Grand European River Cruise
Rhine, Main & Danube River Tour
August 7 - 21, 2011

Embark on a "Grand Tour" of Europe visiting five different countries. Cruise along the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers past Holland's windmill-studded fields and Germany's fairy tale castles, via the engineering marvel of the Main-Danube Canal. Continue on your epic voyage through picturesque vineyards of Austria's Wachau Valley, to Austria's capital, Vienna, the "City of Waltzes." Follow the Danube to Slovakia's capital of Bratislava and conclude your journey with views of imperial Budapest.

Day 1: August 7 - Amsterdam, Holland

Arrive in Amsterdam and embark on the Viking Europe. Get settled in your outside river view stateroom before tonight's welcome cocktail reception and dinner. The ship remains docked overnight.

Day 2: August 8 - Kinderdijk, Holland

Set sail to Kinderdijk, Holland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you tour this fascinating network of windmills and ingenious flood management technologies. Continue cruising past windmill-studded fields enjoying an afternoon of sjoelen (Dutch table shuffleboard) and sampling Dutch cheeses and jenever, a juniper liqueur. Cruise through the night to Cologne, Germany.

Day 3: August 9 - Cologne, Germany

Enjoy a morning tour of Cologne, renowned for its landmark, the Dom, Germany's largest twin-steeple cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit this magnificent structure and discover the city's vibrant heritage. Spend the rest of the day exploring Cologne on your own. You may want to visit museums, like the Fragrance Museum and the Chocolate Museum, or try local specialties and sample a Kolsch, Cologne's signature beer, in one of the many restaurants.

Day 4: August 10 - Koblenz, Germany / Middle Rhine

Continue your scenic cruise past hilltop castles before arriving in Koblenz to visit the Marksburg. This is the best preserved castle on the Rhine, since it was never destroyed by medieval invaders. Enjoy a romantic cruise through the Lorelei Valley, the narrowest and deepest part of the Rhine River. Legend tells us that Lorelei was a beautiful Rhine Maiden who lured ship navigators to their doom.

Day 5: August 11 - Miltenberg, Germany

Sail along the beautiful Main River as it winds its way through the Spessart region. Spend time in Miltenberg, situated under a steep wooded hill crowned by a castle, and stroll the town's square with its half-timbered houses and sculptured fountain. During a live demonstration onboard, learn about the region's glassblowing tradition and watch a glass blower create beautiful keepsakes. Cruise through the night to Würzburg.

Day 6: August 12 - Würzburg, Germany

Arrive in Würzburg, also called the Bishops' City, Franconia's center of wine production and marketing. Attend an interesting presentation about the European Union and tour Würzburg's Bishops' Residenz, one of Germany's largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 7: August 13 - Bamberg, Germany

Explore Bamberg's medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the magnificent 11th-century cathedral and the very picturesque city hall, built on a tiny island in the middle of a river. Take time to explore Bamberg on your own and perhaps sample some of the town's distinctive smoke-flavored beer before boarding for the evening.

Day 8: August 14 – Nuremberg, Germany

Nuremberg, with its pink sandstone buildings and half-timbered houses, is often associated with their famous gingerbread and bratwurst, the Christmas markets, their toy industry, and the Nuremberg Trials. Enjoy a coach and walking tour of Nuremberg and visit the Zeppelin Field where the Nazi rallies were held in the 1930s. Drive past the Palace of Justice, the site of the Nuremberg Trials, and see the Albrecht Dürer House and the Main Market Square. Other sites for you to explore include the Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) and the city's prominent landmark, the imposing Kaiserburg, a 12th century imperial palace. During their reign, all the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire stayed at the Kaiserburg at various times.

Day 9: August 15 - Regensburg, Germany

Arrive in Regensburg in the late morning. Regensburg is a wonderfully preserved medieval city which was founded more than 2000 years ago. The large city center with buildings dating back to Roman times is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a walking tour and discover many 13th and 14th-century patrician houses and see the splendid Gothic St. Peter's Cathedral. Walk across the oldest preserved stone bridge in Germany, which knights of the 2nd and 3rd crusade crossed on their way to the Holy Land. This afternoon you may also want to stop at Germany's oldest restaurant, the Alte Wurstküche (Historic Sausage Kitchen) for a taste of their delicious sausage. Cruise through the night to Passau.

