Day 1 - Monday - Apr 29, 2024
Your journey begins in the picturesque city of Amsterdam. A labyrinth of narrow laneways and canals lined with beautifully preserved 17th-century buildings and charming cafes, the city is a delight to wander. This afternoon, board your all-inclusive luxury Scenic Space-Ship and settle into your suite. Balcony suites have windows that convert into a Scenic Sun Lounge, allowing you fresh air and uninterrupted views of ever-changing landscapes and life along the riverbanks. Relax and raise your glass to the days ahead at this evening's welcome reception.
Day 2 - Tuesday - Apr 30, 2024
Amsterdam is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, masterpiece-filled galleries, tranquil scenes of boats putting along 16th-century canals, narrow cobbled laneways filled with boutiques and cafes, and streets busy with cyclists criss-crossing their way about town. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved canal houses and intersected by charming bridges.
Day 3 - Wednesday - May 1, 2024
Perhaps enjoy a leisurely morning starting with coffee in your suite, delivered by your personal butler, followed by breakfast in Crystal Dining. You will arrive in Cologne, Germany, later this afternoon.
Day 4 - Thursday - May 2, 2024
After breakfast, relax on the Sun Deck and admire the landscape as you cruise along the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a 65-kilometer stretch of the river that is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Sailing down this section of the river is like being transported through the pages of a fairy tale book. The Rhine is abounded in myths and legends that have been passed on for generations, like the story of Lorelei. This enchanting female was betrayed by her sweetheart and spent her days bewitching men. As her punishment, she was sent to a nunnery, however, on her way she jumped to her death in the river. Legend has her spirit casting spells on sailors who passed the rock, where a bronze statue sits today. After lunch, you will disembark in Rudesheim, a pretty town surrounded by steep vineyards that have been cultivating wine for a staggering two millennia. The charming town center is filled with half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, quaint shops selling trinkets such as cuckoo clocks, as well as a smattering of wine taverns and open-air beer gardens.
Day 5 - Friday - May 3, 2024
This morning, you will continue cruising towards Miltenberg. You may wish to spend the morning in the exclusive Salt Therapy Lounge, which provides natural anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. After lunch, you will arrive in Miltenberg. Located on the banks of the River Main, this historic town is one of the best preserved in Germany, home to hundreds of pastel-colored half-timbered houses and one of Germany's oldest inns, Zum Riesen.
Day 6 - Saturday - May 4, 2024
This morning, you will arrive in Wurzburg. This Baroque city straddles the Main River in the heart of Franconian wine country. Surrounded by undulating vineyards, Wurzburg is home to a UNESCO World Heritage-listed palace, a dominating hilltop fortress, the 15th-century Old Main Bridge, and three universities, including Bavaria's oldest.
Day 7 - Sunday - May 5, 2024
The ship will dock in Bamberg after lunch. Choose to spend your morning in your Space-Ship's wellness center enjoying a soothing massage, or perhaps join an informative lecture to learn more about the culture and history found along the fascinating Main River. Built on seven hills, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed town has surprises at every turn. Intersected by rivers and canals, enchanting Bamberg has an Old Town resplendent with cobblestoned streets and well-preserved medieval buildings. A charming Old Town Hall which occupies an island on its own, a Gothic and Romanesque-style cathedral, the Old and New Residences comprising an episcopal palace, a pretty 'Little Venice', and a 12th-century castle that teeters on the highest of the seven hills - are some of the incredible places you'll see during your guided city tour.
Day 8 - Monday - May 6, 2024
You will arrive in Nuremberg, Bavaria's second-largest city, early this morning. Boasting an Old Town protected by an ancient city wall, where the most enchanting Christmas markets are held every year, this city is dominated by one of the most significant imperial forts of the Holy Roman Empire, the 12th-century Imperial Castle, which was the preferred residence of German kings. Behind its charming facade, Nuremberg also has a turbulent history. During WWII, the city was favored by the Nazis for party rallies; the boycotts of Jewish businesses began here, as did the laws that denied Jewish people German citizenship - known as the 'Nuremberg Laws'. By 1945, the city was reduced to rubble, including large sections of the Imperial Castle and Old Town. Allied powers - the US, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union - held the Nuremberg Trials here between 1945 and 1946, when Nazi Germany leaders were tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Day 9 - Tuesday - May 7, 2024
You will arrive in Regensburg after lunch today. Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany's best preserved medieval town centers, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country. Regensburg is also fringed by the Bavarian Forest, home to hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and deer, wild boar, fox, and otter.
Day 10 - Wednesday - May 8, 2024
Day 11 - Thursday - May 9, 2024
Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock early this morning in the small and picturesque town of Melk, located in Austria's scenic Wachau Valley. The breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage-listed Benedictine abbey built high over the city is the most spectacular building in the region.
Day 12 - Friday - May 10, 2024
We arrive early in Vienna this morning. Also known as the City of Music, Austria's imperial capital fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, among others. The city oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces from parks to vineyards, a vibrant coffee-house culture, and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums. Spend the day exploring the city on your guided tour. Guided city tour of Vienna: Take a motorcoach ride from the ship to Vienna's city center, where you will embark on a walking tour to see highlights such as the Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Belvedere Palace. The ship will be docked overnight, so this afternoon you are free to wander around the city or relax onboard your Scenic Space-Ship.
Day 13 - Saturday - May 11, 2024
Wake this morning with Vienna on your doorstep. A city full of grandeur, Austria's imperial capital is famous for having the world's most beautiful boulevard, Ringstrasse, and for the legacy of the Habsburg monarchy.
Day 14 - Sunday - May 12, 2024
This morning, we arrive in Budapest, one of Europe's most diverse and vibrant cities. Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, this city became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two. The city is an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. It is also well known for its hot springs and thermal baths and has a vibrant nightlife scene.
Day 15 - Monday - May 13, 2024
Depart after breakfast, taking with you a lifetime of wonderful memories.
