Paris
Paris 07/03/2024
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Long a hub of French culture and cuisine, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Over the centuries, Parisian culture has been built on the wings of inspiration. Music, film, architecture, literature, dance and the visual arts all have their brilliant place in the museums, theaters, bookstores and remarkably preserved buildings of this magnificent city. At the center of it all is the Champs-Élysées. With its inviting riverside promenade, graceful bridges and splendid views of all things Parisian, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum.
|
07/03/2024 |
07/03/2024 |
Paris
Paris 07/04/2024
This morning, tour this "City of One of the most pleasurable activities in Paris is whiling away the time in one of the city’s outdoor cafés. Whether you are sipping a café au lait or a kir royal, there is no better way to feel like a Parisian. The hub of social and culinary life, cafés have been part of the city’s fabric since the 1600s. During the 20th century, literary and artistic figures—such as Ernest Hemingway, Colette and Pablo Picasso—famously met over drinks to share their works and ideas. Today, thousands of cafés line the pavements and squares to connect with France’s culture and history.a Hundred Spires". A guided walk takes you through Old Town to the famed Charles Bridge. Then, travel to Hradcany for a guided tour inside Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. See the Town Hall's intricate 15th-century Astronomical Clock, spend some time in historic Wenceslas Square, or discover the city's Jewish heritage in the Josefov Quarter. (B); Optional excursion: Enjoy a wonderful afternoon at Lobkowicz Palace in the Prague Castle for an exclusive look at the art collection, a private concert, and an elegant lunch. (This optional excursion can be booked in advance, no later than 30 days prior to sailing. Limited space will be available for in-destination booking.),
|
07/04/2024 |
07/04/2024 |
Trier
Trier 07/05/2024
One of Germany’s most treasured cities for its rich history, Trier was once the regional capital of the Holy Roman Empire. After Emperor Constantine the Great had a vision of Christ, he and his mother Helena built great churches and cathedrals here. A few still stand, the magnificent Romanesque Cathedral of Trier among them. The 20,000-seat amphitheater, the Roman Bridge and the massive Porta Nigra, the ancient city gate, are further relics of that time. Today, Trier is a picturesque town surrounded by forests and vineyards, known also as the birthplace of Karl Marx and as a vibrant university town. Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom.
|
07/05/2024 |
07/05/2024 |
Reims
Reims 07/05/2024
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to your embarkation city. Reims lies in the heart of France’s renowned Champagne region. A testament to its rich history, which can be traced back to Gallo-Roman times, is its diverse collection of landmarks. Among its most iconic are the Abbey of Saint-Rémi, the final resting place of the archbishop who baptized Frankish king Clovis and initiated Reims’s long line of coronations; the Palace of Tau, an archiepiscopal residence constructed in the Middle Ages; and Reims Cathedral, where 25 kings of France were coronated. These three monuments were collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Transfer to your hotel and settle into your room.
|
07/05/2024 |
07/05/2024 |
Cruise Starts (Embarkation)
Cruise Starts (Embarkation) 07/05/2024
Travel to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg and take part in a city tour where you will see the former Nazi parade grounds and the Palace of Justice, historic site of the Nuremberg Trials. You have a brief stop at the court house before returning to the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. Finish with a walk from the imperial castle grounds past the Albrecht Dürer House on your way to the Main Market Square with its elaborate Gothic fountain. Continue to Bamberg to embark your ship. (B, D),
|
07/05/2024 |
07/05/2024 |
|
Trier
|
07/05/2024 |
07/05/2024 |
Trier
Trier 07/06/2024
Today, enjoy a walking tour of Bamberg's beautifully preserved Old Town area, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, take time to explore, or perhaps sThe historic heart of Trier, the bustling and colorful Hauptmarkt is the city’s main gathering place and a rich repository of architecture. Once the center of trade in medieval Trier, the square is anchored by an ornate fountain featuring St. Peter, the city’s patron saint. In addition, the unmistakable white- and mustard-colored tower of St. Gangolf Church rises above the square, resplendent with late Gothic and baroque elements. Perhaps the Hauptmarkt’s most distinctive building is the Steipe, named for its short pillars. Today, the pedestrian-only Hauptmarkt is a colorful canvas of baroque, Renaissance and classicist styles that mingle seamlessly with modern shops and cafés.ample the town's famous locally brewed smoky beer, Rauchbier. Have lunch onboard before we depart this afternoon and begin cruising through the 106-mile-long Main-Danube Canal with 16 locks. The canal goes from Bamberg on the Main to Kelheim on the Danube. (B,L,D),
