour will take you to the spectacular Gothic cathedral, one of the largest churches in the world.
Day 4. Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today cruise through the Rhine Gorge on what is known as the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim, where you have a choice of activities. The Winzerexpress mini-train will take you to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Here, a tour will highlight one of the largest collections of automated musical instruments in the world. Alternatively, you may like to discover why German Riesling is so renowned with a visit to a winery and a tasting of local wines. This afternoon, your ship enters the Main River.
Day 5. Freudenberg, Wertheim, Freedom of Choice Touring
Still in Germany, cruise to Freudenberg and enjoy a fascinating demonstration of glass-blowing on board. From here, travel by coach to Wertheim, located where the Main and Tauber rivers meet. This small town is noted for three enticing attractions: delicious regional wine, a spectacular castle and an ancient town centre. Perhaps embark on a guided bicycle or walking tour of this lovely medieval town, or go for a paddling tour in a canoe or kayak along the Tauber River. Afterwards, rejoin your fellow travellers and enjoy a private tour of medieval Wertheim Castle and a glass of Sekt, a German sparkling wine.
Day 6. Würzburg, Freedom of Choice Touring, Kitzingen
Surrounded by green hills covered with vineyards, Würzburg is the capital of Lower Franconia and a crucial centre for wine and trade. This morning, you may like to embark on a tour taking in the Resi-dential Palace and churches ranging in styles from Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque to Modern. Alternatively, visit medieval Rothenburg, a beautiful walled town on the Romantic Road. After a tour here, have a look through the city’s famous German Christmas Museum. Later, reboard your ship for lunch and cruise to the picturesque Bavarian town of Kitzingen. Perhaps wander over to the town’s 13th Century Leaning Tower, or search for Dracula’s Grave, rumoured to be located in the town cemetery. This evening, enjoy an exclusive wine tasting event, hosted by a ‘Wine Queen’ and members of the Aulic Council at Germany’s oldest wine cellar. The Alter Klosterkeller was built by nuns and now offers an historic setting in which to sample Bavarian wines. Back on board, enjoy a medieval themed dinner.
Day 7. Bamberg
After breakfast, disembark and travel to World Heritage-listed Bamberg, one of the few German cities that wasn’t destroyed by bombs during World War II. Here, tour the city’s streets with charming houses and 18th century mansions. Then, visit a traditional Bamberg Beer Haus and enjoy a local brew compliments of APT. Later, return to your ship and cruise into the Main-Danube Canal. Having taken 32 years to construct, the canal is truly a feat of modern engineering. It links the North and Black seas, enabling ships to cross the entire continent.
Day 8. Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Touring
Nuremberg played a pivotal role for the Nazi Party and was thus systematically bombed by the British and US air forces during World War II. It went on to act as the host of the Nuremberg Trials. Today, select from three touring options. Perhaps take a World War II tour and visit a range of significant sites from the war, including the famous Courtroom 600. Or take a medieval tour and see the 900 year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle, the Kaiserburg Fortress and more. The more adventurous may like to see the sights by Segway. At lunch, reboard your ship and continue along the Main-Danube Canal. Today, thanks to the series of stair-step locks, you’ll arrive at the highest point of the cruise, 435 metres above sea level, and cross Europe’s Continental Divide.
Day 9. Regensburg, Freedom of Choice Touring
Arrive in Regensburg today, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, at the confluence of the Regen and Danube rivers. Here you’ll enjoy the opportunity to see one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. Your touring options include a guided sightseeing tour of the city’s architectural highlights - including the Old Town Hall, the World Heritage-listed city centre and the Porta Pretoria. You may opt to visit the nearby Audi Museum and Factory, where you’ll gain a fascinating insight into the past, present and future of the German car industry and the renowned Audi car. Or perhaps take a guided bicycle tour to the imposing hillside temple of Walhalla. This neo-Classical building serves as a hall of fame honouring Germans of high distinction. The displays of plaques and busts commemorate over 2000 years of history, beginning in 9 AD with Arminius, who fought victoriously in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Tonight, enjoy a music performance on board your ship after dinner.
