Gems of the Danube

Welcome to Germany and the start of your Danube River journey. Transfer from Munich to Regensburg where you will board your luxurious Scenic Space-Ship.Settle in to your spacious suite, then join your fellow guests for a welcome reception and toast to the start of an exciting cruise ahead. You will remain docked in Regensburg overnight, so you can also set out to explore the city after dark if you wish.Please book your flight to arrive into Munich prior to 02:00 PM.

Boasting a staggering 2,000 year history, Regensburg has one of Germany’s best preserved medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as World Heritage sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country.Scenic Freechoice: Today, Regensburg offers a selection of Scenic Freechoice activities to choose from:Walking tour of Regensburg: On the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, Regensburg is known as the best-preserved medieval city in Germany. Guests will join a walking tour with a local guide to see the old stone bridge, the Church of St James, and the Porta Praetoria.Bavarian beer tasting: Learn about intricacies of beer making and the region's rich brewing heritage than spans over 1,000 years and is a valued part of the regions culture. Visit a traditional brewery to taste a variety of distinctive Bavarian brews.

Arrive in Passau early this morning. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, it was an important trading point for centuries. It was also a significant town in the Holy Roman Empire and the charming Old Town was mostly built by powerful prince-bishops in an Italianate style.Scenic Freechoice: Take your pick from the following Scenic Freechoice excursions:Full day excursion to Salzburg: Cross the border into Salzburg, Austria, a storybook city surrounded by alpine peaks and best known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music. On a guided tour, learn about its art and music scene, visit Mozart’s birthplace, and see the vast Hohensalzburg Fortress. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and some free time.Full day excursion to Ceský Krumlov: Journey to the Czech town of Ceský Krumlov, a World Heritage site brimming with charm. Explore with your local guide, admire the well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.Highlights of Passau: Join your local guide on a walking tour, admiring the brightly coloured buildings that line the waterways. Visit St. Stephens Cathedral, originally built in the year 450 but destroyed by fire in 1662 and rebuilt in the Baroque style.

Arrive in Passau early this morning. Set at the meeting point of three rivers and close to the border with Austria, it was an important trading point for centuries. It was also a significant town in the Holy Roman Empire and the charming Old Town was mostly built by powerful prince-bishops in an Italianate style.Scenic Freechoice: Take your pick from the following Scenic Freechoice excursions:Full day excursion to Salzburg: Cross the border into Salzburg, Austria, a storybook city surrounded by alpine peaks and best known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music. On a guided tour, learn about its art and music scene, visit Mozart’s birthplace, and see the vast Hohensalzburg Fortress. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and some free time.Full day excursion to Ceský Krumlov: Journey to the Czech town of Ceský Krumlov, a World Heritage site brimming with charm. Explore with your local guide, admire the well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.Highlights of Passau: Join your local guide on a walking tour, admiring the brightly coloured buildings that line the waterways. Visit St. Stephens Cathedral, originally built in the year 450 but destroyed by fire in 1662 and rebuilt in the Baroque style.

This morning your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in the small town of Melk, tucked inside Austria’s picturesque Wachau Valley. The town is dominated by its dramatic, World Heritage-listed Benedictine Abbey, which towers above it from a rocky outcrop.Scenic Freechoice: This morning offers a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from:Guided tour of Melk Abbey: Wander the halls of this grand 18th century abbey, visit the decorated Marble Hall and the library, which is filled with more than 80,000 books, and be awed by the Abbey Church, adorned in frescoes and intricate statues.UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience: Embark on a guided e-bike ride to soak up the scenery along the Danube as you cycle from Melk to the quaint village of Dürnstein. You’ll pass by small villages and through rolling vineyards, stopping along the way to enjoy the river views.Wachau Valley wine tasting: The Wachau Valley is one of the prominent regions for wine growing in Austria. Today you'll visit a local winemaker and learn about the flavour profiles and age-old traditions of winemaking while sampling the delicious wines produced on site.This afternoon, cruise through the Wachau Valley where you will be mesmerised by the sloping vineyards and charming villages. Then dock in the quaint town of Dürnstein, where you have ample free time to wander at your leisure. Surrounded by vineyards, the town has historical buildings that date back to the 12th century, including the hilltop ruins of Dürnstein Castle where Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned between 1192 and 1193.While on board later today, join an informative talk on the production of regional delicacies and enjoy a tasting.

