Day 1 - Monday - May 6, 2024
Your journey begins in the glorious city of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic that only until 1989 was behind the Iron Curtain. The city is home to one of Europe's best preserved city centers, with its architecture dating to the 14th century, and despite the number being closer to 1,000 its nickname 'City of a Hundred Spires' remains today. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your luxurious hotel for a two-night stay. This evening, join your fellow travelers and tour director for a welcome drink.
Day 2 - Tuesday - May 7, 2024
Discover one of Europe's most magical cities during a guided tour this morning. You will pass the Jewish Quarter and Jan Palach Square, considered one of Prague's most striking. Cross the medieval stone arch Charles Bridge and visit the Old Town Square, where you will see the famous Astronomical Clock. Legend has it that the designer of this masterpiece was blinded on completion so he could never make another piece as beautiful. You will have some free time to wander the city and enjoy lunch before your choice of Scenic Freechoice this afternoon. Join your fellow guests for a traditional Czech dinner in a local restaurant in the heart of the city.
Day 3 - Wednesday - May 8, 2024
This morning, you'll depart for Dresden, known as Florence on the Elbe. Considered one of the greenest cities in Germany, with open-air parks, gardens and surrounding forest, as well as charming riverside promenades, the city is also famed for its music and culture and is home to Germany's oldest Christmas market. Today, you will enjoy an orientation tour to see the Frauenkirche Church, which was reduced to rubble after the Second World War and took 60 years to rebuild, the Castle of the Electors of Saxony, the Semper Opera House, and Zwinger Courtyard in the heart of the Old Town. Afterwards, you will continue your journey through the picturesque Spreewald Forest to Germany's capital, Berlin, where you will stay for three nights in one of the city's most opulent hotels.
Day 4 - Thursday - May 9, 2024
Berlin is a city of contrasts, possessing both beauty and grit, historic architecture and cutting-edge design, and a vibrant youthful vibe with a tumultuous history never far from mind. Your introduction to this fascinating city begins with a guided tour. You will see the 18th-century neoclassical Brandenburg Gate, which was a symbol of division during the war but is now one of unity, and the traditional State Opera House. You will then drive along the famous 'Unter den Linden', a boulevard that runs from Brandenburg Gate to the City Palace and visit Checkpoint Charlie, the former border crossing between east and west Berlin.
Day 5 - Friday - May 10, 2024
Spend the day exploring the city of Berlin and learn about its Cold War history or venture to the nearby city of Potsdam.
Day 6 - Saturday - May 11, 2024
Cross the border into Poland, towards the city of Warsaw. You will stop along the way in the city of Poznan, known for its colorful narrow merchant houses that were built in the 16th century. Here you will have a tour of the Old Town and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to Warsaw. The capital of Poland was completely rebuilt after it was razed during the Second World War, which is why it's often referred to as the Phoenix City. Whole neighborhoods have been revitalized and today it is rich in culture and has a thriving dining scene and nightlife.
Day 7 - Sunday - May 12, 2024
Largely destroyed during World War II, Warsaw's historic center has been rebuilt and has attained UNESCO World Heritage-listed status. Your local guide will take you through the city's key sites including the Jewish Ghetto, where during the war some 380,000 Jews were appallingly sealed inside. You'll also visit the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, the Palace of Culture and Science, and the Chopin Memorial, dedicated to the 20th-century composer who grew up here and whose music is world-renowned.
Day 8 - Monday - May 13, 2024
Travel to Krakow today, stopping en route at Auschwitz, where you'll visit the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp. In operation from 1940 to 1945, more than one million Jews tragically died here. Take a poignant walk through the grounds, which are made up of original camp blocks, barracks, and guard towers, and see the museum which houses personal possessions of the prisoners and the SS garrison, who were the perpetrators of the crimes committed here. This afternoon, you will continue to Krakow, arriving early this evening. Poland's former royal capital until 1596, Krakow is the only major city that wasn't reduced to rubble in the Second World War.
Day 9 - Tuesday - May 14, 2024
Today's sightseeing of Krakow includes a walking tour of the well-preserved historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 13th-century merchant houses lining its sprawling market square. You will also visit the splendid 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral, perched on a limestone outcrop that dominates the city. The museum collection here includes Flemish tapestries, Italian Renaissance paintings, armory, royal jewels, and a coronation sword. This afternoon, you'll visit the nearby 800-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines, which are made up of around 245 kilometers of corridors, underground chambers, and saline lakes. You'll see statues of historic and mythical figures, sculpted by miners out of rock salt, and view old mining tools and machines. Tonight, enjoy delicious Polish cuisine at a local restaurant.
Day 10 - Wednesday - May 15, 2024
Cross the border into Slovakia en route to the Hungarian capital, Budapest. A warm welcome awaits from your crew as you board your Scenic Space-Ship. Tonight, enjoy a welcome reception.
Day 11 - Thursday - May 16, 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 12 - Friday - May 17, 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 13 - Saturday - May 18, 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 14 - Sunday - May 19, 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 15 - Monday - May 20, 2024
Day 16 - Tuesday - May 21, 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 17 - Wednesday - May 22, 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 18 - Thursday - May 23, 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 19 - Friday - May 24, 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 20 - Saturday - May 25, 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 21 - Sunday - May 26, 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 22 - Monday - May 27, 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 23 - Tuesday - May 28, 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 24 - Wednesday - May 29, 2024
Disembark in Amsterdam after a farewell breakfast this morning, taking with you a lifetime of memories. 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.; Note: Massage/spa treatments at additional cost.
