Budapest offers an unmatched  combination of culture and tradition. Visit the Great Market Hall before  going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river.  You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s  Bastion and Mattias Church. As an alternative, hike up to Castle Hill  for breathtaking views of the city. During the afternoon, sail out of  Budapest, passing through the scenic Danube Bend where you’ll see some  of Hungary’s oldest settlements, including Esztergom, Visegrád and  Szentendre. (B,L,D)

Host to the crowning ceremonies of  11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava  certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll  discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of  Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike to Bratislava’s  gleaming castle. (B,L,D)

Vienna offers a wealth of gems and  your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic  Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude  your tour in Vienna’s historic city center, and then visit St. Stephen’s  Cathedral; or discover Vienna by bike. During the afternoon, visit the  UNESCO-designated Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the main summer  residence of the Habsburg rulers. Built in the 18th century as an  imperial summer residence, this magnificent 1,441-room Baroque palace is  one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical  monuments in Austria. (B,L,D)

Krems, gateway to the  UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley, is your starting point for a visit to  the lovely Baroque village of Dürnstein. Stroll along Dürnstein’s  cobblestone streets to the Baroque Stiftskirche, with its famed church  tower on a walking tour. For a more culinary-focused experience in  Dürnstein, enjoy an apricot liqueur and brandy tasting and special  apricot treats from a local boutique. Those who wish a more active  adventure of the area can hike to historic Dürnstein Fortress or cycle  from Krems to Dürnstein and back for lunch. During the afternoon, cruise  through the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley—one of the most beautiful river  valleys in Europe, where some of Austria’s finest white wines are  produced—to Spitz. Once in Spitz, you can visit the 900-year-old Melk  Abbey situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube; or get active  with either a Spitz- Emmersdorf-Spitz bike tour or hiking adventure.  During the evening, be treated to an exclusive wine experience where  you’ll enjoy some of the regions famous wines, including Grüner  Veltliner and Riesling. (B,L,D)

Join a walking tour through the old  city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city’s  famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. For those who love The Sound of  Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic  center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route  to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where  the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. In the afternoon, you  can visit the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov. (B,L,D)

Join a walking tour and marvel at  Passau's Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s  Cathedral. Or take a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress. You  can also ride to Wernstein on a guided bike tour. Later in the day, sail  to the charming town of Vilshofen, where you’ll be treated to a festive  Bavarian Oktoberfest celebration complete with music, beer and  pretzels. (B,L,D)

Disembark the cruise and fly home or begin an optional  extension to Prague or Munich