Welcome to Paris, the City of Light. There are icons at every turn in the French capital, from the chic boutiques of the Champs Elysees to the meandering riverbank of the Seine and the bustling crossroads of the Arc de Triomphe, with the intricate metalwork of the Eiffel Tower always in view above. Paris is a city that almost defies description; stroll the historic streets and you'll soon see why it has inspired generations of artists, musicians, filmmakers and fashionistas.
Check in to your luxurious hotel, located in the bustling 9th Arrondissement, also known as the Opera district. It's known for its wide boulevards; many theatres, including the opulent Palais Garnier opera house; and grand Belle Epoque department stores like Printemps and Galeries Lafayette.
It's your first morning in Paris, so why not start the day with a pain au chocolat and a café au lait? Paris is a city that has been immortalised in endless movies, TV shows, books and paintings, so even if you're a first-time visitor you will feel like you already know it. Its elegant streets, grand buildings, shady parks, stylish cafes and even more stylish residents, you'll quickly be swept up in the joie de vivre. (B)
Freechoice: Today's Scenic Freechoice:
This afternoon, discover the part of Paris that most inspires you. Perhaps you would like to visit one of the legendary art galleries, like The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay or Centre Pomidou. Splash some cash at the flagship boutiques of the world's best designer labels or hunt out a treasure at one of the city's vintage stores and flea markets. Then there's the food; you could spend the whole afternoon (and more) at the patisseries, boulangeries, fromageries and bistros that line every street. Then pick up some supplies and retreat to one of the many elegant parks for a classic Parisian picnic.
Today is yours to enjoy, with a full day to explore Paris.
Discover some of the city's most famous districts, like the charming Latin Quarter, the modern La Défense, the Neoclassical Place Vendôme or the fashionable Le Marais. Visit one of the excellent museums, like the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the world's oldest science museum dating back to 1794, or the Musée Carnavalet, which charts the history of Paris from the Gauls to the 20th century. You could plan a literary tour of the city, taking in the favourite writing spots of Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Simone de Beauvoir. And of course there are endless options for shopping, art galleries, historic sites or eating and drinking.
Or you might like to do as the French do and embrace the ‘art of doing nothing'. The French word flâneur means to wander aimlessly through a city with no destination in mind. It's a relaxed way to soak in the sights and mingle with the locals, stopping for coffee or a glass of wine when you feel like it or perhaps browsing in an appealing bookstore or gallery. It's one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a day and gives you a real feel for life in Paris. (B)
Travel by high speed train to Amsterdam, where you'll board your Scenic Space-Ship. Tonight, you'll get to toast the journey ahead at this evening's welcome reception. (B/D)
Amsterdam is a treasure trove of architectural beauty, masterpiece-filled galleries, tranquil scenes of boats putting along 16th century canals, narrow cobbled laneways filled with boutiques and cafes, and streets busy with cyclists criss-crossing their way about town. Often referred to as the Venice of the North, much of the World Heritage-listed canal system exists today as it did hundreds of years ago, lined with well-preserved canal houses and intersected by charming bridges.
Freechoice: Today choose one of the following Scenic Freechoice:
This afternoon we set sail towards the cosmopolitan metropolis of Cologne, Germany. (B/L/D)
Perhaps enjoy a leisurely morning starting with coffee in your suite, delivered by your personal butler, followed by breakfast in Crystal Dining. You will arrive in Cologne, Germany, later this afternoon.
On arrival, discover Cologne during a walking tour. With your local guide, wander the laneways of the historical Old Town, which is home to breweries serving up draft Kolsch beer and enjoy free time to visit the city's centrepiece and icon, Cologne Cathedral. (B/L/D)
Enrich: Tonight you will enjoy a magnificent Scenic Enrich event
After breakfast, relax on the Sun Deck and admire the landscape as you cruise along the spectacular World Heritage-listed Rhine Gorge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a 65-kilometre stretch of the river that is dotted with some 40 hilltop castles and fortresses that span a period of 1,000 years. Sailing down this section of the river is like being transported through the pages of a fairy tale book.
The Rhine is abounded in myths and legends that have been passed on for generations, like the story of Lorelei. This enchanting female was betrayed by her sweetheart and spent her days bewitching men. As her punishment, she was sent to a nunnery, however, on her way she jumped to her death in the river. Legend has her spirit casting spells on sailors who passed the rock, where a bronze statue sits today.
After lunch, you will disembark in Rüdesheim, a pretty town surrounded by steep vineyards that have been cultivating wine for a staggering two millennia. The charming town centre is filled with half-timbered houses lining cobbled streets, quaint shops selling trinkets such as cuckoo clocks, as well as a smattering of wine taverns and open-air beer gardens. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Select one of this afternoon's Scenic Freechoice activities:
This morning you will continue cruising towards Miltenberg. You may wish to spend the morning in the exclusive Salt Therapy Lounge, which provides natural anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
Today you will arrive in Miltenberg. Located on the banks of the River Main, this historic town is one of the best preserved in Germany, home to hundreds of pastel-coloured half-timbered houses and one of Germany's oldest inns, Zum Riesen. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Choose from the following Scenic Freechoice tours:
After touring, you will embark your luxury Space-Ship in Wertheim am Main and set sail for Würzburg.
