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Amsterdam to Istanbul (or reverse) - 27 days	For further assistance call 1-800-526-8539
Ship - River Duchess
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Detailed Itinerary: Amsterdam to Istanbul

Day 1: Amsterdam (Embarkation)

Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where you will be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2: Amsterdam

Featured Excursions:Amsterdam city tour, including canal cruise, with choice of Rijksmuseum -OR- Van Gogh Museum visit

Experience the highlights of Amsterdam on a city tour and canal cruise, and then visit either the world-famous Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum, the latter of which houses not only the largest collection of this modern Dutch master’s work, but also works by an impressive selection of artists who influenced or were influenced by him. (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Gala)

Day 3: Cologne

Featured Excursion:Cologne walking tour with Cologne Cathedral visit

Stroll through Old Town as your walking tour makes its way to Cologne Cathedral. From every angle, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a masterpiece of Gothic art. (BB, L, D)

Note: No inside tours of the cathedral are given on Sundays or Catholic holidays.

Day 4: Boppard, cruising the romantic Rhine River, Rüdesheim

Featured Excursion: Siegfried’s Music Museum

Enjoy leisure time in charming Boppard before setting sail along the spectacular Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival in Rüdesheim, head over to Siegfried’s Music Museum to see one of the world’s best collections of self-playing musical instruments. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Frankfurt

Featured Excursion:Frankfurt city tour

Your panoramic tour takes you through Old Town to Goethe University, the Botanical Gardens, and the historical area around Römer Square. You'll have the afternoon to further explore Frankfurt at your own pace. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Miltenberg

Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour

Visit Miltenberg, with its fairytale half-timbered houses, Crooked House, and Royal Inn. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Würzburg (Würzburg and Rothenburg)

Featured Excursions: Full-day tour of Rothenburg and Würzburg Residenz

Spend your morning at the Würzburg Residenz, an 18th-century Baroque palace.  Later, visit imposingly fortified Rothenburg, the best-preserved Medieval town in Germany.  (BB, D)

Day 8: Hassfurt (Bamberg), cruising the Main-Danube Canal

Featured Excursion: Bamberg city tour

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg, soaking in its Renaissance palaces and Baroque houses. (BB, L, D)

Day 9: Nuremberg

Featured Excursions: Choice of classic Nuremberg city tour -OR- Nuremberg WWII historical tour with Documentation Center visit

Cruise parts of the Main-Danube Canal, a marvel of modern engineering. Then discover Nuremberg, a Medieval gem with notable WWII history, during a city tour. Or turn back the pages of history with a guided tour of the city’s most important WWII sites, including the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. You’ll also visit the newly opened Nuremberg Memoriam Trials, including Courtroom 600, venue of the Nuremberg Trials. (BB, L, D)

Note: Courtroom 600 is an active court. Visitors will only be permitted to see the courtroom during trial breaks.

Day 10: Regensburg

Featured Excursion: Regensburg walking tour

On your tour of Regensburg, an unspoiled gem and UNESCO World Heritage Site, marvel at the town’s famous 12th-century Stone Bridge, Roman Porta Praetoria gate, Cathedral of St. Peter, and other treasures. (BB, L, D)

Day 11: Passau

Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour and St. Stephan’s organ concert

Discover the Medieval city of Passau with a morning walking tour that culminates in a concert on Europe’s largest pipe organ in Baroque St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Then enjoy a scenic afternoon sail through the Schloegener Schlinge—an exceptionally pretty oxbow in the Danube. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)

Note: Concert not available before May 2, after October 31, or on Sundays.

Day 12: Cruising the Wachau Valley, Vienna

Featured Excursions: Choice of Vienna city tour and National Library visit -OR- “See Vienna as the Viennese Do” on an exclusive waltzing discovery of Viennese daily life

Begin your day marveling at the extraordinary scenery to be found along the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley. After docking in Vienna, travel along the famed Ringstrasse to magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral and visit the stunning National Library. Or explore Vienna’s historic town center by foot and subway as the locals do, and stop at a traditional Viennese coffee house. (BB, L, D)

Note: On Mondays, Mozarthaus will be substituted for the National Library.

Day 13: Vienna

Enjoy a day at leisure.

