Overview
Itinerary
Welcome to Budapest. We'll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your luxurious floating home for the next 15 days. Unpack, relax and get acquainted with your ship. Stay 14 Nights: APT Solara or APT Ostara (D)
Choose your sightseeing option in Budapest today before cruising to Vienna. (B/L/D)
Freedom of Choice - City Tour Enjoy a morning city tour of Budapest and take in its historic monuments, including Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica. Then, visit the Great Market Hall and sample delicious local produce.
Freedom of Choice - Funicular Ride Board a funicular to Castle Hill for superb views, then walk to Fisherman's Bastion.
Freedom of Choice - Thermal Baths Visit You may wish to relax in the thermal water pools at the historic Gellért Thermal Bath, which first opened its gates over 100 years ago.
Gala Welcome Dinner Enjoy a multi-course meal with an expertly crafted menu.
Enjoy a relaxing morning cruising to Vienna. On arrival, take in the city's many landmarks along the Ringstrasse, as well as St Stephen's Cathedral. (B/L/D)
Set out on your chosen sightseeing activity this morning. In the evening, an unforgettable Signature Experience awaits.
Freedom of Choice - Schönbrunn Palace Visit Tour inside Schönbrunn Palace, the summer palace of the Habsburgs. Discover the apartments of former emperors and take some time to wander the immaculate grounds.
Freedom of Choice - Visit Bratislava in Slovakia Tick another country off your list and journey to Slovakia's Bratislava, where a mixture of 18th-century rococo design and communist era architecture make this a city of alluring contrasts. See some of the architectural landmarks that were built during the city's time under communist rule. These include the UFO bridge, Slovak Radio building and Hotel Kyjev. (B/L/D)
Signature Experience - Cocktail Party and Private Performance at Vienna's City Palace After dinner, head to the princely family of Liechtenstein's City Palace in the heart of Vienna, where we have arranged an exclusive cocktail party and private recital, just for you. A full orchestra will perform classical masterpieces by Mozart and Strauss. You will also be enchanted by an operatic performance.
Explore the beautiful town of Dürnstein before choosing your activity. (B/L/D)
Freedom of Choice - Cruise Through the Wachau Valley Cruise through the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, where you'll roam the town's cobblestoned lanes at your leisure.
Freedom of Choice - Guided Bike Ride from Melk to Dürnstein Take a guided bike ride along the Danube River from Melk to Dürnstein and take in the beautiful scenery of the Wachau Valley along the way.
Take a guided tour of Salzburg before a Signature Experience. (B/L/D)
Signature Experience - Gaisberg Mountain Lunch and ‘Sound of Music' Show Be welcomed by a Jagdhornbläser a hunting horn blower into a rustic, traditional restaurant on the Gaisberg mountain overlooking Salzburg. Enjoy a welcome drink as you soak in the scenery before savouring a delicious lunch, followed by a show featuring music from the classic film, ‘The Sound of Music'.
Enjoy the chance to personalise your day with a choice of sightseeing activities on offer. (B/L/D)
Freedom of Choice - Explore Regensburg's World Heritage-Listed City Centre In Regensburg, explore its atmospheric World Heritage-listed city centre or perhaps get active and take a guided bike ride to the Walhalla memorial.
Freedom of Choice - Guided Bike Ride to the Walhalla Memorial Set out on a guided bike ride to the Walhalla memorial. This neo-classical building sits above the Danube River and houses a hall of fame that honours notable politicians, artists, sovereigns and scientists from Germany's past.
This morning, continue cruising on the Main-Danube Canal. Having taken 32 years to construct, the canal links the North and Black seas. On arrival in Nuremberg, set out on your preferred activity. (B/L/D)
Freedom of Choice - Discover Nuremberg's World War II Sites Journey through Nuremberg's World War II sites, including the Reich Party Rally Grounds, the site of Hitler's now infamous annual rallies that were held from 1927 to 1938.
Freedom of Choice - Medieval History of Nuremberg Tour Join a tour focused on Nuremberg's medieval history. Discover medieval architecture, including the 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city, the Imperial Castle, the main market square and its 14th-century Gothic church.
On arrival into World Heritage-listed Bamberg, another of the few German cities that wasn't destroyed during World War II. As you explore the Old Town with a guide, you will discover a range of historic churches and buildings, including the town hall on the River Regnitz. Otherwise, take it easy and relax on board. (B/L/D)
Today unfolds on your terms thanks to a choice of activities today. (B/L/D)
Freedom of Choice - Visit the Würzburg Residence The immense architectural beauty of Würzburg is on display today as you stroll through this fascinating city to the Würzburg Residence. An 18th-century palace that once belonged to the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg, this regal building is home to a number of historic wonders. Inside, you'll marvel at the intricate tapestries, gilded stucco work and ceiling frescoes by famed Tiepolo.
Freedom of Choice - Explore Rothenburg Travel to the walled town of Rothenburg and immerse yourself in medieval life. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets and admire the colourful houses as you stroll. During free time, you may wish to visit Käthe Wolfhart's ‘Christmas Village', where you'll find the largest collection of German Christmas decorations in the world.
Freedom of Choice - Hike to Marienberg Fortress Enjoy a hike to Würzburg's most visible landmark, Marienberg Forstress, an imposing castle overlooking the city, which boasts a fascinating history dating back many centuries.
