Grand European Cruise (2012)

Join us on an optional excursion to one of the most beautiful castles standing on the hills that line the Rhine River, Marksburg Castle. The only 13th-century castle unchanged by war or reconstruction, it offers an unprecedented glimpse into the daily life of the time. Walking through the three towers and the connecting rooms, you will fully feel what it was like to live in a castle. You'll climb a stone staircase leading to the romantic bed chamber (the only room heated with a stove), see the great hall with its enormous fireplace (large enough to grill a steer whole), and take in a commanding vista from the east bank of the Rhine as you stand atop the towers.

Then make a discovery of a different nature as we stop in at a family-owned brewery. Here we will try a Bratwurst mit Kraut and a home-brewed beer as we mingle with the locals at the beer garden.

Disembark during a stop in Wertheim for a half-day optional tour of Rothenburg. This lovely old town sits on the Tauber River and boasts undamaged 14th-century city walls and beautifully preserved fortifications. During a guided walking tour, you’ll see stately towers and imposing burghers’ houses. You’ll have the afternoon free to make your own discoveries in this charming town before ransferring to meet your ship in Wertheim. Please note: On the Amsterdam to Bucharest itinerary, this optional tour includes lunch and is priced differently.

In 1998, the city of Nuremberg held an architectural competition for the design of a “Documentation Center” on the former Nazi Party rally grounds. During your tour here, you’ll visit many of its fascinating historical sites, including the massive stadium where Hitler held his notorious rallies. The designers had to fit the new building into the Congress Hall, while dealing with the site's intimidating architecture and ominous premise. Today's optional tour features the design that won this contest.

Delve deeper into the Danube's scenic splendor this morning during an optional excursion from Kelheim to the Weltenburg Monastery, a Baroque edifice of stucco, polished marble, gilt, and painted ceilings. There, you have the opportunity to reflect in the cool stillness of the abbey—Germany's oldest, founded at the beginning of the seventh century by the Abbot Eustasius. The compound also houses the world's oldest monastic brewery, and you'll have the chance to sample some for yourself during your tour. Later, you board a smaller river craft for a ride through the beautiful Danube Gorge, the river’s narrowest and deepest stretch. Your ferry ride takes you back to Kelheim, where a motorcoach waits to take you to Liberation Hall.

This magnificently ornate structure has a long and storied history. Strategically situated on a steep, cliffside perch, Melk Abbey's earliest incarnation was as a Roman border post. Later, it served as a tenth-century Babenberg fortress. It became a Benedictine monastery in 1089 and earned a distinguished reputation for medieval scholarship. Its library includes more than 70,000 books and 2,000 manuscripts, chiefly from the ninth through the 15th centuries. The Abbey houses a remarkable cherub-filled library of thousands of books and manuscripts, and 365 windows—one for each day of the year. The interior of the Abbey's church is another highlight: a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and gold, it boasts a magnificent carved pulpit and shimmering ceiling art. Following the tour, you will enjoy a wine tasting.

Vienna without music wouldn’t be Vienna. So, subject to availability of tickets, you may want to enjoy an unforgettable optional evening in one of Vienna’s famed concert halls. You’ll hear enchanting performances of some of the most wonderful melodies of classical Austrian music.

Join us for an optional tour exploring Hungarian Jewish Heritage. We'll visit the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe, with its Moorish enhanced by Byzantine, Romantic, and Gothic elements. Then we'll see the Emanuel Memorial Tree (a sculpture in the form of a weeping-willow tree, a memorial to Hungarian victims of the Holocaust), the Kazinczy Street orthodox synagogue (the center of traditional orthodox Jewish life here), and the Jewish Museum.

Discover Herend, a town world-famous for its hand-painted porcelain. Learn how these beautiful, delicate creations are made on a visit to the Herend Porcelain Museum, and enjoy some free time to grab a cup of coffee or browse the local shops. Next, take a picturesque drive along Lake Balaton—the largest body of water in Central Europe—and stop for lunch in a traditional Csarda (tavern). After lunch, you'll explore the ancient and imposing Tihany Benedictine Abbey, and enjoy free time to stroll around the village before reboarding the ship.

Enjoy a closer look at life in the Great Hungarian Plain. First, explore the provincial town of Kalocsa, including its Paprika Museum and Regional House of Folk Arts. Then, head to a Hungarian horse farm to watch the legendary csikos (horse herders—similar to American cowboys) display their skills.

Discover two key Bulgarian historic sites: Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi. First, travel by motorcoach to Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of Bulgaria from 1186 until 1394. This cultural center rewards visitors with views of the fortification wall atop Zarevez Hill, the cobblestoned old city, ancient ruins, and a steep ravine plunging down from two towering promontories. Then continue on to Arbanassi, an open-air museum of Bulgarian heritage. Its 80 house, five churches, and two monasteries reflect a unique, fortress-like architectural style of the 17th and 18th centuries, when the village flourished. Enjoy free time to make your own discoveries. Perhaps you'll visit the Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel, whose plain exterior conceals colorful frescoes depicting some 3,500 figures. While here, you'll savor typical Bulgarian fare at a local restaurant.