Day 14: Vienna

Featured Excursions: Choice of Vienna city tour and National Library visit -OR- “Vienna, City of Arts” tour

Get to know Vienna’s imperial history during a tour that takes you along the stately Ringstrasse to the beautiful Austrian National Library. Or opt to explore “Vienna, City of Arts”;  stand in awe at the Belvedere and enjoy an art historian-guided tour of the Museum of Fine Arts. (BB, L, D)

Note: On Mondays, Mozarthaus will be substituted for the National Library.

Day 15: Vienna

Enjoy free time exploring the “City of Waltzes.” (BB, L, Captain's Welcome Gala) 

Day 16: Bratislava

Featured Excursion: Bratislava walking tour

Take a guided stroll through Bratislava, the vibrant capital of Slovakia. (BB, L, D)

Day 17: Szentendre Island, Budapest

Featured Excursion: Exclusive Hungarian reception at Szentendre Island’s Bodor Mayor Horse Farm

You’ll take a motorcoach to Szentendre Island’s Bodor Mayor Horse Farm, where you will be treated to an exclusive horse show by Magyar cowboys. (BB, L, D)

Day 18: Budapest

Featured Excursion: Choice of Budapest city tour -OR- Budapest walking discovery with Parliament tour

Savor the beauty of Buda and Pest on opposite sides of the Danube with a panoramic coach tour that shows you all the city’s grand sights. Or enjoy the Budapest walking tour, which includes a short city walk and visit to the Hungarian Parliament building. (BB, L, D)

Note: Parliament may be closed for official business without prior notice. If Parliament is closed, we will visit St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Day 19: Mohács (Pécs)

Featured Excursions: Exclusive excursion to Pecs and wine tasting in Villány Hills

Visit Pecs, a 2010 European Capital of Culture and home to the UNESCO-designated Necropolis of Sopianae. Then you'll indulge in an exclusive visit to the famed Villány Hills, where you’ll taste the local product dubbed the “Queen of Wines.” (BB, L, D)

Day 20: Vukovar (Osijek)

Featured Excursions: Tour of Osijek, school visit, and home-hosted lunch

Be treated to a musical performance by local elementary school children. Then tour the city before enjoying a home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family. (BB, L, D)

Note: School visit not available during school holidays.

Day 21: Belgrade

Featured Excursion: Belgrade city tour

Enjoy a drive through Belgrade, and then explore the vast Kalemegdan Fortress on foot. (BB, L, D)

Day 22: Cruising the Iron Gates

Cruise the majestic Iron Gates, an 83-mile-long stretch of scenic gorges carved out of the Carpathian and Balkan mountains over the millennia by the Danube River. (BB, L, Captain's Farewell Dinner)

Day 23: Svistov (Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi or Rusensky countryside), Rousse

Featured Excursions: Choice of full-day Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with authentic Bulgarian lunch -OR- half-day Ivanovo and Basarbovo monasteries and Rusensky Lom Nature Park with lunch onboard.

In Veliko Tarnovo, see the majestic ruins of Tzarevetz Castle. You’ll visit Arbanassi and the 14th-century Nativity Church, stopping for an authentic Bulgarian lunch with live folk music. Or opt for a tour of the countryside including the rock-hewn cave churches of Ivanovo and Basarbovo. (BB, L, D)

Day 24: Giurgiu (Disembarkation), transfer to Bucharest, fly to Istanbul

Featured Excursion: Bucharest city tour including lunch

Disembark your ship in Giurgiu and transfer to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. Enjoy a panoramic a tour of this eclectic city, which is often called the “Paris of the East.” Afterward, enjoy lunch before flying to exotic Istanbul. (BB, L)

Day 25: Istanbul

Featured Excursions: Istanbul city tour and Grand Bazaar

Today’s panoramic tour takes you to the Hippodrome; the Blue Mosque, with its distinctive minarets and blue Iznik tile walls; spectacular Hagia Sophia, the “Church of Holy Wisdom,” which was built in 535 AD; and Topkapi Palace, a magnificent Ottoman residence. Then wind your way through the maze of interconnecting vaulted passages and the more than 6,000 merchant stalls that make up the Grand Bazaar. (BB)

Note: Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) is a place of active worship. Religious ceremonies might restrict visitors from entering at times. At other times, please obey mosque etiquette.

Note: Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays and Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. The city tour of Istanbul will be arranged in accordance with the days they are open. If Hagia Sophia is not available during your stay, we will offer the harem visit in Topkapi Palace instead.

