PARIS - ISTANBUL 2009
Day	Destination	Activities
1		Flight to Paris
2	Paris	Transfer to hotel
3	Paris	City tour
4	Paris	Optional tours available
5	Paris	Coach to Luxembourg
	Luxembourg	City tour
	Trier	EMBARKATION
		Welcome Cocktails & Dinner
6	Bernkastel	Walking tour
	Zell	Evening wine fest
7	Cochem	Tour Reichsburg Castle
	Koblenz	OR: Koblenz city walk
	Rhine Valley	Rhine Castle cruise
	Rüdesheim	Siegfried's Music Museum
8	Mainz	Full day Heidelberg tour
		OR Mainz & Frankfurt tour
9	Miltenberg	Walking tour
	Wertheim	Glass-blowing demonstration
10	Würzburg	City tour & Residenz
11	Bamberg	Walking tour
12	Nuremberg	Excursion to Munich
13	Nuremberg	City tour
		Main-Danube Canal lecture
	Hilpoltstein	Crossing Continental Divide
14	Regensburg	Walking tour
		Evening folklore music
15	Passau	City walk
	Salzburg	Optional Salzburg excursion
	Linz	Evening walk
16	Melk	Benedictine Abbey Tour
	Vienna	Optional evening concert
17	Vienna	City tour
18	Budapest	City tour
19	Budapest	Puszta excursion
20	Mohacs	Pecs excursion
21	Vukovar	City tour
	Novi Sad	Tour of Fortress
22	Belgrade	City tour
23	Iron Gates	Full day cruising
24	Vidin	Tour Bada Vida Fortress
25	Bucharest	City tour
26	Rousse	DISEMBARKATION
	Veliko Turnovo	City tour
27	Plovdiv	City tour
28	Istanbul	City tour & optional tour
29	Istanbul	Tour Topkapi Palace
30	Istanbul	Airport transfer

Nautical schedules are subject to water levels, cruising conditions & subject to change without notice

Day 1, Wed. DEPART USA.
Overnight flight to Paris.

Day 2, Thu. ARRIVE IN PARIS, FRANCE.
Take the balance of the day to relax or explore the "City of Lights."

Day 3, Fri. PARIS.
See the most famous sights of Paris on this morning's tour: Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the renowned Louvre Museum, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, the Opéra, the La Madeleine, the Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the many museums, galleries and other attractions that the city has to offer. (B)

Day 4, Sat. PARIS.
Enjoy a full free day to explore the most romantic city in the world. Stroll through the Jardin de Tuilleries, gaze at impressionist masterpieces at Musée D'Orsay, or visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair. Paris at night sparkles with possibilities for every taste. (B)

Day 5, Sun. PARIS - LUXEMBOURG, TRIER, GERMANY.
This morning, drive through the French countryside of Champagne to Luxembourg, one of the last independent duchies which once made up western and central Europe. In today's international politics and banking, the Grand Duchy still plays an important role. There is free time for lunch and a guided city tour before continuing to Trier and boarding the ship. Tonight, gather together for the welcome dinner. (B,D)

Day 6, Mon. BERNKASTEL - ZELL.
This morning, arrive in the charming village of Bernkastel. Strategically located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts over 500 years of documented wine history. Take a guided walking tour through the old town center with its many medieval and Renaissance buildings, before continuing on to Zell, a delightful town famous for its wine "Zeller Schwarze Katz." (B,L,D)

Day 7, Tue. COCHEM - KOBLENZ - RHINE CASTLES -RÜDESHEIM.
This morning, take the included excursion to Cochem, where a guided tour of hilltop Reichsburg Castle offers fascinating views of the river valley. Or, you may choose to take a cruise to Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine Rivers. This afternoon, cruise along the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine. See castle after castle and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Rüdesheim, the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and explore the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley lined with wine taverns and restaurants. (B,L,D)

Day 8, Wed. MAINZ - HEIDELBERG - FRANKFURT.
Today, you decide: Either disembark in Mainz and travel by motorcoach to Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university town, where you will visit the red-walled Castle, seeing the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask and beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below. Then there is a walking tour of old Heidelberg and free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon drive to Frankfurt, the bustling metropolis on the River Main, where you rejoin your ship. Or, you can enjoy a leisurely walking tour of charming Mainz, hometown of the famous printer. You will visit the Gutenberg Museum before taking a lunchtime cruise on the Main river to Frankfurt where you will have a guided walking tour of the historic city center "The Romer." (B,L,D)