Day 10. Passau, Freedom of Choice Touring, Linz
This morning arrive in Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Here, you’ll disembark and select from our touring options. Perhaps travel by coach to Salzburg and take a tour of the city’s famous ‘Sound of Music’ sights, including the Wedding Church, Mirabell Gardens and Great Salzburg Festival Hall. Then travel by coach to Linz and rejoin your ship. Or you may like to take a day tour to the World Heritage-listed city of Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Alternatively, take a tour of Passau, including a visit to St Stephen’s Cathedral, before enjoying a cruise into Austria and to Linz. During your cruise, witness the culinary art involved in making traditional apple strudels during an onboard cooking demonstration. After dinner tonight, perhaps enjoy an evening stroll through Linz.
Day 11. Melk, Freedom of Choice Touring, Dürnstein
Cruise through the Strudengau region to the pretty Wachau Valley this morning and take a guided tour of Melk Abbey, one of the world’s most famous and spectacular monastic sites. Located high above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, it has the rare distinction of surviving as an active Benedictine monastery continuously since its foundation in 1089. When it’s time to depart Melk, choose from our two touring options. Perhaps take a guided bicycle ride on a path along the pretty banks of the Danube from Melk to Dürnstein. Alternatively, rejoin your ship and continue cruising to Dürnstein for a walking tour through medieval cobblestone streets that reveal 16th century townhouses and wine taverns. Here, above town, lie the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, the King of England, was -imprisoned in 1192. This evening, enjoy sampling delicious regional Wachau Valley wines during a wine tasting.
Day 12. Vienna, Dine Around Dinner
Disembark in Vienna this morning and enjoy a walking tour of the historic city, founded in 500 BC. Famed for striking architecture, classical musical and vibrant café culture, Vienna is a truly delightful place to explore, packed with historical and cultural landmarks. A wide variety of architectural masterpieces can be seen here, including examples of Baroque and Romanesque design, representing many centuries of development. Museums, galleries, opera houses and theatres abound - a testament to the world-class performances typically held here. The city is also a notable producer of fine cakes, one of which - the famous chocolate ‘Sachertorte’ - you can sample with coffee after your tour. This evening, choose from three tantalising dining options. Perhaps stay on board your luxury river ship and enjoy a classic dinner followed by a Mozart and Strauss concert celebrating Vienna’s reputation for classical music at the spectacular Hofburg Palace. Complete your evening with an Illuminations tour around the sights of the famous Ringstrasse, an historic avenue featuring many opulent buildings and striking monuments. Alternatively, opt for an Austrian schnitzel dinner in a local beer garden, or enjoy a traditional dinner in a Heuriger wine inn.
Day 13. Vienna, Freedom of Choice Touring
On your second day in the Austrian capital, select from our Freedom of Choice Touring options. Perhaps visit Schönbrunn Palace for a tour inside this magnificent residence including the Carriage Museum within the palace grounds. You may prefer to explore the impressive collection of artwork at the city’s Fine Arts Museum, a palatial building crowned with an octagonal dome housing many celebrated paintings. Or see another impressive collection, the Hofburg Crown Jewels at the Imperial Treasury Schatzkammer, which boasts a thousand year-old collection of treasures. Alternatively, you may like to take an excursion to Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, for a tour taking in the key historic landmarks of the former Communist regime.
Day 14. Budapest
Still on the Danube River, arrive in Budapest, the romantic Hungarian capital. Disembark for a tour that includes such places as 500 year-old Matthias Church, St Stephen’s Basilica, the distinctive Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace and historic Buda Castle, offering views of Buda and Pest over both banks of the river. In the afternoon, exclusive to APT, visit the Hungarian State Opera House, which is widely recognised as one of the best examples of neo-Renaissance architecture in the world. Absorb the grandeur of the building from outside, then venture inside for an exclusive tour, a glass of champagne and a private opera recital of two or three ariettas. This evening enjoy a Fare-well Dinner on board, before your ship sets sail on a twilight cruise, allowing you to take in the glittering lights of Budapest. You’ll also enjoy an onboard performance by Gypsy violinists.
Day 15. Disembark Ship, Depart Budapest
After breakfast this morning, you’ll disembark your ship and be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