Day 26: Istanbul

Spend today in leisurely exploration of Istanbul’s many charms. Stroll through the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum or take in the eerie Basilica Cistern, which features a veritable forest of marble columns. (BB)

Day 27: Depart Istanbul, transfer to the airport

Transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for your flight home. (CB/BB)

**********

Detailed Itinerary: Istanbul to Amsterdam

Day 1: Istanbul

Arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport where you will be transferred to the hotel.

Day 2: Istanbul

Featured Excursions: Istanbul city tour and Grand Bazaar

Today’s panoramic tour takes you to the Hippodrome; the Blue Mosque, with its distinctive minarets and blue Iznik tile walls; spectacular Hagia Sophia, the “Church of Holy Wisdom,” which was built in 535 AD; and Topkapi Palace, a magnificent Ottoman residence. Then wind your way through the maze of interconnecting vaulted passages and more than 6,000 merchant stalls that make up the Grand Bazaar. (BB)

Note: Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) is a place of active worship. Religious ceremonies might restrict visitors from entering at times. At other times, please obey mosque etiquette.

Note: Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays and Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. The city tour of Istanbul will be arranged in accordance with the days they are open. If Hagia Sophia is not available during your stay, we will offer the harem visit in Topkapi Palace instead.

Day 3: Istanbul

Spend today in leisurely exploration of Istanbul’s many charms. Stroll through the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum or take in the eerie Basilica Cistern, which features a veritable forest of marble columns. (BB)

Day 4: Istanbul - fly to Bucharest - Giurgiu (Embarkation)

Leave Istanbul and fly to the Romanian capital of Bucharest, where you will be taken on a tour of this eclectic city, often called the “Paris of the East.” Afterward, enjoy lunch before your motorcoach takes you to Giurgiu, where you will board your ship and head toward Rousse. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Rousse (Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi OR Rusensky countryside)

Featured Excursions: Choice of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi with authentic Bulgarian lunch -OR- half-day Ivanovo and Basarbovo monasteries and Rusensky Lom Nature Park with lunch onboard

In Veliko Tarnovo, see the majestic ruins of Tzarevetz Castle. You’ll visit Arbanassi and the 14th-century Nativity Church, stopping for an authentic Bulgarian lunch with live folk music. Or opt for a tour of the countryside including the rock-hewn cave churches of Ivanovo and Basarbovo. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Day 6: Cruising the Iron Gates

Cruise the majestic Iron Gates, an 83-mile-long stretch of scenic gorges carved out of the Carpathian and Balkan mountains over the millennia by the Danube River. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Belgrade

Featured Excursion: Belgrade city tour

Enjoy a drive through Belgrade, and then explore the vast Kalemegdan Fortress on foot. (BB, L, D)

Day 8: Vukovar (Osijek)

Featured Excursions: Tour of Osijek, school visit, and home-hosted lunch

Be treated to a musical performance by local elementary school children. Then tour the city before enjoying a home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family. (BB, L, D)

Note: School visit not available during school holidays.

Day 9: Mohács (Pécs)

Featured Excursions: Exclusive excursion to Pécs and wine tasting in Villány Hills

Visit Pécs, a 2010 European Capital of Culture and home to the UNESCO-designated Necropolis of Sopianae. Then you'll indulge in an exclusive visit to the famed Villány Hills, where you’ll taste the local product dubbed the “Queen of Wines.” (BB, L, D)

Day 10: Budapest

Featured Excursion: Choice of Budapest city tour -OR- Budapest walking discovery with Parliament tour

Savor the beauty of Buda and Pest on opposite sides of the Danube with a panoramic coach tour that shows you all the city’s grand sights. Or enjoy the Budapest walking tour which includes a short city walk and visit to the Hungarian Parliament building. (BB, L, D)

Note: Parliament may be closed for official business without prior notice. If Parliament is closed, we will visit St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Day 11: Budapest, Szentendre Island

Featured Excursion: Exclusive Hungarian reception at Szentendre Island’s Bodor Mayor Horse Farm

You’ll take a motorcoach to Szentendre Island’s Bodor Mayor Horse Farm, where you will be treated to an exclusive horse show by Magyar cowboys. (BB, L, D)

Day 12: Bratislava

Featured Excursion: Bratislava walking tour

Take a guided stroll through Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. (BB, L, D)

Day 13: Vienna

Featured Excursions: Choice of Vienna city tour and National Library visit -OR- “Vienna, City of Arts” tour

Get to know Vienna’s imperial history during a tour that takes you along the stately Ringstrasse to the beautiful Austrian National Library. Or opt to explore “Vienna, City of Arts,” where you’ll stand in awe at the Belvedere and enjoy an art historian-guided tour of the Museum of Fine Arts. (BB, L, D)

Note: On Mondays, Mozarthaus will be substituted for the National Library.