Today you will arrive in Würzburg. This Baroque city straddles the Main River in the heart of Franconian wine country. Surrounded by undulating vineyards, Würzburg is home to a World Heritage-listed palace, a dominating hilltop fortress, the 15th century Old Main Bridge, and three universities, including Bavaria's oldest. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Spend your day at your preferred pace with one of the following Scenic Freechoice options:
This afternoon, sit back with a drink on the Sun Deck or in the privacy of your suite as you enjoy the scenery while sailing towards to city of Bamberg.
The ship will dock in Bamberg after lunch. Choose to spend your morning in your Space-Ship's wellness centre enjoying a soothing massage^, or perhaps join an informative lecture to learn more about the culture and history found along the fascinating Main River.
Built on seven hills, this World Heritage-listed town has surprises at every turn. Intersected by rivers and canals, enchanting Bamberg has an Old Town resplendent with cobblestoned streets and well-preserved medieval buildings. A charming Old Town Hall which occupies an island on its own, a Gothic and Romanesque-style cathedral and the Old and New Residences – comprising an episcopal palace, a pretty ‘Little Venice' and a 12th century castle that teeters on the highest of the seven hills – are some of the incredible places you'll see during your guided city tour. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Stay in Bamberg or choose to explore further afield with this afternoon's Scenic Freechoice tours:
You will arrive in Nuremberg, Bavaria's second-largest city, early this morning. Boasting an Old Town protected by an ancient city wall, where the most enchanting Christmas Markets are held every December, this city is dominated by one of the most significant imperial forts of the Holy Roman Empire, the 12th century Imperial Castle, which was the preferred residence of German kings.
Behind its charming façade, Nuremberg also has a turbulent history. During WWII, the city was favoured by the Nazis for party rallies; the boycotts of Jewish businesses began here, as did the laws that denied Jewish people German citizenship – known as the ‘Nuremberg Laws'. By 1945, the city was reduced to rubble, including large sections of the Imperial Castle and Old Town. Allied powers – the US, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union – held the Nuremberg Trials here between 1945 and 1946, when Nazi Germany leaders were tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Make your choice from this today's Scenic Freechoice experiences:
This afternoon you will sail towards Regensburg. Sip on a specialty tea or coffee in the Panorama Lounge & Bar or relax in your suite watching life on the riverbanks from your Scenic Sun Lounge.
You will arrive in Regensburg after lunch today. Boasting a staggering 2,000-year history, Regensburg has one of Germany's best preserved medieval town centres, with more than 900 of its Romanesque and Gothic buildings listed as World Heritage sites. Within its narrow laneways, the city lays claim to having the highest concentration of bars in the country. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Today, Regensburg offers up a selection of Scenic Freechoice touring activities to choose from:
Freechoice: Take your pick from the following Scenic Freechoice excursions.
Your Scenic Space-Ship will dock in the small and picturesque town of Dürnstein, located in Austria's scenic Wachau Valley. Enjoy some freetime to explore the charming town at your leisure before we set sail to Krems. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Today offers a variety of Scenic Freechoice excursions to choose from:
We arrive early in Vienna this morning. Also known as the City of Music, Austria's imperial capital fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, among others. The city oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces from parks to vineyards, a vibrant coffee-house culture and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums.
Today join your local guide and take a coach ride from the ship to Vienna's city centre, where you will embark on a walking tour to see highlights such as the Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Belvedere Palace. The ship will be docked overnight, so this afternoon you are free to wander around the city or relax on board your Scenic Space-Ship. (B/L/D)
Enrich: Tonight's Scenic Enrich:
Wake this morning with Vienna on your doorstep. A city full of grandeur, Austria's imperial capital is famous for having the world's most beautiful boulevard, The Ringstrasse, and for the legacy of the Habsburg monarchy. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: Spend the day exploring the city or venture into neighbouring country Slovakia for a tour of Bratislava. The choice is yours from today's Scenic Freechoice activities:
This morning we arrive in Budapest, one of Europe's most diverse and vibrant cities. Divided by the Danube, with Buda on one side and Pest on the other, this city became united in 1873 when a newly built bridge connected the two. The city is an architectural treasure trove comprising styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau and everything in between. It is also well known for its hot springs and thermal baths and has a vibrant nightlife scene. (B/L/D)
Freechoice: A range of Scenic Freechoice activities are on offer to choose from this morning:
This afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps set out to explore the Central Market Hall – the largest market in the city, built in neo-gothic style for a combination of shopping and sightseeing.
Depart after breakfast, taking with you a lifetime of wonderful memories.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.
^Massage/spa treatments at additional cost. (B)
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