17 days Paris to Budapest (also available Budapest to Paris)
2 nights in Paris then a stunning 14 night cruise

INCLUDED FEATURES

• PARIS: Guided sightseeing; ascend the Eiffel Tower
• TRIER: Welcome reception; guided sightseeing
• BERNKASTEL: Guided sightseeing
• COCHEM: Visit Reichsburg Castle
• RUDESHEIM: "Winzerexpress" mini train; visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
• MILTENBERG: Guided sightseeing
• WURZBURG: Guided sightseeing, visit the Residenz
• BAMBERG: Guided sightseeing
• NUREMBERG: Excursion to Rothenburg; guided sightseeing
• MAIN DANUBE CANAL: Cruise in the canal
• REGENSBURG: Guided sightseeing; visit the Old Chapel and Thurn und Taxis Castle
• PASSAU: Guided sightseeing
• MELK: Guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey
• VIENNA: Guided sightseeing
• BUDAPEST: Guided sightseeing; visit Matthias Church and Fishermen's Bastion

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS

A relaxing 17 day vacation from Paris to Budapest including 14 nights cruising from Trier on the Moselle River to Budapest on the Danube River. Enjoy land jaunts to all the major townships along the way including Rudesheim, Bamberg, Nuremberg and Regensburg throughout Germany. In Austria discover Linz, Melk and the charming capital of Vienna. Enjoy a full day at the end of your cruise touring the attractions of Budapest.

This cruise is also available in reverse, travelling from Budapest to Paris (tour code: WBT).

Visited Cities
Paris, Trier, Bernkastel, Cochem, Rudesheim, Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Main Danube Canal, Regensburg, Passau, Melk, Vienna and Budapest.

Highlights
Superb dining with all meals on board including a Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner, and Captain's Gala Dinner. Quality wines from Europe's most famous wine regions included with every dinner.

Meals
Breakfast - 16
Lunch - 13
Dinner - 14

ITINERARY (Paris to Budapest)

Day 1: Welcome to Paris! France's capital on the River Seine, the "City of Light", where romance fills the air.

Day 2: Paris' famous sights are living history: magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine, Champs Elysees and the EIFFEL TOWER, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colourful nightlife including some of the world's most famous cabaret shows. (BB)

Day 3: After lunch drive to Trier in Germany, where the crew of your vessel awaits to welcome you on board. The Moselle River is some 502 kilometres (312 miles) long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France and enters Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery. (BB,D)

Day 4: The venerable Episcopal city of Trier is the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome! A house on the marketplace bears the inscription "Trier was standing 1,300 years before Rome". The famous PORTA NIGRA is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and still gives access to the town centre. Trier's most famous son was the socialist revolutionary, Karl Marx. In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well preserved half-timbered houses surrounding the beautiful MARKET PLACE. Wine growers in this area look after Germany's largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. (FB,L,D)

Day 5: REICHSBURG CASTLE, towering above the river at Cochem, can be seen from afar and sits on the top of a conical hill covered in vines. The views of the little town of Cochem nestled down below, and of the river valley, are splendid. Cruising the wide peaceful curves of the river, it quickly becomes obvious that the Moselle is an important wine growing region. Most notably the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000-year-old Coblenz is the cultural and business centre of the Middle Rhine region. The Deutsches Eck, located on a tongue of land where the two rivers converge, holds a gigantic equestrian statue of Wilhelm I. (FB,L,D)

Day 6: The dramatic Rhine Gorge is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Rudesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town and SIEGFRIED'S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! Explore the Drosselgasse and be sure to try one of the vintages in any of the wine taverns. (FB,L,D)

Day 7: Located on the Main River, Miltenberg is a picturesque Bavarian village that thrived on income from river traffic. Its cultural wealth and affluence are reflected in the beautiful medieval and Renaissance houses and the Gothic splendour of the Merchant Hall. (FB,L,D)