Day 9, Thu. MILTENBERG - WERTHEIM.
Arrive in Miltenberg and disembark for a guided morning walking tour of this old Franconian town, which reveals narrow cobblestone streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. Shop for souvenirs before continuing to charming Wertheim for an interesting glass-blowing performance. Then, there is free time to browse the market square before re-boarding the ship. (B,L,D)


Day 10, Fri. WÜRZBURG.
Würzburg, "the Pearl of the Romantic Road," is the capital of Lower Franconia, and a center of wine and trade. Visit the major sights including the magnificent Residenz Palace. This afternoon, you can join an optional excursion to medieval Rothenburg. A walking tour helps you appreciate its ramparts and towers, cobbled lanes and 16th-century houses. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore on your own before returning to the ship in Würzburg. (B,L,D)

Day 11, Sat. BAMBERG.
Enjoy a leisurely morning cruising before you enter the Main-Danube Canal at enchanting Bamberg, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Disembark for a guided tour of this medieval gem, with its uniquely intact townscape. Marvel at the breathtaking cathedral, the Old Town Hall that straddles the river, and the city's serpentine streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. Late tonight arrive in Nuremberg. (B,L,D)

Day 12, Sun. NUREMBERG
Today, travel by train to Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, often given the nickname "Germany's secret capital." Your escort will be on hand to offer you suggestions on what to see while in town and to take you to lunch at the world famous Hofbrauhaus. Tonight you will meet fellow travelers embarking from Prague (B,L,D)

Day 13, Mon. NUREMBERG - CROSSING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE - DIETFURT.
Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches and elegant impressive walls. See the storybook 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. At lunchtime, rejoin the ship further along the Main-Danube Canal and continue to the highest point of your cruise - 1,332 feet above sea level before descending through stair-step locks to the charming Bavarian town of Dietfurt. (B,L,D)

Day 14, Tue. REGENSBURG.
This morning takes you through the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal. Arrive in magnificent Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities. A guided tour will show you the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort which was built in 179 AD. Marvel at beautiful churches and one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube. The afternoon is free for exploring, or perhaps why not join the optional excursion to beautiful Weltenburg Abbey in the Danube Gorge. In the evening enjoy a music performance on board. (B,L,D)

Day 15, Wed. PASSAU - LINZ, AUSTRIA.
After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. During your walking tour, gaze at this fairy-tale city founded more than 2,000 years ago. Or, take an optional full day tour to Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and location of the Sound of Music. See the main sights including a visit to Mozart's birth house. For those staying on board, enjoy a scenic cruise from Passau into Austria and on to Linz. After dinner, take a walk through this delightful town, Austria's third largest city and a major river port. (B,L,D)

Day 16, Thu. MELK - VIENNA.
Cruise through the narrow Strudengau and reach the Wachau Valley early this morning. A guided tour takes you to Melk's magnificent Benedictine Abbey. At lunchtime, continue through the romantic Wachau Valley. Late this afternoon, arrive in Vienna, the "City of Music." Tonight, explore the magnificent Austrian capital on your own, or come along for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert. (B,L,D)

Day 17, Fri. VIENNA.
During your guided tour of Vienna you will see the Imperial Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse, awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral and also visit the National Library. Then, enjoy a free afternoon to shop, explore or visit one of the cities many museums or palaces. Late afternoon, continue your journey past Slovakia and cruise overnight to Budapest, Hungary's vibrant capital. (B,L,D)

Day 18, Sat. BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.
This morning is free for shopping or sightseeing. In the afternoon, your guided city tour includes Buda and Pest. From historic Buda Castle you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cities of Buda and Pest spread over both banks of the River. Your tour also features the distinctive Fisherman's Bastion, the marvelous Royal Palace, St. Stephen's Basilica, and much more. Tonight, enjoy a Gala Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 19, Sun. BUDAPEST.
The Puszta is the region of Hungary most widely known throughout the world. The vast flat Great Hungarian Plain stretches across to the east, where Hungarian cowboys still wear traditional garb and practice the skills of their Magyar ancestors. Upon arrival, you will be met by horse-herds and greeted with warm hospitality, brandy and scones. Try a lunch of Goulash, the national dish, before returning to Budapest to embark onto your ship. (B,L,D)

