Day 1. Amsterdam
Today you’ll depart the UK from your chosen airport and fly to the city of Amsterdam. On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your river ship. Settle in to your suite before this evening’s Welcome Reception. After dinner, perhaps step out to experience Amsterdam’s famous nightlife at your leisure.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Dinner
Day 2. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice
Today, perhaps take a canal cruise and admire the city from a glass-top boat as you glide past 17th-century homes, churches and 16th-century merchant houses. Or visit the Van Gogh Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh paintings. Alternatively, tour the National Maritime Museum, which offers a comprehensive look at the Netherlands’ centuries-long tie to the sea. After your activity, travel via the windmill depicted in Rembrandt’s famous 1641 etching before rejoining your ship. As you set off along the Rhine River, enjoy the Captain’s Gala Welcome Dinner.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 3. Cologne, Koblenz
Join a local guide today for a tour of Cologne, Germany’s fourth-largest city. Among many other attractions, see the twin spires of the city’s Gothic cathedral, which was once the world’s tallest building. Then re-board your ship for lunch as it cruises to the 2,000 year-old city of Koblenz. After dinner, perhaps step out for an evening stroll through the heart of the city.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 4. Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice
Today cruise through the Rhine Gorge over what is known as the Rhine’s most beautiful stretch. Pass pretty villages and enjoy views of the slopes covered in vineyards and dotted with ancient castles and castle ruins. Later, arrive in Rüdesheim, a quaint Rhine Valley wine town. Here, you might like to ride the Winzerexpress mini-train to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, where a tour will highlight one of Germany’s most beautiful collections of automated musical instruments. Alternatively, take a ride in a gondola for wonderful views out over the Rhine Valley, or perhaps explore the Rhine Valley wine region during a guided tour and wine tasting at a local winery. After your chosen activity, re-board your ship before it enters the Main River.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 5. Wertheim, Freedom of Choice
After an onboard glass-blowing demonstration this morning, disembark and travel to Wertheim, located where the Main and Tauber rivers meet. Take in the sights of the town during either a guided bicycle tour or a walking tour. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a visit to Wertheim Castle, which was built in the 12th century. Here, you’ll learn about the history of the castle from a local guide and enjoy a glass of Sekt (a German sparkling wine), as you take in the stunning views from the castle out over the Main River. Afterwards, re-board your ship and relax as you cruise through the valleys of the meandering Main River.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 6. Würzburg, Freedom of Choice, Kitzingen
In Würzburg this morning, you may like to embark on a guided tour that will take you to the Resi-dential Palace and past churches ranging in styles from Romanesque, Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance to Modern. Alternatively, travel to Rothenburg, a beautiful town on the Romantic Road. Here, enjoy a tour of this medieval town followed by a wander through the German Christmas Museum. After both groups have then rejoined the ship in Würzburg, you’ll cruise to the Bavarian town of Kitzingen. This evening venture back in time as a guest at a special Medieval Banquet on board. Afterwards, disembark and head to Germany’s oldest wine cellar for a unique wine tasting event, hosted by a ‘Wine Queen’ and members of the Aulic Council. This ‘Alter Klosterkeller’ (old monastery cellar) was built by Benedictine nuns and today offers an historic setting in which to sample Franconian wines.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 7. Bamberg
After breakfast, disembark and travel to World Heritage-listed Bamberg, one of the few German cities that wasn’t destroyed by bombs during World War II. Here, tour the city’s streets with charming houses and 18th-century mansions. Afterwards, visit a traditional Bamberg beer haus and enjoy a local brew compliments of APT. Later, return to your ship and cruise onto the Main-Danube Canal. Having taken 32 years to construct, the canal was completed in 1992 and is truly a feat of modern engineering. It links the North and Black seas, enabling ships to cross the entire continent. During dinner, your ship continues cruising towards Nuremberg.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 8. Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice
Nuremberg played a pivotal role for the Nazi Party and was thus systematically bombed by the British and US air forces during World War II. It went on to act as the symbolic host of the Nuremberg Trials. On arrival here today, select from two sightseeing options. Perhaps take a World War II tour and visit a range of significant sites from the war, including Courtroom 600, which hosted the Nuremberg Trials. Or take a medieval tour and see the 900 year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle and more. At lunch, continue along the Main-Danube Canal. This afternoon, arrive at the highest point of your cruise, around 1,400 foot above sea level, and cross Europe’s Continental Divide. This evening, enjoy a special Continental Divide Cocktail Celebration before dinner.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 9. Regensburg, Freedom of Choice
Arrive in Regensburg today, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. Here, perhaps embark on a guided tour, which will take you to a selection of the city’s architectural highlights. These include the Old Town Hall, the World Heritage-listed city centre and the Porta Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Alternatively, set out on a guided bicycle tour to the imposing 18th-century hillside temple of Walhalla, a Neoclassical building that was built to honour laudable and distinguished Germans.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 10. Passau, Freedom of Choice, Linz
