Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat

•   Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director

Day 1: Arrive Amsterdam
Welcome to Amsterdam! Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Welcome to Amsterdam! Transfers are included from Schiphol Airport to your riverboat, where embarkation will begin any time after 4:00 PM. A traditional Dutch gin toast, followed by dinner, provides a warm welcome for your first night.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Discover Art & More in Amsterdam
Amsterdam... the name itself conjures up images of the Dutch capital’s myriad cultural treasures, from gabled houses, markets and cafés to awe-inspiring museums housing a treasure trove of world-famous art – and it’s all yours to enjoy today. Your guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum is really inspiring – a firsthand look at Rembrandt’s masterpiece The Night Watch is like meeting the artist himself, and you’ll love seeing acclaimed works by other well-known “Old Dutch Masters.” Once an exclusive royal privilege, a private sightseeing cruise by canal boat on the city’s network of concentric, tree-lined 17th-century canals provides a unique view of Amsterdam’s blend of architectural styles – they date all the way back to medieval times – and a unique taste of daily life in this easygoing city. Back aboard the riverboat, cruise to Nijmegen where you’ll dock for the night. Attend the Captain’s welcome reception, followed by a special welcome dinner and a performance of live music to complete the evening.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Historic Treasures in Köln
A morning cruise along the River Rhine to Köln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany, is enriched by commentary from your Tauck Directors and lunch al fresco on the sun deck. A guided walking tour of Köln includes a visit to twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), boasting one of the world’s largest church façades; it is one of Europe’s most beloved Gothic cathedrals. You’ll have some free time to explore Cathedral Square and Köln’s Hohe Strasse pedestrian area in the afternoon.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: The Lorelei & Rüdesheim’s Magic Music
Wake up in Koblenz, where you’ll have a choice of taking a walking tour of the historic Old Town or visiting 13th-century Marksburg Castle for an in-depth look at life in a medieval castle. Your Tauck Director tells some great tales as you cruise through the Lorelei Valley to Rüdesheim and a visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, an eclectic museum displaying mechanical musical instruments in a centuries-old castle. Dine off the riverboat in an old-world German restaurant.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Lohr and Cruising the Rhine
A glassblowing demonstration shows how it’s done as you cruise the Rhine this morning. On an excursion to historic Lohr, nestled along the slopes of the Spessart mountain range in lower Franconia, you’ll see the Bayersturm (the town’s 14th-century watchtower), half-timbered houses and other notable sites on a walking tour. Enjoy a Bavarian-themed dinner tonight while your riverboat continues past lush valleys along the Rhine.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Romance in Rothenburg & Würzburg
Rothenburg, on Germany’s “Romantic Road,” lives up to its reputation as Europe’s “most perfect fairy-tale town”; travel overland to view the town’s Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses. Continuing to Würzburg, visit the famous 18th-century Residenz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy a wine tasting in the wine cellar of this Baroque masterpiece. And an oompah band plays for you aboard ship tonight!
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Take to the Hills in Medieval Bamberg
A morning cruise along the River Main precedes an excursion to Bamberg. Perched atop seven hills, this charming medieval city is home to a four-towered Romanesque cathedral from the 13th century; see it, along with more of the city’s unique architecture and colorful gardens, during a walking tour of Old Town... and take some time to explore as you please.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: The Main-Danube Canal to Nürnberg
When it opened in the 1990s, the Main-Danube Canal made navigation between the North Sea and Black Sea possible. Learn all about it during your transit of its 16 locks en route to the historic Bavarian city of Nürnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. After lunch and some entertainment at a local restaurant, choose between guided excursions offering perspectives on the city’s involvement in events of World War II, with visits to the Courthouse, the Zeppelinfeld rally grounds and the Documentation Center – or a stroll through Nürnberg’s medieval ramparts to the Imperial Castle and the old city. Return to the riverboat for dinner.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Regensburg, a Mix of Old and New
With its roots as a Roman encampment on the Danube, the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg is home to more than 1,400 original historic buildings. Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view the sights up-close. A local guide will lead the way as you see the town’s 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), the towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall. You might want to try some of the town’s tasty Bavarian sausage, too, before setting off for Passau.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Going for Baroque in Passau
Renowned for its stained glass, a wealth of church architecture, and a host of beautiful Baroque buildings, Passau sits at the juncture of the Inn, Ilz and Danube rivers. Explore this ancient Bavarian town on a guided walking tour; inside St. Stephan’s Cathedral, you’ll see (and perhaps even hear) the largest pipe organ outside of the U.S. (and the world’s biggest cathedral organ), dressed in gold and boasting over 17,000 pipes! Continue cruising the Danube, with insights from your Tauck Directors and a musical performance by the Donau Klang Trio this evening.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Back in Time in Melk & Dürnstein
Step back in time today on a guided visit to the 900-year-old Benedictine Melk Abbey; its oft-photographed, 18th-century complex is a Baroque masterpiece. Cruise on to Dürnstein in the heart of Austria’s vineyard-covered Wachau Valley, where twisting medieval lanes – and the hilltop ruins of Kuenringerburg, a castle in which England’s Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom during the Crusades – invite your exploration prior to a wine tasting.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12: An Imperial Day & Night in Vienna­­
Once the capital of the old Habsburg Empire, Vienna still inspires romantic visions of “Old Europe.” Morning sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or a tour of the amazing Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg, Austria’s official presidential residence. Tonight, nothing quite compares to the royal treatment you’ll experience at our private Imperial Evening in a traditional Viennese palace. Welcome cocktails and dinner precede a spectacle of elegant finery and a musical performance that celebrates the legacy of Mozart.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13: Across the Centuries in Bratislava, Slovakia
Wake up in Bratislava; an ancient city with a modern vibe, Slovakia’s capital features an Old Town brimming with history but devoid of cars. Our local expert shares anecdotes about Bratislava before you embark on a walking tour of its cobblestoned city center, including its 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Back aboard the riverboat tonight, join the Captain for a special farewell cocktail reception and a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14: Both Sides of Remarkable Budapest
Standing on opposite banks of the Danube, Budapest’s two distinct sections – Buda and Pest – were once independent cities. Explore both on a day of sightseeing that includes patriotic Heroes’ Square in Pest, dominated by statues of great leaders from Hungarian history; the Gothic-Revival Parliament building, an iconic feature of the Budapest skyline along the Danube; and Fishermen’s Bastion, standing watch like a sentinel over the river.
Overnight: Cruising aboard the Riverboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 15: Journey Home
Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. Disembark this morning; a transfer from the riverboat to Budapest Ferihegy Airport is included. Fly home anytime. Allow 3 hours for check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/27/2012 - 6/11/2012	$6,790
6/19/2012 - 7/4/2012	$6,790
7/31/2012 - 8/15/2012	$5,990
9/11/2012 - 9/26/2012	$6,790
10/23/2012 - 11/7/2012	$5,990
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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