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Day 1, ZAGREB

Zagreb, Croatia’s capital city boasts a rich cultural heritage that blends in harmony with its historic past. Check in the luxurious Esplanade Hotel and enjoy Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant with Croatian folk entertainment. (D)

Day 2, ZAGREB

Join your guide for a walking tour that includes the neo-Gothic Cathedral, a cheese tasting at the fresh market, the main square, and a funicular ride to the Upper Town, where you will have lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you please. We meet again in the evening, and we will proceed to a local venue for a classical music concert. (B, L)

Day 3, ZAGREB

Explore Hrvatsko Zagorje, and visit Trakoscan Castle built in Romanesque style back in the 13th century, and the town of Krapina, known for its Neanderthal Museum, boasting the richest collection of Neanderthal men exhibits in the world. Next,  visit with a local family in a traditional Zagorje and enjoy a home-cooked traditional meal . Return to your hotel in Zagreb, and after a well-deserved siesta,  gather again in the evening to enjoy one more classical music concert.  (B,L)

Day 4, BUDAPEST

Transfer to Budapest this morning and enjoy lunch with Hungarian czardas entertainment. Board your luxurious ship in the afternoon and join the group again for Welcome Reception in the evening.  (B,L,D)

Day 5, BUDAPEST

Budapest is a city of unparalleled beauty and history. Your guide will take you on a tour to see the cites and learn about the history of this remarkable city. Stop at the Opera House for a backstage tour and recital and visit the Liszt House and museum. Immerse yourself in the history of music as you will see a collection of pianos and portraits of this influential pianist. (B,L,D)

Day 6, BRATISLAVA

Take in the breathtaking scenery along the Danube River and even catch a glimpse of the gleaming Bratislava Castle on your way into the city. Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” . Enjoy a surprise musical performance as part of this included excursion. (B,L,D) 

Day 7, LINZ

Revel in a morning scenic cruise before your ship arrives in Linz. Opt for a full-day excursion to Salzburg where you’ll tour the historic center and visit the Mozart Birth House museum  where the legendary composer was born in 1756 and lived until 1773. Or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozarthaus where Mozart composed his Linz Symphony and Linz Sonata in only three days in 1783 (B,L,D). 

Day 8, LINZ-MELK

Enjoy a morning cruise through Austria’s beautiful Wachau Valley before sailing into Melk. Explore the city known for its magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries. Within these walls you will find frescoes painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger, as well as a famed collection of musical manuscripts. You will also enjoy the incredible acoustics of the abbey during a beautiful live choral performance. Later in the day, if you prefer a more active adventure, hike up to the Melk Abbey and then visit this magnificent Baroque monastery or join a guided bike tour to Melk. (B,L,D) 

Day 9, MELK-VIENNA

Sail from Melk to the grand capital of Vienna on a morning scenic cruise. Once there, the “City of Waltzes” offers a wealth of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center and visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or discover Vienna by bike. Alternatively, visit a traditional café to experience a true Vienna specialty with its very own national holiday and a unique history to match: the rich chocolate sachertorte – and savor this treat with a piping hot Viennese coffee. In the evening, join us for a very special live classical performance at a renowned local concert hall. (B,L,D) 

Day 10, VIENNA

Visit the UNESCO-designated Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. Built in the 18th century as an imperial summer residence, this magnificent 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria. During the afternoon, explore the city of music while following in the footsteps of world-renowned composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, from their past residences to museums to grand monuments. (B,L,D) 

Day 11, VIENNA-DISEMBARK-PRAGUE

Bid farewell to Vienna and prepare for your journey to Prague. En-route stop for lunch at a local restaurant, and upon arrival in Prague, check in at the Esplanade Hotel (or similar), our home for the next 3 nights. In the evening, we join our group for an evening of classical music. Venue TBA. (B,L)

Day 12, PRAGUE

Discover Prague today and see why it is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See all the key highlights, including the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle and Old Market Square, where you will find the famous Astronomical Clock. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will return to our hotel and the rest of the day is ours to enjoy at leisure. (B,L)

Day 13, PRAGUE

This morning, we will explore Prague’s Castle complex. The largest ancient castle in the world, the Prague Castle complex is home to an array of cultural sites and historic buildings, from royal palaces and ancient cathedrals to art galleries and gardens. A vast hilltop fortress, Prague Castle was founded by Prince Bořivoj in approximately 880 and it holds UNESCO’s World Heritage status. But with so much ground to cover, how do you decide where to begin? From the hallowed halls of St Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, the Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane…we will see it all. 

We return to our hotel and enjoy free time for lunch and afternoon. In the evening hours we transfer to Nelahozeves Castle for concert and gala dinner. (B,D)

Day 14, DEPART PRAGUE

This morning our journey ends and we transfer to the airport for our return to Toronto. (B)

DAY 1
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – EMBARKATION
Arrive in Basel and transfer to the pier to embark your river cruise ship. (D)

DAY 2
BASEL – LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
Enjoy getting to know Basel, Switzerland’s third largest city. Long an important university, banking and trade center, Basel’s glorious past is still evident in its medieval town hall, richly decorated market square and exquisite 18th-century patrician homes. Tour the city by foot or on a guided bike tour that takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France and Germany. Alternatively, go on a full-day excursion to Lucerne, or opt for one of the morning excursions and visit Lucerne in the afternoon. With either Lucerne excursion, you’ll have the opportunity to see its Lion Monument – the figure of a dying lion carved into a hillside in memory of the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution in 1792 – which Mark Twain described as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” You’ll also see Lucerne’s spectacular medieval walls and towers, dating back to the 13th century. (B,L,D)

DAY 3
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Strasbourg offers flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location. Enjoy a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République before walking through its iconic “La Petite France” district, lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Wander through charming streets past the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and Parc de l’Orangerie. (B,L,D)

DAY 4
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY – RÜDESHEIM
Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of four excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century, 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher’s Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Old Gate, Altpörtel. Or pedal along the river Neckar to the picturesque medieval city center of Ladenburg and enjoy some free time to explore the shops. Later in the day, cruise to the charming village of Rüdesheim and let Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream. (B,L,D)

DAY 5
RÜDESHEIM
Join a wine tasting to discover the flavors of the town’s iconic vineyards and drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards or join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching Lahnstein, where you will enjoy a unique evening visit at Lahneck Castle. (B,L,D)

DAY 6
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Enjoy cruising to Cologne. Join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated Cologne Cathedral, one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces. Continue to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, the Overstolzenhaus, and the Festival Hall. For a different view, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen mit apfelmus, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce. Active adventurists will want to join a guided bike ride along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. (B,L,D)

DAY 7
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, and you’ll get to enjoy some of them on your canal cruise. Alternatively, get a taste of local flavor, passing iconic canals, gabled houses, narrow bridges and house boats while tasting Dutch specialties at one of Amsterdam’s grand cafes. Please note: tour depends upon docking location and may be replaced with Jordaan District Walking Tour. (B,L,D)

DAY 8
AMSTERDAM – DISEMBARKATION
Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homeward flight. (B)