9 Night Romantic Danube (Wine Cruise) Cruise and Land Tour from Munich

Arrive in Munich and check into your hotel.

This morning, you will tour Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, as well as the undisputed beer capital of the world. Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town through the city ending at the famous Glockenspiel, with its 43 bells and 32 life-size figures that portray historic scenes, such as a wedding celebration. You will also see Frauenkirche, the "Cathedral of Our Dear Lady". Later in the day, do like the Bavarians do, and visit a brewery for some of Germany's famous beer and pretzels. This is the cradle of Bavarian tavern culture, and the origin of tradition, "Gemutlichkeit", and hospitality. (B)

Check out of your hotel and transfer to Vilshofen where you will board your luxury ship. Later in the day, attend an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration with traditional beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing. (B,D)

Embark your cruise in Vilshofen and attend an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration with traditional beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing. Afterwards enjoy a welcome aboard wine toast with your fellow passengers. (D)

Explore Vilshofen's beautiful Old Town before cruising to Passau, known as the "City of Three Rivers". Join a walking tour, or if you prefer to be more active, hike high into the hills for a visit to the "Veste Oberhaus", Passau's Castle Hill; or go on a Danube bike tour. (B,L,D)

The ship arrives in Linz where you'll have several choices of excursions. For those who love The Sound of Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square, and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica of St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. You may also choose to join a full-day excursion to the charming Czech mountain town of Cesky Krumlov, where you can stroll its cobblestone streets; marvel at the city's picturesque Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings; and tour Krumlov Castle, one of Europe's largest castle complexes. Following these full-day excursions, you may also choose to take a brief walking tour in Linz. Alternatively, join a walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city's famed "Cultural Mile" and the Danube. (B,L,D)

Cruise to Weissenkirchen, located in the heart of the Wachau Valley. Once here, you can choose to join a walking tour in Durnstein along its cobblestone streets to the Baroque Stiftskirche, Durnstein's famed church, and savor a tasting of the region's renowned wines. Or, for the more active adventurer, hike up to the fortress where Richard the Lionheart was once held. (B,L,D)

Visit the UNESCO-designated Melk Abbey (Stift Melk), one of Europe's largest and most revered Baroque monasteries. Within these walls, you will find frescos painted by Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger, as well as a famed collection of musical manuscripts. After your tour, enjoy free time exploring the picturesque village of Melk, one of Europe's great cultural heritage sites. Or for the more active cruise, take a guided bike tour through the picturesque Wachau Valley. Sail to Krems, where you will enjoy a special wine tasting at Schloss Gobelsburg, formerly a Cistercian monastery, one of the oldest wineries in Austria. Visit this beautiful castle and have the opportunity to tour their cellars, learning more about the traditional methods drawn from historical wine-making practices, as well as tasting some traditional Austrian wines. (B,L,D)

The "City of Waltzes" offers a treasure trove of gems and your city tour showcases them, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace. Your tour concludes in the historic city center with a visit to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Or, if you prefer a more active tour, take a guided bike ride through Vienna. During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time to further explore this iconic city. In the evening, enjoy wine and live music at a traditional Austrian Heuriger (wine tavern). (B,L,D)

Your city tour visits both the Buda (hilly) and Pest (flat) sides of the Danube River. You'll see the 19th-century Chain Bridge and the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Castle Hill district, which contains some of Budapest's most important medieval monuments and museums. As an alternative choice, you can hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city below. (B,L,D)

Disembark the ship as you prepare for your flight home. (B)