European Jewels

Budapest to Amsterdam - 16 days

CRUISE HIGHLISTS INCLUDE:

• 14-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the regal River Queen or the beautiful River Empress
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffee
• 13 shore excursions, fully hosted by English-speaking guides
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Complimentary use of bicycles
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
• Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Budapest Departing Flight
• DAY 2: Budapest (embark)
  Arrive at Budapest Airport where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. (D)
• DAY 3: Budapest
  Featured Excursion: Budapest city tour The “Queen of the Danube” city tour features the famous 19th-century Chain Bridge, St. Stephen’s Basilica, the stunning Parliament Building and the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)
• DAY 4: Danube Cruising
  Enjoy a day of leisure on the ship as we make our way to Vienna, the “City of Waltzes.” (BB, L, D)
• DAY 5: Vienna
  Featured Excursion: Vienna city tour Irresistible Optional Tour: Schönbrunn Palace, and/or enjoy an evening of Mozart and Strauss During your panoramic overview of Austria’s capital city, travel the stately Ringstrasse, where the surrounding buildings evoke a distinctive imperial air. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where Mozart was married. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 6: Scenic Cruising the Wachau Valley, Melk
  Featured Excursion: Melk Abbey visit Depart Vienna on a scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, en route to Melk. When you arrive at Melk, you’ll be greeted by the 900-year-old abbey high atop the cliffs of the Danube. Your tour of the abbey will reveal beautiful baroque art and architecture. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 7: Passau
  Featured Excursion: Walking Tour and St. Stephan’s organ concert Irresistible Optional Tour: Venture through the Bavarian forest to the Bavarian Village Museum or go cycling along the Inn River Passau boasts a delightful layer of Italian style on quintessential German foundations. Explore the Old Town and visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ, and site of your organ recital. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 8: Regensburg
  Featured Excursion: Regensburg walking tour Your walking tour of Regensburg explores the architectural treasures of Old Town. Genuine Bavarian hospitality adds to the vibrant mix of art and culture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 9: Nuremberg, Cruising the Main-Danube Canal
  Featured Excursion: Nuremberg city tour Today’s tour takes you through Nuremberg, an archetypal German medieval city encircled by mighty defensive walls and guarded by its impressive castle. In the afternoon, sail the engineering marvel of the Main-Danube Canal. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 10: Bamberg
  Featured Excursion: Bamberg walking tour Stroll through the World Heritage city of Bamberg with your guide, and see the unique town hall, the imperial Cathedral, and the fisherman’s village known as “Little Venice.” (BB, L, D)
• DAY 11: Würzburg
  Featured Excursion: Würzburg Residenz and wine tasting You’ll visit Germany’s great Würzburg Residenz, a baroque palace declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll end the tour with a tasting of Franconian wines in the Residenz Wine Cellar. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 12: Wertheim, Miltenberg
  Featured Excursion: Wertheim and Miltenberg walking tour Charming Wertheim sits at the confluence of the Main and Tauber Rivers. Join your guide on a tour of this medieval gem. During the afternoon, cruise to Miltenberg, a fairy tale town with a Crooked House and a famous Royal Inn. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 13: Miltenberg (Heidelberg)
  Featured Excursion: Full-day tour of Heidelberg Heidelberg is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Your guided tour takes you to the courtyard of Heidelberg Castle and through Old Town. (BB, D)
• DAY 14: Rüdesheim, Cruising the Romantic Rhine
  Featured Excursion: Gondola ride to Niederwald You’ll take a gondola to the Niederwald Monument where you will be stunned by scenic vistas of Rüdesheim and the vineyards of the Rheingau. During the afternoon, you’ll cruise by the scenic highlights of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)
• DAY 15: Cologne
  Featured Excursion: Cologne walking tour and cathedral visit Our walking tour takes you to the beloved landmark Cologne Cathedral—from every angle a masterwork of gothic art, which took over 600 years to be finished. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 16: Amsterdam (disembark), transfer to airport Return Flight Disembark the ship and transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Amsterdam.

2009 Cruises

*On these dates cruise operates from Amsterdam to Budapest. Prices:Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a stateroom or hotel room. Cruise prices are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, taxes, levies and exchange rates as of June 15, 2008. Should the total cruise price increase by more than 10%, passengers will have the right to cancel their cruise within 7 days of notification of the surcharge without penalty. No surcharges in respect of cost or currency fluctuations will be made once payment for the deposit of your cruise is received. This does not apply to fuel surcharges and any taxes, charges or levies imposed by any government or their agencies. Air-inclusive pricing is provided from NYC, CHI, and LAX only. Other gateway cities are available at additional costs. Please ask your Reservations Consultant at the time of booking for details. Single supplements are available in select categories for an additional supplement. Reservations and Payments: A deposit of at least $200 per person is required at the time of reservation. Final payment is due at least 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be cancelled if final payment is not received in a timely manner.