Day 1Nuremberg
Fly into Nuremberg. We will meet you at the airport and take you to embark your ship.* Once on board, you can relax, explore a bit on your own—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented. Dinner is served and we set sail this evening. (D)
Day 2Bamberg
Arrive early in Bamberg, founded in 902. Bamberg’s Old Town area is so beautifully preserved that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a walking tour past baroque patrician houses, then take time to explore or perhaps sample the town’s famous locally brewed smoky beer, Rauchbier. Lunch aboard before you depart this afternoon and begin cruising through the 106-mile Main-Danube Canal, an engineering marvel stretching from Bamberg on the Main River to Kelheim on the Danube and comprising 16 locks. (B, L, D)
Day 3Würzburg
Sail into Würzburg, a Franconian wine town, during breakfast. This morning, tour the Bishops’ Residenz, a beautiful baroque palace with many paintings and frescoes. After lunch on board, enjoy some free time in Würzburg—or you may choose to participate in an optional excursion to the charming medieval town of Rothenburg. Return to your ship for dinner. You can take an evening stroll before we depart late and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 4Wertheim
Cruise this morning along the winding Main River. After lunch, embark on a walking tour of Wertheim’s cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. Back on board, enjoy a fascinating glassblowing demonstration by Karl Ittig, a fourth-generation glassblower. Dine aboard as we depart. (B, L, D)
Day 5Rüdesheim
Enjoy morning cruising along the mighty Rhine River and a delightful introduction to Rüdesheimer coffee. Arrive in Rüdesheim midafternoon, where a vintner shares winemaking traditions of the Rheingau area and you can sample some local wines. Take free time to mingle with the locals and enjoy the restaurants, taverns and shops lining Rüdesheim’s pedestrian-only Drosselgasse. Dine aboard and remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 6Cochem
Cruise through the morning through the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine—lined with castles on both sides, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steep hillsides rise from the river valley to still-dense forests at the top, where you see numerous castles in varying condition—some ruined during the Thirty Years’ War, some in excellent repair even today. Arranged along the riverbanks are charming small towns little changed for centuries.
After lunch aboard, arrive in the quaint Moselle town of Cochem. Take a walking tour of the city and visit imposing Reichsburg Castle. Dine aboard; you can take an evening stroll if you like before we lift anchor. (B, L, D)
Day 7Trier
Enjoy lovely, unspoiled scenery—rolling, emerald-green hills dotted with charming villages—as we cruise along the Moselle River this morning toward Trier. After lunch, you have a tour of Trier, Germany’s oldest city. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, Trier Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady. Dine aboard; we remain docked in Trier tonight so you can take an evening stroll in town if you like. (B, L, D)
Day 8Trier
After breakfast, disembark and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 3 nights in romantic Paris, France. (B)
The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
*Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises. Please note, Viking can only offer air to guests traveling from the U.S. or Canada.