Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary. Welcome to the ‘Pearl of the Danube’. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, home for the next seven nights. This evening, join your fellow guests for a folklore performance onboard and a traditional Hungarian dinner.

After dinner, relax on the Sun Deck and enjoy the fabulous view of the city, aglow in nighttime splendor. Meal: D Explore Budapest’s cobbled medieval quarter, as you embark on a coach tour through the UNESCO World Heritage city center. Your guide will highlight a number of architectural wonders and also talk about Budapest’s culinary scene. The tour will end at the Grand Market Hall, the city’s most expansive indoor food & craft market, where you’ll have time to explore on your own.

If you are feeling more active, you may instead choose to hike to Buda Hill. The surrounding area has been rebuilt several times, most recently following the air raids of WWII. Some 18th-century Baroque houses still stand, best explored by foot along the medieval paths and alleyways in the area around Buda Castle. Meals: B, L, D This morning, relax onboard while sailing into the capital of Slovakia. This graceful nation became an independent country in 1993, and since then, Bratislava has flourished as a new capital and made a name for itself as a cultural center. The romantic cobblestone lanes that weave through the city are explored with your local guide, as you enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town center, seeing the Slovak National Theater and a range of Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings.

For the more active guests, embark on a guided hike to Bratislava Castle, a landmark steeped in legends that looks as though it came from the pages of a fairytale book. Meals: B, L, D Welcome to Vienna, Austria’s capital and the capital of classical music. The city perfectly encapsulates the opulence of the Habsburg Monarchy and their ornate Baroque palaces. On the included city tour, see monuments and buildings of grandeur as the coach drives along the famous Ringstrasse.

During the walking tour, stroll with your guide through the city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the classical architectural styles of the buildings, see St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace, right in the heart of the city center. If you are feeling more active, opt to explore on two wheels, cycling along the river to Danube Island. Meals: B, L, D Effortlessly suspended in time, Weisenkirchen is one of the most frequented parts of the Wachau wine region, where the delightful warm weather creates the perfect setting for viticulture. Join your Activity Manager for a hike in town before sailing to Melk. Later this morning, sail through the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley, passing medieval villages, terraced vineyards and areas of natural beauty.

Upon arrival in Melk, enjoy a guided tour of Melk Abbey, originally a lavish castle that was gifted to Benedictine monks during the 11th-century. This opulent Baroque building is home to some of the most important collections of medieval manuscripts in the world. Meals: B, L, D Today’s adventure takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Ceský Krumlov. With its 13th-century castle, meandering river, and a maze of quaint alleyways, this town has one of the best-preserved centers in Europe.

Join your local guide to traverse a labyrinth of winding cobblestone lanes as you experience the charming atmosphere of Ceský Krumlov’s medieval buildings and iconic castle complex. During the excursion, visit the 15th-century St. VItus’ Church, a highlight of the town. Meals: B, D Narrow cobblestone streets welcome you to Passau, a town nestled on the confluence of three of Europe’s main waterways. On today’s excursion, venture out to a local farm to gain a fascinating insight into the life of local Bavarian farmers.

Tour the farm, see the animals and learn how the family is utilizing methods of sustainable agriculture. Meet with the farmers and sample some of their homemade specialties during an included tasting. Meals: B, L, D After breakfast, say goodbye to your Captain and crew as you disembark your ship and depart by motorcoach for Prague, Czech Republic. Upon arrival, you’ll have free time for lunch on your own before the included city tour highlighting the famous sites of this beautiful city.

Following a brief panoramic drive, the heart of the city is discovered on foot. See the Old Town Square with its historic astronomical clock, and the medieval Charles Bridge. The tour concludes at the hotel with the evening at leisure. Meal: B Your final day is left free of planned activities for your independent exploration of Prague. Or, if you choose, join the morning optional excursion to Terezin Concentration Camp. Meal: B Bid a fond farewell to Europe and return home with wonderful memories of life enriching experiences from your cruise along the Danube River. Meal: B