Cruise the Danube: Budapest, Vienna and Prague

Arrive in Budapest, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. In 1872, the three Hungarian settlements of Obuda, Pest and Buda merged as one, and the illustrious capital of Budapest was born. Following its unification, Budapest underwent rapid growth and expanded its political sphere, setting the stage for the city's golden age. Tonight, join fellow guests and your Resident Tour Director for a welcome dinner.

Join your intimate group on a tour of the city's Jewish heritage, visiting the Great Synagogue and the Hungarian Jewish Museum. Enjoy time for lunch at leisure, and then meet your ship for priority embarkation. This evening, cruise through Budapest, passing under the illuminated Chain Bridge while a local band performs traditional music on board.

See Buda's cobbled streets and Pest's 19th-century buildings. Throughout the course of your tour, admire Matthias Church; Fisherman's Bastion, oddly more decorative than defensive; St. Stephen's Basilica, which stands just as tall as the Parliament Building to symbolize the balance of church and state; and the Parliament Building itself, an impressive example of neo-gothic architecture. Partake in a private cooking class, which includes lunch and hands-on strudel-making, and visit the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, founded in 1875 by piano virtuoso Franz Liszt. Leave Budapest to explore the charming village of Szentendre, noted for its artisanal shops and fine galleries, before rejoining your ship at Esztergom.

Arrive in Bratislava and stroll its old quarter, visiting St. Martin's Cathedral, for centuries the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary. Back on board, enjoy a private cocktail party and an exclusive chef-led tasting dinner.

From snow-dusted mountains alive with music to delectable Sacher-Torte that tantalizes the tastebuds, Austria fills the senses with delight. Vienna, the cultured capital of the country, is synonymous with ornate palaces and concert halls ringing to the strains of Mozart and Strauss. Visit Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Habsburgs, before setting out on a guided walk of Vienna's historic center. Later, experience a fantastic dinner ashore and take in a concert at the Mozarthaus Vienna, in one of the houses where Mozart lived and worked.

Take a walking tour of Dürnstein, followed by a wine tasting and private lunch ashore at a restaurant in the Wachau Valley. Visit Melk Abbey, then enjoy a guided tour of Schloss Artstetten, home of the descendants of Emperor Franz Josef. Among the famous castle owners interred here are Emperor Franz I, the father-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte; Duke Maximilian, an established opponent of the Nazi political party and among the first Austrians to be deported to the concentration camp at Dachau; and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose startling assassination ignited World War I.

This morning, discover Salzburg on a walking tour, followed by lunch. Then take some free time to further explore this magical city — the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — where a symphony of elegant streets and baroque buildings comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, proceed to St. Michael's Basilica in Mondsee, which served as the backdrop for the iconic wedding scene in The Sound of Music. This evening, your captain hosts a gala dinner on board.

Visit Regensburg, walking the cobbled lanes of its beautifully preserved Old Town and pausing for lunch and a taste of the famous local beer at a historic sausage kitchen. Afterward, take time to further explore the town at your own pace before returning to the ship in Passau.

Disembark in Passau and drive to Cesky Krumlov, where you visit the city's Old Town and stunning 13th-century castle. Tucked away in the hills of the southern Czech Republic, Cesky Krumlov delights with its medieval detailing and pastoral countryside. Though occupied by German forces during World War II, the town managed to avoid any serious conflict and remains remarkably well preserved. After lunch, continue to Prague for an evening at leisure.

No matter how much time you spend in Prague, the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic, you want one more stroll through its charming public square. One more visit to its vast, historic castle. One more walk down one of author Franz Kafka’s famous winding paths. Explore Prague's Old Town and its Jewish Quarter, where Kafka was born. An integral part of the city's cultural history, the Bohemian Jewish novelist spent many years in the Old Town, where cobblestone streets, enchanting spires and cozy pubs create a fairy-tale atmosphere. As a proper send-off, there is even a memorial dedicated to Kafka on Dusni Street — a peculiar bronze sculpture depicting the writer riding on the shoulders of a headless figure. Take in the Town Hall's iconic astronomical clock, the Jewish Museum and the Jewish Cemetery. Following an afternoon at leisure, gather for a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport for your departing flight.