Day 14: Vienna

Enjoy free time exploring the “City of Waltzes.” (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 15: Vienna

Enjoy a day at leisure.

Day 16: Vienna, cruising the Wachau Valley

Featured Excursions:Choice of Vienna city tour and National Library visit -OR- “See Vienna as the Viennese Do” on an exclusive waltzing discovery of Viennese daily life

Travel along Vienna’s Ringstrasse to magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and visit the stunning National Library. Or explore Vienna’s historic town center by foot and subway as the locals do, and stop at a traditional Viennese coffee house. Then cruise the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley and enjoy the enchanting scenery. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Note: On Mondays, Mozarthaus will be substituted for the National Library.

Day 17: Passau

Featured Excursion: Passau walking tour and St. Stephan’s organ concert

Enjoy a scenic morning sail through the Schloegener Schlinge—an exceptionally pretty oxbow in the Danube. In the afternoon, discover the Medieval city of Passau with a walking tour that culminates in a concert on Europe’s largest pipe organ in Baroque St. Stephan’s Cathedral. (BB, L, D)

Note: Concert not available before May 2, after October 31, or on Sundays.

Day 18: Regensburg

Featured Excursion: Regensburg walking tour

On your tour of Regensburg, an unspoiled gem and UNESCO World Heritage Site, marvel at the town’s famous 12th-century Stone Bridge, Roman Porta Praetoria gate, Cathedral of St. Peter, and other treasures. (BB, L, D)

Day 19: Cruising the Main-Danube Canal, Nuremberg

Featured Excursions: Choice of classic Nuremberg city tour -OR- Nuremberg WWII historical tour with Documentation Center visit

Cruise parts of the Main-Danube Canal, a marvel of modern engineering. Then discover Nuremberg, a Medieval gem with notable WWII history, during a city tour. Or turn back the pages of history with a guided tour of the city’s most important WWII sites, including the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. You’ll also visit the newly opened Nuremberg Memoriam Trials, including Courtroom 600, venue of the Nuremberg Trials. (BB, L, D)

Note: Courtroom 600 is an active court. Visitors will only be permitted to see the courtroom during trial breaks.

Day 20: Bamberg

Featured Excursion: Bamberg city tour

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg, passing its Renaissance palaces and Baroque houses. (BB, L, D)

Day 21: Würzburg (Rothenburg and Würzburg)

Featured Excursions: Full-day tour of Rothenburg and Würzburg Residenz

Visit the best-preserved Medieval town in Germany, Rothenburg, with its imposing fortifications on your morning tour. In the afternoon, visit the Würzburg Residenz, an 18th-century Baroque palace. (BB, D)

Day 22: Miltenberg

Featured Excursion: Miltenberg walking tour

Visit Miltenberg, with its fairytale half-timbered houses, Crooked House, and Royal Inn. (BB, L, D)

Day 23: Frankfurt

Featured Excursion: Frankfurt city tour

Your panoramic tour takes you through Old Town to Goethe University, the Botanical Gardens, and the historical area around Römer Square. (BB, L, D)

Day 24: Rüdesheim, cruising the romantic Rhine River, Boppard

Featured Excursions: Siegfried’s Music Museum

Visit Siegfried’s Music Museum, which showcases one of the world’s best collections of self-playing musical instruments, before cruising the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy leisure time in charming Boppard. (BB, L, D)

Day 25: Cologne

Featured Excursions:Cologne walking tour and Cologne Cathedral visit

Stroll through Old Town on your walking tour as you make your way to Cologne Cathedral. From every angle, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a masterpiece of Gothic art. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Note: No inside tours of the cathedral are given on Sundays or Catholic holidays.

Day 26: Amsterdam

Featured Excursions:Amsterdam city tour, including canal cruise, with choice of Rijksmuseum -OR- Van Gogh Museum visit

Experience the highlights of Amsterdam on a city tour and canal cruise, and then visit the world-famous Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum, the latter of which houses not only the largest collection of this modern Dutch master’s work, but also works by an impressive selection of artists who influenced or were influenced by him. (BB, L, D)

Day 27: Depart Amsterdam (Disembarkation)

Disembark the ship and transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in exciting Amsterdam. (CB/BB)

Please Note:

• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

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*For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the cruise operator and the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.