This morning arrive in Passau, located where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Here, you’ll disembark and select from three different sightseeing activities. Perhaps travel by coach into Austria and on to the pretty city of Salzburg. Here, enjoy a tour of the city’s most famous sights from the film, The Sound of Music, including the Wedding Church, Mirabell Gardens and Great Salzburg Festival Hall. Afterwards, travel by coach to Linz and re-board your ship. Alternatively, you may like to embark on a fascinating excursion to the World Heritage-listed city of Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic, before rejoining your ship in Linz. Or perhaps take a sightseeing tour of Passau, including a visit to St Stephen’s Cathedral, before enjoying a particularly picturesque cruise into Austria and to Linz, as an apple strudel cooking demonstration takes place on board. After dinner this evening, perhaps set off on a pleasant evening stroll through Linz at your leisure.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 11. Melk, Freedom of Choice, Dürnstein
Cruise through the Strudengau region to the pretty Wachau Valley this morning and take a guided tour of Melk Abbey, one of the world’s most famous monastic sites. Located high above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube, it has the rare distinction of surviving as an active Benedictine monastery continuously since its foundation. Afterwards, perhaps take a guided bicycle ride on a path that winds alongside the Danube River between Melk and -Dürnstein. Alternatively, rejoin your ship and continue cruising to -Dürnstein, where you’ll enjoy a walking tour through the medieval cobblestone streets that reveal 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. See the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, the King of England, was imprisoned in 1192 then enjoy a tasting of Wachau Valley wines. Following your chosen activity, this afternoon you’ll re-board your ship in -Dürnstein and enjoy another delicious dinner on board.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 12. Vienna
Disembark in the lovely Austrian capital of Vienna this morning. Famous world-wide for its striking architecture, classical musical and vibrant café culture, Vienna is a genuinely delightful place to explore. During a guided walking tour of the city, you’ll see a wide variety of architectural masterpieces including fine examples of Baroque and Romanesque design, representing many centuries of development. You’ll also see Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Vienna Opera House, St Stephen’s Cathedral and Ringstrasse, among other attractions. Following the tour, relax over a coffee and a traditional ‘Sachertorte’ chocolate cake at Café Hofburg, set in the impressive inner courtyard of the Imperial Palace. Later, after dinner on board this evening, pay a visit to Albertina, a grand Viennese palace built in 1744 in the distinctive Neoclassical architectural style. Here, you’ll be welcomed at a Cocktail Reception before discovering why Vienna is known as Europe’s centre of classical music during a special private concert experience.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 13. Vienna, Freedom of Choice
After breakfast this morning, on your second day in Austria’s capital, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to select from our four unique sightseeing activities. You may choose to travel by coach to Schönbrunn Palace, the summer palace of the Habsburgs and former home to Empress Maria Theresa. Here, enjoy a tour inside the magnificent residence, including the Carriage Museum, which is set within the beautiful palace grounds. You may instead like to explore the city’s expansive Fine Arts Museum then head to the Imperial Treasury, which houses a large collection of priceless treasures including the Hofburg Crown Jewels. Alternatively visit Vienna’s famous Spanish Riding School and enjoy a guided tour, then explore the Imperial Crypt, where more than 140 royals from the Habsburg dynasty are buried. Or perhaps embark on an excursion to Bratislava, the capital of nearby Slovakia, and see some of the key landmarks of the city’s time under Communist rule. After your chosen activity, re-board your ship for dinner this evening, before it sets out cruising towards the Slovakian border.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 14. Budapest
Having cruised through Slovakia into Hungary, this morning you’ll arrive in Budapest, the Hungarian capital. Disembark for a tour that includes such places as 500 year-old Matthias Church, St Stephen’s Basilica, the distinctive Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace and historic Buda Castle, offering views of Buda and Pest over both banks of the river. In the afternoon, visit the Hungarian State Opera House, which is widely recognised as one of the best examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture in the world. Absorb the grandeur of the building from outside, then venture inside for an exclusive tour, a glass of champagne and a private opera recital of two or three ariettas. This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board, before your ship sets off on a twilight cruise along the Danube, allowing you to take in the glittering lights of Budapest. You’ll also enjoy an onboard performance by Gypsy violinists.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 15. Budapest
After breakfast this morning you’ll disembark your ship and be transferred to the airport in Budapest for your flight back to the UK.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
Concerto Class Ships
MS AmaCerto - Launched 2012 and MS AmaPrima - Launches 2013.
Length: 135m, Width: 11.4m, Suites: 82, Max. Passengers: 164, Crew: 49, Home Port: Switzerland. See these Concerto River Ship deck plans here.
MS AmaVerde - Launched 2011 and MS AmaBella - Launched 2010
Length: 135m, Width: 11.4m, Suites: 81, Max. Passengers: 162, Crew: 49, Home Port: Basel. See these Concerto River Ship deck plans here.
Aria Class Ships
Length: 110m, Width: 11.4m, Suites: 75, Max. Passengers: 148, Crew: 43, Home Port: Basel. See these Aria River Ship deck plans here.
* Please note deck and suite plans are indicative only and may vary from ship to ship.
Concerto Class River Ships
Concerto ships deliver both AMA Private Balconies and Twin Balconies. Enjoy all-weather balconies with a conservatory-style area complemented by a spacious Outside Balcony. Exclusive to APT!
View a virtual tour of APT's Europe Concerto Class River Ships here.
Aria Class River Ships
Aria ships bought AMA Private Balconies to the world. Featuring more space per guest in public areas, and a much higher staff-to-guest ratio than most other vessels.
View a virtual tour of APT's Europe Aria Class River Ships here.