Europe’s Heartland Cruise 2010 (Nuremberg to Trier, Cruise-Only)

DAY 1, NUREMBERG, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)
Arrive Trier. Late this afternoon embark the ship, where tonight there is a Welcome Dinner. The ship departs in the late evening. (B,D)

DAY 2, BAMBERG
Enjoy your breakfast as you cruise along and marvel at the engineering feat of the Main-Danube canal which straddles the Franconian Alps via 16 locks. Arrive in Bamberg and enjoy a walking tour of this medieval gem, with its uniquely intact townscape, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. There is free time before you continue your cruise, now on the Main River. (B,L,D)

DAY 3, WÜRZBURG
This morning arrive in Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia. "The Pearl of the Romantic Road" is surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards. During your city tour, see the major sights including the magnificent Residenz Palace. This afternoon, explore Würzburg on your own, or take an optional tour to Medieval Rothenburg. A beautiful walled city situated on the Romantic Road. (B,L,D)

DAY 4, WERTHEIM - MILTENBERG
After breakfast, spend some free time in Wertheim, perhaps browsing the market square and its shops, before enjoying a glass-blowing demonstration. Then cruise to Miltenberg for a guided walking tour along narrow, cobble-stoned streets shows you the gabled, half-timbered houses. Tonight, the ship sails leaving Bavaria, Franconia and the Main River behind. (B,L,D)

DAY 5, MAINZ- HEIDELBERG – RUDESHEIM - KOBLENZ
Today, you decide: Either disembark for a trip to Mainz or travel by motorcoach to Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university town, where you will visit the red-walled Castle, the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask, and enjoy the 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 before returning to Mainz. If you choose Mainz, your guided walking tour of this beautiful town includes the famous Gutenberg Museum, home of the world's first printed bible. Then take a lunchtime cruise on the Main and Rhine rivers to the wine village of Rüdesheim. Here, tour the town by mini-train and visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Late this afternoon, everyone will cruise the most beautiful and famous part of the Rhine River, passing castle after castle and the infamous Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle, after dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, COCHEM - ZELL
After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit of Reichsburg Castle, situated above Cochem with spectacular views of the Mosel River. This afternoon, continue past hillside vineyards to Zell, home of the famous "Zeller Schwarze Katz" wine. A surprise awaits you this evening. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, BERNKASTEL-TRIER
Arrive in Bernkastel early this morning and explore this quaint little town on your included walking tour. Strategically located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts over 500 years of documented wine history. Then onto Trier, Germany’s oldest city, for a guided tour which will introduce you to the city’s rich Roman past. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, TRIER
This morning, bid farewell to your cruise ship. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

Those returning from Germany are singing the praises of the fascinating Rhine and the Mosel as the most scenic European rivers. Start your European vacation with a big splash in Trier, the oldest city in Germany. You will be enchanted by the meandering Mosel Valley with Europe's steepest vineyards and the precious towns of Bernkastel, Zell and Cochem. Taste the Mosel vintages in cozy taverns, then sail through the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine with all its picturesque castles from Koblenz to charming Rüdesheim. Enter the Main River with its quaint medieval towns of Miltenberg, Wertheim and Bamberg and sail through the Main-Danube Canal to historic Nuremberg.

A standard outside cabin onboard the MS Amacello or MS Amadolce

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Whenever air-inclusive prices are displayed, these prices do not include government taxes and fees, which are additional. Air prices are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Air-inclusive prices include air from a major U.S. gateway; air from other U.S. airports is available at an additional cost. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package, at the price quoted.