Day 1 | Budapest
Welcome to the "Pearl of the Danube". You will be met at the airport and transferred to your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you.
Tonight, join your fellow guests for a traditional Hungarian dinner followed by a folkloric performance on board.
Day 2 | Budapest
Explore the cobbled medieval quarter of today's Budapest, as you embark on a bus tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed City Centre. Your guide will highlight a number of architectural wonders from across the ages, allowing you to follow a journey from Budapest's Roman beginnings to the addition of ornate Romanesque and Baroque architecture in the following centuries.
If you are feeling more active, you can choose to hike Buda Hill. The surrounding area has been rebuilt several times, most recently after the air raids of World War II. Some 18th century baroque houses still stand, the best explored of the medieval roads and alleys in the area around Buda Castle.
Day 3 | Bratislava
Relax on board as we sail towards the capital of Slovakia this morning. This graceful nation of leafy avenues became a country
independent in 1993, and since then, Bratislava has flourished as a new capital and made a name for itself as a cultural center where different styles of music are as easily celebrated as the region's medieval past.
The romantic cobblestone path through the city is yours to explore with your local guide, while you enjoy a walking tour of the old city centre, including the Slovak National Theater and a variety of Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings.
Alternatively, take a guided walk to Bratislava Castle, a legend-filled landmark that seems to have come from the pages of a children's fairy tale. This impressive building has been rebuilt several times over the past millennia, most recently in Renaissance style.
Day 4 | Vienna
Wide boulevards and world-famous art exhibitions welcome you to Vienna, the birthplace of revolutionary advancement in the fields of music and
psychology. The city perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburgs.
Monarchy and its ornate baroque palaces, some of which you can see during your guided bus tour along the Ringstrasse, followed by a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage city center and its classically styled surroundings. architectural works, evidence of the melting pot of artistic influences that existed here at the beginning of the 20th century.
If you are feeling more active, perhaps choose to explore on two wheels, cycling along the river to the Danube Island. On this day it is possible to book an additional "Flavors of Vienna" tour and an evening concert in Vienna.
Day 5 | Dürnstein-Melk
Effortlessly suspended in time, Dürnstein is one of the most frequented parts of the Wachau wine region, where the delightfully warm climate creates the perfect setting for viticulture. Today, you can choose to walk through the ruins of Dürnstein Castle, where a charming panoramic view of the surrounding medieval villages, rows of beautifully groomed vines, vineyards and a wooded backdrop will certainly delight.
Later, cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wachau Valley, passing medieval villages, terraced vineyards and areas of natural beauty. When you arrive in Melk, enjoy a guided tour of Melk Abbey, originally a luxurious castle that was gifted to monks
Benedictines during the 11th century. This opulent baroque building houses some of the most important collections of medieval manuscripts in the world.
For those who are interested, there is an optional tour at an additional cost: Visit to Schallaburg Castle and Walk through the vineyards and tasting in Weissenkirchen.
Day 6 | Linz - CeskýKrumlov
This morning, your Star-Ship will dock in Linz and you will be transferred by bus to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ceský Krumlov, a town built around a 13th-century castle. Join your local guide as you make your way through a maze of winding cobblestone streets, passing the colorful facades of buildings highlighting different time periods as you learn how they have survived the test of time thanks to the
peaceful past of the region. The town surrounds the national heritage site that is Ceský Krumlov Castle, and your guided tour will include the 15th century St. Vitus Church and several delightful Gothic facades.
Day 7 | Passau
Narrow cobblestone streets and the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread welcome you to Passau, a city nestled at the confluence of three of Europe's major waterways. This important historic trading center borders Austria, and a distinctive mix of cultures can be found here.
Your local guide will take you on a sightseeing tour of the city, touching its distinctive historic buildings, including the baroque St. Stephen's Cathedral with its
ornate columns and frames and the Altes Rathaus, or Town Hall, a collection of 8 historic patrician houses that were built between the 14th and 15th centuries.
Day 8 | Ressengburg, Germany
After breakfast, it's time to disembark the Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking with you memories of ancient libraries and Europe's iconic skylines.
This itinerary is only a guide and may be modified for operational, climatic and force majeure reasons such as; high or low water levels. As such,
The cruise may change some of the points indicated above.
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