This morning your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in the small town of Melk, tucked inside Austria’s picturesque Wachau Valley. The town is dominated by its dramatic, World Heritage-listed Benedictine Abbey, which towers above it from a rocky outcrop.Scenic Freechoice: This morning offers a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from:Guided tour of Melk Abbey: Wander the halls of this grand 18th century abbey, visit the decorated Marble Hall and the library, which is filled with more than 80,000 books, and be awed by the Abbey Church, adorned in frescoes and intricate statues.UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience: Embark on a guided e-bike ride to soak up the scenery along the Danube as you cycle from Melk to the quaint village of Dürnstein. You’ll pass by small villages and through rolling vineyards, stopping along the way to enjoy the river views.Wachau Valley wine tasting: The Wachau Valley is one of the prominent regions for wine growing in Austria. Today you'll visit a local winemaker and learn about the flavour profiles and age-old traditions of winemaking while sampling the delicious wines produced on site.This afternoon, cruise through the Wachau Valley where you will be mesmerised by the sloping vineyards and charming villages. Then dock in the quaint town of Dürnstein, where you have ample free time to wander at your leisure. Surrounded by vineyards, the town has historical buildings that date back to the 12th century, including the hilltop ruins of Dürnstein Castle where Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned between 1192 and 1193.While on board later today, join an informative talk on the production of regional delicacies and enjoy a tasting.

Welcome to Vienna, the capital of Austria and a centre of art, music and culture. The city fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, and oozes charm with magnificentBaroque buildings, ample green spaces, a vibrant coffee-house scene, and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums.Scenic Freechoice: Choose from these Scenic Freechoice activities this afternoon:Schönbrunn Palace: Explore the former summer residence of the Habsburg family. Wander its ornately designed rooms, hear tales about the royal family that lives here and see the impressive gardens.Art tour of Vienna including Kunsthistorisches Museum: Vienna is an art lover's mecca and a visit to the Kunsthistorisches has something for everybody. Join a local guide who will give you an overview of the magnificent exhibits including its world class art collection and impressive ancient artefacts, before some time to wander the museum at your leisure.Central Vienna: Vienna is brimming with history, elegance and diverse architecture. During this tour your expert local guide will delight you with stories from the city before allowing you free time to explore as you wish.Scenic EnrichClassical Concert at Arsenal Military Museum: Take in the wonderful architecture of Arsenal Military Museum, while enjoying a glass of fine Austrian Sekt. Then be enthralled by an enchanting private Viennese evening concert featuring the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart.

Slovakia’s capital since independence in 1993, Bratislava is a modern multicultural metropolis with an intriguing history. Its Old Town is glorious with medieval and Gothic architecture. Its well-preserved hilltop castle, which dates back to the ninth century, still dominates the town. These charming historic sites contrast with its brutalist socialist architecture, which is evident around the city.Scenic Freechoice: As we dock in the city centre, this morning’s Scenic Freechoice excursions are just steps away:Walking tour of Bratislava: Join a knowledgeable local guide to see the highlights of the city, including the Hlavné Námestie (main square) and the Old Town Hall while learning about the history of the city. You’ll also hear about what everyday life was like behind the Iron Curtain and taste some local delicacies.Carpathian wine route: Embark on a delightful Slovakian wine-tasting just beyond Bratislava, where the picturesque villages of the Small Carpathians invite you to discover this celebrated viticultural region. Enjoy an insider’s perspective on local culture and heritage, meeting passionate family winemakers who have preserved their craft across generations.Communist walk: Journey behind the Iron Curtain to explore Bratislava’s complex and compelling history during the communist regime. Discover how this controversial era shaped the daily lives of Slovaks, with impacts that were sometimes positive, often negative, and always fascinating.

Arrive in Budapest early this morning, the capital of Hungary and 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. It’s 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.Scenic Freechoice: Choose from a range of Scenic Freechoice activities on offer this morning:Budapest in depth: Explore this magical city by coach. Starting in Buda, see the Várkert Bazár before crossing the Margaret Bridge to the Pest side to see Széchenyi Square and Elizabeth Square. End your tour with a mesmerising piano recital at the Institute for the Blind.Guided hike of Buda: Strap on your walking shoes for a beautiful hike through the Buda district of the city. On your walk, see Várkert Bazár and beautifully landscaped gardens, all while enjoying great views over the Danube River and the city architecture.National Opera House: Step into one of Europe’s most magnificent cultural landmarks, a Neo-Renaissance masterpiece that reflects the grandeur of the Austro-Hungarian era and Hungary’s deep devotion to the arts. This guided tour reveals the splendid interior as well as stories of royal guests, world-famous performers and the building’s exceptional acoustics.

Your journey concludes this morning. After one final breakfast on board, depart with 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. Please refer to our terms and conditions.