Melodies of the Danube (Wine Cruise)

Arrive in Budapest and board your luxurious river cruise ship. (D)

Today you have the opportunity to visit both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. Start on the Buda side, following your guide through the city's Castle District where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman's Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. For a more active tour, hike to Budapest's Castle Hill. In the afternoon, explore the treasures of Pest, admiring the colossal Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes' Square and the moving “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Buda city tour OR Castle Hill hike
• Pest city tour

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 then visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, or discover Vienna by bike. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. Later, enjoy wine and live music at a traditional Austrian Heuriger (wine tavern). (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “Imperial Vienna” tour OR Vienna city bike tour
• Traditional Viennese Wine and Music Evening

Discover Vienna's lasting royal treasures on this fascinating tour as you make your way to the Imperial Treasury, which holds the glittering jewels of the Holy Roman Empire, including the Imperial Crown and the Holy Lance, as well as the Crown of the Austrian Empire. Alternatively, enjoy a guided bike tour Danube River to the nearby town of Klosterneuberg. Later, sail to Krems and enjoy a special wine tasting at Schloss Gobelsburg, formerly a Cistercian monastery, which is one of the oldest wineries in Austria. Visit this beautiful castle and have the opportunity to tour their cellars, learning more about the traditional methods drawn from historical wine-making practices, as well as tasting some traditional Austrian wines. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Royal Treasures tour OR Guided Klosterneuburg bike tour
• Schloss Gobelsburg Cellar tour & wine tasting

After reaching Weissenkirchen, you'll be treated to several choices of excursions. Take a walking tour of Dürnstein before visiting the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey. For a more culinary-focused experience, join a walking tour in Dürnstein, then enjoy a wine tasting hosted by a local vintner and sample special apricot treats from a local boutique. If you prefer a more active adventure, hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held or join a guided bike tour to Melk.

Later in the day, sail through the Strudengau and Wachau valleys to medieval Grein and be treated to an exquisite wine tasting at Austria's historic Burg Clam located on the cliffs high above the nearby village of Clam. While nestled deep within this majestic and historic setting, enjoy the opportunity to sample a few local vintages. Wines from this region tend to have a pronounced freshness, spiciness, finesse and complexity. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Highlights of Dürnstein and Melk Abbey visit OR Dürnstein excursion with wine and apricot tastings OR Dürnstein fortress hike OR Weissenkirchen to Melk bike tour
• Strudengau Valley and UNESCO Wachau Valley
• Burg Clam with wine tasting

The ship arrives in Linz where you'll have several choices of excursions. For those who love The Sound of Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. You may also choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city's picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe's largest castle complexes.

Following these full-day excursions, you may also choose to take a brief walking tour in Linz. Alternatively, join a walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city's famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Full-day Salzburg excursion OR Full-day Český Krumlov excursion
• “UNESCO City of Media Arts” walking tour OR “Cultural Mile” bike tour

Discover the city of Passau in one of three ways. Enjoy a walking tour and marvel at Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Alternately, go on a bike tour of the city's famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube; or join a morning walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House. Later, cruise to Vilshofen, where you will be treated to a festive Oktoberfest celebration— an AmaWaterways exclusive. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “City of Three Rivers” walking tour OR Passau Castle hike OR Passau bike tour
• Exclusive Oktoberfest celebration

This morning, disembark your ship in Vilshofen. (B)