Italian Treasures & European Gems River Cruise

Arrive in Rome by noon and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a guided afternoon tour that takes you past some of the city’s most famous sights, including the Forum, Colosseum and the Pantheon. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner tonight.

Venture to the walled enclave and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church on a tour of the Vatican City. Take in the sweeping expanse of St Peter’s Square before exploring the Vatican Museums. Here, you’ll find many of the world’s greatest sculptures and paintings, including Michelangelo’s frescoed masterpiece upon the barrel-vaulted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Delight in a taste of Campanian culture and share a home-style Italian meal with a local family.

Heading south, take the coastal route past cliffs that overlook the Bay of Naples. Enjoy postcard views as you reach Sorrento, where clusters of coloured buildings rest on a cliff above a harbour. You may like to spend time this afternoon taking in the lively village atmosphere while wandering the narrow laneways.

Stay: Two Nights, Sorrento, Hilton Sorrento Palace (or similar)

Once a resort island for Roman emperors, Capri is renowned for alluring the rich and famous with its beauty. Cruise across bright blue waters to the island and, on arrival, travel to the hilltop town of Anacapri to soak in the views. Enjoy some free time, then take a funicular ride down to the port before returning to Sorrento. Perhaps enjoy an optional trip along the Amalfi Coast.

Meals: Breakfast

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Immerse yourself in the countryside with a stay at the Relais La Cappuccina.

Engulfed by the lava from Mt Vesuvius in AD79, Pompeii provides a picture of ancient Roman life. After a tour of the ruins, travel north to San Gimignano. Following an afternoon of free time in San Gimignano, enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening.

Stay: San Gimignano, Relais La Cappuccina

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Savour a Tuscan lunch and wine tasting at Castello Vicchiomaggio.

Explore the historic streets and appreciate the medieval city skyline of San Gimignano before travelling north to Florence to enjoy an evening exploring at your leisure.

Stay: Three Nights, Florence, Hotel NH Firenze

Meals: Breakfast Lunch

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Sample the city’s finest gelato at a famous local gelateria.

Explore this jewel of the Renaissance, once home to Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Your walking tour includes a visit to the Academy of Fine Arts, where you will see Michelangelo’s David.

Enjoy free time today. Perhaps join an optional trip to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa followed by a delicious Tuscan dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore the whimsical city of Verona, perhaps stopping under Juliet’s balcony to put yourself in Romeo’s shoes. Later, continue on to the incomparable city of Venice.

Stay: Two Nights, Venice Island, Hotel Bonvecchiati

Spend the morning discovering Venice, where romantic canals replace bustling streets on a guided tour. Spend some time at leisure this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel via Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana to Zagreb in Croatia. Set out on a tour to sights such as the Stone Gate and the Opera House. Enjoy a special dinner tonight.

Stay: Hotel Sheraton Zagreb

Arrive in Budapest today and board your river ship.

Stay: 14 Nights, aboard your premium Travelmarvel river ship

Awake to views of one of the Danube’s most enchanting cities this morning. Disembark and learn the vibrant history of Budapest as your local guide takes you to a host of impressive sights such as Matthias Church, the Fisherman’s Bastion, Heroes’ Square and Buda Castle. Back on board this evening, enjoy a delightful Gala Dinner while you cruise.

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Visit the famous Naschmarkt and browse the stalls, sampling local delights.

Embrace the elegance of Vienna as you drive around the Ringstrasse, taking in some of the city’s most famous buildings – the Vienna State Opera House, the Museum of Fine Arts and more. On arrival in the city centre, a walking tour will provide an insider’s view of sights such as St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Graben, Hofburg Palace and the Albertina. This evening, perhaps enjoy an optional concert featuring music from Mozart to The Sound of Music.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

With the day at leisure, perhaps explore the Hofburg area or wander along Kärntnerstrasse, the city’s famous shopping strip. Otherwise, embark on an optional excursion, to Schönbrunn Palace, or head to former soviet Bratislava.

Cruise to the town of Dürnstein and enjoy a stroll past rustic town houses and taverns. Along the way, gaze up to the hilltop ruins of the castle where King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. Later, dock in Melk and tour through Melk Abbey, an active Benedictine monastery since 1089.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Tonight, enjoy a traditional Bavarian experience on board. Sample delicious local beer and snacks, accompanied by traditional folk music, song and dance.

This morning after breakfast, cruise to beautiful Passau. Perhaps, join an optional tour to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic, or visit Salzburg and enjoy the sights from ‘The Sound of Music’.

Continue along the Danube River to the enchanting town of Regensburg, located in the southern region of the Bavarian Forest. Here, a guided tour along its cobblestone lanes tells of the medieval town’s journey through the ages. Afterwards, wander the historic streets at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Arrive in Nuremberg, the site of Hitler’s now infamous rallies, which played a pivotal role for the Nazis during World War II. Take a city tour this afternoon, which includes sights such as the Zeppelin Field and Palace of Justice.

One of the few German cities that wasn’t destroyed during World War II, World Heritage-listed Bamberg beckons your attention this morning. You’ll gain great insight during a locally guided tour of the historic city centre.

Verdant hills and rich vineyards sit on the edge of Würzburg. Admire its magnificent Baroque palace, the Würzburg Residence and walk through Würzburg Court Garden, with its terraced gardens and serene water basin. Later, perhaps enjoy an optional visit to the Medieval town of Rothenburg.

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Discover true German hospitality as you are welcomed into the homes of friendly Miltenberg locals for coffee and cake.

Arrive at the beautifully evocative town of Miltenberg. Here, enjoy an Insider Experience before returning to your ship to enjoy time at leisure. As the sun sets, watch the glittering lights of medieval towns slip past as you sit down to dinner and cruise through the night.

In Rüdesheim, the Winzerexpress mini-train will take you through town to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. As you continue cruising, you will encounter a true holiday highlight – the spectacular Rhine Gorge. Watch in awe as you drift past steep vine-covered slopes dotted with ancient castles and strongholds. Enjoy dinner on board tonight, as your journey continues late into the evening.

INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Step back in time during a visit to the World Heritage-listed Augustusburg Castle, the lavish residences of archbishop-elector Clemens August. On a tour of the castle, learn stories of its infamous former resident and enjoy a walk through its gardens between the lodge and the castle.

Disembark your ship in Cologne and drive to the town of Brühl, where you will enjoy an Insider Experience. Later, return to Cologne and enjoy some time at leisure.

Amsterdam’s network of canals lends the city its nickname, ‘Venice of the North’. Dock in the city’s heart and board a glass-top boat to discover the city’s waterside façades, watching the bicycle-loving locals ride along as you drift by. Back on land, enjoy free time to explore, before a Captain’s Farewell Dinner back on board.

Depart Amsterdam after breakfast, disembark your river ship and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.