Step ashore in Miltenberg today and set out on a guided exploration. Spared from the destruction of World War II, the town of Miltenberg is much like a time capsule, revealing what old-world village life was like in Germany before the war. Featuring remarkably preserved buildings and lively town squares, this is a beautiful example of Germany's history. Enjoy a guided exploration of the town before time at leisure to explore. Then, cruise along the Main River. (B/L/D)
Dock in Rüdesheim this morning, one of Germany's most revered cultural and historic cities. Here, embark on your chosen activity. This afternoon, you'll approach what is known as the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River. Glide past crumbling ruins that cling to rocky cliffs and rolling hillsides marked with perfectly planted vineyards. (B/L/D)
Freedom of Choice - Gondola Ride Glide over the emerald vineyards of the Rhine Valley in a gondola, enjoying stunning vistas. At the top, arrive at the Niederwald Monument, built between 1877 and 1883 to commemorate the unification of Germany.
Freedom of Choice - Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Take a tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, an eccentric and unique museum which is home to a beautiful collection of fascinating automated musical instruments from all stages of history.
Freedom of Choice - Visit a Historic Wine Cellar Visit a historic wine cellar for a tasting of Rhine Valley wines. Discover why this location is one of Germany's most well-known wine regions.
Today, enjoy a Signature Experience. The afternoon will be spent cruising onwards to the Netherlands. (B/L/D)
Signature Experience - Namedy Castle Princess Heide von Hohenzollern graciously welcomes APT guests into her home, Namedy Castle, a 14th century residence set near the Rhine River in Germany. Go beyond the gates and wander about the rooms, hidden nooks and manicured grounds. You'll then enjoy a morning tea where a pianist playing classical music sets the mood.
Arrive in Amsterdam and set out on your chosen activity. Tonight, enjoy the captain's farewell dinner. (B/L/D)
Freedom of Choice - Glass-Top Boat Canal Cruise A peaceful way to see the best of Amsterdam, board a glass-top boat and admire the city's unique architecture as you cruise the maze of World Heritage-listed canals for which the city is famous.
Freedom of Choice - Old Amsterdam Cheese Store Visit Visit the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store for a cheese tasting matched with wine.
Freedom of Choice - Guided Bike Ride Join a guided bike ride through the countryside to the village of Durgerdam before visiting the Street Art Museum.
Freedom of Choice - Keukenhof Gardens in Spring Guests travelling on select spring departures also have the option to visit Keukenhof Gardens. Explore more than 70 acres of world-renowned gardens and admire the spectacular display of more than seven million flowering bulbs in bloom, including colourful tulips.
Sadly, the time has come to say goodbye and be transferred to the airport. (B)
Life Onboard APT Ostara
Travel in unparalleled luxury on board APT Ostara in 2025 – APT's brand-new river ship that redefines European river cruising. Read more
From the moment you depart to the moment you return, everything you need is included in the trip price you pay. Read more
Experience world-class dishes featuring the finest seasonal, locally sourced produce aboard the new-generation fleet. Read more
Personalise your journey to suit your interest and mix and match a wide selection of cultural, culinary, historical and active experiences. Read more
These are the stand-out moments. Carefully designed to help you experience Europe in far greater depth and normally unavailable to independent travelers. Read more
With every detail taken care of behind the scenes, you’re 100% free to be whoever you want to be. Every day is yours to design. Read more
Trip Reviews (31) View All Most Recent 'Magnificent Europe' Reviews
Unfortunately for many guests the planned activities for Budapest did not happen. APT did arrange for guests to travel by coach to have a lunch cruise the next day (6 hours of road travel) The staff on Travelmarvel tried very hard but it was obvious more training is needed. The food and wine advertised in APT’s brochures emphasises fine wine and food. The wine was far from fine and food was bland. Viking also excelled in this area. Passengers had no other wine option made available to guests. One house white and one house red and a sparkling. When off ship we purchased wine. APT’s advertising promotes that passengers will not need to spend any more dollars once you are aboard. Viking’s offering in this area was far superior!
We did approach a senior staff member about these issues and were told we should expect better when we changed ships. APT had ample time to upgrade wine and food menus prior to commencing the cruise .
The wine offerings continued to fall short on quality though you could purchase from a short list of wine around the 30euro mark.
Staff on the Amastella were more proficient and the cabin were meticulously cleaned. Viking was also rated highly in this aspect.
The off ship excursions were very good on both cruises. We have traveled on 3 Viking river cruises and have experienced high quality cruises. We cannot say this about our most recent APT experience.
Many times we were docked alongside other ships. This is when you realise how dated and lacking in quality our vessel was. At ...read more one stage, our cruise director had to lay on the lounge floor with the Microphone to his laptop (also on the floor) just to get the sound for the info sessions.
We travelled over the Easter Period where many towns had closed for holidays. This is totally understandable...what was disappointing was the total lack of any planned alternatives considering these holidays happen every year and would not come as a surprise.
From the first day to the last day, much of the information in the brochure was misleading at best or just untrue. If you are expecting "5 Star" you will be disappointed. If you accept it will be a nice cruise with average facilities & food.....that's the best you can hope for regardless of the huge amount of money out laid.
Availability
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Port charges, taxes and fees included.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by APT. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from APT. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
