Day 1 - Monday - Apr 29, 2024
Your journey begins in the vibrant city of Budapest, the capital of Hungary and one of Europe's oldest and prettiest cities. 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
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. This afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps you may like to hop on board Scenic's e-bikes (electronically assisted bicycles) to explore the city on two wheels or find one of the city's famous ruin bars - housed in abandoned buildings - to enjoy an afternoon drink. Alternatively, make your way back to your luxury Space-Ship to relax in the Panorama Lounge & Bar. You will set sail for Vienna later this afternoon.
Day 3 - Wednesday - May 1, 2024
Today, perhaps wake to a coffee delivered to your suite by your personal butler. Be sure to download the Scenic Tailormade app to listen to river commentary and gain insight into the villages and sites you're passing as you relax onboard while cruising to the Austrian capital. Vienna oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces from parks to vineyards, a vibrant coffee-house culture, and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums.
Day 4 - Thursday - May 2, 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. Also known as the City of Music, Vienna fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, among others. Sigmund Freud also lived and worked here in the late 19th century.
Day 5 - Friday - May 3, 2024
Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock early this morning in the quaint town of Durnstein. Surrounded by vineyards, the city has historical buildings that date back to the 12th century, including the hilltop ruins of Durnstein Castle, where Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned between 1192 and 1193. Enjoy some free time exploring this charming town before cruising towards Melk. After your tour, you will return to the luxury of your Space-Ship.
Day 6 - Saturday - May 4, 2024
Day 7 - Sunday - May 5, 2024
You will arrive in Regensburg after lunch, so this morning offers a great opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in the Salt Therapy lounge, located on the Jewel Deck. 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 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. This afternoon, you will sail towards Bamberg. Sip on a specialty tea or coffee in the Panorama Lounge & Bar or join a lecture to gain insight into the history and culture along the river.
Day 9 - Tuesday - May 7, 2024
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, and 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. Back onboard your Space-Ship, you may wish to spend time in the wellness center with a soothing massage.
Day 10 - Wednesday - May 8, 2024
After a leisurely morning onboard your Space-Ship, 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 11 - Thursday - May 9, 2024
This morning, you will arrive in the historic town of Wertheim, sitting on the picturesque banks of the Main and Tauber rivers. After touring, you will embark your luxury Space-Ship in Miltenberg and set sail for Rudesheim. Enjoy some of the all-inclusive onboard entertainment this evening as you sail through the night.
Day 12 - Friday - May 10, 2024
This morning, 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. This afternoon, relax onboard the Sun Deck and admire the scenic landscapes 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; folklore that has been passed on for generations, including 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.
Day 13 - Saturday - May 11, 2024
You will arrive in Cologne today, a city known for its liberal and laidback lifestyle, its unique beer culture, auto industry, and the jaw-dropping cathedral that dominates its skyline. Settled by the Romans, this major cultural center for the Rhineland was built during the Middle Ages but was largely destroyed during WWII. The magnificent Gothic cathedral, an enormous UNESCO World Heritage-listed site that dates to 1248, was badly damaged but stood tall above the ruins of the city.
Day 14 - Sunday - May 12, 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 15 - Monday - May 13, 2024
Travel by high-speed train to Paris and spend three nights at one of the centrally located hotels.
Day 16 - Tuesday - May 14, 2024
It's your first morning in Paris, so why not start the day with a pain au chocolat and a cafe au lait? Paris is a city that has been immortalized in endless movies, TV shows, books, and paintings, so even if you're a first-time visitor you will feel like you already know it. Its elegant streets, grand buildings, shady parks, stylish cafes, and even more stylish residents, you'll quickly be swept up in the joie de vivre. This afternoon, discover the part of Paris that most inspires you. Perhaps you would like to visit one of the legendary art galleries, like the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, or Centre Pompidou. Splash some cash at the flagship boutiques of the world's best designer labels or hunt out a treasure at one of the city's vintage stores and flea markets. Then there's the food; you could spend the whole afternoon (and more) at the patisseries, boulangeries, fromageries, and bistros that line every street. Then pick up some supplies and retreat to one of the many elegant parks for a classic Parisian picnic.
Day 17 - Wednesday - May 15, 2024
Today is yours to enjoy, with a full day to explore Paris. Discover some of the city's most famous districts, like the charming Latin Quarter, the modern La Defense, the Neoclassical Place Vendome, or the fashionable Le Marais. Visit one of the excellent museums, like the Musee des Arts et Metiers, the world's oldest science museum dating back to 1794, or the Musee Carnavalet, which charts the history of Paris from the Gauls to the 20th century. You could plan a literary tour of the city, taking in the favorite writing spots of Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, and Simone de Beauvoir. And of course there are endless options for shopping, art galleries, historic sites, or eating and drinking. Or you might like to do as the French do and embrace the 'art of doing nothing'. The French word flaneur means to wander aimlessly through a city with no destination in mind. It's a relaxed way to soak in the sights and mingle with the locals, stopping for coffee or a glass of wine when you feel like it or perhaps browsing in an appealing bookstore or gallery. It's one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a day and gives you a real feel for life in Paris.
Day 18 - Thursday - May 16, 2024
Say 'au revoir' to Paris this morning. Take time for a final indulgent breakfast at the hotel or perhaps stop for a coffee at the legendary Cafe de la Paix, a Paris institution that has occupied a prime spot in the Place de l'Opera since 1862. You'll then be transferred to the airport or train station to begin your journey home. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.