Day 10: August 16 - Passau, Germany

Passau is also called the Three-River-City, since it lies at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube Rivers. A guided walking tour takes you through Passau's narrow streets, passing the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century fortress that served for centuries as a bishop's stronghold. After listening to an enjoyable organ concert, played on Europe's largest pipe organ in St. Stephan's Cathedral, you cruise through the Schlögener Schlinge, a sort of hairpin turn in the river.

Day 11: August 17 - Melk Abbey / Dürnstein, Austria

This Morning, cruise along the Danube into Austria to the quaint village of Melk, with its imposing abbey, a 900-year-old baroque Benedictine monastery, built on a rocky bluff 150 feet above the south bank of the river. The Melk Abbey is one of the world's most famous monastic sites featuring Austria's finest Italian baroque architecture. Return to the ship and continue cruising through Austria's wine growing region to the Medieval Dürnstein, a picturesque village in the Wachau Valley, encircled by vine-clad hills. Walk the town and see Kuenringer Castle on a hill high above town, where King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England was held captive by Duke Leopold the 5th after their dispute during the Third Crusade in 1193.

Day 12: August 18 - Vienna, Austria

Enjoy a panoramic city tour of Austria's lovely capital, showcasing the wonderful architecture of the Hapsburg Monarchy. Ride along the Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century, and see Vienna's world-famous Opera House, St. Stephan's Cathedral, and Hofburg Palace. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the balance of the day as you please. You may want to tour the Belvedere, a baroque palace complex, with its wonderful painted ceilings and art collection, or visit the monument built in honor of the famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a citizen of Vienna until his untimely death. After dinner you may want to enjoy an optional classical concert.

Day 13: August 19 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Arrive early this morning in Bratislava, the charming capital city of Slovakia, which is dominated by an enormous castle, situated 300 feet above the Danube. On a walking tour through the city's historic Old Town, you see the medieval fortifications of Michael's Tower, the baroque Trinity Church, and the gothic St. Martin's Cathedral. You also pass by several baroque palaces from the Hapsburg Dynasty before returning to your ship for an afternoon of scenic cruising, arriving late tonight in Budapest.

Day 14: August 20 - Budapest

The Danube divides Budapest into two distinct parts - Buda, the traditional imperialistic part of the city, and Pest, the more modern part. Explore both areas on this morning's city tour, starting with Pest's National Opera House and historic Heroes Square. In Buda, visit the Castle Hill and stroll the massive Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church, recognized by its graceful spires. The afternoon is yours to enjoy. You may want to visit the Buda Castle, or walk across the famous Szechenyi Chain Bridge or Elizabeth Bridge, two of many bridges connecting the two parts of the city. Tonight, experience a traditional Hungarian farewell dinner.

Day 15: August 21 - Budapest

The day has arrived when you must disembark and say farewell to Europe.

Tour includes:
15 Day Cruise Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest
Daily Guided Tours
River-view Stateroom
Port Charges
All Meals Onboard Ship
Dinners include Regional Specialties
Welcome Cocktail Reception
Captain's Farewell Dinner
Professional, English-speaking Tour Guides

Tour Highlights
Holland
Amsterdam
Kinderdijk
Dutch Sjoelen (Table Shuffleboard)
Cheese & Jenever Tasting
Germany
Cologne
Cologne Cathedral
Koblenz
Marksburg
Middle Rhine
Lorelei Rock
Miltenberg
Glassblowing Demonstration
German Language Lesson
Würzburg
Bishophs Residenz of Würzburg
Presentation about the European Union
Bamberg
Nuremberg
Zeppelin Field
Regensburg
Passau
Veste Oberhaus
Organ concert in Passau's St. Stephan's Cathedral
Austria
Melk Abbey
Dürnstein
Künringer Castle
Vienna
Ringstrasse
Slovakia
Bratislava
Michael's Tower
Gothic St. Martin's Cathedral
Hungaria
Budapest
Buda & Pest
National Opera House
Fishermen's Hill & Fishermen's Bastion
Matthias Church

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
Fuel Surcharges if imposed by the airlines