Day 8: Known as the "Pearl of the Romantic Road", Wurzburg is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. The magnificent BISHOP'S RESIDENZ is a UNESCO World Heritage site. (FB,L,D)

Day 9: Another UNESCO World Heritage site is medieval Bamberg with its breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall straddling the river, and serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. (FB,L,D)

Day 10: Medieval Rothenburg, is a classical walled city. Its half-timbered houses, the church's wooden altar carved by Tilman Riemenschneider and the town square with its Glockenspiel, a tribute to the city's one-time heroic mayor, all contribute to making this a favourite of the towns along the Romantic Road. (FB,L,D)

Day 11: Although Nuremberg suffered extensive damage during WWII, much of it was restored to its original style. Marvel at this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. Nuremberg's traditions include its famous Lebkuchen, toy making and metal working. (FB,L,D)

Day 12: Regensburg is one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. Architectural highlights include the Old Town Hall, the beautiful white and gold OLD CHAPEL, and the Porta Pretoria-gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179AD. The city is the capital of Upper Palatinate, a bustling university town and one of Bavaria's cultural centres. The Thurn und Taxis family, who until the second half of the 19th century had the monopoly on the German postal services, owns the impressive St. Emmerammus Abbey buildings making up the THURN UND TAXIS CASTLE. (FB,L,D)

Day 13: Passau, ideally located at the confluence of the rivers Inn, Ilz and Danube, is a city of graceful arcades and cobblestone streets. St. Stephen's Cathedral houses the world's largest church organ with over 17,000 pipes. An optional full-day excursion to Salzburg takes in the popular Sound of Music sights. Linz, Austria's third-largest town, lies on both banks of the Danube and is an important industrial town and busy river port. (FB,L,D)

Day 14: Melk's magnificent BENEDICTINE ABBEY dominates the town from its commanding hill site and is one of Europe's largest monasteries. The view from the terrace over the Danube and surrounding countryside is breathtaking! Vienna, known as the "City of Music", inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. An optional concert is available tonight. (FB,L,D)

Day 15: Once the centre of the mighty Hapsburg Empire, Austria's capital has much to offer: the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's cathedral, to name just a few of the sights. You do not rush through Vienna, you waltz, taking your time to savour each classic sight and sound. Shop in the Karntnerstrasse and enjoy Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighbourhood cafe. (FB,L,D)

Day 16: Budapest, spanning the banks of the Danube, is the liveliest and most cosmopolitan metropolis of Eastern Europe. Seven bridges, including the famous Chain and Elisabeth Bridges, connect ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. The massive hilltop castle complex with FISHERMENS BASTION and the MATTHIAS CHURCH are sights not to be missed. Shop for renowned peasant embroidery, Herend porcelain and paprika. (FB,L,D)

Day 17: Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (FB)
 

WTB (Paris to Budapest), rates are per person twin share

To upgrade to a higher category (all cabins Twin/Double except suites), add per person:

Budapest to Paris 19 Days

This 19-day vacation will see you cruise the Danube, the Main, the Rhine, and the Moselle rivers. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Budapest and Vienna as well as tours of Regensburg and Nuremberg, and an excursion along the Romantic Road to Rothenburg. Medieval Bamberg beckons next before disembarking in Trier to transfer to Paris, where local guides will show you the famous landmarks.

This cruise is also available in reverse, travelling from Paris to Budapest (tour code: WTB).

Visited Cities
Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Main Danube Canal, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Miltenberg, Rudesheim, Cochem, Bernkastel, Trier and Paris.

Highlights
Superb dining with all meals on board including a Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner, and Captain's Gala Dinner. Quality wines from Europe's most famous wine regions included with every dinner.

Meals
Breakfast - 18
Lunch - 13
Dinner - 14

WBAT(Budapest to Paris), rates are per person twin share

To upgrade to a higher category (all cabins Twin/Double except suites), add per person:

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