Day 20, Mon. MOHACS - PECS - VUKOVAR, CROATIA.
This morning, the ship arrives in Mohacs, where you depart for an interesting excursion to Pecs. Charming Old Pecs will be brought alive by your local guides during your walking tour. See the Synagogue, Christian Basilica and visit the former Turkish Mosque. After lunch onboard ship, enjoy a wine-tasting excursion, where you will sample aromatic, spicy wines from the vineyards of Vilány. (B,L,D)

Day 21, Tue. VUKOVAR - NOVI SAD, SERBIA.
This morning, a guided bus and walking tour of Vukovar will show you the Franciscan Monastery of St. John Capistrano, the Manorhouse Eltz and the St. James and St. Nicholas churches. During lunch, continue your cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia, where you will tour the 18th-Century Austrian-Hungarian Petrovaradin Fortress. (B,L,D)

Day 22, Wed. BELGRADE.
This morning, arrive in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, where you have a chance to explore both the old and the new town. Your guided tour features Tito's memorial, the Town Hall, the Federal Parliament Building, Terazije Street, Republic Square and Mihajlova street, "Varos" Gate and the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress. (B,L,D)

Day 23, Thu. CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES - VIDIN, BULGARIA.
Today, enjoy a full day of cruising through one of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the Iron Gates. Here the Danube narrows, as it winds through a range of magnificent gorges between the southern Carpathian Mountains and the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Forming the natural border between Serbia and Romania, today's passage will be an unforgettable highlight of your Black Sea adventure. Late this evening, the ship sails to Vidin. (B,L,D)

Day 24, Fri. VIDIN.
The "Bada Vida" Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. The 14th-century castle has massive walls and dark towers, which strongly contrast the natural park which surrounds the castle. From here, take an excursion to Belogradschik, a beautifully restored 6th-century castle, located in a fairytale landscape of unusual rock formations. (B,L,D)

Day 25, Sat. GIURGIU - BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - ROUSSE, BULGARIA.
Today, enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, capital and largest city in Romania. The city is famed for its Belle Epoque era buildings dating from the 19th century. During the morning city tour, you will see the Arch of Triumph, Soseaua Kiseleff, the Athenaeum, the Library and visit the Parliament Palace - the world's largest palace. Enjoy lunch in a typical Romanian restaurant, then choose to shop, explore on your own or visit the open air museum, which was dedicated to the traditional architecture and buildings of rural Romania. This evening, the ship departs for Rousse. (B,L,D)

Day 26, Sun. ROUSSE - VELIKO TARNOVO - NESSEBAR, BULGARIA.
This morning, disembark in Rousse and continue your tour by motorcoach. Your first stop is the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. Here you will tour Tsarevets Hill, the citadel of the city, the old fortress walls, the Royal Palaces, the Patriarchal church and Baldwin's Tower. Shoppers can explore the traditional street market, Samovodska Charshia. Enjoy a traditional Bulgarian lunch before continuing onto the Black Sea resort town of Nessebar. This evening, see the main highlights of Nessebar Old Town, before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 27, Mon. NESSEBAR - ISTANBUL, TURKEY.
After breakfast, continue on to magical Istanbul for the grand three-night conclusion of your Black Sea Voyage. (B)

Day 28, Tue. ISTANBUL.
This morning's comprehensive city tour will show you the old city, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of her historic past. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Suleymaniye Mosque and Blue Mosque. This evening, you may wish to join some your fellow passengers for the optional Istanbul By Night where you will enjoy a belly dancing show with dinner. (B)

Day 29, Wed. ISTANBUL.
Today, your guided sightseeing tour will take you to the Ottoman Sultans' Grand Palace of Topkapi, home to every single Sultan from the 15th century until the end of the 19th century. During your tour, admire the private chambers of the Sultans, marvel at the world famous Harem and also see the treasury, home to the Topkapi Diamond. This afternoon, enjoy an optional Bosporus cruise and visit to the Spice Bazaar or use the remainder of the day to shop for souvenirs or relax at one of the charming tea houses or restaurants. (B)

Day 30, Thu. ISTANBUL - USA.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)