Today we depart the USA for your overnight flight to Munich, Germany. Welcome to Germany! Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred from the airport to your Emerald Waterways luxury river cruise ship in Nuremburg. After boarding, explore the ship and become acquainted with the amenities. Later, enjoy a welcome dinner onboard. Meal: D Today’s adventure brings you to magnificent Regensburg. On your guided walking tour, view one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube and see the city’s architectural highlights including the Old Town Hall. Visit the famous Christmas Market at the Thurn & Taxis Palace grounds, try a mug of Glühwein and treat yourself to homemade gingerbread! Meals: B, L, D EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Bavarian Band onboard EmeraldPLUS: Visit to Thurn & Taxis Christmas Market Cobblestone streets and graceful arcades welcome you in this beautiful city. During the walking tour, stroll through the old town’s narrow alleys and see the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress from the town below. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a wonderful example of Baroque architecture and home to Europe’s largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes. During your leisure time, visit the traditional Christmas market in front of the Cathedral. Meals: B, L, D DiscoverMORE: Tour to Salzburg (additional expense)* * Please note, you can only choose either the included tour of Passau OR the DiscoverMORE option, as both tours operate at the same time. Your included tour visits Melk’s famous 900-year old Benedictine Abbey, a UNESCO World-Heritage Site, featuring Austria’s finest Baroque architecture. This afternoon enjoy sailing through the scenic Wachau Valley, another UNESCO World-Heritage Site, where ruins of ancient castles dot the surrounding landscape. Arrive in Dürnstein, one of the most enchanting villages of the Wachau wine region. This is the site of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned after returning from the crusades in the 12th century. Meals: B, L, D Explore Austria’s capital beginning with a drive along the Ringstrasse. See some of Vienna’s world–famous attractions such as the Opera House, Burgtheater and Town Hall. During the walking portion through the city center, see St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Imperial Palace. After the tour, enjoy free time to visit the wonderful Christmas markets throughout the city. Meals: B, L, D DiscoverMORE: Tastes of Vienna Tour (additional expense) DiscoverMORE: Exclusive Viennese concert with music from Mozart and Strauss (additional expense) Learn about Slovakian culture during a visit to Bratislava, capital of the Republic of Slovakia. Enjoy a sightseeing tour including the enchanting Old City with its Town Hall, Mirbach Palace, Slovak National Theater and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Martin. Bratislava is also home to charming Christmas markets where you can shop for handmade ornaments and holiday craft items. Meals: B, L, D EmeraldPLUS: Home Hosted Coffee and Cake with Slovakians Budapest, Eastern Europe’s most cosmopolitan capital, is known for the rich architecture and historic monuments along both sides of the Danube. This UNESCO World-Heritage listed city is a true delight during the season with its Christmas Market and festive display of holiday decorations. Your guided coach tour will introduce you to the city as it passes Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge and Andrassy Avenue – the main shopping area lined with spectacular Neo- Renaissance townhomes, cafés, boutiques and theaters, among them the State Opera House. This evening you’ll be delighted by an evening harbor cruise and a traditional Hungarian folklore show onboard. Meals: B, L, D EmeraldPLUS: A traditional Hungarian folklore show EmeraldPLUS: Budapest Evening Cruise After breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow travelers as you disembark the ship. Transfer to the Budapest airport, taking home warm memories of Europe at Christmastime. Meal: B