|
07/06/2024 |
07/06/2024 |
Bernkastel
Bernkastel 07/06/2024
Enjoy a morning tour of Trier, Germany's oldest city, set on the banks of the Moselle River. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, Trier Cathedral, and the Church of Our Lady. LNestled between soft rolling hills and the gently flowing Moselle River, Bernkastel, the “Pearl of the Moselle,” boasts medieval squares laden with charming half-timbered houses and inviting lanes and alleys. For much of their history, Bernkastel and its sister town of Kues across the river stood worlds apart. A bridge united them in 1874, paving the way for actual unification in 1905. Today, Bernkastel plays the charming host with history to share, while Kues pours the wine, more attentive to the sweet grapes of its fertile valley. Indeed, the twin towns produce some of Germany’s finest vintages.unch is served onboard as we depart. Enjoy scenic cruising along the Moselle this afternoon. We dock in Bernkastel around dinnertime. After your evening meal, you can take a walk through the town's cobblestone streets, or join an optional wine-tasting excursion in this famous wine region. (B,L,D),
|
07/06/2024 |
07/06/2024 |
Cochem
Cochem 07/07/2024
Perched on a hilltop above the city and the Moselle, a 1,000-year-old imperial castle is the signature landmark of Cochem. Its mighty rectangular keep and many small towers strike a dramatic pose against a curtain of green hills. In Cochem’s lively Old Quarter, the market square boasts old timber-framed houses that overlook Martin’s Fountain and the bay-windowed baroque Town Hall. In this historic center, the 15th-century St. Martin’s Church and the Capuchin monastery, which now serves as an artistic and cultural center, are all beautifully preserved. Wine taverns along the river offer a “green wine,” a very young wine.
|
07/07/2024 |
07/07/2024 |
Koblenz
Koblenz 07/08/2024
Koblenz is a traditional German city, founded more than 2,000 years ago. This former trading settlement rests on a massif of the Middle Rhine Highlands. Its cobblestone streets, wood-beamed houses adorned with flowers, ancient market square and medieval churches recall the fairy-tale Germany of old. At the “German Corner,” a massive equestrian statue of Prince William I observes the lovely riverside scene. The famed Teutonic Knights set up their first base here in 1216. The Romanesque Basilica of St. Castor, Koblenz’s oldest building, dates to 836.
|
07/08/2024 |
07/08/2024 |
|
Miltenberg
|
07/09/2024 |
07/09/2024 |
Heidelberg
Heidelberg 07/09/2024
Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg is situated in the Neckar Valley just east of the Rhine. Known as the cradle of the German Romantic movement, it also boasts beautiful baroque architecture. Heidelberg is most famous as the site of the imposing Heidelberg Castle. A magnificent red sandstone ruin perched 330 feet above the river, it was home to the Palatinate princes until it was partially destroyed by fire in the 17th century. It has been said that Heidelberg’s cityscape is so beautiful and so admired that American forces deliberately chose to avoid bombing it during World War II.
|
07/09/2024 |
07/09/2024 |
Wurzburg
Wurzburg 07/10/2024
Disembark in Karlstadt and take a half-day excursion to the enticing Franconian wine town of Würzburg where you tour the Residenz, a beautiful Baroque palace with numerous paintings and frescoes. Enjoy some free time in Würzburg this afternoon, or join an optional journey along the "Romantic Road" to the walled medieval village of Rothenburg. Meet your ship in Würzburg and dine onboard. (B,L,D),
|
07/10/2024 |
07/10/2024 |
Bamberg
Bamberg 07/11/2024
Founded in 902, Bamberg remains a medieval-looking city known for its symphony orchestra and rauchbier, specialty smoked beer. The city’s winding streets are filled with baroque patrician houses and are home to the stunning 11th-century Cathedral of Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II, housing his tomb and that of Pope Clement II. Bamberg is especially noted for its Altes Rathaus, or Old Town Hall, situated on a twin-arched bridge over the Regnitz River, and for the old bishop’s houses: the 16th-century Alte Hofhaltung (Old Court) and 17th-century Neue Residenz (New Residence).
|
07/11/2024 |
07/11/2024 |
Bamberg
Bamberg 07/12/2024
Founded in 902, Bamberg remains a medieval-looking city known for its symphony orchestra and rauchbier, specialty smoked beer. The city’s winding streets are filled with baroque patrician houses and are home to the stunning 11th-century Cathedral of Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II, housing his tomb and that of Pope Clement II. Bamberg is especially noted for its Altes Rathaus, or Old Town Hall, situated on a twin-arched bridge over the Regnitz River, and for the old bishop’s houses: the 16th-century Alte Hofhaltung (Old Court) and 17th-century Neue Residenz (New Residence).
|
07/12/2024 |
07/12/2024 |
|
Cruise Ends (Debarkation)
|
07/12/2024 |
07/12/2024 |
Nuremberg
Nuremberg 07/12/2024
After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to your destination. The second-largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg is filled with traditional half-timbered houses and Gothic churches with intricate spires. Although nearly destroyed during World War II, the remaining medieval city walls stretch some three miles and feature original gateways and 80 original watchtowers. Nuremberg is well known historically for its metal and toy craftsmanship. But it is infamous for its role in World War II, first as the site of Zeppelin Field’s Nazi rallies and later as the site of the war crimes trials at the Palace of Justice that captured the attention of a generation. Transfer to your hotel and settle into your room.
Optional Private Excursions
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!
-
Nuremberg: From history to Bratwurst and ginger bread
Highlights:
Meet your experienced and fully licensed driver-guide to discuss your interests for the day before getting started
Nuremberg was one of the richest and most important 'free cities' of the Holy German Empire, whose golden age, the German Renaissance, produced such illustrious artists as the painter Albrecht Duerer, the sculptor Veit Stoß and the mastersinger Hans Sachs
Explore the old town market place and sample traditional ginger bread at the legendary local bakeries before heading to the beautiful Fountain and Church of our Lady as well as Sebaldus Church.
Stroll the alleys uphill to the Imperial Castle, affording excellent views over historic city center and passing Albrecht Duerer house along the way
Depending on interest visit sites such as the Nazi documentation centre at the former rallye grounds or the famous room 600 where the Nazi trials were held after WWII
End of tour at Altstadt brewery to enjoy a beer and original Nuremberg sausages before heading back to the ship
Tour Duration: 6 hours
Tour can operate: All day
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Transportation by luxury car
- Touring with one of our excellent driver-guides
- All taxes
Not Included:
- Meals
- Optional admissions and museum licensing fees
- Tipping at your discretion
|
07/12/2024 |
07/12/2024 |
Prague
Prague 07/12/2024
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Prague is known as the “City of a Hundred Spires” and it is easy to see why. The towering twin steeples of Týn Church and the beautiful baroque Church of St. Nicholas are among some of the city’s most notable. Best explored on foot, Prague’s Old Town is a maze of ancient cobblestone lanes with the Old Town Square at its core. Here, the medieval Astronomical Clock still chimes today and provides for its viewers a little theater with the “Walk of the Apostles” on the hour, every hour.
|
07/12/2024 |
07/12/2024 |
Prague
Prague 07/13/2024
Few cities embody the past as authentically as Prague, the Czech Republic’s atmospheric capital on the Vltava River that clings to its history with unwavering passion. Prague’s medieval architecture is its most prominent, but the city is also a rich repository of Romanesque, baroque and art nouveau buildings that stir the imagination. The city’s graceful, pedestrian-only Charles Bridge served as the coronation route of the kings of Bohemia across the river to Hrad?any Castle and its rich complex of royal buildings.
|
07/13/2024 |
07/13/2024 |
Prague
Prague 07/14/2024
Since the invention of Pilsner in 1842, the Czechs have been recognized for their beer-brewing expertise, bringing famous brands such as Staropramen and Bud?jovický Budvar to Europe and beyond. Today, a thriving culture of microbreweries can be found in Prague, producing beers in varying degrees of strength and color, from pale to amber and dark to black. The frequent clinking of glasses to the cry of “Na zdraví!” can be heard in bars and cafés across Prague as locals raise a toast to each other. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and journey home.
|
07/14/2024 |
07/14/2024 |
